Sweet Potato-Pepper Soup

Sweet Potato-Pepper Soup 

by Alexander Weil

1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced

1 small onion, diced

1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed

1 small carrot, diced

1 small bulb fennel, diced

4 cloves garlic, mashed

1/4 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

2 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2-1 tsp course salt

1/2 cup white wine

1 can coconut milk

fresh cilantro and scallions

Heat the broiler to high.  Place the potatoes, onion, corn, carrots, fennel, garlic, pepper, and oil in a large bowl.  Toss and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  Broil for 14 minutes, stirring once.  

Place the vegetables in a large pot and add the spices, salt, wine, and 3 quarts water.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 45 minutes.  Remove from heat and whisk in the coconut milk. Garnish with cilantro and scallions.  My kids loved this last night.  One child stated that it was too hot and spicy, so you may want to add the cayenne pepper and jalapeno in smaller amounts.

"Now I have already mentioned that there was a disturbance in my heart, a voice that spoke there and said, I want, I want, I want!  It happened every afternoon, and when I tried to suppress it it got even stronger.  It only said one thing, I want, I want!

     And I would ask, "What do you want?"

     But this was all it would ever tell me.  It never said a thing except I want, I want, I want!"

                                                               - A quote from the character Henderson in the book,    Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow, whose character describes the pulsation at the heart of his inner turmoil.