I don’t know about you, but before we switched over to “real food” we used to make quite a few recipes that called for canned cream of mushroom soup. With over a dozen ingredients (including MSG in some brands) this item definitely doesn’t pass the “real food” test. Even when Michael Pollan discusses the importance of cooking food yourself (to ensure you know where your food comes from) he specifically says “all bets are off…[if] you’re the kind of cook who 
starts with a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup.”
I just assumed I would have to give up all of those old casserole, stuffing, dip, and potpie recipes…but not anymore! Thanks to a casserole recipe (pictured) that I found in Eating Well Magazine I was able to extract an easy-to-make “cream of mushroom” binding agent to use in other dishes as well. A blog reader even suggested making extra and freezing the leftovers. Now instead of reaching for a factory made ingredient out of a can how about something similar (but better of course) right out of your freezer? You certainly can’t beat knowing exactly what’s in your food!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 leeks, chopped and then rinsed (or I think an equivalent amount of onion would work)
- 1½ pounds mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup dry sherry (you could experiment with other wines as well)
- ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks (or onion) and cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to brown, 4 or 5 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until their liquid has been released and has evaporated, 10 or 12 minutes.
- Add sherry (or other wine), increase heat to high and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and stir to coat.
- Add milk; bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Stir in Parmesan, sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
We used this recipie tonight with our chicken spaghetti. We used canned diced tomatoes and canned chillis with grated sharp cheddar and fresh boiled chicken. It was amazing.