Red Pepper Bisque with Seafood

1 tb Vegetable oil

4 Sweet red bell peppers,

-seeds and ribs removed, Chopped 1/2 c Chopped onion

1/4 c Peeled, chopped apple

1/2 c Peeled, chopped carrot

4 c Chicken stock, preferably

-unsalted 1/2 c Corn kernels, fresh or

-frozen 1 pn Crushed hot red pepper

1/4 c Tarragon vinegar

1 tb Freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tb Chopped fresh parsley or

-cilantro Pinch freshly ground white -pepper 1/4 ts Salt (omit if using salted

-canned stock) 1/4 c Baby shrimp, peeled and

-deveined 1/4 c Bay scallops, halved

Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the red bell pepper, onion, apple, and carrot. Saute, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the soup, partially covered, for 25 minutes. Puree the soup in a blender or a food processor fitted with a steel blade; return it to the saucepan. Stir in the corn, crushed red pepper, taragon vinegar, lime juice, parsley, white pepper and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and simmer, uncovered, for 7 minutes. (The soup may be prepared up to this step two days in advance and then refrigerated in a tightly sealed container. Just before serving, bring it slowly back to a boil and then add the seafood.) Add the shrimp and scallops to the simmering soup, turn off the heat immediately, and cover the pot. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Serve immediately in heated soup bowls. Makes 6 servings. Nutrient Value per Serving: 100 Calories, 4 g Fat, 0.6 g Saturated Fat, 7 g Protein, 11 g Carbohydrate, 13 mg Cholesterol, 548 mg Sodium. [The Washington Post; January 9, 1991] Posted by Fred Peters.