A bowl of warm mushroom soup is the perfect antidote to bracing weather and nipping winds during the cold winter months.

It's velvety texture and delicate hues are comforting reminders of childhood for many, and serving this simple soup in a glass mug with a Parmesan Foam makes it a sophisticated part of any meal.The CIA's recipe for cream of mushroom soup is made lighter by cutting back on the amount of butter and cream, and then relying on the pureed vegetables to add texture to the soup.More "exotic" varieties of mushrooms, such as cèpes (porcini), cremini, and oyster, work well in this soup, as do regular white mushrooms.Use a combination or a single variety, depending on what's available, and which ones are your favorites.Garnishes for cream soups are usually a diced meat or vegetable that reflects the major flavoring ingredient. The CIA's cream of mushroom soup is typically garnished with mushrooms, leeks, or celery.You can also add other ingredients such as chopped sweet red pepper and egg whites to give added color. You may also opt to finish the soup with a touch of sherry instead of the lemon juice.Creamof Mushroom SoupMakes 8 servings7 tablespoons butter8 cups chopped mushrooms (about 1 pounds)cup finely chopped celery1 cups thinly sliced leek (white part only)1/2 cup all-purpose flour5 cups chicken broth1 fresh thyme sprig1 cup sliced mushrooms1/2 cup heavy cream, heatedFresh lemon juice, as neededSalt to tasteFreshly ground white pepper, as neededOptional Garnishes:cup small diced peeled red pepper, sautéed until tendercup chopped hard-boiled egg whitescup leeks sautéed until tendercup celery sautéed until tendercup sliced mushrooms sautéed until tenderParmesan Foam (recipe follows)Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add chopped mushrooms, celery, and leek. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in broth gradually. Add thyme sprig, bring to a simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a skillet. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.Remove and discard the thyme. Purée soup, then strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Return soup to the soup pot and place over low heat. Add heavy cream and season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Heat, but do not boil. Serve in heated bowls, garnished with the reserved cooked mushrooms.Nutritional information per 8-ounce serving without garnishes: 200 calories, 17g total fat, 5g protein, 140mg sodium, 10g total carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiberParmesan FoamMakes approximately 1 1/2 cups1 cup 2 percent milk1/2 teaspoon soy lecithin1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese1/2 teaspoon minced garlic1/2 teaspoon cracked black peppercup low sodium chicken broth (you may substitute mushroom broth)Combine milk and soy lecithin in a saucepan; scald the milk. Remove from heat and whisk in cheese, garlic, and pepper. Steep mixture at room temperature for 30 minutes.Strain the milk and discard the cheese and seasonings. Pour liquid into a 1-quart measuring cup and froth with an emersion blender until foam develops. Spoon foam on top of soup.This recipe is adapted from The Culinary Institute of America's The New Book of Soups (Lebhar-Friedman Books, 2010)

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