Curried Cream Of Cauliflower and Apple Soup

4 c Chicken stock

1 1/2 tb Unsalted butter

1 c Onions, chopped

2 tb Curry powder

1/2 ts Saffron threads

-OR 2 pn Saffron powder

1 c Golden Delicious apple,

-peeled, split, cored and -sliced 4 c Cauliflower (about 1 medium

-head), greens and stem -discarded, head broken up -into small florets The following recipe is from "Cooking with Daniel Boulud," by noted New York chef Daniel Boulud (Random House, 1993, $40), who notes in the introduction that "this soup can be made into a more complete meal by adding slices of cooked lobster or shrimp." Warm the chicken stock over medium heat. Melt the butter in a cast-iron pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions, curry powder and saffron and sweat for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the sliced apple and sweat for another 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the cauliflower and warm chicken stock and bring to a boil. Boil until the cauliflower is tender when pierced with a knife, approximately 20 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 3 more minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the soup in batches to a blender or food processor and puree at high speed until very smooth. Keep warm until ready to serve or refrigerate when cool and reheat just before serving.