{Recipe} Vegetable Soup

We have been blessed this year by an abundance of tomatoes. I am the only raw tomato eater in this house, although Laelia will sneak them from my salad. Of course, should I put them directly on her plate they would get rejected and sent to the floor for the dog to gobble them up, followed by lots of baby giggles and more throwing. But I can’t eat all of those tomatoes by myself, so I thought I’d make one of our household favorites–Vegetable Soup! We harvested so many tomatoes this week that I’m cooking a second pot right now!

This recipe is so easy.  And, you don’t have to follow it exactly because it’s all about adding your own favorite veggies!

{Recipe}

• 8-10 crushed tomatoes (or one large can of crushed tomatoes)
  
• Corn
  
• Carrots, cubed
  
• Potatoes, cubed
  
• Green Beans
  
• Rice or Noodles
  
• Vegetable broth (or beef broth)
  
• Beef, cubed (optional)

If you choose to include beef, cook it in the pot until it is browned.  If not, begin by stewing and crushing your tomatoes.  Or pour your can of crushed tomatoes into a large pot.  If you did stew your own tomatoes, be sure to include the water they were cooked in.  It will add some wonderful flavor!

How big or small you cube your veggies depends on how chunky you like your soup.  I like mine chunky…like stew- chunky, but I have to keep it kind of small for the tiny mouths who will eat it.

And with those tiny mouths, come the helping hands to add in all the veggies.  I would lend you my helpers to help with your vegetable soup, but I’m sure you already have some super fabulous helpers at your house.

Add in your vegetable broth.  Make sure your vegetables are sufficiently covered by liquid.  If you don’t have enough or even any vegetable broth, just use water!.  Let the mixture of deliciousness come to a boil and thensimmer for an hour or so until your veggies are nice and soft.

If you want to add some rice or alphabet noodles, now is the time!  Since Laelia is allergic to rice, we use alphabet noodles!  Well that’s not the only reason.  What’s more fun than finding letters in your soup?!

Serve with some absolutely amazing grilled cheese sandwiches.  We made ours using homemade bread that had just come out of the oven and with some muenster cheese….so good!

Here are some other recipes you might enjoy.

Homemade Bread
Banana Bread
Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
BBQ Wrapped Chicken