Friday, February 5, 2010

Foodie Friday - Vegetable Soup

I hope it's better late than never to join the potluck with "Foodie Friday" over at Designs by Gollum. Since we're having very cold weather and snow and sleet -- nothing better to bring to the table than a hearty soup.


I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I took some Christmas money and bought a bunch of books from Amazon. (I'll bet your surprised it wasn't spent on dishes!) I had heard several people say that "Being Dead Is No Excuse" was a really fun read and it was! Even better it had some great recipes!


Since I love soup - the Homemade Vegetable Soup recipe really caught my eye.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
butter
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chicken breast tenders or 3 pounds cubed beef (I used the beef)
1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes or chopped whole tomatoes
1 large can (14.5) ounced) tomato sauce
1 large (1 pound) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 large or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced, rather chunky
3 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 1/2 quarts water

Melt the butter in a large pot and brown the chicken or beef. Remove the meat, add the onions and celery and saute briefly. Return the meat to the pot. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, vegetables, seasonings, and water.

Cook several hours. Sometimes I leave it on simmer for four or five hours. This can be seasoned along the way, as can most other recipes, though I find it perfect as is. I add any fresh begetables that I might have on hand. Butter beans, when available, are a wonderful addition.

Serves ten.




So -- here we are ...just gettin started. Now I want to tell you about one or two things I did differently - I added a tablespoon of Minor's Beef Base (sort of a highly concentrated beef boulion) and by mistake, my package of frozen vegetables were "vegetable stew vegetables" -- which means that the mixture was carrots, celery, onions and potatoes rather than carrots, potatoes, green beans and corn which I think would be what you would normally expect to have in veg. soup. My husband really missed the corn more than I did ....so next time I'll get the "right stuff".



Here we are serving up soup - so warming for a Winter's meal -- the suggested compliments to this in the book were corn bread and salad...good choice...and of course sweet tea. (this is a southern ladies guide you know)


Time for the taste test. Now, I already told you that my husband missed the corn and on the first night, I could taste the butter flavor, which was neither good nor bad, just different from what I'm used to tasting in vegetable soup.



We both agreed that after the soup was chilled for a day in the refrigerator and all the flavors could "marry"- (as Paula Deen says) -- it was really much better. I think many soups are better the second day. So my suggestion is to fix this soup .... then save it for the second day to get the full flavor benifit (and I didn't get the butter taste the next day).

Hope everyone has a warm and wonderful weekend -- whatever you're cooking up!

See ya.

19 comments:

  1. What a great name for a cookbook!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  2. That book came out a few years after Consuming Passions, and I thought it was the cutest idea. I'm from the South and funeral food is a Big Deal. My mother has two freezers *just* for Funeral food.
    The soup looks hearty!

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  3. This looks like wonderful soup! What a wild name for a cook book!

    - The Tablescaper

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  4. You know it is a really good soup day here today!!~ It is so cold and rainy, I just want some soup now!!~ LOL...thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your lovely comments!!~

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  5. I'm making vegetable soup tomorrow and I was curious to see how similiar our recipes are. I generally use a roast for vegetable soup, mixed veggies, a little tomato juice and cabbage. Sometimes I add potatoes, sometimes I don't. I do like to cook mine forever...I love the way it makes the house smell. Yours looks delicious.

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  6. Mmm Mmm good- Campbell's aint got nothin' on you girl! Man I can almost taste this throught the screen.

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  7. The book looks funny and the soup looks seriously good. What more could a girl ask for???

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  8. The soup looks yummy...wish I had a bowl right now! I have heard of the cookbook and I may have to order it!

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  9. I think the title of your blog is so charming... made me smile on a snowy morning. Soup looks wonderful too!!

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  10. MMM looks yummy!!

    Have a great weekend:)

    Kay Ellen

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  11. That soup looks so good, I can smell it! I hope it helps with your cold. I'm feeling better now and I hope that you feel better real soon. Thank you for visiting me!

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  12. That soup is just what everyone needs this time of year! It's warm, delicious and comforting ♥ LOVE*ly for February ♥ Maria

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  13. Hi Martha! I hope you made lots of that soup because it sounds like you are snowed in up there in Virginia! Are you all doing OK? I have been thinking about you when I hear the news! And BTW...not only does that soup look yummy...that's a pretty bowl! lol Happy Sunday and stay warm!...hugs...Debie

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  14. The soup looks amazing! Thanks for your interest in my napkin rings. Email me at admin@thestylesisters.net and I can let you purchase them in a different way.

    Thanks again,
    Karin :)

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  15. Great looking soup Martha!! Ohh, I could just dip my spoon into that it looks so yummy. I had heard of that book, but didn't know there were recipes in it as well. I'll have to look out for it!

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  16. Hi Martha!
    I'm going to have to try this. Using butter sure would add alot of flavor.

    So good to hear from you and yes, a little Grand's due date is this week!!! Pray all goes well.

    Martha, the chocolate you won was mailed on Saturday. I injured my knee and had to what til Saturday for it to go out. She's on her way and think she'll be at your door by Wednesday.

    God Bless,
    d

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  17. Hi Martha! Oh, the soup looks fantastic. Now I'm from the south and I totally understand 'Funeral Food'. Sounds a little gruesome doesn't it?
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  18. Love the book...love the food! Stay warm:)

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  19. I hope you had a FAB weekend... NOW be sure and visit me... http://www.fififlowers.com/2010/02/3-paintings-equal-1.html
    ENJOY!
    Fifi

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