Fall is here, with changing leaf colors and cooler days, and slowly creeping towards winter cold. The winter soup pot is starting its busy season to help us stay warm during the winter. I make soup regularly at our house all year long; however, the soups get more hearty during the colder days.
Actually, nothing tastes better than a bowl of warm, tasty homemade soup, any time of the year. Usually, I make soup once a week and freeze serving-size portions. If one or both of us are home at lunchtime… soup is on.
The recipes I offer can be a good guide for tasty soups, but feel free to add more veggies, beans or spices to your specific tastes. Some like broth soups while others prefer thick soups. I have experimented with all kinds of veggies, and I know you’ll have a hard time messing these up. Have at it!
I make many different soup varieties – mostly experimenting with beans and adding different veggies. I do have a favorite chicken brown rice soup which I will share with you below. I make lentil soup often as it is rich in magnesium and other minerals and vitamins. And the good thing about lentils is, they cook up very fast.
My Special Soup Stock
Many of us cut up veggies for a variety of veggie dishes, stews and other recipes. And we also are guilty of throwing away the ends and peelings. I save all these extras, including onion skins (which are very healthy) and carrot ends, onion ends, cabbage cores etc.
I put these ends and peelings in plastic bags and freeze. When I have about two bags full I make my special soup stock. Many times we throw out the most vitamin and mineral rich parts of the vegetables and have a healthy garbage disposal.
Instructions for Stock
To get your healthy stock, start with a pot of boiling water, adding seasonings – except for salt. Turn the pot down to simmer after adding veggies and spices.
I like to use my favorite healthy herbs and spices – curry powder, turmeric, coriander, fennel, cinnamon, garlic powder and ginger. I also squeeze two lemons in the water. How much you add of each of these spices is up to your taste.
Cook the veggies…