Soup!

So I hope I am not the only one who struggles to put food on the table sometimes. It's not necessarily that I don't have what I need (although that does happen). It's more about planning ahead and making something that everyone will want.

Right now I am working with my husband, a newly vegetarian, my stepson who is pretty good but if it looks funny- no way, my daughter Sofia (3) who eats so little sometimes I wonder how she keeps on living and Leila (16 months) who eats everything and twice as much as Sofia. I'm pretty easy going too but.... little to no dairy. That leaves me frustrated and wanting to head to the closest drive-thru.

As it turns out, with the  changing seasons and changes in seasonal foods, I have latched on to soup as my go to and I found the perfect book! From the library of course (love it!). The book is called SOUP and it is just a compilation of a bunch of super yummy, super easy, soup recipes. I don't think I have ever cooked so many recipes out of one book in my whole life. Pumpkin soup, chunky turkey soup, lentil soup, even Mulligatawny is honor of the Soup Nazi himself. I think I added too much ginger though. Time for some tweaking. Anyway.

The thing about soup is that most times it is easy and can be quick- but you have to have the right things laying around. I suggest you always pick these things up at the store and have them on hand:

butter

onions

vegetable or chicken stock

parsley

potatoes

carrots

celery

For some reason it seems like most recipes call for some combination of the above and having those things around can be a life saver. Especially after a long day.

I definitely recommend the book- just buy it, you won't be disappointed but until then here is one of my favorites:

Allotment soup

You need:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium leek, finely sliced

2 medium carrots, diced

1 large zucchini, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1 large potato, diced

2 tomatoes peeled and diced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 quarts cold water

sea salt and ground pepper

6 oz frozen green beans

How to:

Heat oil in a large pot. Add leek, carrots, zucchini, celery, potato, tomato and garlic and cook, stirring regularly for 10-15 minutes until soft but not brown. Add water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until everything is tender. Add frozen green beans and heat until tender. Serve with some yummy crusty bread.

Yum-o! Enjoy!

A vegetarian meal idea- almost the only one I have

When I was dating my husband, he used to make this meal that we appropriately called "bachelor stew." It is a vegetarian meal that is easily doubled or tripled and keeps in the fridge for a good couple of days (and even tastes better as it hangs out- one of those foods). He would make a big batch of it and then eat it with tortillas throughout the week.

Well, today is Sunday and for lunch I made bachelor stew. Here's how it goes for anyone interested:

"Bachelor Stew"

You need:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion chopped
2 cans black beans (drained)
1 can Rotel (or just tomatoes if you don't like it HOT) (not drained)
2 cloves garlic minced
3/4 cup frozen corn (can also mix in peas and/or carrots)
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp lime juice (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

How to:
1. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil in a large pan for a couple of minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Feel free to add a little water if needed. Bring to a good simmer.

3. Cover so it can heat through and cook down a little- about 15-20 minutes.
4. Serve with warm tortillas and eat like you would a taco or burrito.

This meal is so easy, fast and good for you. I love one-pan meals!