comfort in a bowl

There a few things that my daughter asks for now and again that I can never refuse. One is for me to make her favourite soup. When my kids were little it was sometimes a struggle to get them to eat their veggies, which is no doubt a familiar plight for all parents now and again. I tried lots of tactics, but one that seemed to work was re-naming plain old vegetable soup after one of our most loved storybooks: Peter Rabbit. 

It's a rainy day here in Western New York and my girl has been a little out of sorts lately with the pressure of finishing up her senior year, getting her driver's license, thinking about a summer job and making decisions about her next steps in her education. And of course there is the senior prom and all that entails, too. I try to keep my weeknight evenings quiet and here at home with her, and sometimes my work schedule makes it hard to be together for any kind of proper dinner...so it's good to have something that she loves ready for us to share when I work late now and then. If you ask her what she wants for dinner it is very likely she will answer "Peter Rabbit Soup." And it's perfect for these darker, cooler wet days we seem to have in these parts every spring. 

I made it this morning and it looked so pretty in the bowl that I ladled it into for my lunch. I was inspired to take a photo and share the way to make it. It not only tastes yummy, but it's pretty good for you, too. It's different every time, depending on what veggies we have, but it's always comfort in a bowl.

Peter Rabbit Soup (or sometimes..."Look What Farmer McGregor Dug Up in the Garden" Soup)

Chop a couple of handfuls of any veggies you have into bite-sized pieces. In a heavy soup pot, heat a big tablespoon of butter and the same amount of lovely green olive oil. If you have veggies that like to be sauteed (onions or celery, zucchini, stuff like that) then give them a couple of minutes in the pot. Fill the pot with about 9 cups of spring water and then put the rest of the veggies in. I like the flavour and colour of Rapunzel brand veggie bouillon cubes (with sea salt and herbes) and I use 4 cubes per 9 cups of water. Let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes before adding a handful of finely chopped fresh herbes...whatever you like. Today I had parsley, so that's what it got...but any herbes you like are wonderful. Turn off the soup so the veggies don't overcook and then boil some tiny pasta, like ditalini or orzo, or even some grains like brown rice or barley, and then keep them aside to add in when you eat it. If you cook the grains or pasta in the soup and you don't eat it all right away they just get mushy. And of course sometimes you might not want anything but the veggies anyways.

So there you go... Peter Rabbit Soup, lifetime favourite of my favourite girl.

xo

Comments

[Wendy Kaplan]

This is my kind of soup. What kind of camera do you use? That's a really nice picture.

[Carolyn]

That soup looks absolutely delicious! I am going to have to give it a try. Thank you for sharing!

[Stephanie]

oooohhhhh.... that soup looks lovely! The bowl is so welcoming. Great photo!

[PixieDust]

What magical soup from a magical woman... hola Querida... sorry I've been gone so long... how I've missed you and your words...

Love,
Me

[Relyn]

I've been thinking about you. Wondering how you are. Hoping all is well.

[Kathy Ariano]

Kateri,
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
That soup looks and sounds luscious. I will definitely try it. Before our kids would go trick or treating, I would always make 'MomMom soup' -- my grandmother's soup that many know as Italian Wedding Soup with the little meatballs and escarole or spinach. Talk about comfort in a bowl.
I'll add your blog site to my list and look forward to your next posting. Kathy

[shraddha]

cool photo..look so yummmy..

[PixieDust]

I hope you are well, Querida. Just wanted to let you know I think of you often...

:-)

(((HUGS))),
Love,
Me

[linni]

think of you often...wondering how you are doing?! Big hugs to you...and some giggles...and a walk along the beach xx