It’s cool and wet outside and it makes me focus on all things warm and cozy. One tradition in our house is a weekly vegetable soup night during the cooler months. We are HUGE protein advocates and eat a ton of meat, but on Tuesday evenings we often eat a veggie only meal. Soups are a great way to get kids to try new vegetables. Our son is always more adventurous PLUS kids can help throw veggies in the crock-pot.
I have a few Go-To Recipes that I love, but often times I just roll with what I have on hand.
A few tips for throw in the pot soup:
1. You can use fresh or frozen veggies- we prefer fresh but usually end up mixing.
2. Some of my favorite “bulky” veggies include cauliflower, cabbage, and fennel. All of these are really filling and add a TON of vitamins. I almost always also add carrots, onions, celery, and sometimes spinach or peppers or okra, maybe some peas or a few lima beans or green beans. Choose organic whenever possible.
3. When choosing a broth to use you can use vegetable, chicken or beef. Always choose organic broths as they are not much more expensive. I like using chicken stock rather than broth as it’s more hearty.
4. When customizing your soup think about the “ethnic” flavors you want to offer. Are you looking for more of an Italian flavor (organic canned tomatoes, oregano, basil, etc) or perhaps Indian (curry powder, tumeric, and coconut milk)? Different spices make a world of difference in flavor.
5. I don’t use recipes when cooking my soup but when you’re first getting started they are always helpful right?
Here are a few ideas to inspire you:
Slow Cooker Chunky Vegetable Soup
Enjoy and let us know your favorites! Post them on our Facebook Page!