Cabbage Soup

"Idealist: One who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make a better soup."  Henry Louis Mencken

This, to me, is soup weather.  Crisp fall days with the temperature dropping.  One of my favorite soups is a cabbage soup, probably because of memories of luscious aromas wafting through the house as this soup simmered on the stove when I was a child.  Or perhaps it's because it's so darn easy to make in big batches and have a freezer filled with containers for another day.  Laziness wins out over nostalgia.

Ingredients:
  2 T oil
  onion, chopped
  carrots, peeled and chopped
  celery, chopped
  cabbage, chopped
  canned tomatoes
  veggie broth
  thyme (optional)
  sun dried tomato spread (optional)
  S&P to taste

Distructions:
  In a large soup kettle saute the veggies in the heated oil for a few minutes.  Stir in canned tomatoes.  Add the broth.  Add some thyme if you care to.  Cover and simmer until veggies are tender.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in a bit of sun dried tomato spread if there's any left in the fridge.

It was one of those moments when I wanted my soup to have a little more tomato taste.  I discovered, however, that I was out of additional tomatoes, in any form.  But there was that sun dried tomato spread in the fridge.  What the heck, I thought, and added a bit.  Delicious!

Did you notice?  I didn't put any amounts with the ingredients.  Just note that carrots tend to add sweetness to a dish and go from there.  How much you want to make will determine how much you put into the soup kettle.  Life can be pretty simple.

Loveya
The Mom