One of the many ways to use vegetables from your garden. My wedding gift from my grandmother, the farmer’s wife, was an orange contraption like this one. I joked that she must think I could cook. I think everyone in my family new I liked to garden, cook and preserve food.
That orange contraption sliced veggies in a hurry, which is very helpful when you are getting veggies ready to cook or preserve. It lasted until our 35th anniversary, when I finally had to pitch it. By the next summer, Charles brought this white one home. So I never went without.
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Navy Beans
- Corn
- Peas
- Celery
This list is the beginning. Start with a couple inches of water in the pot and turn it on low. Cut the veggies up in the order listed and add each to the pot as you go. This list is in order from carrots which take the longest to cook, to peas which take the smallest amount of time. There are many other things you can add depending on what you like. Some people like beef in theirs. If that is the case then brown your beef in the same pot and add the water after it is browned.
Keep the fire, or burner if you cook with electric, on low until everything has been added. Some people like other beans added. Any kind you like will work, but they need to be precooked. I know people that like to add cauliflower and broccoli. Others like different types of squash. Just add any veggies you like after the first three ingredients. Turn the heat up to medium and keep an eye on it so the water does not totally evaporate. You can add a little if you need to. The idea is not having enough water that you need to drain any off. A lot of the nutrition ends up in that water, so you want to keep it as part of your broth. Once the veggies are tender, add tomatoes or tomato juice, which ever you prefer. Turn the heat back on low and let the tomatoes get hot.
The best thing about this soup is that you can make it with whatever you have on hand and make as much or as little as you like. Make it a little different every time if you want and use up leftovers. If you are using precooked left over Veggies add them at the last. Leftover beef can be added at the beginning.