How to Make Hot Soup on a Cold Day

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This late January weather is reminding us we are still in the winter season. Many places have lots of snow and ice. Staying warm can be a problem. What better way to warm up than with a bowl of hot soup?

Today I want to share a thick, veggie-filled soup recipe that will have you chopping and enjoying its rich aroma. So get out your chopping boards, a large soup pot, and lets get to it.

Veggie Chowder (“chowder” means it’s a soup with fish, clams, or vegetables, with potatoes, onions, and other ingredients and seasonings).

1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
5 cups vegetable stock
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
2 cloves chopped garlic
3 large potatoes, peeled and diced
16 oz. frozen corn
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, saute carrots, celery, and onion in butter over medium heat. Onions should be transparent, or clear, and soft. This will take about five minutes.

Add the canned vegetable stock, spices, and garlic. Bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, you can peel and dice the potatoes and add them to the pot. Add the frozen corn and bring mixture back to a boil.

Reduce heat. Stir in the cream and half-and-half and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Do not let this mixture boil, but only let it simmer.

In small bowl, add cornstarch. Slowly add 1/2 cup of water while stirring, keeping it free of lumps until it is very smooth. Then pour this mixture slowly into the hot soup, gently stirring until the soup thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.

Ladle soup into bowls. Add a little chopped parsley for garnish, or chop green onions (with some of the green stem) and sprinkle over top. Mmmm, very tasty.

Now you have soup that took just a little longer than opening a can of commercial soup but just look at the wonderful ingredients you have added! You know what is in your soup. You made it yourself and it tastes great.

For other soup recipes, check out Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids by Amy Houts. In it she provides a wonderful Easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. Check it out!