My mom loves to make vegetable soup in the winter or if there is a slight chill in the air. I really like her vegetable soup but when I cannot get to her house I have to make my own soup. Usually, I make chicken corn chowder or some version of chicken noodle soup. Today, I thought I would try my hand at creating my own vegetable soup. Besides, it was a cold snowy day and I couldn’t get to my mom’s house.

My version of vegetable soup (Dee’s Veggie Soup) did not include any meat. My mom uses ham or smoked meats to help season her soup. I wanted mine to be purely vegetarian. The natural sweetness of the vegetables along with a few choice seasonings gave the soup the punch of flavor I desired. As for the vegetables I used in the soup, they were both traditional and non-traditional. Like my mom I used tomatoes, onions and cut green beans. But, instead of adding celery and peas I used sliced fennel and kale. I also used a can of creamed corn to make the soup a little more savory.

Dee’s Veggie Soup had several depths of flavor from the mix of vegetables and seasonings. I thought it was delicious and the soup definitely took the chill out of my bones. Hubby liked the soup too. Once he started dipping into his bowl of soup I don’t think he stopped until it was all gone. To me, that is one of the nicest compliments you can get when you cook.

Dee’s Veggie Soup

Ingredients:
1 small fennel bulb sliced (white part only)
1 small bunch of curly kale chopped
1 small onion diced
1 ½ cups cut french green beans
1 14 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
1 14 oz can creamed corn
2 14 oz cans small white beans drained and rinsed
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp parsley (fresh or dried)
32 oz chicken stock
32 oz water

Place all ingredients except for kale into a large pot over medium heat. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add kale. Stir and simmer for an additional 30 to 45 minutes until kale is tender.