Clean-Out-The-Fridge Soup

One of my new adventures in the kitchen is what I call Clean-Out-The-Fridge Soup. The kids call it "Happy Soup", though I'm not sure why. I think the name says it all. Basically, I dig through the produce drawers and see what we have and then toss it into the pot. We had this soup for dinner tonight and it was fabulous. While we were eating, we counted 10 vegetables, 6 herbs and then salt and broth. Yummy. Here's the recipe. There are no measurements. I just use what I have and pour in more broth or water if it needs more.

Clean-Out-The-Fridge Soup 08Nov2009 (you know, since it's different every time, you have to put the date)

I quart jar of tomatoes, liquid and all (home canned)

4 carrots of random size

2 yukon gold potatoes (technically not from the fridge)

3 regular russet potatoes

1 yellow onion

1 bunch of rapini (also called broccoli raab)

1 part of a bunch of spinach

1/2 head (bunch?) baby bok choy

1/2 head napa cabbage

2 turnips

green beans, snapped into bite size pieces

fresh sage, thyme, mint oregano, cilantro, parsley

3 or 4 bulbs of garlic

As for preparation, I cooked the chopped onion and garlic in some olive oil, then tossed in all the leafy green stuff with a little bit of broth and steamed them all so the leaves wouldn't be so bulky. Then I chopped up all the rest of the stuff and tossed it in with a carton of chicken broth and some water. I just took a bowl, put some water in it and poured it in. Nothing fancy. Then I went about doing other things until the veggies were tender. Then we ate it!

It was so filling, none of the kids could eat a second bowl, and they always have seconds of the soup. I had a bowl and then a little more, but couldn't eat any more. It's been an hour and a half, and I'm still full.

Anyway, that's all the excitement in my kitchen! Don't be afraid of soup, just throw some veggies, herbs and salt in a pot with some water and broth and cook it.

Variations: sometimes I'll throw in some chicken, or a can of beans, or some other canned thing if there isn't enough in the fridge to make a whole pot of soup. This soup is great in the fall when you can leave a pot of soup slowly simmering for a long time and not worry about your kitchen turning into an oven.