Winter Soup Fresh from Your Garden

Winter is officially here with a vengeance, and a bowl of nice hot soup sounds great right about now! Soup, especially one that’s made from fresh vegetables grown in your garden, has so many benefits. 

• Vegetables that grow and ripen in your garden have more nutrients overall. Store-bought vegetables have to be picked early since they will sit in the produce aisle for a bit, so the pickers figure this into their strategy as they make their selections. 

 

• Recent research shows evidence that there are environmental triggers that occur when you handle the soil and harvest your own vegetables in your garden. There is a bacteria in the soil called Mycobacterium vaccae, which triggers the brain to produce serotonin when you come in contact with the soil. Serotonin is a chemical that makes you feel happy; having a lack of this chemical can make an individual feel depressed.

 

• Just the act of harvesting produces dopamine in the brain. Dopamine gives you that feeling of euphoria, according to research. One naturally releases dopamine for a number of reasons, from exercise and listening to music, to even meditating and performing fun tasks like gardening!

 

• The exercise from gardening is extremely beneficial. Experts say that just 30 minutes of gardening a day will:

1. Strengthen joints
2. Increase your flexibility
3. Lower blood pressure
4. Lower cholesterol levels
5. Lessen your risk for diabetes
6. Help lower any onset of osteoporosis

• Last but not least, gardening is financially beneficial, meaning it’s dirt cheap (no pun intended).

 

 

A Great Homemade Vegetable Soup Recipe

The perfect vegetable soup for a chilly day! This recipe was a great find on The Forked Spoon. It is easy to make to your liking by adding your favorite seasonings and vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
• 6 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 carrots, chopped
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 (14.5 cans) diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt to taste
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning*
• 10 cups vegetable broth
• 3 red potatoes, chopped
• 2 cups green beans, chopped and trimmed
• 1 English cucumber, sliced and quartered
• 1 medium green cabbage, chopped
• Fresh chopped parsley to garnish, suit to taste

 

Instructions: 

1. Take the olive oil, as well as the onions, celery, carrots (mirepoix) and garlic, and saute for 3-4 minutes in a heavy bottom, 8-quart Dutch oven. The mirepoix is a mixture of chopped vegetables cooked quickly in some olive oil or other fat to sweeten and is used in soups and sauces. 
2. Add tomatoes and herbs and salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add the vegetable broth. Increase heat once you add vegetable broth and bring to boil.
3. Add potatoes, green beans, and cucumber. Reduce heat and cover, simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add cabbage slowly and stir to combine all the ingredients. Cover and continue to cook for approximately 20 minutes.
5. Garnish and serve. You can garnish with chopped parsley, green onions, or shredded cheese, suit to taste.

 

*Italian Seasoning Recipe (courtesy Spend With Pennies). You can also purchase Italian seasoning already prepared at any grocery store. 

If you are so inclined, you can try air-drying your own herbs for the Italian seasoning. Spread your leaves or sprigs on a rack or baking tray, then place in a warm spot. Turn the leaves about every 12 hours or so. In about two to three days, the herbs should be dry and crumble when pressed. Once they’re dry, you can hang them in your kitchen and use when needed! 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp dried basil
• 2 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp red chili flakes
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
• Pour into an airtight container and store in a cool pantry or dark place for up to six months.

 

The Italian seasoning is an excellent opportunity to use the herbs you grew in your own garden. Let us know in the comments how your winter soup turned out!