Soul soup

I made a trip out to the garden yesterday to find some of my hard work was paid off. 

 

What to do with the beans? Well.....I wanted to can some, saute some, and just plane eat some right off the vine. I wanted some soul food with these beans though. With fall quickly arriving, my mind drifted to a big pot of soup. There's nothing like soup that warms the soul. Our moms all made it when we were sick, even if it was out of a can. The word soup meant, warm, cozy, comforting, and simply yummy. 

I know most of us can make a pot of soup, but can you make it with love? Can you make soup for the soul. Here's mine!

Soul soup

3 cups cooked shredded chicken

2 shallots diced small

2 garlic cloves minced

1 cup fingerling potatoes cut in halve

1 cup carrots diced

1 cup celery diced

2 cups fresh beans cut in 3rds

small bundle thyme

small bundle Italian flat leaf parsley

1/2 lemon zested & 1/2 lemon juiced(the lemon brightens this dish and brings out the flavors)

2 32oz boxes chicken broth(i used pacific northwest organic low sodium)

2 cups whole wheat extra wide no yolk noodles 

2 Tb cream(optional)

salt & pepper

First things first. We had to hit our local farmers market to get the rest of the ingredients.

Actually its's not very local for me, but worth every bit of the drive. The goats were glad we came.

So now that we have our veggies.....oh and maybe I got a coffee, and a fresh donut. We can make soup!

Prepare all your vegetables. 

Heat 2 Tb olive oil in large pot, and add shallot(onion) and garlic. Saute at med heat just until translucent.

Add potatoes, carrots, and celery.

Add a little salt and pepper at this point, and saute for 10 min.

Add beans.

Saute for 5 min, then add lemon zest, lemon juice, herbs, chicken broth, and shredded chicken.

Bring this to a good boil, reduce heat to med and lightly boil for 5 min.

Add noodles.

Add 1 cup of water, and boil for 6-7 min(or to your softness liking)

Remove the herbs,

add the cream if desire.

This makes it so velvety. At this time you can adjust your level of seasoning and add more salt & pepper.

I know there are lots of ways to make chicken soup, but as long as you make it with love, you have Soul soup.