(Lov) // Autumn Vegetable Soup

We had our first cold front of the season today (it didn't get above 75) and I was SO inspired that I decided  to whip up a yummy soup using a bunch of the fall vegetables we received in our CSA basket on Saturday! It turned out EXACTLY as I had hoped (spicy, hearty, and a tiny bit sweet) and it totally hit the "I want to celebrate fall in everything I do" spot.  Here is the recipe, including step-by-step instructions (with pictures) on how YOU TOO can make this lovely Autumn Vegetable Soup:  

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium sized onion
• 2 cloves of mince garlic
• 2 sweet peppers finely chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped
• 2 cups of sliced mushrooms 
• 6 cups of chicken broth
• 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
• 1 bunch of chopped kale
• 1 can (15 ounces) white beans (I used Cannellini beans) drained and rinsed
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon of brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger  (or to taste)
• a dash of ground clove (you shouldn't need much more than a dash)

If you are wanting to make this a vegetarian soup, use vegetable broth instead of chicken. If you are wanting to add meat and make this soup EXTRA AWESOME, I would suggest adding 8 to 12 ounces of a smoked sausage... thinly sliced. 

Instructions: 

In a dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add onions, garlic, and peppers (sausage if using) and saute until onions begin to tender.

Add mushrooms and continue to saute until mushrooms begin to brown.  

Then add 4 cups of chicken broth (1 box).

  

Add sweet potatoes.

Bring to a boil and let cook until potatoes are tender.

Reduce heat to medium-low and add the kale and spices. 

Once the kale is wilted a bit, add the remaining 2 cups of chicken broth and the beans.

Give it a good stir and then put the lid on!  

Let the soup simmer on medium- low heat for about 20-25 min. Taste frequently and adjust spices to your liking! Once perfect, set to low and enjoy whenever the smell become to powerful to resist!

I served mine with corn bread that I was forced to make on the stove top in a cast iron skillet because our oven is not working properly. This was a first for me, and I have to admit I was kind of shocked how good it actually turned out!  I followed these instructions that I found online and think I might just be switching to this method and recipe even once our oven is repaired. SO good!

I hope you have as much fun with this recipe as I did playing with my salt and pepper shakers...

And that your husband gives you a similar look of approval for making "such a fine meal".  

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // Fresh LOCAL Food.

My family joined a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) today! Johnson's Backyard Garden is a CSA where members pay in advance for a share of the upcoming harvest and are ensured high-quality local produce. Each week, the produce is harvested from the farm and delivered to a pick up location (ours is at the local farmers market) every Saturday morning! Take a look at what was in last week's box:

Source

They grow over 60 different types of vegetables and herbs, and each week, members receive a half-bushel box with a variety of 8-12 seasonal, organically grown vegetables, fruits and herbs. All of the vegetables in our CSA shares come directly from Johnson's Backyard Garden. 

The contents of each week's box can be found on there home page, and recipes using those items are included in our weekly blog posts! My husband and I love the idea of never knowing what exactly we will get... encouraging us to get a bit more creative with our meals and snacks.  

We made a commitment earlier this year to improving the quality of our food... only buying organic and local when possible... and, as you may know, this can get SUPER expensive.  By utilizing a CSA (it's only $33 per box) we will be getting a far better selection of fresh (and seasonal) produce than our local Grocery Store can offer. 

I can't wait till Saturday!

(Lov)e,

-k.  

What is Community Supported Agriculture?

Community Supported Agriculture is a direct partnership between the consumer and the farmer. CSA members pay in advance for a share of the upcoming harvest and are ensured high-quality local produce, and the farmer is ensured a consistent market. Produce is harvested from the farm and delivered to our members' neighborhoods all on the same day.  

What is Community Supported Agriculture?

Community Supported Agriculture is a direct partnership between the consumer and the farmer. CSA members pay in advance for a share of the upcoming harvest and are ensured high-quality local produce, and the farmer is ensured a consistent market. Produce is harvested from the farm and delivered to our members' neighborhoods all on the same day.