My veggie purchases also yielded extra for a few soups.  We like soup for lunch, so I usually make then weekly. The cabbage and broccoli were large enough for a few meals. Don’t forget some healthy bread to go with these meals.

Italian Beef and Cabbage Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup shredded carrot
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 head of green cabbage
2 cups green beans, cut into one-inch lengths
2 cups diced Italian tomatoes (with liquid)
6 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Italian dried seasoning
2 medium bay leaves
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chili)

Directions

Remove 8 outer layers of cabbage leaves and reserve for stuffed cabbage.

Cut the remaining head in half. Reserve half of the cabbage for coleslaw or for a side dish of sautéed cabbage. Shred the remaining half for the soup.

Heat the oil in a Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onions. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften.

Add ground beef to the pan. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until the beef is browned.

Add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Season with more salt and/or pepper to taste.

Cover the pan and simmer the soup on low for 45-60 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Creamy Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Soup

Serves 6

1 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 head of cauliflower, core removed and chopped into small florets
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon dry mustard
4 cups of chicken broth or vegetable broth
4 cups broccoli fresh florets, chopped, divided
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Sauté until the onions are tender, about 4-5 minutes.

Add the cauliflower, half of the chopped broccoli, dry mustard, cayenne and salt and pepper and saute for a minute or two.

Add the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes, or until the cauliflower is very tender.

Use an immersion blender, or transfer the mixture to a blender, and puree until smooth and creamy.

Return the soup to the pot over medium heat and add the remaining broccoli. Bring to simmer and cook 25-30 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender.

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cheese a little at a time until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Add the cream if you want it creamy and warm through. Do not boil.

Sourdough Oat Round

Delicious with soup.

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

3/4 cup oat flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats or steel-cut oats
2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup firm sourdough starter

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl or an electric mixer bowl. Mix either by hand or with the electric mixer’s paddle attachment until well combined.

Move the dough to one side of the bowl and spray with olive oil cooking spray. Repeat with the other side of the dough. Cover the bowl and let rise for 18 hours.

After 18 hours turn dough onto well floured surface and gently flatten enough to fold dough back onto itself a couple of times to form a roundish blob.

Take a sheet of parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. Place the dough in the middle of the sheet of parchment.

Let the dough rest while the oven is preheating.

Turn the oven to 500 degrees F and place a stone baking vessel on a low rack.

When the oven reaches 500 degrees F remove the baking vessel and turn down the oven to 450 degrees F.

Using the parchment as a sling, gently lower the sling containing the dough into the preheated baker, leaving the parchment in place.

Be careful not to touch the baker as it is very hot!

Place the lid on the baker and put the baker into the oven.

Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on. After 30 minutes remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Remove the baker from oven. The bread will still bake if left in the hot baker. So very carefully lift out the bread with the parchment.

Discard the parchment and cool the bread on a rack for about 2 hours.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in Beef, Bread, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Cheese, green beans, Healthy Italian Cooking, Soup, sourdough, Vegetables Tags: creamy broccoli cheddar soup, Italian beef and cabbage soup, soups made with winter produce