Sloop Soup

Thanks to my dear friend, whom I will call PP ... for reasons she knows ... still one of my most favorite stories in the universe ... I wanted to share with everyone my favorite veggie soup recipe. PP made it for me when I was sick and pregnant, as I recall, and I don't recall much from that time ... it's amazing!!!

Today was a good day ... finally got my permanent crown on my tooth that broke a billion years ago. It's taken me way too long, a root canal, crown lengthening and so on to get it taken care of ... and yes today was the last step! Yipeee! I suppose the dental assistants would have been talking about me ... if they could ... like the Vietnamese pedicure girls ... you know they are talking about your funky feet right in front of you ... only in Vietnamese, so you have no clue. Right? Shoot, if I had to clean toes all day, I'd be talking about them too ... the dental assistants were speaking in Spanish sometimes ... maybe they were discussing my lack of dental care in the last 10 years ... who knows.

So ... a new toof I have ... and I can safely eat a Jelly Belly, or two, without fearing it will come out. Then, I went to work at the Y. I was off from interpreting today ... but got in some good Y time too. I love working there ... not only because I told my boss about my blog today and she may read this at some time and read my entry about working at the Y ... but it's just a great place to be. If only they had full time hours and insurance ... is that still in the works G? :)

I went to the store to get what I needed for Sloop Soup ... made it when I came home ... Caloy and I watched a movie while the kiddies were napping at the same time (both are still coughing and barfing with temps) ... we watched Mr. Woodcock, it was pretty funny ... ate Sloop Soup and had a grand afternoon.

Matthew and I made some Vegan chocolate chip cookies, which are divine ... "How do you make Vegan cookies?" you ask? Same as normal, minus the butter and eggs ... they are yummy! Giradelli's semi-sweet chocolate chips are vegan too.

All together an entirely blessed day. Lord you are so good. Thank you for the soreness in my shoulders today, for my children who fought to stand together on a chair to help me bake, for my husband and his continuing support of my goal of a healthier lifestyle, for my dear friend PP and the Sloop Soup, for the goldfish that are scattered all over the kitchen table and floor which means we have food to eat, and the dishes stacked a mile high in the sink which means I have a home to wash them in ... I am so blessed Lord.

Sloop Soup

• 3 potatoes, chopped (I used 5 small red potatoes and left the skin on)
• 1/2lb of green beans, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion
• Salt and pepper
• 2 quarts veggie broth (or chicken juice)
• 1/2lb zucchini, sliced
• 1 16oz can of kidney beans

Combine the broth, potatoes, green beans, carrots, onion, salt and pepper in a soup pot, bring to a boil, then let it simmer for 10 minutes. Add the zucchini and kidney beans and simmer for another 10 minutes or longer ... till veggies are tender.

• 4 cloves of garlic, mashed
• 1 6oz can of tomato paste
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese (I didn't use this ... but you sure can!)
• 1/2 c. chopped parsley ( I used fresh, but you can use dried)
• 1/4c. olive oil

Mix the garlic, paste, basil, cheese and parsley together. Whisk the oil in slowly. Now ... this is the awesome part ... take this mix and add it to your soup!! It adds all the flavor. It's really great. This soup is actually called Soup Au Pistou ... but I like to call it Sloop Soup. The "Pistou" is the sauce you add in at the end. Serve it with some crusty bread and enjoy.