scrumptious italian tomato vegetable soup

How To Make scrumptious italian tomato vegetable soup

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  Family History: It’s a cold day in Chicago, and as the Winter sun begins its early race to the horizon, like an old plough horse anxious to return to the barn. We trundle back to my Aunt Josephine’s home. In the mudroom we’re instructed to take off our coats, gloves, and boots. I’ve been outside most of the afternoon, playing in the snow. We made snow forts, and had snowball fights with the neighbor’s kids. I’m covered in wet snow from head-to-foot, and I shake it off in much the same way our dog might shake off water after an unauthorized swim in the pond. My fingertips and toes are numb from the cold; but I don’t care, it’s been a fun day. We’re ushered into the great room where an inviting fire is roaring in the main fireplace, and I warm my extremities by the crackling fire. But I smell something coming from the kitchen… It’s Aunt Josephine’s soup, filling the air with its perfume. I run to the kitchen… beating out all my competition. There in the glow of the kitchen fireplace I see several loaves of homemade Italian bread, and a huge pot of Aunt Josephine’s soup… I am SO ready to eat.
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  Gather your ingredients.
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  Chef’s Note: If you are using fresh tomatoes, then blanch, peel, and cut into quarters.
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  Chef’s Note: If you can get fresh tomatoes that’s brilliant; however, it’s kind of hard to get fresh tomatoes in the middle of Winter.
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  Add the olive oil to a large soup pot, over medium heat.
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  When the oil begins to shimmer, add the onions and shallots.
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  Stir continuously until the onions begin to soften, but not brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
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  Add the mushrooms, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
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  Chef’s Note: Make sure you thoroughly wash your veggies before adding them to the pot. That’s common sense, but sometimes forgotten.
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  Stir for an additional 5 minutes, or until veggies begin to release their moisture.
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  Chef’s Note: At no time in this process should you allow the veggies to brown.
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  Add the tomato paste, and ketchup,
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  Stir to combine.
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  Add the chicken stock and tomatoes.
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  Stir to combine.
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  Chef’s Tip: If you want to make this vegetarian, you could use some good vegetable stock, or even plain filtered water.
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  Add the thyme, basil, oregano, cayenne, and honey.
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  Stir to combine.
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  Chef’s Tip: If the temps are really hitting rock bottom, you just might want to add a bit more cayenne… just a suggestion.
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  Chef’s Note: The cayenne is what brings the warmth to this soup.
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  Cover, and let simmer for 45 minutes.
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  Every 15 minutes, open the lid and give it a stir, and then taste. Add additional salt and/or pepper, if needed.
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  Chef’s Note: Remember that salting a dish at the end makes it taste salty… salting while cooking makes it tastes seasoned.
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  Garnish with some thinly sliced mushrooms, and maybe a bit of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (why not). Enjoy.
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  Enjoy around a fire pit or the fireplace on a cold evening when the the snow is gently falling out of a cold gray sky. Remember: Friends don't let friends eat alone.
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  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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