"Freezer" Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
Fresh Ingredients: 2 chopped onions, 2 stalks chopped celery, 2 peeled, diced carrots, 1 baking potato, peeled and diced
Fresh, frozen or canned ingredients: 2-3 cups vegetable stock/broth,1 can (14 1/2 ounce) diced tomatoes,1/2 cup chopped okra,Your choice of 1/2 cup each corn, peas, beans (lima, green, navy, kidney)
1-3 Tablespoons cooking oil
1-2 Bay Leaves
Salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste
Other options to add, especially if you’re cleaning out your freezer and pantry: pasta, rice, barley, turnip roots, ground beef or turkey
Instructions
Preheat oil over medium-high heat in a large (6 quart +) stainless steel pan or dutch oven. If using raw or ground meat, first sauté this until cooked thoroughly.
Add fresh ingredients, more oil if necessary, and saute until translucent, about 6-8 minutes.
Deglaze with vegetable stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add tomatoes, other canned ingredients, leftover meat, bones and seasonings to taste. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat to low. Simmer partly covered, for 1-2 hours.
If using okra, add this about 1/2 hour before serving. This is a good use for okra that has been cut into coins and frozen during the growing season.
Check seasonings and adjust if necessary before serving.
Serve with warm, homemade cornbread. Enjoy!