Hearty Harvest Soup

Hearty Harvest Soup

Kids and your friends will have a radar that picks up on this soup, because they will always show up at just the right time to eat it! 

Ingredients:
 
1 tsp butter
5 stalks celery (diced)
2 med onions (diced)
1 small bag baby carrots (sliced)
1 zucchini (diced)
1 yellow squash (diced) 
3 tbsp garlic (minced)
1lb ham steak (diced)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can chopped spinach (drained very well)
2 whole cloves
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp dill seed
5 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
½ head of cabbage (sliced in to ribbons)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:
 

• In a large stock pot, over medium heat, melt butter then add celery, onions, carrots and sauté for a while till they begin to soften slightly.

• Then add in the zucchini, squash and garlic and cook another few minutes.

• Add in the ham and ½ chicken stock and heat through.

• Stir in the tomatoes, beans, spinach, cloves, mustard seed, dill seed, and the rest of the chicken stock, bring to a gentle boil.

• Stir in cabbage and the rest of the spices, cook until the cabbage begins to wilt down a bit then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Remove lid and allow soup to simmer another 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Serve with crusty bread

Note: This works great in a crock pot too – just toss everything in, set on low for 8 hours and enjoy!