Monday, January 3, 2011

Rustic Cabbage Soup and New Year's Intentions


  I've made many New Year's resolutions in my lifetime, all with good intentions. A few I've kept, but most I've unfortunately abandoned before the paint was dry on the brand new year.  So this year I've decided to make intentions rather than resolutions. I don't know if they'll stick any better but it certainly won't hurt to try.

  A New Year's Intention to use up food that I have in my freezer/ refrigerator/ pantry before I buy more led to this rustic soup. Another New Year's Intention- to eat more vegetables- fueled my search at 101 Cookbooks, a favorite website of one of my sons. I had cabbage that my brother had given me, curiously pink potatoes from the grocery store, and way too many cans of beans in the pantry.

 All of these made up into a hearty "peasant" soup loaded with veggies. I topped it with a drizzle of good olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese (which you could leave off if you'd rather go the vegetarian route.) Some good crusty bread and a green salad rounded out a delectable (if not photogenic) supper for the two of us.

  Contrary to what it may look like here recently, I have not totally given up meat. I've just put it on the "back burner" for a while, so to speak. I definitely haven't given up on treats either- just trying to eat my veggies first like my mama always told me. :)

Rustic Cabbage Soup
slightly adapted from this recipe from 101 Cookbooks
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt (I used only a small pinch- feel free to use more if you aren't on a salt restricted diet.)
1/2 to 3/4 lb. potatoes, skins on, cut into 1/4 inch dice
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 large sweet onion, sliced or chopped
4-5 cups stock (your favorite)
1 1/2 cups cooked white beans (or a can of white beans, drained and rinsed)
1/2 medium cabbage, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch ribbons
optional
2-3 dried red chili peppers
good quality olive oil for drizzling over top
grated Parmesan cheese
freshly grated black pepper to taste

Directions
  • Heat 1 Tblsp. olive oil in a soup pot. Stir in pinch of salt and potatoes. Cook with the lid on until potatoes are beginning to get tender, about 5 minutes, stirring every once in a while to keep them from sticking.
  •  Add onions and garlic. Cook another few minutes until onions are translucent.
  • Add the stock and beans and bring to a simmer. (Add chili peppers if desired.)
  • Add the cabbage and cook another few minutes until the cabbage is tender.
  • Adjust the seasonings. Add salt and pepper if needed.
  • Remove hot peppers and serve with a drizzle of olive oil and grated parmesan (if desired.)

This post has been added to the  Hearth 'n Soul Blog Hop at girlichef.

43 comments:

  1. I'm completely with you on using up food before buying more concept! This soup looks great! I wonder if I could substitute Brussels sprouts for the cabbage...

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  2. I absolutely LOVE cabbage and I WILL be making this soup. Sounds like the perfect winter meal to me.

    And I think you're spot on making 'intentions' rather than resolutions. I think we're innately designed to rebel or resent anything we resolve to do, but when we give ourselves the option, such as with an intention, we're more likely to follow through.

    I'm gonna steal that idea of yours, I like it so much!

    I wish you a very Happy, well intended New Year.

    P.S. Thank you so much for your words of support. It means a lot to me. =) <3

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  3. Great recipe, I love it! I found your blog on the H&S hop and I am now following you. Please follow me back at Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

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  4. That's it! Intentions sounds better than resolutions, which I never follow! So this year, just like you, there's no resolutions for me! My intention for this year is do not overstock! This will definitely eliminate wastage and easier on the budget too! Your soup looks wonderful. Have a lovely day.

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  5. I didn't make any definite resolutions this year but I do have several goals set. Your soup looks hearty, comforting and completely delicious! I love your soup cup too!!

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  6. Even though you think it isn't photogenic, I think it is! It looks so yummy packed with those healthy ingredients.

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  7. This looks great to me! Beans and cabbage, two of my favorite things! Best of luck with your 2011 intentions:@)

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  8. Love that idea; my freezer is a shamble after the holdays. Hope you don't mind,but I will follow your great resolution; I really need to do this. Your soup looks so good.

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  9. I'm embarking on basically the same resolution, so here's to a healthy new year! This soup looks delicious! 101 Cookbooks is one of my go-tos for when I want to stuff myself full of nutritious things.

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  10. I like intentions...I think their easier to follow through (since they don't have the stigma that "resolutions" do). And I love peasant soups...my fave kind :D

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  11. p.s...thanks for sharing this with the hearth and soul hop this week!

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  12. This rustic cabbage soup sounds wonderful. I would welcome it for any lunch or dinner. A great way to start the new year! xo

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  13. I like the word "intentions" so much better than "resolutions." I love cabbage and this soup will help me with my intention to eat better in the coming year.

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  14. I'm simple loving all the soup recipes! This one is unusual and looks fabulous!
    And yes, intentions are much better than resolutions! :)

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  15. i was just talking to someone about making cabbage soup- looks perfect!

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  16. Have you been bugging my brain waves? I decided that I needed to use my my freezer contents as well. I want my fridge and freezer to actually have some breathing room in them (oh yeah...some breathing room in my pants this year too). This soup sounds delicious in it simplicity.

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  17. This looks SO flavorful and comforting! I'm definitely in the soup mood today :)

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  18. Oh Betty, this soup looks delicious, warm and full of flavor! Thank you for sharing it, as well as your New Year's intentions! Here's hoping we can all stick our intentions this year!

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  19. We love anything Cabbage and your Cabbage Soup recipe looks very good. Thank you for sharing and you have a great week!

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  20. Mmmm! I love how sweet the cabbage gets in soup. Thank you for sharing this, I'm looking forward to making it!

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  21. What a lovely soup. I share your resolve to use up what's in the pantry and freezer. Sometimes it's easier said than done, but we try :-). Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  22. I need to join you on the freezer/pantry quest and this recipe looks like the perfect place to start since I think I have everything on hand! By the way, I love your take on resolutions...intentions seem to work a bit better for me too. Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year!

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  23. I pot of yummie stuff...this cabbage soup may not look pretty for you but it sure sounds very tasty :-) Happy New Year!

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  24. This looks so yummy - no my hubby would love it!

    Susan www.ugogrr.com

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  25. Yes, I love your intention. I set a goal a couple months ago to clean out my freezer by the end of the year. Did not work. I think I need some teenagers in the house again to eat all my food. Anyway, I like that your soup has beans in it. Have lots of those in my pantry too.

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  26. This looks fabulous for a little bit of post-holiday detox :) I totally need to clean out my pantry and figure out what I have!

    Sues

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  27. I enjoyed reading your resolution to use up what you already have in your pantry/freezer. I need to follow your lead! This soup looks rustic, flavorful and filling. Thank you for sharing this bowl of wholesome goodness. I hope you have a beautiful Hump Day!

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  28. I like that idea a lot! I started doing that but quit soon after but I really should as I could end up with something as delicious as this! :D

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  29. Intentions are good...I've got goals that I want to achieve for this year and one of them is making your soup! Looks great and thanks sharing with the Hearth and Soul hop.

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  30. i love this soup already! sounds so yummy and comforting ..it's perfect on a cold night like this. thanks for sharing it.

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  31. I like the idea of intentions..lol I definitely need to be eating more things like this. It looks delicious:)

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  32. mmm i really do like cabbage and this sounds great!

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  33. Yay for soup!!! This looks yummy - I love beans in soup... U must be a good cook because it takes one to be able to cook from the pantry! Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  34. I love the idea of eating more vegetables. This soup is delicious and comforting.

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  35. I'm guilty about my freezer too; I tends to buy lots of frozen items and forgot about them. I like your new year resolution and hope my boy will eat more vege this year :D Your soup is a great idea.

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  36. Lovely cabbage soup. My family loves cabbage. We cook it in all sorts of ways. Soup is the best at this time of the year :D

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  37. I love rustic dishes especially soups...and really love this soup! My freezer is doing ok, but my pantry is an entire different story, yikes

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  38. Now I have to ask myself when I last time eat the cabbage soup....yours looks so comforting and warm.

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  39. I think that rustic soups are best, because they are the ones that taste best when you are tired and cold and don't want any fussiness. Thanks for sharing your creation with the Hearth and Soul hop.

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  40. Glad you just did it! Way you use up what you have... makes you feel good eh?! I just purchased a cabbage.... as we have not eaten one since.... I can't remember - I will have to start chopping! - xoxo megs

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  41. Replacing the word resolution by the 'intention' one is brilliant. I get the feeling that most of us who have put way too much pressure on oursleves in the past...are now much wiser in bettering our lives...especially our health through selective menus. I'm not giving up treats...I'm just choosing quality over quantity ;0)

    Thanks for this rustic cabbage soup goodness...one I shall try to incorporate into my weekly soup pots ;o)

    Betty...here's wishing you all the very best in this newest year.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  42. wow this soup looks amazing! It is snowing so hard here in NYC today..... I could totally go for a bowl of that!

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  43. We love this kind of soup, especially in our cold winter evenings. I've been trying to use things up in the refrigerator, freezer and pantry. Of course I'm easily enticed to purchase new foodstuffs from the grocery store.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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Thanks for stopping by scrambled hen fruit! I appreciate all of your comments and look forward to reading them.

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