I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
I’ve been struggling with my veggie consumption lately, unless of course you count pizza (I don’t) or French fries. Now we’re talking. Hello potatoes; come to Mama.
I’ve decided to blame the changing seasons for my sudden lackluster ways. Clearly, it can’t be me or the mass amounts of produce I consumed all summer long. It’s not like I’ve been known to overdo it or anything (cough, cough).
I recognize it’s only been a week since we swapped out Summer for Fall and it’s possible my veggie loving has been declining for longer than that. No matter. “Details, schmetails,” I always say.
I’ve been a little lazy lately in the kitchen as well. I like to call it nesting or perhaps simply simplicity.
Either way, I’m holding the changing of the guards responsible, which might lead you to believe Fall and I are not friends. Or perhaps you’re super impressed with my ignorance is bliss philosophy and envy my avoidance techniques. In the words of my good friend Shaggy, ♫ wasn’t me. ♫
Truth be told, I adore Fall.
Of course, I’m already missing my summer succulents, and I fully intend to buy raspberries in the middle of December. Gasp, off-season produce; I know, I know, the horror! Thankfully, I have a plethora of blueberries in my basement freezer, which will help offset my raspberry shame. See, it’s always about balance, seasons included.
Here’s the thing. By the time the last summer sun has set, I feel a little weathered and worn out, which is why I’m beyond ready for Fall.
Fall is more to me than pumpkin spice everything, knee-high boots and chunky scarves, mainly because I’ve never been able to style those damn things. The end result is reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie, with the knitwear swallowing my little pea head whole.
Fall means we scale back.
We embrace the cooler temperatures and the slower pace.
We nest. We simplify.
We sleep more.
We spend long hours horizontal in front of a fireplace with a great book and maple sugar candies.
During the Fall, we relax.
We rest. We rejuvenate. We recharge.
After a summer of sun and socializing, we crave quiet.
We crave nourishment.
We crave warmth and comfort.
We crave soup.
Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes to be exact.
This soup packs a bounty of fresh produce into one dish (Take that lackluster veggie loving ways). The roasted tomatoes and corn bring depth to the broth and flavor to the bowl. It’s filled out with potatoes (spud love!) carrots, onions, green beans, bell peppers and Great Northern Beans (because protein Bro) making it a full on, finger-licking, booty-shaking, mouth-quaking, meal, also known as Fall in a bowl.
- 8 Roasted Tomatoes or two 15 ounce cans of Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- Olive Oil (for roasting the tomatoes)
- Garlic (for roasting the tomatoes)
- Dried Oregano and Basil (for roasting the tomatoes)
- 4 cups of Vegetable Stock
- 3 large Red Skinned Potatoes, diced
- 1 1/2 cups Green Beans, cut into 1 inch pieces.
- 1 large Shallot, minced
- 1 small Yellow Onion, minced
- 2 ears of Corn, shucked, grilled (optional) and scrapped off the cob.
- 1 Bell Pepper, minced
- 3 large Carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh Parsley, minced
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Pepper
- 1/2 tsp. Red Pepper
- 1 Tbsp. Honey (Optional)**
- 1 15 ounce can of Great Northern Beans, liquid drained.
- To roast the tomatoes, cut them in half and place them cut side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Top them with olive oil, crushed garlic, and dried basil and oregano. Roast them in the oven at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. I do this step the night before or even days ahead of time. Refrigerate the tomatoes and all liquid until you're ready to use.
- Add the roasted tomatoes and liquid to a large pot. Use an immersion blender (or an actual blender if you prefer) to break the tomatoes down.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the Great Northern beans, to the pot, everything from the vegetable stock to the honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
- Let simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. With 30 minutes remaining, add your Great Northern Beans.
- Taste, taste, taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.
- I used whatever vegetables and beans I had on hand. Feel free to mix and match with your favorite veggies.
- **If you find the soup is sweet enough as is, you can skip the honey altogether.
Are you ready for Fall too? Tell me about it. What are your favorite things about this season, excluding of course the dreaded, over-hyped, much ado about nothing, pumpkin? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
You’ve sold me on this soup – craving it now! I have to do off season produce too, and not just so my kids can have their strawberries. I just want all the produce all the time 🙂
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Ultimate Soft and Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
I know, I can’t give up my berries in the wintertime, although I typically do a better job of freezing them so I won’t have to.
Meghan recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I froze a flat of or organic black rasberries. I’ll let you have some
I would love that. It is much appreciated. Thanks MOM!
My morning routine includes browsing all of the blogs I follow before I even get out of bed. So, this morning I knew I was going to a farm market and that I wanted to make soup. I went through all of my vegan blogs and found a lot of great recipes but no soup that inspired me. Before I was done I remembered that I hadn’t checked in with your blog to see if you’d posted. You probably guessed the punch line, I found my soup inspiration (sans honey but nbd). So as soon as I get this sleeping cat off of my lap I’m off to the market. Yay! Have a good weekend.
The sleeping cats are the hardest to move, mainly because I never want to disturb them.
I hope you made the soup. I’d love to hear what you think. You could always use a spoonful of sugar instead of the honey. I wanted to add a touch of sweetness to offset the acidity of the tomatoes.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
The soup was absolutely fantastic, one of the best I’ve ever made and I make a LOT of soup. The huge pot was gone in three days and I ate all but one bowl myself. The corn was so sweet that it did the trick without any added sweetener.
I am tickled pink to hear this. I’m so glad you loved it as much as me.
THANK YOU for taking the time to come back and let me know what you thought. I very much appreciate it, and I’ll also add a note to the recipe section, letting folks know the honey is optional, based on acidity. YOU ROCK!
I was so over pumpkin before everyone else even saw it. It is just another way to get consumers to spend more money on crap. I love making homemade soups, you will always have leftovers too. I am ready for leaves and candles. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
bakingrunner.blogspot.com
Well said!! Pumpkin feels like a hallmark food, just like Sweetus Day is a hallmark holiday.
Leaves and candles. I love it. Great answers. I snagged some beautiful leaves while on a walk recently.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
But I saw you banging on the sofa! I even caught you in the shower. Ha. Nobody’s going to get that if they don’t know the song, and I’m going to come across even more pervy than usual. Sigh… anyway… favourite Fall stuff? I guess I really just enjoy making/eating things that are hot without getting all sweaty. Wow, I’m romantic.
Suzy recently posted…Blended Family Friday: Tornado Warning
It always makes me happy when you get my weird little song references. We really need to hang out one day. We can drink and eat salads with a side of French fries.
Also, that’s my kind of romance right there.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I actually really feel like we’d compliment each other like yin and yang. Well, you’d be better for me than I’d be for you, but hey. It’s all about me. But seriously, I can feeeeel it. I just know you’d bring more health, and self-acceptance, and balance into my life. You’d challenge me to face my demons and overcome them, with the strength you see inside of me, and quite honestly, that freaks me out, which is why there’s a large part of me that wants to avoid you, but a larger part of me that craves your amazing Self because we all feel the pull toward balance, and peace. Right? No, I’m not high. I can be serious sometimes too. But anyway, you’re an amazingly strong woman. A life-changer. I’m so glad to know you, and I love your writing. You’re not just gifted with the ability to string words together but you’ve got a solid muscle of wisdom behind that kick. Keep it up, don’t ever stop. Holy shit where did that all come from.
Suzy recently posted…Team inSlane
Hooray for the comeback of comfort food! The colder season screams for all kinds of stews, casseroles and also soups.
Despite that I could eat the whole pan of roasted tomatoes with all the garlic and wouldn’t need anything else. Give me some bread to mop up the liquid and I am in heaven! And don’t get me started on the corn. The corn you get around here is NOTHING compared to the corn in the USA.
My favorite things about autumn are definitely scarfs, morning fog, hot chocolate and the comeback of Bailey’s. Also the autumn mood matches my emotional climate. I breath easier this time of the year if this makes sense.
At the moment we’re in the awkwast transition phase with ice cold mornings but pretty warm days where you never know how to dress. I am already looking forward to the colder days.
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Spicy Chili con Carne
I actually roast tomatoes that way all the time and then I blend them and freeze it for future pizza sauce. I did another batch today in fact.
The Hubby drinks Bailey’s year round. 🙂
I’m looking forward to hot chocolate and morning mist too. So pretty and comforting.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I have to admit I do love my pumpkin, but for a long time I liked heading to the pumpkin patch to get one for our front porch more than I did eating it. Even now, I love the baked goodies, but cannot fathom the cult of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. This may be because while I enjoy flavored coffee, I like it dark with a hint of raw sugar. No milk, no froth, no fuss, no muss. None of this kerfluffle for me, please and thank you.
Alyssa @ Renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…Pumpkin Puffins
Kerfluffle! What a great word. I need to use that. 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
Just reading this post makes me want to snuggle in and hibernate. I made a (quite delicious, if I do say so myself) roasted tomato soup with the last of the heirlooms from my garden yesterday. Now I’m dreaming of a soup inception in which I make your Hearty Vegetable Soup using my roasted tomato broth…also, it’s lunchtime and I’m starving.
I love roasted tomato soup too. I wish I could have had a bowlful of yours. I bet it was fantastic!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
Okay I gotta say that I purposely dress like Tim Burton characters… Problem? 🙂
I am very close with my dark side, the good witch in me luvvvvvvs the orange leaves and howling at the moon. My great grandmother loved this time of year and since she left this world on Halloween morning, I celebrate life and also death. I know I know I’m sounding whoowhoo but I can’t help it. Nostalgia surrounds me and draws me even closer when the winds turn chilling.
Soup is always a nice idea. For some odd reason I’m obsessed with broccoli florets that I fry in coconut oil with chili flakes and sea salt. Simple but crazy wicked good. Happy happy yum yum.
Danielle recently posted…the bright side
You should turn those sautéed broccoli florets into soup. 🙂
Also, I adore this sentence: “Nostalgia surrounds me and draws me even closer when the winds turn chilling.”
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I love roasted tomatoes! I love fall even though I wasn’t so ready for summer to end, mainly because the routine of school, Hebrew school and homework just isn’t as appealing as our summer fun and freedom.
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…taper week workout recap
I don’t blame you for that. If summer means freedom, I’d want it year round.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I’m ready for fall by the time winter starts each year, it’s just my favorite. This post reminded me I never tried those maple candies!! SO SAD! They would be the perfect end to this meal.
Brittany recently posted…Americas Most Beautiful Farm
I still have some of those maple candies so you’ll just have to come back and get some.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I’m looking forward to a bowl of oatmeal–having the first one of the season for dinner, as a matter of fact.
I think it is hilarious that you cut your tomatoes in half polar opposite of me. I cut through the stem. I was so confused looking at that gorgeous photo even though it does remind me that I need to see if my neighbor has contacted someone to resurface our driveways.
Thanks, love, hunker down and snuggle up.
Kirsten recently posted…Jujube Butter Oatmeal Bars
I always cut them horizontally, especially when I make Caprese salad. You get the prettiest looking layers. 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I love fall because it brings comfort food. I just ate a bowl (and a half) of chili plus cornbread. There will be lots more of the same. This soup would be a lovely companion to my cornbread!
However, I am a diehard summer girl. Give me the heat!
Kate recently posted…Fast Friday
Mmm you had me at cornbread. I need some of that for sure!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
Haha I’m loving fall but probably because I can cram in more veggies via soups. My chopping skills were lazy this summer. But this looks totally legit. As always
Lazy chopping days are what food processors are for. 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
ya and i broke mine. haha
This post just made me want to snuggle up on the couch with Vegas. And a pizza. TOMATO sauce. Duh.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Spicy Pumpkin Chicken Salad [Recipe]
Now I want veggies, pizza and soup. Yes, it sounds perfect with a side of beer.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
I used to absolutely hate vegetable soup, but I think I’m coming around because this sounds amazing. And I’m addicted to fire roasted tomatoes, but I get those in a can. 🙂
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut recently posted…Should We Aim to Feel SORE After Every Workout?
This soup will totally sway you and change your mind. I promise even if you use the fire roasted tomatoes from the can.
Secret: I add them to chili all the time. 🙂
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
YES. ME TOO!! (so excited about chili!)
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut recently posted…Midyear Blog Survey Results 2015 [ and why you should do one on your blog ]
Lol I swear that your pumpkin hating ways are rubbing off on me. I haven’t really touched pumpkin anything lately, and I’m trying to think outside the box and play with other flavours this season. I hope it works. And all those things you said about fall are what I love most about it as well. Summer is nice, but it’s too fast-paced and do ALL the things for me. I like the peace and quiet of fall, and how cozy and relaxed everything feels. I just hope it lasts for more than 2 weeks, because we’ve already got plenty of naked trees around these parts.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. thinking out loud #150 .
This is a wonderful example of how I’m a fabulous influence. Down with the pumpkin, long love the apple!!
I’m looking forward to enjoy Fall with you. It’s the perfect season for you to be here. Also, we still have lots of green so we should be safe on the changing leaf front.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Hearty Vegetable Soup with Roasted Tomatoes
This seems like the perfect soup to make when you want to have a day indoors and you can sit and read a good book with a glass of red… The house filling with the delicious smell as it bubbles on the stove…. Bliss.
Gah is it wrong that I am craving autumn!!!?! I guess the 30 years of my body experiencing autumn at this time of year is struggling with the season overhaul. All I want is your soup and Juli’s chili… But we bought a barbecue this weekend! I have to start grilling! :-S
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Friday Favourites!
Yeah, that has to be pretty strange for you, going into a second summer so to speak. I say embrace the grill and those summertime berries. Autumn will come before you know it.
After a weekend full of alcohol and dessert, this veggie-filled soup is looking all kinds of wonderful and much-needed! Unfortunately fall doesn’t happen in Mumbai but based on when I lived in London, I absolutely loved the cooler, but not too cold, temperatures and watching the leaves change color- the latter is almost magical!
Khushboo recently posted…Getting your sugar cravings under control
Watching the leaves change really is kind of magical. It’s one of the best parts of this time of year.
um. Tomatoes.
I cannot get that thought out of my head. I LOVE that you roasted these though for the soup- There’s something extra delicious about it, but even moreso when they are sun dried, mixed with feta and in a sandwich.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Flourless Sticky Cinnamon Bun Muffins
Sun-dried tomatoes and feta is a match made in heaven. Oh how I miss feta.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet, Salty & Satisfying Pumpkin Cranberry Trail Mix