Crock Pot Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup–Crock Pot Challenge # 1

There is something so gratifying about simmering a home cooked soup all day.  The aroma fills the house and you simply look forward your next meal.

Remember those pecans I scorched in the toaster?

Well the burnt smell is finally gone and now the house

    smells like warm, delicious and fresh soup!

Crock Pot Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup is the first of ten Crock Pot recipes I’m making before the end of February for the “Peanut Butter Fingers Blog Crock Pot Challenge.”   This recipe may not be rocket science, but I promise, it sure is good!

As soon as I read about the Crock Pot Challenge I knew I wanted to first make a soup packed with nutrients and goodness.  It’s unbelievable how much better fresh soup tastes than soup out of a can.  On top of that, I have been seriously craving vegetables!

Score one for the Crock Pot Challenge because dish #1 is definitely a success!

Crock Pot Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

1 small zucchini – cut in half moons

1/2 sweet onion – chopped

10 baby carrots – sliced

2 celery stalks – sliced

1/2 bell pepper – chopped (the red ones where on sale this week!)

1 handful of green beans – cut into 1” pieces

2 14.5oz can diced tomato’s , No Salt Added- Basil, Garlic & Oregano

2 14.5oz can Great Northern Beans – Reduced Sodium -  rinsed and drained

1 32oz box vegetable broth (organic was on sale!)

1 tsp Dried Oregano

1 tsp Dried Basil

1 tsp Dried Rosemary

1 tsp Salt

Black Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut up all the fresh veggies!  Feel free to add your favorites.

2. Add spices, drained beans (the beans add protein and heartiness), canned tomatoes and vegetable stock.

All these dried herbs make me miss my summer herb garden!

3. Cover the soup and cook for 8 hours or until the carrots are soft.

4. Adjust the salt and pepper to your personal taste.  We like lots of pepper!

5. Serve with a whole grain roll and enjoy a healthy, low calorie and EASY home cooked soup!

Yum. Yum. Yum.

And the meat eating husband loved it!  So far we are both happy with the Crock Pot Challenge.  We’ll see what happens when I cook that tofu I bought…. yikes.

Next up… Quinoa Stuffed Peppers… I’m stepping out of my cooking comfort zone so wish me luck!

It’s time to RUN!

QUESTIONS:

What’s your favorite soup to make?

What’s your comfort food?

Tags: Cooking Healthy, Crock Pot Challenge, Hearty Italian Vegetable Soup, Vegetarian Recipes