Winter Harvest Vegetable Soup

Name: Winter Harvest Vegetable Soup
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 12 servings (3 quarts).
Ingredients: 3 medium carrots, halved and thinly sliced; 3/4 cup chopped celery; 1 medium onion, chopped; 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 garlic clove, minced; 7 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth; 3 cups cubed peeled potatoes; 2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash; 2 large tart apples, peeled and chopped; 2 medium turnips, peeled and chopped; 2 parsnips, peeled and sliced; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil; 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; Additional thinly sliced green onions, optional

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Cook: 50 min. YIELD: 12 servings (3 quarts).

Rich, earthy root vegetables blend with savory spices and the tartness of apples in this wonderful soup from Barbara Marakowski of Loysville, Pennsylvania. “A friend gave me this low-fat recipe after my husband's cardiac surgery and now, it's our favorite. It gets even better with reheating!”

Ingredients

3 medium carrots, halved and thinly sliced
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 medium onion, chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
7 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash
2 large tart apples, peeled and chopped
2 medium turnips, peeled and chopped
2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Additional thinly sliced green onions, optional

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook and stir the carrots, celery and onions in butter and oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
2. Add the broth, potatoes, squash, apples, turnips, parsnips and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the basil, thyme and pepper; simmer 15 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf before serving. Garnish with additional green onions if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 134 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 404mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 5g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.