How to Make Vegetable Soup

There is nothing like a good pot of soup. Most of us only make it or have it made for us when we are ill or in the winter time. There really is something magical about a good bowl of soup. Is it because of the marriage of all those healthy, oh-so-good-for-you produce and vegetables altogether in one pot? I don't know, but one thing's for sure is that it makes a great meal.

Things You'll Need:

* 2 medium potatoes (chopped in cubes)
* 3 medium-sized or large carrots pureed
* 1/3 cup lima beans (optional)
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1 cube chicken bouillon mix (or 4 cups chicken stock)
* 2 sticks of celery diced
* 4 cups water
* 5-8 mushrooms chopped
* soup pot
* wooden spoon
* Blender
* saucepan

INSTRUCTIONS:

PREPARATION:

Step1: Prepare carrots by washing, slicing lengthwise and simmering in saucepan or by steaming on medium heat until carrot is tender. Remove carrots from stove and put in blender with about half cup water and hit the chop button and then the puree button and then remove once the carrots have a creamy smooth composition.

If you decide to use lima beans, prepare by washing and letting it sit in a bowl of warm water for 30 minutes or more before cooking.

Step 2: In the meantime pour 4 cups water in soup pot with lima beans (optional, this is for thickness). Then add chicken bouillon cube, cover pot and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

If you do not want to use chicken bouillon cube, 3 cups chicken stock is a good substitute in place of the bouillon cube.

Step 3: After 15 to 20 minutes of cooking, add carrot puree, potatoes, celery, mushrooms, and salt. Let it cook for another 30 minutes and then remove from stove and serve.

Tips & Warnings

* 1. Depending on your taste you can add 1/2 of a small onion and a pinch of black pepper.
* 2. Always add salt to taste.
* 3. Lima beans add thickness (so they are optional), but so does the pureed carrots. It depends on your taste.
* 4. Lima beans will make preparation time longer.
* 5. Add herb depending on taste (parsley is a great option).
* 6. For those who do not want to prepare fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables are also an okay substitute.