Veg Base

         This is just about the easiest thing I make and I use it for all kinds of things. It's a vegetable base that I use for soups and stews. With it I will share the two recipes I use it most for, Minestrone and Tortilla Soup. I find that it works especially well with these two soups in particular. It also works well as a soup just by itself, just add a can/cup of beans in there for some protein and you are all set. I also take a cup of this and blend it up to throw in my pasta sauce recipe, gives it a nice flavor profile without a lot of effort.

Veg Base

3 carrots, small chop

2 stalks celery, small chop

1 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 head cabbage, chopped

1 head broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces

1 quart water

1 quart veggie broth

2 Tbsp. no salt seasoning (I use the organic stuff from Costco, its awesome.)

1 C. crushed tomatoes

2 Tbsp. EVOO

salt and pepper to taste

Take a large pot and heat the EVOO up and add carrots, celery and onion, once translucent add cabbage, then add water and garlic, let simmer for 5 minutes, add remaining ingredients and let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until veggies are soft enough to be pierced easily by a fork.

Tortilla Soup

Veg Base

1 C. frozen corn

1. C cooked brown rice

1 1/2 C. cooked black beans

1 C. chunky salsa

1/4 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. lime juice

Add ingredients to veg base and let simmer for 15 minutes. Add additional water if necessary. Serve with tortilla chips,  vegan sour cream and cheese.

Minestrone Soup

Veg Base

1 can tomato paste

1 C. cooked garbanzo beans,

1 C. cooked great northern beans or kidney beans

1 C. frozen green beans

2 C. spinach, roughly chopped

1 zucchini, sliced and quartered

1/2 C. seashell pasta

2 tsp. dried basil

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Add ingredients, except for tomato paste, to veg base and let simmer for 20-30 minutes or until pasta is cooked. Add tomato paste, stir to combine, if there is not enough liquid add water. Serve with crusty bread and vegan Parmesan cheese.