Vegetable Soup - Mama's Way

If you are lucky enough to have grown up near your grandparents, your childhood is probably peppered with countless memories about them. Things that they said. Their mannerisms. Memories of the time you spent with them. The way their house smells. Certain recipes that belong, uniquely, to them.

I have been fortunate in that my grandparents have not only lived nearby, but that they have also been an active part of my life. My earliest memories include Mama and Joe. And some of my happiest childhood memories are moments spent at Mama's kitchen table. Watching her cook, talking to Joe and eventually enjoying whatever delicious meal she was preparing.

This week I attempted to duplicate Mama's vegetable soup. I didn't ask Mama for her recipe. Instead, I tried to make it from memory. From years of watching her make it and from years of eating it. It isn't fancy and the recipe is simple, but it is comfort food. Eating it reminds me of being in Mama's kitchen and that is a wonderful place to be.

Ingredients

1 yellow onion, chopped
3-4 carrots, chopped
1 head cauliflower, broken up into small pieces
2-3 handfuls of green beans, trimmed and cut in half
herbes de Provence

2 cans Garbanzo beans
1, 32 oz container V8 vegetable juice (plus more depending on how brothy you like your soup)

Directions

Heat olive oil over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the carrots and onion and saute until softened, about 5-10 minutes. Once softened season with one heaping tablespoon of herbes de Provence. Add V8, and the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and simmer until the vegetables are soft. Garnish with parmesan and serve with a roll.

Simple and delicious. Hope you enjoy!