Homemade Vegetable Soup

This soup can be made with garden or farm market fresh vegetables, vegetables you canned during summer months, leftovers or store purchased.

Making a large pot of soup at one time leaves enough leftovers to heat up on a cold snowy day when you are short on time.  
Canning the soup will be even handier to quickly heat and serve for a quick meal after a day playing in the snow or hiking. 

Tip:
Here’s a great tip a friend gave me.  Anytime you have leftover vegetables from a meal, simply store them in a Ziploc freezer bag.  Keep adding different leftover vegetables until you have enough to make a pot of vegetable soup!

And don’t be afraid to add different types of vegetables like squash, cabbage, peas or lima beans.  Each will add their own distinct flavor to the soup.

I used last years canned vegetables and fresh for my soup

Soup History in America

In America, the first colonial cookbook was published by William Parks in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1742, based on Eliza Smith's The Compleat Housewife; or Accomplished Gentlewoman's Companion and it included several recipes for soups and bisques. 
A 1772 cookbook, The Frugal Housewife, contained an entire chapter on the topic. English cooking dominated early colonial cooking; but as new immigrants arrived from other countries, other national soups gained popularity. In particular, German immigrants living in Pennsylvania were famous for their potato soups. 
In 1794, Jean Baptiste Gilbert Payplat dis Julien, a refugee from the French Revolution, opened an eating establishment in Boston called Restorator, and became known as "The Prince of Soups". The first American cooking pamphlet dedicated to soup recipes was written in 1882 by Emma Ewing: Soups and Soup Making. 

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Vegetable Soup Recipe

8 cups (2 quarts) chopped, peeled, cored tomatoes

6 cups cubed and peeled potatoes (about 6 medium)

6 cups 3/4-inch sliced carrots (about 12 medium)

4 cups green beans (1 quart) (or lima beans)

4 cups uncooked corn kernels (about 9 ears)

2 cups 1-inch sliced celery (about 4 stalks)

2 to 3 green bell peppers, chopped

2 cups chopped onions (about 2 medium)

1 head cabbage, diced medium pieces

6 cups water or use ½ Chicken stock

A little diced garlic

Salt and pepper or other spices such as thyme or parsley (optional)

Directions:

Combine all vegetables in a large saucepot. 

Add all the vegetables into a large stock pot

Add water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1 to 2 hours or until all vegetables are cooked. Season with salt and pepper or other seasonings, if desired.

Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich, crackers or warm homemade bread.

Leftovers can be frozen in serving size containers for a quick meal on another day.

PRINT THIS RECIPE

Soup cooked and ready to eat!

Canning The Soup

Makes about 7 quarts

You Will Need:

7 quart or 14 pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Ladle and other canning tools

Pressure canner

Prepare pressure canner according to the instructions that came with it.

Wash and sterilize the canning jars. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

Combine all vegetables in a large saucepot. Add water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Adding cabbage to vegetable soup is wonderful!

Ladle hot soup into hot canning jars leaving a 1 inch headspace.

Fill jars leaving a 1 inch headspace

Remove air bubbles. 

Remove air bubbles

Wipe jar rim. Apply lid on jar then apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight. (turn until you meet resistance)

Apply two piece lid

Process filled jars in a pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure 55 minutes for pints or 1 hour and 25 minutes for quarts, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars from canner and cool. Do not disturb, checking lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

Store in a cool dark pantry or storage area.

Yum!

We woke up to inches of snow this early November morning. Although it's a beautiful sight it underscores the predictions of a cold long winter ahead this year!

Elizabeth

Nothing better than hot soup on a cold day

Other Recipes:

Chicken Stock 

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

Natural Homemade Tomato Soup