Simple Vegetable Beef Soup...with a 'kick'

Last Saturday night was cold and rainy - an 'under-the-blanket-with-a cup-of-hot soup-and- Christmas-movie-marathon' kind of night.

We used to have friends over a lot for beefy vegetable soup and cornbread, and i am often asked for my recipe.

There's really not a 'recipe' - but i'll just tell you the few odd things i add that probably a lot of people might not consider.

First of all, I never use 'store-bought' beef.

We may be city people, but each year we process our own steer. 

Trust me - there is a huge difference in the taste.

 

i prefer to use fresh vegetables, but i didn't feel like fighting through the holiday crowd at the store, so i gathered every canned vegetable i had in the pantry.

Corn, peas, green beans, carrots, tomato sauce - and rotel tomatoes!

i use rotel rather than stewed (or even fresh) tomatoes.

i may cheat with canned vegetables, but i never, ever, ever resort to canned potatoes.

Potatoes are always fresh/raw, as well as onion. 

i also season them with sea salt and pepper (lots of pepper) and let them sit for a few minutes before adding to canned vegetables, to absorb the seasoning.

Brown the beef and drain the fat - EXCEPT for a 'little bit'- to add flavor.

Sorry - i'm like my grandmother and never measure. 

i just know how much it will take to add flavor - but not be 'greasy'.

It's trial and error and also a personal preference - you'll figure it out.

Next, add all the ingredients into a great big pot!

(Using canned veggies isn't just convenient, but you also have the benefit of blending all the juices of all the ingredients).

Now, it's time to go crazy with the seasoning.

Of course, i toss in the proverbial salt and pepper, but i also add steak seasoning, garlic salt - and something that MAKES this recipe:

Drum roll, please....

   CELERY SALT!

Yes, i'll add fresh celery if i have it, but still...i add a generous amount of celery salt along with it. 

i truly think that the celery salt - along with the rotel tomatoes (do not drain), also that 'just right' amount of beef fat, is what gives my soup that special 'something'.

Oh! And one more thing! 

I add a touch of crushed red pepper for that extra 'kick'.

I cook on medium to boiling and then turn down to low until the onions and potatoes are tender.

So easy and hearty when you don't really feel like doing too much....which i did not! 

It was my idea of a perfect Saturday night.

Here's our movie playlist:

Here Comes Santa Claus

Home Alone 1 and Home Alone 2

and then we argued over whether Die Hard is or is not a Christmas movie.

(it's not)

Til next time....

Pixie

Pixie

xoxo