Early Spring Farmers Market Soup

Since the weather still looks like this... 

Soup was in order. 

The fun thing about soups is that once you've been making them for a while, you get to be pretty good at inventing them as well. You just have to know some basics - for any creamy soups knowing a basic roux is all you really need. 

Ingredients: 

5 potatoes, peeled and chopped  

2 leeks, chopped 

5 shallots, peeled and chopped 

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or seasonings to taste) 

2 Tbsp oil or butter

2 Tbsp whole wheat flour 

2 Tbsp garlic, or to taste  

2 cups water 

1 cup milk 

1/2 cup sour cream

To top: cheese and bacon bits (real or vegetarian) 

Boil the 2 cups of water and then place the chopped potatoes in the pot and add the bouillon cube. Cook for ten minutes. 

This was the bouillon cube I used, and while it had good flavor it was a bit on the salty side for me - I would get one without salt next time. I should start making my own stock really. 

Sauté the leeks and shallots in a large pot until tender. 

 Sprinkle on the flour and stir until dissolved. 

Then quickly add in the potatoes (including liquid) and garlic. 

(Sorry these pictures are blurry! It was a late dinner and dark already...) 

Add in the milk and sour cream. Stir and heat for a while until it thickens a little, but at this point do not let the soup boil again. 

Serve with cheese and bac'un bits on top. Chives also compliment this soup well, but we did not have any. 

This soup is no looker - but it tastes SO good. Creamy, potatoey, garlicky and wonderful for a rainy evening. 

Oh, and this soup is best with a loaf oh homemade bread fresh out of the oven. 

______________________________________________________________

In other news, today we joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with Cedarville Farms. 

We signed up for a full season half-share since there are only 2 of us. That means boxes of fresh, local fruits and vegetables, eggs and fresh flowers from late May until December! And they offer a 5% discount when you sign up by April 15. I have been absolutely drooling over their Harvest Schedule and dreaming of the bounty of the season. 

If you are looking for a CSA in your area I would highly recommend going to Local Harvest - you can enter in your zip code and find a plethora of information about local food in your area!