Great Northern Soup

This soup is perfect for cold winter nights.  The base is real vegetables, chopped up and cooked down, and it features great northern beans and polska kielbasa.  It's perfect with a grilled cheese sandwich.  I went with a relatively unhealthy meat because the rest of this is so responsible.  Also, this recipe makes about 10-15 servings, so you're eating a fairly small amount of it per serving.  

Step 1 Ingredients and Equipment

• 3-4 Onions
• 3 Carrots
• 3 Large Celery Stalks
• 1 Garlic Head
• 4 Pounds of Tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups of Dried Great Northern Beans (or 2-3 cans if you'd rather.)
• 1 pound Polska Kielbasa (or some other protein.  This is a good time to use something indulgent because everything else in the soup is so responsible and healthy.)
• Olive Oil
• Milk (I used skim, but anything from skim to cream would work.)
• Salt and Pepper
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Other seasonings to taste (I added Balsamic Vinegar)

 

• Large Stock Pot
• Slotted Spoon or Skimmer
• Knives and a Cutting Board
• Blender (optional, for converting a chunky vegetable soup in broth to a creamy soup)