Vegetable Soup

I realize that when writing about the cold weather, I should qualify this and say that I've lived most of my life in South Florida.  You know, Florida...where people bust out the coats and scarves and boots when it hits 60 degrees.  So for the temperature to plummet to single digits (with a wind chill factor below zero), well...it felt absolutely inconceivable to me.  I'll be honest; I didn't think Georgia had that level of cold in her. 

It was a new experience scrapping frost off the windshield, using the heat in my apartment (and subsequently, skyrocketing my electric bill), driving on icy roads, and literally wrapping my face with a scarf to keep it warm.  Seriously. Here's the proof. 

So what do you do when the weather dips to a chilly 8º?  Wrap yourself up really warm, make sure your cat has his favorite blanket, and make some soup! 

The great thing about this recipe is that you can literally add anything you want into it.  Initially, I used zucchini, peppers, onion, diced tomato...but the second time, I added cannellini beans, yellow squash, and mushroom.  Also, choose a different flavor broth for different tastes...beef gives it a heartier flavor, but vegetable broth complements the other ingredients  Chicken broth is even a perfectly viable candidate, as well. 

After I made the base of the soup, I added something different each day I had it.  Day one, I added some crumbed turkey sausage.  Day 2, some pasta.  Another day, I added some shredded chicken breast.  Make it your own.  I love recipes like this!  And the best part...it's so easy to make!

Ingredients

Ingredients from one time...

2 tbsp olive oil
6 cups broth (vegetable, chicken, or beef...depending on your preference)
1 diced pepper
1 diced zucchini
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 package of celery (leafy parts, only)
1/2 cup corn
1 package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
Oregano, rosemary, basil, and thyme (to taste)
Salt & pepper

Ingredients from a second time

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot on medium.  When warm, saute onion.  Add garlic. 

2. Add all other ingredients.  Bring to a rapid boil.  Lower heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.

From the first batch

From the second batch

Depending on what you add, this soup is either 1 WW point/serving...or 0! 
You can also add pasta or meats (sausage, chicken, etc).  Adjust points accordingly.