In Need of COMFORT~ {Winter Veggie Soup}

When I arrived home from Alabama~

leaving the family behind~

 I was in need of comfort.

You know.

Comfort that pats and snuggles and loves your tears away.

Cooking brings me comfort...so I scurried to the market and picked up the winter veggies I needed to make this yuMMy~comforting soup.
~WINTER VEGETABLE SOUP~
You'll need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup or so white wine *optional
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 - 3 leeks, thinly sliced {white and tender green parts}
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 heaping cup pearled barley
10 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 pounds celery root, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 - 1 1/2 pounds parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch half moons
sea salt and pepper to taste
1 pound {or less} baby spinach
pinch of nutmeg
*1 - 2 cups roasted chicken {shredded}*optional
***Recipe slightly modified from original recipe posted here.***

Wash the leeks.
Slice the leeks~

Slice the onion and mince garlic.
In a large pot, heat olive oil.
Add the white wine {optional}.

When hot, add onion, leeks and garlic.
Toss in a sprinkle of sea salt.
Cook until tender~about 10 minutes.

Add the barley, chicken stock, water, thyme, and bay leaf.

Bring to a boil.
Peel and slice the parsnips.

Grab a~whole of that ugly~ole celery root.

Peel and slice that bad boy!

Cut celery root into cubes.

Add parsnips and celery root to soup.

Season with salt and pepper.

Simmer over moderate heat until the barley and veggies are tender~about 40 minutes.

Your house will begin to smell so yuMMy!

Take a roasted chicken from the market.

Slice off some meat {I just used the white meat}~

Tear off and shred a cup or two.

Add the chicken to the soup after the soup has cooked for 40 mins.

Tear open a bag of baby spinach.

Tear off the stems and add spinach to soup.

Toss in a pinch of fresh nutmeg.

Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Keep warm until your man gets home.

Serve it up with a dollop of light sour cream {optional} and rustic, toasted bread.

The bread you see here is our favorite whole grain bread from the market.

Dave's Killer Bread Peace Bomb Mini~Baguette.

Toast it with a bit of olive oil and a sprinkle of course sea salt.

Winter Vegetable Soup = COMFORT!

You're going to LOVE this soup!

Trust me.

You will.

***Pics were taken with iPhone~too dark outside to use camera.***

ENJOY!

~xxooxx~