A New Year, a New Start

I always think of a new year as being a new start! I usually try to make a few resolutions that admittedly I don’t always keep but I have good intentions! Anyway, it is a way of making some new goals. For instance, this year I am going to try to get rid of some of my clutter in drawers and closets.  I keep way too much stuff I no longer use and never will. Maybe if I put it down in writing I will be more apt to follow through.
I don’t know about you but I am actually tired of eating the rich cheese balls, snacks and yes even cookies. While I’m at it, I will unclutter my kitchen too. I am going to start by making todays nutritious vegetable soup recipe. It doesn’t call for any kind of meat, its hearty enough without but you could certainly add cooked chicken if you want.
 
Winter Vegetable Soup:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium carrots cut in 1/2 inch slices
3 medium parsnips cut in 1/2 inch slices
3 stalks celery cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 small potatoes, cubed
1 can petite cubed tomatoes with juice
7 cups beef broth
2 cups water
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/2 cup whole barley
1/2 cup wild rice, rinsed
6 oz. fresh spinach
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Heat oil in large soup pot, add carrots, parsnips, celery, onion, garlic and thyme. Cook til soft about 5 minutes. Add barley and rice, stir to coat them then add broth, water, potatoes and tomatoes. Cover and simmer 1 hour, then stir in spinach, salt and pepper, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Serve.
 
I hope that you have a wonderful 2019!