French Country Soup

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 3 leeks, part only, cleaned and chopped
• 2 cups cabbage, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch lengths
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 quart water
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup beans, cooked
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 6 slices french bread
• swiss cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 melt 3 tablespoons butter in a soup kettle.
• 2 add carrots, leeks, cabbage and celery.
• 3 saute over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
• 4 add salt, sugar, water and beef broth; bring to a boil.
• 5 add beans and potatoes.
• 6 cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• 7 strain vegetables, reserving the liquid.
• 8 with a food mill, blender or food processor, puree vegetables.
• 9 return cooking liquid and puree to the soup kettle, stir to combine and reheat.
• 10 season with salt and pepper if desired.
• 11 meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet.
• 12 saute bread slices in butter, turning to saute both sides, until golden.
• 13 place one slice of bread into each of 6 soup bowls; cover with soup.
• 14 sprinkle with grated cheese.