Wasn't a real fan of cauliflower years ago. Am beginning to eat it more now that I'm older. This recipe sounds quite delicious. Will give it a try. Thanks for posting. NancyLouise

Here is my family's favorite...I have used it again and again through the years. "Makes 8 Main Dish Servings" Source: "From Ladies Home Journal, March, l977" Yield: "12 cups" Basic Vegetable Soup: 2 or 3 pounds Soup Meat and Bones, Beef Shank w/bone Veal Knuckle (have butcher crack) for a rich brown broth; brown meat and bones in a 350° oven. 3 quarts water (can use vegetable liquor) 2 tablespoons salt 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes, undrained 1 or 2 large onions, chopped 1 cup green peas 1 cup diced potatoes 1 cup sliced carrots 1 cup sliced celery 1 cup baby lima beans 1 cup cut green beans 1/2 cup uncooked medium barley 2 tablespoons choped parsley 1/4 teaspoon crushed thyme 1/4 teaspoon sugar In a large stock pot, place meat, bones, water, crushed thyme (also 8 to 10 pepper corns). Heat to boiling. Simmer 2-1/2 to 3 hours, or until meat is tender. Remove meat and bones. Cut up meat and reserve. Strain broth and skim off fat. Add cut up meat. Add barley, parsley, and simmer for 1/2 hour. Then add vegetables in order required for doneness, peas last....over a period of another 1/2 hour. Take care that vegetables do not become mushy. At this point adjust seasoning...salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 tablespoon Aromatic Bitters (optional) just before serving. My Own Note: Any addition or substitution can be made; pasta, lentils, rice, corn, broccoli, etc. Double recipe for freezer. I am always looking for marrow bones to make Marrow Dumplings to be added to this soup.

Can't wait to try this one! I love the Butternut Squash soup that I make, but I'm always ready to try something new! Different is a good thing, IMO! Thanks!

Do you like cold soups, like gazpacho? I find it easy to make and delicious in the summer. Here goes: Garlic - About 6-7 cloves large onion - cut into chunks Campari tomatoes - about 1.5 pounds, peeled (note: for easy peeling, blanch the tomatoes with the skin lightly slit but leaving the tomato full and intact, dunk it in cold water and the skin should come off easily; can substitue Campari for other sweet flavorful tomatoes; it’s the quality and flavor of the tomatoes that makes the most difference) Fresh pickling cucumbers or English cucumbers - peeled and cut about a cup (I like the pickling kind because the tender ones don’t have to be de seeded; if it is the English cucumbers, make sure you either remove the seeds or that they are tender enough not to require removing the seeds) bell peppers - one cup, chopped with seeds removed (I like the gold and red peppers because they’re often fleshier and sweeter than the green) olive oil - half a cup balsamic vinegar - 1 tbsp salt - to taste (I like rock sea salt) ground black pepper - to taste blend everything except the olive oil in a blender until smooth; once the mixture is smooth, add the olive oil and blend for about 10 seconds (adding olive oil to the gazpacho rather than blending the oil into the gazpacho doesn’t have the same result) Optional- you can add a bit of mint or basil or any other seasoning you like. I like to add olde thompson’s Italian seasoning while blending.