Dieters Homemade Vegetable Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 32 ounces of 1/3 less sodium organic chicken broth
• 8 ounces of no salt added tomato sauce (small can)
• 1 cup water
• 4 slices of thick hickory smoked bacon (i find great value brand is best)
• 3 -4 cloves garlic (miced)
• 4 whole bay leaves
• 1 large onion (largely chopped)
• 2 stocks celery (diced)
• 2 large carrots (fresh, diced)
• 1/2 cup squash (fresh, diced)
• 1/2 cup zucchini (fresh, diced)
• 5 on the vine tomatoes (blanched, peeled, diced)
• garlic salt & pepper (i use garlic salt, its less sodium)
• seasoning salt (optional but very good. use tony's)

Recipe

• 1 blanche, peel and dice your tomatoes. the best way to do this is to bring a pot of water to a very close boil, but not boiling. make a thin 'x' with a serrated knife at the bottom of each tomato. take a large bowl and fill with ice water. drop a few at a time into the hot water. let them sit no longer than a minute, you will start to see them peel. then drop into the cold bath for another minute. the tomatoes should peel very easily.
• 2 mix everything together in a large pot. garlic salt and pepper to taste. i usually add a little then when its done. salt to taste if needed. simmer for about an hour or until celery is soft. remove the bacon and serve it up.
• 3 *what i do when its done is like to turn off the stove and let sit for another 30 minutes to let the seasons marry.
• 4 **this recipe makes a lot, i freeze half.