Edible Blanket

For reasons beyond my realm of comprehension, I'm craving soup. No, not gazpacho or other chilled soups. Hot, hearty, warming soups. I know it's blazing hot outside, but nothing sounds better than a big bowl of soup; it's like an edible blanket. I also have a fondness for adding coconut milk to soup, which works in a pinch if (like me) you currently only have sweetened soy milk in the fridge. Don't worry about the coconut milk giving it an overwhelmingly coconutty or Thai taste, it's quite subtle and simply adds a nice creaminess. I added it to the soup below, along with a medley of other ingredients I threw in on a whim, to create something perfect for summer.


Creamy summer vegetable soup
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn, kernels removed
- 1/2lb green beans, cut into bite size pieces
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
- 1 large zucchini or 2 small, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 15oz can light coconut milk
- 2-3 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Old bay, to taste
- Cracked pepper

Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Add corn (in husks) and roast for 15 minutes.
- While the corn is cooking, sweat aromatics in olive oil. Once translucent and soft, add to crock pot.
- Allow corn to cool, remove husks and remove kernels using a sharp knife going in a downward motion. Set side.
- Add all vegetables and remaining ingredients in crockpot. Turn on low and cook for 4-6 hours.
- Ladle into bowls and top with a sprinkle of old bay. If your stock is salted, only add additional salt at the end. I actually didn't use any additional salt and it was perfectly seasoned.


This soup was so good. It was creamy and hearty without being heavy and its flavors were perfect for this time of year. If nothing else, add the Old Bay. I promise you it makes the soup.




Add potatoes or chickpeas if you want a more calorie dense soup. I just wanted something light.

Now, to resist the urge to make more soup or else my fridge will be full of leftovers.