Soup in August. I know this is weird.
Soup is my de-stresser.
Ok… to be fair pancakes (especially the chocolate chip variety) are also my de-stresser. I find cheeseburgers to be a wonderful distraction. Peanut Butter Cookies rock my de-stressed world. But… focus, Joy! Soup is my de-stresser. It’s the chopping and stirring, chopping and stirring.
I made a big batch of soup late last week. I felt like I needed to stand in front of a pot, stir chunky vegetables around, and let my mind deflate and wander. The result: delicious soup that’s warm and hearty here in the dog days of summer. Should you want a more summer-y experience, might I suggest stirring a bowl of ice cream with a spoon until it reaches near soup consistency…. then scarfing it down like a maniac. That’s also totally therapeutic.
I needed to stand and stir. I didn’t need to stand over my chopped and simmering with a camera. Let’s just let this be what it is. It’s Monday and… dangit, today we are who we are.
I find that many good things come out of a wander. A wander down the beach for eye candy, ocean spray, and inspiration. A wander through the grocery to discover things like coconut vinegar and on-sale peanut butter. A wander through my laundry to find a hidden five dollar bill. I love a wander.
In this case, I was wandering through the Clinton St. Bakery Cookbook and stumbled upon this recipe. I’m overflowing with zucchini, and I needed a good stir… sold!
Though tomatoes are in season, I opted for a good imported Italian canned tomato. I appreciate the consistency of crushed tomatoes as they cook in this soup.
Naturally, there’s also a mega-ton of fresh zucchini in this soup as well. The zucchini is raw and easy diced, and paired with soup staples: onion, garlic, carrots and celery. As the soup simmers, it’s building flavors (and allowing my mind to get lost in the stir) (sometimes I allow my mind to wander towards mindlessly eating doughnuts) (whatevs).
Creamy summer bounty soup! It’s everything I needed. Also… this soup was a somewhat elaborate excuse to buy a bag of tater tots from the grocery. They’re the perfect accompaniment. Should you be inspired to also melt cheddar cheese atop your tots… well, duh!
This soup is perfect should you:
have an excess amount of canned tomatoes and fresh zucchini.
want to feel like you’re eight years old and your mama made you soup.
need to methodically stir a simmering pot.
need a freezer-stored soup for your future.
need a hug, in summer, without encountering a sweaty back.
Tomato Zucchini Soup
serves 8 to 10
adapted from Clinton St Baking Company Cookbook
3 tablespoons olive oil
about 1 cup diced carrots
about 1 cup diced celery
about 4 cups diced zucchini (skin on)
1 large yellow onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, rubbed off the stems
2 bay leaves
salt and red pepper flakes
about 4 cups (2 28-ounce cans) crushed Italian tomatoes
2 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth
2 cups water
2 cups whole milk
In a large stock pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, zucchini, and onion to the pot. Saute vegetables, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent and broken down, and zucchini is nearly cooked through (about 10 to 12 minutes). Add garlic and stir. Cook for 1 minute more.
Add thyme, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes to the pot. Stir to incorporate.
Add tomatoes, chicken stock, and water. Stir. Bring soup to a simmer and leave, uncovered, to cook for about 30 minutes. Taste soup to ensure that carrots are cooked through and soft. Add a bit of salt to taste.
Remove soup from heat. Remove the bay leaves. Blend soup in batches until smooth. Be sure not to fill the blender more than 1/2 full and cover tightly with the lid. Blending hot liquids is always and adventure. Place blended soup in a large, clean, pot or bowl. Once all of the soup is blended, stir in milk. Taste and season as necessary. You can push the blended soup through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth for a smoother, more refined soup. I love the soup unstrained because I’m a dang hippie.
This soup freezes wonderfully. If left unfrozen, soup should be enjoyed within 6 days.
Jen @ Savory Simple
I might just have more than one food de-stresser. Soup is most certainly one of the more comforting foods out there! When I was younger my mother always used to feel me canned tomato soup, which I thought was just the best thing ever. Little did I know how much better the homemade stuff is! Love the zucchini addition.
Toni
Hey Mizzzzz Joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks bunches for this recipe! You totally rock on this one! I’ve been having a hard time figuring out how to eat the God-given abundance of the tomatoes from my garden and this is a real keeper! (I mean, really……….tomatoes in salads can only go so far and I need to jazz things up). You’re the best! Toni
Bakerkat
i love to make soup any time of year. It is so relaxing but I see you know that. This soup looks so good I’ll have to try it soon.
Kelsey Jo
If you’re a fan of chunky soups (and want to get reeeeally hippie with it) can you skip the blending?
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I’m cool with soup in August! And I totally agree, stirring and wandering are great mind clearers!
The Savory and The Beautiful
Soup in the summer, you’re not alone. My mom is a soup is is a soup fanatic. She’s already made it twice this summer.
robyn
soup sounds great, kissses for the throat
M.
i’m totally in love with tomatoes soups, a few days ago i made baked tomato soup with thyme and now it’s cold enough to made next warm soup, i like the combination with zucchini. Can’t wait to taste it! :)
georgie
i love a good therapeutic kitchen session. i churned cream into butter today. there is something ridiculously satisfying about squeezing buttermilk out of a big ball of butter. you should try it! (your hands also feel marvellously moisturised afterwards so total double win!)
Ali Federwitz
GENIUS! My husband loves tomato soup and I make a zucchini soup that is is absolute fav. A combo? Yes, please! J to the B – you ROCK!
Erika
Tots comfort my soul. Every time. I’m so glad you included them. I recently bought the Clinton St. cookbook and I can’t wait to try this soup with my tots!
Margherita
I like the comforting feeling of soups, which I miss during the summer months. Cold soups never worked for me.
That’s why I’m waiting with eager excitement for the fall season to arrive.
This one looks like a great alternative. Gonna bookmark it for future references!
Moji
It’s always a good time for soup. A good soup comforts the soul and this soup is light and easy to digest, so it’s perfect for August. Thanks for posting it. I can’t wait to try it out in my kitchen.
Diane, A Broad
I get it: knife work is my de-stresser. I don’t think I’ll ever use a food processor for chopping. I even like to mince my garlic extra-fine by hand.
Love, love, love.
Susan
Me too!
marie
Warm soup is an acceptable replacement for a sweaty hug. Here, have som love to go along with it!