Soup & Salad, please!
Submitted by Vive Le Vegan Blog
We’re big soup eaters. I think soups and stews make family meals much simpler. How else can you put so many nutritious things into one dish (ex: vegetables, legumes, whole grains)… and have leftovers to refrigerate or freeze for another meal? Brilliance in a bowl, I say!
Not that our kidlets like every soup that I make, mind you. When I want to get experimental with flavors and textures, they aren’t always ready to join the party. But, hubby and I enjoy the culinary adventure, and I keep the faith that eventually our girls’ tastebuds will follow suit. (Instead of “something’s spicy in here”… “ew, is that pepper?”… “there are funny seeds in here” ((cumin seeds))… “can I have bread to put it on?”)
Yep, the complaints can be plenty! I’ve started repeating something my mom used to say when we were kids - “Like it, or lump it!” Really, with six quibbling girls at the table, I’m surprised our mother was this polite!
This was a soup our girls were “okay” with. Just okay. But, hubby and I really enjoyed it - so there, kiddos! 
It’s a Pureed Apple, Celeriac, and Sweet Potato Soup that I finished testing during the winter. I use yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes, and love the sweet creaminess they give to the soup. Celeriac gives a mellow celery flavor with better texture than celery - and for this soup, just the right color! And, fresh thyme adds a herby earthiness to round out the flavors.
We typically have bread and a salad with soup, and this is a very simply prepared green salad with a “raw” ranch dressing. I’m temporarily calling it “Raw-nch” Dressing, but it sounds a bit hokey, so that might change. (Not that some of my other recipe names aren’t hokey - ha!)
Oh… and as for salad and the kids? That’s another mountain to climb! Actually I’m noticing our older girl now starting to enjoy small (ahem, small) portions of salad - with the right dressing. As for our younger girl… fuggedaboutit!
