Savory Red Pepper Soup

Despite the name of this recipe, this soup can be on the sweet side depending on the pears you use.

1/2 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter (I use earth balance dairy free, soy free spread and olive oil instead)
2 large onions chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large russet potato, peeled and chopped
6 red bell peppers, roasted, seeded, and chopped (you can buy these already roasted in jars)
2 firm pears, peeled, cored and chopped (I prefer tart pears)
5 cups chicken stock (not broth)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
salt
freshly ground pepper
creme fraiche or sour cream for optional garnish

Melt butter in large saucepan.  Add onions and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.  Add carrots and saute an additional 10 minutes. Add potato and red peppers and saute 10 minutes.  Add pears, chicken stock and parsley.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat.  Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.  Season with salt and pepper.  Use an immersion blender  or transfer soup in small bathes to a food processor or blender.  Process until smooth. Reheat.

Ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with creme fraiche.

A few notes:

I LOVE this soup.  The kids eat it and they say it is good but it is not their absolute favorite.

It is better on the second day.  It also freezes well.

It is chock full of vitamins and nutrients (A, C, E and B6, potassium, calcium, selenium and fiber).

You can use jarred roasted red peppers.  I have made it both ways and honestly the soup is better if you roast the peppers yourself.  The flavor is richer and more complex.

You can make this vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead or chicken stock.

Recipe from Stop and Smell the Rosemary.

On another note, thank you for sweet and compassionate comments yesterday. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated them. I am better. I have gained perspective. It helps to vent and I know that my problems really are minor in the big scheme of life.  Yesterday, Kate and I were browsing in a gift shop and I picked up Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment.  When I crawled into bed to read yesterday's reading, I was astounded.  In the third sentence it said, "you aren't condemned to grumpydom"  The whole passage is about change and getting out of a rut!  Can you beleive that!?  I rarely even use the word grumpy so I knew that I was meant to see this book and that reading.  It was no coincidence.


I also remembered this quote that I posted a year and a half ago...

"Watch what you say to yourself....for you create your own reality."

Sean Stephenson

I realized that if I go around saying that I am grumpy or in a rut or feeling low energy, I will continue to feel that way.  Only I have the power to get my sunny disposition back.  I believe that.  It is why my photography blog is called "Choosing Happiness."

Anyway, enjoy your weekend and let me know if you try the soup or have a favorite soup recipe to share.