Stone Pot Soup

For several years, I was a member of a Community Supported Agriculture Farm (CSA). As part of your membership, you need to work a minimum of hours on the farm during the growing season. I liked putting in my hours on Saturday because a tradition they had was to start a Stone Pot Soup in the morning to be eaten at lunch. Everyone was to bring something as a contribution to the soup. The soup always tasted fine. It wasn't something you'd want to be sure to capture the recipe for so you could make it again, but it made for a tasty and satisfying lunch. You'd need to jazz it up a bit with some spices or liquid aminos, but overall it was fine.

So, since I am on a mission to clean out my pantry (see last entry), I decided a Stone Pot Soup was in order. Here is what I threw into the pot: onion; garlic; veggie broth; a can of diced tomatoes, a can of cannelini beans; a sweet potato; barley; kale; thyme; salt and pepper.

Based on my experience, I have a few tips for you:

• A little barley goes a long way. If you put some barley into the soup pot and think to yourself, "That doesn't seem like nearly enough barley", trust me, it is enough barley. I had this thought, and then added triple that amount. I don't need to eat barley again for a while.
• When you are choosing sweet potatoes to keep on hand, it is probably best to buy small or medium sized ones. Gigantic ones (like the one I put into my soup), are probably too big for most things.
  
• When you are making a Stone Pot Soup, it is a good idea to limit the amount you make, especially if you live alone. Remember, they are typically not all that delicious. So, to eat it four days in a row for lunch, and let's just say my serving sizes were on the generous side, becomes laborious. Did I already mention that barley probably won't be on my hit list for a while? (Ever again?)

You may have surmised I am having some quantity issues. I seem to be eating much more than necessary lately. I'm going to blame it on winter. I think I am trying to comfort myself and I may just eat my way to spring.

Try a Stone Pot Soup! It's rather liberating to toss things into a pot with reckless abandon. You just may come up with a really great concoction. Let me know if you do.