Instructions: There was a lot of soup talk recently, so I thought I would add this. Its

One Easy Recipe, Hundreds of Soup

Its easy to put together a one-pot soup meal that will take the chill off a nippy fall night. With the following master recipe, you can mix and match the broth, vegetables, herbs, meat or protein, a quick-cooking grain, and, if desired, legumes, to come up with limitless variations. For example, use chicken broth, celery, carrots, thyme, white chicken meat, and minature macaroni for traditional chicken-noodle soup. Or for a hearty vegetarian soup, use vegetable broth, chopped fresh spinach, stewed tomatoes, oregano, tofu, white rice, and cannellini beans.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and saute for 2 minutes. Add the broth, vegetables, and dried herbs, and bring to a boil. Add the meat or protein and quick-cooking grain, and simmer for approximately 12 minutes; or until the meat and grains are tender. Mix in beans if using, and continue heating for 2 minutes. Stir in fresh parsley, and ladle into four soup dishes. Serve with hot, crusty bread and a warm fruit compote for dessert.

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