Farmers-Style Vegetable Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 red bell pepper
1 to 2 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
1/2 c. chopped leeks
1/2 c. chopped onions
1/2 c. diced celery
1/2 c. diced carrots
1/2 c. diced parsnips
1/2 c. diced zucchini
1/2 c. diced tomatoes
1 1/2 to 2 qt. chicken broth
2 c. potatoes, peeled and diced
croutons (for garnish)

Preparation

Roast pepper in the broiler until skin is burnt and puffy. When cool enough to handle, peel. Discard seeds.
Dice pepper. Heat oil in a large saucepan. Saute leeks, onions and celery in oil until slightly softened. Add diced pepper and remaining ingredients through tomatoes. Stir in enough chicken broth to cover the vegetables by 1-inch. Bring to a boil. Add potatoes and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
Garnish with croutons.
Serve with a salad.
Makes 6 servings.