Cabbage and Bean Soup

I didn't get quite as much accomplished in the kitchen this weekend since I had to work both mornings and morning time is the best time for me to spend baking and cooking. I was able to make cabbage and bean soup, white whole wheat tortillas, gnocchi and peanut butter cookies (which I will talk about more these in the next posts).

I have been trying to increase the amount of vegetables in my diet by trying ones I am not used to and preparing my usuals in a different way. Growing up, we ate mostly salad, potatoes, corn and some green beans, so there are all sorts of things out there for me to try.

I decided to find something different to do with cabbage other than cole slaw. Don't get me wrong, I love the way my mom taught me to make it. I just wanted to see what some of the other options were. I suggested corned beef and cabbage, but my husband quickly vetoed that one. His vegetable likes are very specific and not varied at all. So I knew whatever I made, I would be the only one eating it. I was given a recipe for halupki, which is beef filled cabbage rolls by my husband's mother that I added to my recipes from my wedding shower. It is a recipe I definitely want to try, but I decided to go with something where I had all the ingredients on hand already: a cabbage and bean soup.

The cabbage and bean soup has shredded cabbage, onion, white beans (both whole and mashed), minced garlic, pepper and chicken broth. The recipe suggested that the soup is topped with parmesan or fontina. I had grated parmesan on hand, so I went with that. The soup tastes good, but it is not my favorite. There just seems to be a flavor missing that I can't put my finger on. I will have to think it over and see what else I can do to make this soup just a bit better.I have recently made a spinach and tomato soup and a butternut squash apple soup that I could not get enough of. I will be happy with finishing off this soup, but I do not believe that it will become a regular staple at my house.

I still have about a half a head of cabbage left, so I will still be able to try something else that is new to me. Or I may just make my mom's cole slaw since it has been a while since I had that. I will decide in the next few days.