German Cream of Vegetable Soup

Hey, where's the cream? No, no cream here, only delicious healthy soup. This is a VERY healthy, low calorie soup. My family loves it. I serve it with thick slices of German bread.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  leek
• 2  stalks celery
• 2  carrots
• 2  potatoes
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomatoes
• 2  quarts  vegetable stock or 2  quarts  chicken stock or 2  quarts  beef stock
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
•  salt & pepper

Directions

1. Bring the stock to simmer. The taste of the soup will be different depending on which stock you use. You can also use 2 quarts water + boullions.
2. Clean and slice the leek, white/light green part only. Clean and chop the celery. Peel the carrots and potatoes and dice them. Put everything in the simmering stock. Add salt, marjoram, oregano and basil. Simmer for 1-1/2 hour.
3. Take out a big bowl to hold the soup while you use the blender to puree/liquify it.
4. VERY IMPORTANT! Only fill the blender container half full and make sure the steam can escape on top. I usually hold a paper towel over the top to prevent splatter. You can also let the soup cool a bit before you puree/liquify it.
5. Put the pureed/liquified soup back in the pot and reheat. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. If you have fresh basil around, chop some and sprinkle over the soup.
6. Serve with delicious fresh bread.