Three VEGETABLE SOUP

Three VEGETABLE SOUP

The soup is in an antique, 1850's hand-painted soup tureen.  More about the soup tureen following the recipe.

6 cups salted water
1 medium eggplant
4 fresh tomatoes, peeled & chopped
1 large mild onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. minced parsley
½ tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of rosemary
2 drops Tabasco sauce

Salt to taste

Peel the eggplant & slice; then place the slices in a large bowl of salted water with ice cubes to make the water cold.  Allow eggplant slices to soak for about 15 to 20 minutes; then drain. In a Dutch oven, bring the salted water to a boil and add all ingredients except the salt to taste.  Lower the heat & simmer for about 45 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.  If the soup is too thick, add a small amount of water & blend. Taste for salt & add, if needed.  Pour the soup into a food processor & blend until smooth.  Return the soup to the Dutch oven to heat to serving temperature.  Serves 4 to 6.  

The soup tureen in the photo was hand-painted by my great-grandmother in the 1850’s.  Her name was Mary L. Judkins.  She and my great-grandfather, James Henry Judkins, owned a cotton plantation in Wetumpka, Alabama.  He grew cotton, was an attorney, a U.S. Marshall, and owned a ferry that crossed the river between Wetumpka & Montgomery, Alabama. She was an accomplished artist using oils on canvas. She also had her own kiln and hand-painted china.  It was her custom to paint a full set of china as a wedding gift for family members.  My brother and I are fortunate to have many lovely pieces of her china and several oil paintings that we treasure and enjoy.