A nice bowl of soup on a cold day really hits the spot. Well, really any old day. I like cream of broccoli soup but I have been thinking lately about making a batch of Cream of Asparagus Soup. We often have steamed asparagus as a side dish and sometimes waste the tough ends. I always save the tough ends of broccoli and cauliflower for making vegetable puree for soups or whatever else sounds tasty. When pureed and mixed with the other vegetables, it gives you a nice batch of soup with extra for another meal. That’s what got me thinking about saving the tough ends to add to broccoli or cauliflower soup. Or, better yet, make Cream of Asparagus Soup.

This soup was a hit with my hubby so I will be making this one often.


You will need:

1 pound fresh asparagus
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery with green tops
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups chicken broth
4 ounces cream cheese
2 drops Lemon Vitality Essential Oil, or to taste
2 drops Black Pepper Vitality Essential Oil, or to taste
salt
You could try other Vitality Essential Oil flavors like Lime, Thyme, Basil, Oregano.

Directions:

In a steamer, steam the asparagus until bright green and just tender. No more than 5 minutes. Cut the tips off asparagus.
About one inch long. Set those aside.

Cut the remaining asparagus stalks into 1 inch pieces. Cut celery in 1 inch pieces.

In another saucepan, celery, cook onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened.
Add asparagus pieces and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring, 5 minutes.

Add 3 cups broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Puree in a blender until completely smooth. Return mixture to pan. Reheat soup while slowly stirring in cream cheese and butter.
Season to taste with salt and Vitality Essential Oils. Toss in asparagus tips and stir in.
Optional: Garnish with a few pieces of celery leaf.

Serve hot or chilled.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

tomato-basil-soup
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

3 pounds ripe tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon salt
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
3 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
2 drops Young Living Basil Vitality essential oil
1 drop Young Living Black Pepper Vitality essential oil
1 drop Young Living Thyme Vitality essential oil
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place the halved tomatoes in a medium bowl then pour 1/4 cup olive oil and salt over them and stir to combine. Spread the tomatoes in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast in the oven for 45 minutes. After roasting, remove the tomatoes from the oven and set aside.

Place the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and sauté until they start to brown, about eight minutes. Add garlic and sauté for one additional minute. Add the roasted tomatoes (including any liquid from the baking sheet), red pepper flakes, canned tomatoes with their juice, fresh basil leaves, and chicken or vegetable broth. Bring all the ingredients to a boil and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. Stir the essential oils into the soup and let cool slightly. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth or use an immersion blender in the pot. Adjust your seasonings to taste, serve warm, and enjoy!

Order Young Living Vitality Essential Oils

Summer is almost here and we are already firing up the grill and enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. Why not try some of these recipes with your grilling this summer.

Each marinade recipe is sufficient for 1-2 lbs. of meat or your protein of choice.

Cilantro-Lime marinade
2 limes, juice of
1⁄3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder
1⁄2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 drops Black Pepper Vitality essential oil
2 drops Lime Vitality essential oil

Quick and Easy Cilantro Lime Marinade
1 cup cilantro, lightly chopped
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice (or juice of half a lime)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
1 jalapeno lightly chopped (for un-spicy remove the seed)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 drops Black Pepper Vitality essential oil
2 drops Lime Vitality essential oil

Orange Lemon Citrus Marinade
3/4 cup olive or other oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
tablespoon grated onion
Juice of 1 lemon
2 drops Orange Vitality essential oil
2 drops Lemon Vitality essential oil
1 drop Ginger Vitality essential oil

Mediterranean Marinade
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 drop Oregano Vitality essential oil
2 drops Lemon Vitality essential oil
1 drop Black Pepper Vitality essential oil

Order Young Living Vitality Essential Oils

It’s easy to get started right away. Just Click HERE to start shopping with Young Living Essential Oils.