wintry vegetafull-bacon soup

Warming, full of herbs, and riddled with bacon. What more could you ask for on a snowy day after a bout of shoveling?

These are not specific amounts--just enjoy playing in the kitchen! 

You'll need:

• cooking sake
• bouillon or stock
• rosemary
• thyme
• sage
• bacon
• turnips
• red peppers (the sweet ones, like bell peppers)
• potatoes
• kabocha (or regular pumpkin would work too)
• celery stalks + leaves
• leeks
• carrots
• salt and pepper
• olive oil 
• garlic cloves 
• milk (I use soy because I don't have access to almond, but you can use dairy of course)

Do this:

Chop the veggies and bacon as small as you have time for--the smaller they are, the quicker they cook. Add them to a stock pot and sprinkle with olive oil. Saute a few minutes if you have time, or if you don't, go ahead and cover them with stock (or water + sake + bouillon powder or cubes) and add the rest of the ingredients. I would only put in enough liquid to just cover everything because you want this thick and creamy.

Bring to a boil and cook till everything is tender. I use an immersion blender to blend it all right in the pot, but you can use a regular blender if you have it.

Lastly, add some milk to taste.

Rx: Keep a jar of this handy and enjoy whenever you need an elixir of heat in your system.