Parsnip & Potato Soup

Growing up, I spent nearly every Christmas in West Virginia at my grandparents' house. Upon our arrival, my grandmother would often have a pot of her potato soup waiting for us.

Here in Illinois, it has been in the negative temperatures outside, with more snow than I'm comfortable with. That being said, it's a perfect day for a warm pot of soup to be made.

My grandmother's potato soup recipe is simple and delicious, but my version of it contains parsnips, turnips, and plenty of flavor.

Parsnip and Potato Soup
(serves 6 - 8 generously)

Ingredients:
4 cups diced potatoes (3 - 4 potatoes)
2 small turnips, diced
1 large parsnip, chopped
3 large carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped finely
2 cups chopped onions (yellow or white)
1 clove garlic, minced
5 cups water/vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
4 tbs butter
4 tbs unbleached flour
1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (more if you like)
black pepper, to taste


Procedure:
Chop the potatoes, parsnips, and turnips into cubes no bigger than one inch, and cover them in five cups of water/stock in a large pot. Bring to a boil, and lower to a gentle simmer. Meanwhile, chop the celery, carrots, garlic, and onions, adding them to the pot as you go. Add the bay leaves to the pot, as well. Allow to simmer until the potatoes have softened completely, approximately 45 minutes. Add parsley and oregano.
Remove the bay leaves.
Begin making the white sauce in a small saucepan. Melt the butter over low heat, and whisk in the flour until golden.
(Note: I have tried using spelt flour, sprouted flour, and whole wheat flour. All of these yielded a particularly floury soup. While I don't like using white flour, I find it appropriate for this recipe.)
Whisk in the milk, and continue whisking until the flour is evenly distributed and the sauce thickens. Add white sauce to the soup, and allow to simmer for five minutes or so. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste, and allow to mingle for a few minutes. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Mark likes it!

Stay warm, and have a wonderful day!