Herbed Zucchini Soup

QUICK.  HEALTHY.  DELICIOUS.

The last few months, we've been eating more soups since they are usually pretty fast to make, as well as cheap, and you usually don't need meat!  Also, Noah loves soup so we don't have to make a separate meal for him. :)

Here's a good one we've been making a lot lately.

2 large zucchini (about 1-1/2 lbs.), un-peeled, and sliced

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1 russet potato (about 1/2 lb.), halved lengthwise, and sliced

1-1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock or broth

1 cup buttermilk OR skim milk

1/2 tsp salt

freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp dried marjoram

croutons for topping  (we make our own, but use whatever you like!)  

- Combine the zucchini, onions, potato, and 1 cup of stock in a saucepan over high heat.

- Bring to a boil.

- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, covered until the veggies are tender (about 20 min)

- Transfer to a blender or food processor and purée. 

- Return to the pan and add the remaining 1/2 cup stock, buttermilk (or skim milk), and seasonings.

- Simmer over low heat to blend the flavors, about 10 min.

- Put into bowls and sprinkle with croutons.

Serves 4

*got this from the simple soups deck

Croutons:

We just take some bread that's old or getting stale, and chop it into little cubes

put some extra virgin olive oil on them and sprinkle with garlic salt, and whatever other spices you like.

-for this we just use thyme and marjoram since that's what we put in the soup.

put them on a cookie sheet and back until browned and crispy (about 10 min) at about 400° F 
(keep an eye on them!  they burn fast, and there's no goin back!)

Also, for the Noah fans:

They (whoever they are) finally kicked Preben off the Norwegian cell phone service.

I guess they just realized he still had it after 3 years of free-ness for us :)  

So Noah is the proud new owner of a REAL cell phone, and he loves it.  He carries it everywhere because he knows it's real and chats away on it.

Here is is walking towards the office.

We were obviously interrupting his business calls where we found him a few minutes later.

-that's my old laptop that got me through college that no longer works, but somehow Noah can still get it to turn on.  (he's the only one who can)  I guess all that banging actually helps.

So this is his as well.  

Already has his own laptop and cell phone and he's not even 1-1/2 yet.

ALSO 

Today marks 100 days left until due date!!

who-hoooo!