Farmer's Cheese Soup

The cooked vegetables and broth added to the soup bowl.

The toppings added: bacon pieces, browned bread, and Gouda cheese!

The recipe, with darling Dutch graphics!

   This recipe comes from and old Dutch cookbook that belonged to my Dutch Grandmother.  This is one of my favorite recipes in the cookbook, and I have been making it in the cold winter season for over 30  years!  As my Grandmother would say, it is "Hartelijk" meaning "Hearty".  

     It is so full of vegetables, that have a simple clean taste.  The addition of the toppings, being bacon, fried or browned bread, and Gouda cheese, give it an elevated decadence!  It is very filling and very satisfying!

    I have modified the original recipe slightly to my own personal preference and ease of preparation.

Instead of bacon slices, I cook bacon pieces. It makes it easier to handle in the bowl, and gives a bit of bacon with each bite.  I also shred the cheese instead of slice, because it melts quicker.  The bread, I like to brown and butter instead of fry in the bacon grease, it is a bit more heart healthy that way! Add as much of the vegetables as you like for a filling veggie soup!

As Always,

ENJOY!

4 Tbs. butter

1 1/2 cups onion chopped

3 carrots, diced

2 potatoes, diced

1/2 lb. cauliflower florets

1 qt. chicken stock

7 slices bacon

4 slices hearty white bread

1/4 lb. Gouda cheese

   In a heavy pan melt the butter, add vegetables and cook 5 min. stirring frequently. Add the soup stock and bring to a boil. Then lower heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Meanwhile in a skillet, fry the bacon until browned, remove and drain on paper towels.   In the bacon fat in the skillet, fry the slices of bread (I toast and butter the thick bread slices). Homemade bread, or uncut bread is best, then sliced into 1/2-1 inch slices. 

   To serve, preheat broiler, pour soup into oven proof  tureen. Add the bacon pieces, then the bread, and add the cheese slices, or shredded, to cover the surface.  Place under broiler until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot.