Puree Of Asparagus Soup

The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.

J.R. Miller

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Vegetables	Vegan	Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian	8	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1	lb	Asparagus, lower ends only
1	c	Leek greens, chopped
1		Bay leaf
1		Celery stalk, chopped
1		Yellow onion, chopped
4		Parsley, chopped
2		Garlic cloves
5		Black peppercorns
1		Gingerroot
1/2	t	Salt
1	lb	Asparagus
2	T	Olive oil
3		Leeks, white parts only
1		White onion, chopped
2		Shallots
1	t	Fresh thyme
1	T	Parsley
6	c	Stock, see above
1		Silken soft Mori-Nu tofu
1/8	t	Black pepper
1/8	t	White pepper
2	T	White miso

INSTRUCTIONS

Snap off the lower ends of asparagus where they easily break and  bend.
Chop these and add to the other stock ingredients with 8 cups  water.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes and strain. Cut  off the
very tips of the asparagus and set aside. Chop the middle  pieces and
set aside.  Saute the leeks, onions and shallots in olive oil over
medium heat  for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the middle pieces of
asparagus,  salt, pepper and parsley and stock. Simmer for 10 minutes
or until  asparagus is tender. Blend with the miso and strain well
through a  fine screen or food mill.  Blend the tofu and add to the
soup. In another pot bring a few cups of  water to a boil with a little
salt. Cook the asparagus tips until  crisp-tender and strain in a
colander. Garnish soup with asparagus  tips. Serves 6-8.  From
DEEANNE's recipe files  From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at
www.synapse.com/~gemini

A Message from our Provider:

“Instead of complaining that God had hidden himself, you will give Him thanks for having revealed so much of Himself. #Blaise Pascal”

Nutrition (calculated from recipe ingredients) ---------------------------------------------- Calories: 168 Calories From Fat: 50 Total Fat: 5.7g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 388.1mg Potassium: 1094.5mg Carbohydrates: 26.7g Fiber: 4.7g Sugar: 1.1g Protein: 7.1g

The oldest and most revered tactic for avoiding the misery of guilt is religion. This tactic may be the most deceptive because it comes closest to the truth. It recognizes what the intellectual and physical strategies generally ignore: that the ultimate cause of guilt is that there is a righteous God whose will for his creatures is ignored or defied. It recognizes that under every pang of conscience in the human soul there is the silent, often unexpressed conviction, 'I have gone against God.' The means that religion has developed to deal with this guilt is to try to placate or appease God with good works or religious ritual. Religious people know they owe God a great debt for their disobedience. But they often make the terrible mistake of thinking they can pay it back through good works and the performance of religious duties.

John Piper