Vegetable Soup & Corn Dumplings

from Everyday Cooking with Jacques Pepin

Vegetable Soup

4 ounces salt pork or bacon, or 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups diced onions
1 1/2 cups diced celery (the leafy part is the most flavorful)
2 cups loosely packed sliced scallions and leeks, mixed
1 medium-sized green pepper, seeded and diced (2/3 cups)
9 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 cup diced carrots
1 1/2 cups unpeeled and diced eggplant*
1 1/2 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
1 cup peeled and diced kohlrabi
1 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1 1/2 cups diced zuchinni
1 cup cut-up string beans
1 cup lettuce leaves
2 cups spinach leaves

Cut the salt pork or bacon into 1/2-inch pieces. Fry them in a large pot until they sizzle. Cook for 5 or 6 minutes over medium heat until the pieces are nicely srisp and brown. Add the onions, celery, scallions, and green pepper and saute for 2 or 3 minutes.

Add the water, salt, and remaining vegetables except the lettuce and spinach. Bring to a boil. Lower th heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the lettuce and spinach, and cook for another 15 minutes.

Pistou

1 cup basil or parsley leaves, or a mixture of both
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/34 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 chop olive oil

Puree all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor until smooth. Stir the pistou into the soup and bring to a boil.

Baked Corn Dumplings

1/2 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons oil

In a bowl combine all ingredients except oil and mix well. Oil one or two large cookie sheets and place large tablespoons of mixture on top. You should have approximately 16 dumplings. Sprinkle the top with remaining oil and bake in 375 oven for 13 to 15 minutes.

Place the dujplings in the soup 1 or 2 minutes before serving so that they absorb some of the liquid and get soft. Or pass them separately.

Serves 8-10.

*Apparently, male eggplants are less seedy and less bitter than females; male eggplants have a nearly flat stem 'navel', whereas females have one that is more indented.