Willy's Kale, Quinoa Soup

As the weather gets cooler and rainier I crave comforting, warm foods. What could be more comforting than soup?

I used to work with this dude named Willy who was a food artisan of sorts. He knew I was vegan so anytime he had any vegan recipes he would tap me with an awesome sample. He usually made vegan soups. My favorite soup he made was a soup with quinoa. This recipe is based on that soup with some of my own variations of course ;)

Willy's Kale, Quinoa Soup

• 1/2 onion (chopped)

• 2 carrots (chopped)

• 1/2 quinoa

• 48 oz. vegetable broth (I used 1 & 1/2 boxes of 365 Vegetable Broth from Whole Foods)

• 2 tbsp grated ginger

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 potatoes (cut into 1" cubes)(I never skin my potatoes but be sure to use organic potatoes if you don't skin yours)

• 1/2 bunch curly kale (I used purple kale ;)

• 1-2 bay leaves

• fresh herbs (I used rosemary, basil, oregano and thyme)

• salt and pepper to taste

Boil vegetable broth. Add potatoes, carrots, bay leaves and quinoa. Turn pot down to a simmer and cover. Sauté onions and ginger in olive oil until edges start to brown. Add onions & ginger to vegetable broth. Then add herbs. Chop and de-stem kale. Cook until potatoes are just about cooked (easy to stick with a fork), then add the kale. Stir kale into soup then cover for 4-5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve!

For a little thicker texture use less broth for a soupier texture use more!

Love you, mean it

Emily