French Vegetable Barley Soup

I love soup. I make this French vegetable soup almost every week in autumn. It's great with a crusty baguette or a simple sandwich. Brothy bowls of vegetable soup come to the rescue when I'm in need of something healthy and comforting. Soup-making is a gentle domestic activity that satisfies my soul. This recipe is very easy to prepare. Chop and drop cooking is all that's required.

Vegetable Soup with Barley & Basil

A simple vegetable soup is what I cooked today. It's what I needed. It's the kind of austere and nourishing soup I imagine monks making with their fresh garden vegetables. They'd eat it at supper time with warm bread.