Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the cool weather, leaves changing from green to shades of red and yellow, football (not really…I just said that to make my husband happy), and most of all…cool weather makes me want to COOK! So on a cool Fall day, what’s better than a nice hot bowl of soup.  I tried this soup several years ago when I found it in a church cookbook. Thought it was pretty good, but it had one problem. The name. LIMA BEAN CHOWDER! YUCK! I HATE LIMA BEANS!! I mean, I’ll eat a few of them if they’re hiding in with some other veggies, but I couldn’t like a soup named for this vegetable that I hated so much. Well, it’s a good thing I was brave enough to try it because it really is good. And full of all kinds of vegetables…not just the dreaded lima bean. So I took the liberty of changing the name to Vegetable Chowder. That sounds so much better to me. ENJOY!

*If you really like lima beans, please ignore most of the comments I made above. Just change the name back to Lima Bean Chowder and make it!

Vegetable Chowder

2 Tbs. butter

2 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped green pepper

1 (10 0z.) pkg. frozen lima beans

1 c. cubed red potatoes, (3/4″ dice)

1 c. sliced carrots

5 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth

2 tsp. salt

1/4

tsp. pepper

1 c. finely shredded cabbage

1 (16 oz.) can whole kernel corn

2 (12-14 oz.) cans evaporated milk

1 c. (4 oz.) shredded white Cheddar cheese

Melt the butter in a medium/large saucepan over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the lime beans, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, corn, broth, salt and pepper. Cook over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. Add the evaporated milk and cheese. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the soup is hot. Do not boil. Taste to see if the soup needs more salt and pepper. Add a little extra milk if the veggie to liquid ratio is off…if it’s not soupy enough. ENJOY!