We closed the pool this weekend, always a sign of summer’s end. Especially bittersweet this year, because we really didn’t get to use it much this summer. Still, while I don’t much like the rain, I do look forward to the change of seasons.
The crisp, cool mornings (Tuesdays are 4:am days – there was frost out there this morning!), the shorter days and darker evenings…
and soup. Slow cooker simmering all day, filling the kitchen with housewarming aromas. Cozy.
multi grain potato rosemary soup
vegan, gluten free, dairy free
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter (Earth Balance)
5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
2-3 springs rosemary, chopped
4-5 cups vegetable broth
1 cup cooked multi grain rice (brown rice, black rice*, millet)
Sauté onion, celery and garlic in butter. Meanwhile, add 2 potatoes to 2 cups vegetable broth, boil until tender. Combine onion, celery, garlic, potato and broth to blender (in batches), blend. Transfer to slow cooker. Add remaining potato, carrots, rosemary, vegetable broth and rice, cook on low 5-6 hours.
*I finally bought that black rice from the bulk bin I’ve been eyeing, after learning it is highly nutritious and full of antioxidants. It also lends a slight purple hue (and a good chew) to this soup.
This soup is deliciously warming, hearty, and heart warming. Serve a bowl alongside a large crisp salad – hello, autumn!
What are your favorite signs of the changing seasons?
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
YESSSSSS! I’m here early (thank goodness I checked twitter).
I love everything about this soup. Rosemary, potatoes, garlic, butter…love and I like that you didn’t use “water”.
Boo to closing the pool. LA is 72 and sunny 364 days a year…so the only thing”seasonal” are frozen yogurt flavors.
look at you here early!
while I love having a pool, it is sometimes more work than fun? this year, anyway… but most of the time it IS worth it 
Mmm, frozen yogurt!
WHOA! Why are Tuesdays 4am days?? nobody needs a 4am day!
ha – one of Jason’s travel days (he is home same day). but this morning he is about to arrive home any minute – there was something wrong with the jet this morning, so after sitting in the hangar for a bit, he decided to stay in town and work from home today – yay!). I’m getting used to it, though, and I like my early mornings – I get a lot done!
Love the idea of the multi grains in this soup. Definitely makes for a hearty, satisfying meal. I really am not a fan of cold weather at all – today it’s 50 and rainy
I guess the only good thing about having cooler weather is not having to run at 5 am and getting to enjoy soups/chili again.
okay, as much as you have CRAZY HOT days in the summer (and I try to lure you here!), maybe you wouldn’t like it here… we are approaching cold and rainy.
(I still think you’d like it, though…) 
Wow, that looks delicious! It deserves to get pinned for sure!
I thought the black rice was black beans at first! Yum!
thank you, Curt! and black beans!! that would be good too! have a great Tuesday!
The slow cooker is definitely a sign of the changing seasons for me too, broke mine out for the first time in months over the weekend. And remembered what delicious and easy dishes I can make with it! Hmm, I’m intrigued by black rice…
I know, I love my slow cooker!
I’ve been giving this rice the side eye for quite a while… looked it up recently and saw some good things about it! it’s really more purple than black, once it is cooked especially. kinda pretty. 
I love the fall weather, just wish it didn’t turn into winter. I hate the shorter days but love the cool crisp air. It always seems so full of possibilities! Slow cookers are the best! A house filled with a dish cooking all day is the absolute best! I think I’ll be making this soup this weekend. We’ll be carving the pumpkins so it will be just lovely!!
Enjoy the day!
ah, Laura, now that sounds like a perfect fall day, soup cookin’ and pumpkin carvin’ fun! that is the part I dislike also, the short days! we have daylight until 9pm during the summer months, and I really miss that when it’s getting dark before 5pm in the winter…
You clearly need a cookbook, you seriously do! Your recipes are amazing, recently even more amazing, you are awesome!
Hello BASIL! <3
xo
thank you, Katie. I definitely have the makings of one, keep going back and forth whether I want to actually do it.
I just need more people like you to see the recipes here and I’d love that! 
Basil sends love *wag wag wag*
Multi-grain and soup, who would have thought?! Definitely looks warm and hearty.
I love the leaves changing and the smell of everyone’s chimneys:)
ah, I love that smell too – the smoky scent of Fall.
My favorite thing about the season changing is the leaves changing colors. I just love when they are at their peak. Once they fall off and the trees are bare, though, it’s depressing. I hate winter. Except for the soups and comfort foods. Love those. Your soup sounds perfect!
thanks, Maryea! I love the changing colors of the leaves too – and then do not love the cleanup!
frost already? wow! break out the crock pot and slippers. hehe. I love the smell of a good stew on the stove with fall. Like this one, rosemary heaven.
I know, I was surprised too. well, four am and being close to a (higher…) river. it’s colder out here? SLIPPERS INDEED!
yes, the rosemary made my kitchen so warm and MMM!
mmmm I can practically smell the rosemary- easily my favorite herb. My favorite part of the changing seasons… the crunchy leaves I get to kick through, and the warmth and smell of my kitchen when I start cooking more hearty meals as a reminder of home.
kicking piles of leaves is fun!!
as long as they’re in someone else’s yard… 
I’m on a huge soup kick…this looks great, especially since I have a tiny bit of fresh rosemary left in my garden that is sure to be killed off soon and I ‘need’ to use it!
I can SMELL this through my computer screen! Homemade soups will always remind me of my grandmother. <3 And I love that this multi-grain is gluten-free since typically at a restaurant that calls for wheat! I love the cooler mornings for outdoor runs, and being able to open the windows and doors to change the air in our home. I also love that I'm craving heartier, richer foods.
Mmm…the soup is so pretty, and I’m a fan of anything with rosemary
I think my fave fall thing is thick chunky crockpot food…not a specific kind….just warm and thick!
ME TOO – pretty much anything in a crock pot. yep.
What an unusual combination of ingredients! Looks very nice!
MMMMM…I love rosemary! I’m adding this to my fall “must make” soup list!
DO it.
Mmmmmmm soooooooup.
(said in homer voice)
And you have the prettiest bowls in all blogland.
aw, thank you, Jeni!
and i like your Homer voice.
I <3 slow cooker meals! Thanks. My fav sign of the changing seasons are the leaves… well, except when they fall off for winter. Not cool.
Whoa, this looks incredible for a day like today; thanks for sharing! :]
thank you, Jeffie! it IS perfect for this time of year, so warming!
What a great recipe!
thank you so much, Theresa!
love hearty soups–and potatoes and rosemary…bonus!
Sounds delicious! One of my favorite things about fall is the soup…and the leaves changing color!
ah, me too – soup is just quintessential fall, right?
This really does look like autumn!
this is a hearty and cozy soup, we made it yesterday and love it. I’m already thinking of the lunch leftovers I have sitting in the fridge, when you want to eat your lunch at 10 am you know it’s good!
hi Jan!! I know exactly what you mean about the lunch thing – that happens to me a lot!
Cheers!
we made this for dinner, very good but if I’m honest a little bland? I added more garlic and then of course hot sauce.
ha! do what you gotta do… I bet it was good with hot sauce!
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