The Velveteen Rabbit and Carrot-Parsnip Soup

Weeks passed, and the little Rabbit grew very old and shabby, but the Boy loved him just as much. He loved him so hard that he loved all his whiskers off, and the pink lining of his ears turned grey, and his brown spots faded. He began to lose his shape, and he scarcely looked like a rabbit any more, except to the Boy. To him he was always beautiful, and that was all that the little Rabbit cared about.
-The Velveteen Rabbit

My daughter has her very own Velveteen Rabbit. Known simply as Bubby, she's a magical little pink rabbit with a pretty green ribbon around her neck. She's tattered and worn, threadbare in places, and she's been through the wash more times than I can count. Yet, to E she's lovely.

She travels with us, eats at the dinner table, and even waits patiently up on the towel bar at bath time. In the past two and a half years I can honestly say that we've never been anywhere without Bubby.

E's first word was not Mama, nor was it Daddy or Papa. It wasn't even Dog or Kitty. No. It was Bubby.

I feel quite certain that any day now Bubby, like the Velveteen Rabbit, will grow legs and hop happily into the back yard to live with the other REAL rabbits. Though I can assure you that she certainly will not stray far from E.

Naturally, we read a lot of bunny books around here. The Story of Peter Rabbit, The Runaway Bunny, and The Velveteen Rabbit (which I have yet to get through without crying) are a few of our favorites. And, as you may have noticed, I write a lot of recipes for my kids based on their favorite stories and characters.

A few weeks ago the kids and I, and Bubby too, snuggled under a soft blanket with a couple of good books. At the end of one, the little bunny decides not to run away from his mommy, but to stay and eat a carrot instead.

"If you were a bunny," I asked them, "what would you like to eat?"

"A carrot!" E yelled, excitedly.

C, always quiet and thoughtful, pondered my question a little before he answered.

"I think, if I were a bunny, I would love to eat a parsnip," he finally replied.

Hmmm . . . that gave me an idea. "What if we cook some soup for Bubby tomorrow? We'll put carrots in it, and parsnips, and other things that rabbits like to eat."

And that's just what we did. Bubby certainly enjoyed her soup; however, I think the humans liked it even more. C even asked if we could have "Bubby's soup" for lunch every day.   I don't see why not . . .

Carrot and Parsnip Soup (Bubby's Soup)

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
3 large carrots, sliced
3 large parsnips, diced (remove the fibrous core from the thick end)
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1 small red potato, sliced
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 tsp coriander
1 large bay leaf
1 tsp honey
salt and pepper

Saute the onion, carrots, and parsnips in the olive oil with a large pinch of salt for 5 to 6 minutes. Grate the ginger into the pot and add the potato and coriander. Cook another minute. Add the chicken stock, bay leaf, and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste and simmer, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Run through the medium blade of a food mill. Stir well and adjust the seasoning. Enjoy with your favorite bunny!

shared with: sunday night soup night, monday mania, family time tuesday, real food wednesday, full plate thursday