Veggie Box leeks (about a pound) 2 Tbs butter 4 cups vegetable broth 3 cloves of Veggie Box garlic Veggie Box potatoes, peeled and cubed (a pound and a half) 1 teaspoon sea salt, less or more to taste 1 sprig of fresh thyme 1 sprig of Veggie Box rosemary 1 bay leaf Sprinkle of Tabasco sauce or other red chili sauce White or black pepper to taste

Cut off the roots of the leeks. Cut the leeks lengthwise, fan them open under running water to dislodge any dirt or mud hiding inside. Cut off the tough dark green tops and discard (either compost or freeze for making stock). Slice the white and light green parts of the leeks crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place the slices in a bowl of cold water and agitate them with your hands to dislodge any remaining dirt. Melt butter on medium heat in a 3 to 4 quart thick-bottomed pot.Add the the chopped leeks and minced garlic, stir to coat with the butter. Cover the pot and lower the heat to low, cook for 10 minutes until the leeks are softened. Check to make sure the leeks are not browning. Add the broth, diced potatoes, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, and a teaspoon of salt to the pot. Increase the heat to high to bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through. Remove and discard the bay leaf, thyme sprig, and rosemary sprig. Use an immersion blender or standing blender to blend about half of the soup if you want a chunky soup, or all of it if you would like your soup to be more smooth. Add a few dashes of Tabasco to taste. Add freshly ground pepper and more salt to taste.