Slightly sweet, ultimately creamy-dreamy Parsnip and Leek Soup generously topped with caramelized brussels sprouts and salty bacon. This soup is cozy, comforting and ultimately delicious!
Hi, friends. I feel like it was not that long ago I was writing, “I wish life was always as merry and beautiful..” as I put my emotions onto internet paper about the loss of my oldest (fur) child.
I hate that it has been, what seems like, 5 seconds and I am again grieving a huge loss.
Past a certain age, I think we all come to terms with the fact that the world is full of hurt, sadness and loss. And, that we cannot walk on the path of life without being tainted with those emotions and experiences. Not to be cynical, but death is a part of life. In my opinion, it is how we cherish and remember the ones who are no longer physically with us that matters.
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you I lost my grandmother on Friday.
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I will always remember my grams as the perfect image of glamour and grace. Honestly, I am pretty sure she was the poster child for those 50’s style ads with the beautiful “pin up” housewife holding it down in the kitchen.
My grandmother was the matriarch of our family. The image of her in an apron, with perfectly curled hair, pulling pies and elegant roasts out of the oven is how I will always remember her.
But, she was more than that “image”. She had a quiet strength to be admired, a warmth that could comfort you on your darkest day, and a beauty that was both effortless and timeless. (<– I am extremely honored people say I look like her, however I am preeeeetty sure they are just being nice, because in no way am I a Grace Kelly Dorothy Williams)
She also had fierce kitchen skills. 😉 My grams, in her day, could (and would) cook circles around me. I will always bow down to her culinary greatness.
She was all around beautiful and the type of woman you strive to be. I may be too old to play the game, “When I grow up…”, but if I become half the lady my grandmother was, I feel like I can say I made it in this life.
So Dotti, this post is dedicated to you. I’m sure you would have made this dish better, but every moment I spend in the kitchen, I will be reminded of you.
“Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again”
Parsnip & Leek Soup Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Bacon Garnish
This soup is slightly sweet, perfectly creamy, ultimately comforting and healthy. It delivers a false sense of decadence, because while it is silky and rich, it is also good for your waist line (and for your soul).
I’m not sure about you, but anytime I can feel like I’m indulging in something delicious while still fitting in my skinny jeans is always #winning.
The brussels sprouts and bacon garnish adds notes of salty, smoky, meaty, crunchy delectability. While the parsnip soup is absolutely scrumptious on its own, the topping totally sends this soup to the next level of yum.
If you have veggie haters up in your house, I urge you to force feed them this soup. It tastes like a subtly sweeter and thinner version of a big ‘ole bowl of mashed potaters. You could always hoard save the brussels sprouts for yourself and double up on the bacon.
Regardless if you love or loath your vegetables, I can promise you will be smitten with this creamy parsnip and leek soup. So get your cozy-comforting-soup-slurpin’ self into the kitchen and whip up a batch of this with ease… or in the manner of my grandma – with grace and a perfectly painted red lip.
Promise you are going to love this! Until next time – Cheers, friends, to living life to the fullest… and devouring lots of soup in the process.
-xoxo-
Cheyanne
Parsnip & Leek Soup topped with roasted brussels sprouts & salty, crisp bacon. This soup is cozy, creamy and dreamy!
- Soup:
- 1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Pounds Parsnips – trimmed, peeled and cut into 1’’ pieces
- 2 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 2 Large Leeks , white and light green parts – rinsed and roughly chopped
- ¾ Cup Celery – roughly chopped (about 2 stalks)
- 2 Cloves Garlic – roughly chopped
- 6 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Stock
- 1 Bay Leaf
- ½ Cup Half and Half
- ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
- Kosher Salt and Pepper , to taste
- Topping:
- ¼ Pound Center Cut Bacon – sliced into ½’’ pieces
- ½ Pound Brussels Sprouts – trimmed and cut in half or quartered depending on size
- Dash White Wine Vinegar
- Roast the Parsnips: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Toss the parsnip with oil in a large mixing bowl and season with ½ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until parsnips are tender and caramelized. Remove from oven and set aside
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add in the leeks and nutmeg. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until leeks are soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add in the celery and continue to saute an additional 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add in the roasted parsnips, stock and bay leaf. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf and discard. Use an immersion blender to puree soup to desired consistency. (Alternatively, transfer soup in batches to a stand blender, puree, and transfer soup back to stockpot). Stir in half and half. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
- While the soup simmers, prepare the topping: Place bacon lardons in a large COLD cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bacon is cooked and crispy, about 12 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate, reserving drippings in the pan. Add the brussels sprouts to the pan, cut side down. Cook, without moving the sprouts for 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until sprouts are tender and browned, about an additional 3-4 minutes. Return the bacon to the pan and toss. Season with a pinch of salt, pepper and a white wine vinegar. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Remove from heat and set aside.
- To serve: Ladle pureed soup into serving bowls and top with brussels and bacon. Enjoy!
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Cheyanne, I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I know what you are going through and I know that it’s not easy and the pain will not subside for a long time. I lost both of my grandparents 10 years ago (actually tomorrow will be 10 years for my Grandma) and I still think about them every day. Especially my Grandma, she was the best! My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time, friend! And this soup…wow! Does this look good! Can’t wait to try this out. Pinned!
Thank you so much for the condolences, Gayle! I’m sorry your grandparents aren’t with us any longer, either. Such a sad loss. I will be thinking about you tomorrow on the anniversary of your Grandmother’s passing.. and sending huge virtual hugs! Thanks for the love and the pin, my dear! <3 Cheers!
Oh Cheyanne, I’m so sorry about your grandmother. It sounds like you have such wonderful memories of her though, and those will keep you going and keep her in your heart forever. This soup is getting pinned asap! It sounds delicious and looks so thick, rich and comforting! Perfect for those chilly winter nights! Hope you have a great week! You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. XO
Thank you so much for the condolences, sweet comment, and pin Mary Ann! This soup is perfect if you are looking to stay warm and cozy! Cheer to a fabulous week for you as well, my dear! XO
Cheyanne, I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother!!!! Thank you for sharing a little about her and what you will remember. . she sounds like an amazing person! it makes me so sad to hear about loss but thank you for sharing and I hope you are doing ok. I feel weird commenting on your soup now but this seems like the perfect warm and comforting food right now. Sending hugs from Madison!
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the condolences, Alice! I felt totally weird writing about soup after writing about the loss of my grams, but I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward!!! 🙂 Thanks for the hugs, they are always welcome! <3 Cheers, girlfriend!
I am so so so sorry for your loss! You and your familiy are in my thougts!
Amy
Thank you so much, Amy! That is so kind! Cheers! 🙂
Dearest friend, I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother. Grammas are special people, and I know how hard it is to lose a loved one. You will be in my thoughts and prayers dear! XOXO Thanks for sharing memories and this soup today. This soup is quick to become a favorite of mine, I just know it! HUGS to you!!
Thank you so much for the condolences and warm comment, Lauren. I appreciate that so much! This soup has become a favorite of ours, so I hope it becomes yours too! Cheers and HUGS back at ya! <3
Oh Cheyanne! I am so sorry about your grandmother! She sounds like a truly incredible person. You must be heartbroken. I hope you can find comfort in your memories with her. It sounds like she really shaped the person you have become. The soup is wonderful and I know she is probably so proud <3
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Allie! My grandmother was an incredible lady and I am heartbroken, but it is the memories that count! Thank you for making me smile, girlfriend! <3
Friend, you have brought me to tears. I’m so so so sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet and classy grams. I know you’ll miss her so much and she sounds like such an amazing and lovely lady. This soup looks like a perfect comfort food for you. I’m sending hugs and positive and healing thoughts your way!
Thank you so much for the condolences, Rachelle! My Grams was one hellova Lady and she will be missed! This soup is super comforting and it has been hitting the spot! Hugs back at you, my dear! <3
Cheyanne, you have my condolences. Your grandmother sounds like the perfect, loving role model, and you were lucky to have her. I hope you’re coping okay. Your blog friends are all here for you to vent to if needed! My thoughts are with you. Sending lots of hugs!
Thank you so much for the condolences, Mir! My grandma was pretty dang fantastic. I appreciate your kind words and the hugs! <3 Cheers, my dear!
OMG, I’m so sorry for your loss Cheyanne…! You have my condolences! I’m sure she was a wonderful woman and you should be proud with her! So sad! Love this soup, pinned to try it!
Thank you so much for the condolences, Mira! And for the kind words and the pin! Cheers, doll!
Dear Cheyanne, so sorry to hear of your poignant loss on Friday. The FB picture of your grandmother is stunning and I can only imagine by her radiant smile what a warm person she was. I hope you’ll feel peace and comfort in time, though I’m sure everything feels surreal and like a blur right now. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Somehow you still posted this gorgeous soup that looks amazing. The nutmeg ties it all together I’m thinking. xoxo
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and the condolences, Allie! I felt weird posting any recipe, but I knew that’s what my Grandma would have wanted. The nutmeg definitely adds a little somethin somethin! Cheers, my dear! xoxo
Oh Chey, I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother. She sounds like a wonderful woman and a great grandma. My deepest sympathy and condolences to you and your family! Lots of virtual hugs sweetie!
Thank you so much for the love and condolences, Gaila! <3 She was a fabulous woman! Cheers, my dear!
Girlfriend this soup is EVERYTHING!!
Thank you so much, Jocelyn! Cheers, doll!
I am so very sorry for your loss.Your beautiful words paint a lovely and poignant picture of how she touched your life in so many sweet ways. Big hugs and prayers to you and yours, dearest! xoxo
Thank you so much, Annie, for the sweet comment, condolences, hugs and prayers! I’m fortunate to have friends like you! Cheers! XO
Cheyane, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. It sounds like she was incredible woman with some serious kitchen skills 🙂 My thoughts are with you! I’m also swooning over this soup, and your stunning photos. Sending hugs!
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Rachel! I truly appreciate it! And thank you for the kind words about this soup! You totally just put a smile on my face! Hugs back at ya! <3
I’m sorry to hear about your loss, Chey! It’s always akward to me to say these words, so I’d rather cheer you up. Would sending a large food parcel to your food buddie (guess whom I am talking about!) cheer you up? I bet it will. Anyways you created such a delicious combo. love the addition of those Brussels sprouts.
Cheyanne, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like she was a wonderful person and that you had a very loving relationship with your her. Wish you the best at this sad time. Send you a big hug and lots of good thoughts!
Thank you so much for the condolences, Geraldine! She was a wonderful, loving woman and she will be missed. Hugs back at you my dear! <3
So so sorry to hear about your Grandmother. It’s always nice to hear sweet memories, I understand your feeling. She seems like an angel.
This is my first time on your space and I have to say, what a lovely blog you have here. Looking forward to visiting more.
Hugs.
Thank you so much for the sweet comment, Asha! Memories are so precious, because you never know when they will be all you have. I’m so glad you like my site!! That makes my day! I hope you do come back and visit! Cheers! <3
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother, Cheyanne. She sounds like a wonderful person – I hope you are doing ok. This soup looks delicious – the perfect comforting food. 🙂
Thank you so much for the condolences, Jess! My grandmother was pretty darn wonderful and I will miss her until we meet again! Thank you for the sweet comment about this soup, too, my dear! Cheers! 😉
I’m so, so sorry about your grandmother, Cheyanne! She sounded like a wonderful woman, and I know it’s hard to fill the void when you lose someone. I have no living grandparents any longer — my grandmother was the last to pass away 7 years ago. I truly think about her every day! I’m thinking about you. 🙂
I love leeks, parsnips, and brussels sprouts, so you’ve totally got my ideal soup right here! It looks like the perfect bowl of comfort food.
Thank you so much for the sweet comment and condolences, Marcie! I’m sorry you no longer have any living grandparents, my grams was the last living grandparent I had… So I guess we are in the same stinky boat. At least we have memories, right? This soup is total comfort food, but done relatively healthy! Thanks again for the love, my dear! I appreciate it so much! Cheers!
Cheyanne,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I’m so glad that you have such wonderful memories of your Grandmother to hold on to, she sounds like a remarkable woman! Living with grief is so unbelievably hard, remember to take good care of yourself, my thoughts are really with you. <3
This soup look really comforting, just what might be needed right now!
Thank you Meghan for the condolences! I do have wonderful memories of her, so I’m fortunate for that! Grief is a hard thing, she is the third person I have lost in less than three years… Makes you want to tell the ones you love just how much you love them! Comforting food is totally what I need right now, and this soup helped my tummy in the grieving process. lol. Gotta stay positive. Cheers, doll! <3
I am so sorry for your loss Cheyanne. I am sending you so much love. <3 If you ever need to talk, I am here! Always! The soup looks absolutely gorgeous too. I love the garnish 🙂
Awww, thank you SO much, Harriet!! I appreciate your kindness and sweet words, my dear! Hope you are having a blessed day! xo
Oh Cheyanne, I am so very sorry about your loss 🙁 Thank you so much for sharing such sweet memories of your grandmother, she sounded like such an amazing woman. Love this gorgeous soup! It has everything I love and looks incredible! *big hugs*
Thank you so much, Kelly, for the sweet comment! My grams was amazing! Thanks for the kind words about this soup too! You are always so kind! Cheers, girlfriend and hugs back!
So sorry to hear about your loss. I am sending you warm thoughts, good vibes, and big internet hugs!
Thank you so much, Amanda! I appreciate all the love! Cheers, my dear!
Just loved reading the image you painted of your grams, and when I saw her picture earlier on FB from your post it was indeed spot on! Sorry again for your loss Chey.
I definitely need that “good for your waist line” soup right about now! This looks so rich, thick and the addition of bacon and sprouts – make for one tasty meal. Thanks and Pinned!
I am so sorry for the loss of your grandmother Cheyanne. She sounds like she was an amazing person.
This soup looks like the ultimate fall soup. Love the flavor combination!
So sorry, Cheyanne. Sounds like she has left with so many wonderful memories. This soup looks so hearty and delicious. Perfect for this time of year.
I am so sorry to hear of your grandmothers passing. She sounds like an amazing lady who left a lifetime of memories of behind.
This soup looks incredibly creamy and soothing! Sorry to hear about your loss, but glad you were graced with the presence of such a lovely person in your life! 🙂
Oh Cheyanne. This post has brought tears to my eyes. I’m so sorry for your loss. Your gram sounds like one seriously awesome lady. I wish we lived closer so I could give you a big Liz hug. I’m going to be thinking of you and your grandma when I’m in my kitchen tonight. XOXO.
I am so sorry for the grief and pain you must be feeling now – the memories you have of her have become infinitely more precious now – your grandma sounds like she was a fabulous and interesting lady.
This soup looks like it will be a warming comfort food. I love how sweet parsnip soup goes. id even attempt to eat it with brussel sprouts! Be well beautiful x
So sorry to hear of your loss of your Grandmother. You wrote such a sweet and beautiful post honoring her. Love this recipe and your gorgeous photos. I have 3-4 pounds of parsnips and a couple of leeks left from my last CSA share and I had no idea what to do with them until now 🙂
I am so sorry for your loss. Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman, one who was a privilege to have known, who also enriched the lives of those who knew her. I am thinking of you and sending warm hugs your way.
so sorry for your loss Cheyanne, I hope you find the strength to cope up with it. Hugs dear xoxo I am sure your grandma will be watching over you, always 🙂 the soup looks lovely!
Oh Chey. Your grandmother was clearly an amazing, inspirational person, and I know she was so incredibly proud of you, and always will be. My heart and prayers are with you, my friend. Sending so many hugs your way. xo
So, so sorry for your loss Cheyenne. It sounds like you have some great memories of your grandmother. This soup looks delicious and comforting…putting it on my menu for next week.
Oh Cheyanne I am so so sorry to hear about your grandmother 🙁 I lost my grandpa during the holidays last year and it’s such a hard time. Thinking of you and your family and sending virtual hugs your way.
PS this soup sounds amazing. I LOVE brussels sprouts in anything!
I’m am SO so incredibly sorry to hear about your loss! Sending prayers your way.
This soup looks delicious and perfect for winter.
I am SO sorry dear to hear about your grandmother. Loss is one of the hardest part of life and although the pain will fade with time, the memories will forever live on. Grandparents are really God’s gifts and to be without them is very hard..I have no living grandparents or father any more so I understand the pain. I hope that her memories continue to inspire you in the kitchen and beyond. I’ll keep you and your family in my prayers. Sending you hugs dear friend. xoxo
Oh Cheyanne…. I feel your heartache and sorrow. It brings back memories of when my grandmother passed. She too was an inspiring and beautiful woman. I miss her so. No doubt the world is heavy… how do we reconcile our heartache? Please know that my heart is with you and your family during this time of remembrance and sorrow. xox
Sweet Cheyanne, I am so sorry for your loss. I simply love that quote at the end of your post!
My dad used to always say “there’s no smoke without fire” so, if more than one person says you look like your grandmother, my dear, I am positive you are as beautiful – outside and inside (as evidenced from your writing) – and – you have her ninja cooking skills to boot too – sounds like she left behind one heck of an imprint!
By the way, this soup looks luscious – so creamy and thick – I love my veggies and could devour this in record time – bacon and brussels sprouts are a fantastic garnish BTW!
I so sorry to hear about your grandmother. She must have been an incredible and wonderful woman and the way you have described her I wish I knew her. I’m sure your grandmother’s spirit lives within you! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
I’m so sorry about your loss, Cheyanne. Losing the ones we love is just the worst. I am so glad you had such an awesome woman in your life as a role model. She sounds wonderful.
This soup looks delicious, by the way…I love how thick and luxurious it is! Pinned :).
Cheyanne, you are so strong and brave. To have suffered through these kind of losses back to back and still be viewing life optimistically and with such grace…you should be proud, as I’m sure your grandmother would be! Your grandmother sounds like such a beautiful person, inside and out. I 100% believe your family and friends when they say you remind them of her because you are also a beautiful person both on the inside and outside. I love how creative you are in the kitchen and how you always seem to produce such comforting, delicious meals, including this creamy parsnip leek soup! The fact that it’s yummy AND healthy is totally #winning! Fantastic job, deary! So impressed <3 XOXO