Velvety Asparagus Soup Recipe
Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh asparagus
• 4 1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 2 medium-sized potatoes, diced
• salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup light cream or soy cream
• fresh dill sprigs for garnish (optional)

Directions
Chop bottom half of asparagus spears into 2-inch lengths and place in soup pot along with vegetable stock. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander over a bowl, pressing on the stalks to get as much juice from them as possible, then discarding the fibrous stalks. Add the extracted juice back into the soup pot. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the onion, stirring while cooking for 5 minutes. Chop the top half of the asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces. Add asparagus pieces, celery, and potato to onion and butter. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover the saucepan and allow vegetables to cook for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of simmered stock and cover saucepan again, cooking another 7 or 8 minutes, until potato is tender, adding more liquid if the mixture gets too dry. Process these cooked vegetables in a blender or food processor until smooth, then add this puree back into the soup pot, adding cream. Simmer for 5 minutes, then taste and add salt and pepper, if necessary. May be served warm or chilled, garnished with a sprig of fresh dill, if desired.