Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup

Directions

1. Prepare vegetables. Peel onions and chop coarsely; you should have about 1 1/2 c.. Peel and mince garlic. Pare turnips and potatoes, then cut into 1/2-inch dice; you should have about 1 1/2 c. turnips and 1 c. potatoes.
2. Wipe mushrooms clean with damp paper toweling; cut into thick slices for about 1 1/2 c.. Pare carrots; cut into 1/4 inch slices for about 2 1/2 c.. Trim spinach and rinse well in several changes of lukewarm water; cut or possibly tear into 2-inch pcs for about 3 c..
3. Heat butter in large heavy saucepan over medium heat. When foam subsides, add in onion and garlic; saute/fry till softened, 2-3 min. Add in turnips, potatoes, mushrooms and carrots; cook, stirring frequently, about 3 min. Add in stock; increase heat to medium-high. Heat to boiling. Add in barley shapes; reduce heat to low. Simmer soup, covered, till vegetables are crisp-tender, 8-10 min.
4. Add in spinach, salt, and pepper to taste to soup. Simmer, covered, till vegetables are tender, about 5 min.
5. Meanwhile, heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat to rippling. Add in kielbasa; saute/fry, stirring frequently, till browned all over, 3-5 min. Remove with slotted spoon to paper toweling to drain. Add in kielbasa to soup; adjust seasoning to taste, if necessary.
6. Ladle soup into warmed individual soup bowls; sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately, with grated Parmesan on the side, if you like.
7. TIP: Toasted barley shapes, a pasta product, can be found in the dry pasta section of supermarkets. If they are not available, pastina can be substituted. (I have also simmered longer and used pearl barley.)
8. MICROTIP: Microwave 3 Tbsp. butter in 3-qt casserole on high power till melted, about 2 min. Add in onion and garlic; microwave, uncovered, 2 min, stirring once. Add in turnips, potatoes, mushrooms, and carrots; microwave, uncovered, 4 min, stirring once.
9. Add in stock; microwave, covered, till mix boils, about 7 min. Stir; add in barley shapes. Microwave, covered, about 5 min, stirring once. Add in spinach, salt and pepper to taste; microwave, covered, 1 minute. Stir, then let stand 5 min.
10. Meanwhile, microwave 1 Tbsp. oil in microwave-safe 9-inch pie plate on high power 2 min. Add in kielbasa; microwave, stirring once, about 4 min. Remove with slotted spoon to paper toweling to drain. Add in kielbasa to soup; let soup stand, covered, about 5 min. Serve soup as directed above.