You know how sometimes, rarely, you meet someone whose friendship becomes so valuable to you that one day you realize that you have become family? And you know how it takes you by surprise, the transition, because it is so seamless that you don’t even know when it happened, but suddenly there it is and it could never have been any different.That’s how it is with Grace’s family. I did not know, when we first met, what we were destined to become to one another. But here it is. Over the decades I have eaten hundreds of meals with Grace’s family, and each and every one was and continues to be filled with love and joy and hope and certainty that there will always be more. You can count on it. Just like this soup, what comes out of Grace’s kitchen is always real, and warm, and nourishing as it gets.

Addendum: Grace likes to make this soup with beef stock (not broth), but I would be just as happy with a good vegetable stock. Without further ado, Grace’s simple and elegant cabbage soup.

2-3 large onions, finely chopped
2-3 red bell peppers, chopped
8-10 stalks celery, chopped
2 large (16 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
4 cups low-sodium V8 juice
2 cups vegetable or beef stock
1 med-large head of cabbage, finely chopped and added last 
½ cup parsley, minced 
“a good shot or more to taste” of Frank’s Hot Sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar, added at the end.
Salt and pepper to taste

Add a bit of water to dilute the soup if you desire. 

Enjoy!