Just when we thought spring had sprung...Missouri weather hits again! Sleet. Snow. Rain. Hail. Repeat. Lucky for me, our house was stocked with all the vegetable soup essentials. I tossed some carrots, celery, leeks, butternut squash and chickpeas together to whip up Martha Stewart's Hearty Winter-Vegetable Soup. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients (for 10-12 servings)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, cut into 1-inch pieces, and washed well
3 celery stalks, cut on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick pieces
3 medium carrots, cut into cubes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 pinches of red-pepper flakes
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
5 1/4 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
1 1/2 cups water
1 small (1 to 1 1/2 pounds) butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
2 Yukon Gold potatoes (about 12 ounces), cut into cubes
1 head escarole, cut into 1-inch-thick ribbons
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh dill
Directions

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook leeks, celery, carrots, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until leeks are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add stock and water, and bring to a boil.
Add squash and potatoes. Return to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in escarole and chickpeas, and return to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.