French Farmer’s Vegetable Soup

This is a French country soup par excellence. It’s not the dramatic kind of soup you’d serve when the boss is coming to dinner (unless he or she happens to be French) but a comforting and savory mixed vegetable soup. The chopped vegetables (don’t worry if they’re not cut exactly the same size) are cooked gently in bacon fat, broth is added, and the whole thing is simmered until the vegetables are soft. This country soup is perfect for a light dinner a deux or an impromptu gath