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I’ve never made cream of asparagus soup before, but I knew we had some asparagus that needed used and it sounded good, so why not.  When I got home I inspected the fridge to see what else we had on hand.  This is how it all went down.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 c. Vegan Chicken Broth (I use McKay’s.  One is vegan, one is not.  Be sure to check)
• 1 lb Fresh Asparagus
• 1/2 c.  Yellow Onion
• 1 c. Red Bell Pepper
• 1 c. Sliced Crimini Mushrooms
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 3 Tbsp. Tofutti Sour Supreme
• 2 Tbsp. Earth Balance
• 1/2 tsp. Sage
• Salt and Pepper

This can easily done in under 30 minutes if you don’t lolly-gag.  Start by prepping your vegetables.  Asparagus can be woody near the ends.  Use your judgment, but removing the bottom inch should be good enough.  Next cut the asparagus into 1/4 inch chunks, leaving the ends as a garnish if you like. (I did this.  It didn’t contribute much to the texture, but it looked nice)  Then dice your onion and bell pepper.  This time around I used pre-cleaned and sliced criminis from Trader Joe’s but if you have whole ones, slice them now too.  Add some olive oil to a large pan over medium heat.  Saute for about five minutes.

While the veggies are doing their thing you want to mix your broth. (a pre-prepared broth is fine, but vegan varieties aren’t very common) Bring the water/broth to a simmer.  For McKay’s, stir in 1. tsp per cup of water.  While this is heating up, add salt pepper and sage to the veggie mix.

After your veggies are nice and tender, remove them from the heat and add them to your broth.  Add your Earth Balance and return the entire mixture to a simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Use a timer people!  (If you are using the spears as a garnish, this would be the time to throw them in a pan over medium heat with some olive oil and salt.)  Test a piece of the asparagus after 15 minutes.  If you used quarter inch chunks, they should be al dente at this point.  If your pieces are little bigger it may require the additional 5 minutes.

Once they’re all softened up, add the entire mixture to the blender.  WARNING!!! Be very careful when blending hot liquids.  Be sure to use the lid and start slowly.  I walked my blender up to high and left it there for almost a full minute.  This texture was perfect for me.  Once you’ve got it where you like it, you can pour it directly into bowls or place it in whatever dish you’ll serve it from.

This is optional, but once the soup was served, I added a dollop of Sour Supreme and the sauteed spears.  I would have taken a photo, but I wasn’t thinking.  Next time, I promise!

The yield was around 6 cups.  I suppose this could serve 2 as it did for me, or 6 if you were serving it on the side.  Eat well and stay healthy!

While it might not technically be vegan, I’d be willing to give it the old “ominus dominus.”  Though some will surely disagree, my issue with consuming animal products is based in the practices of the meat and dairy industries in America and other developed countries; factory farming, in particular.  It is their irreverence for life and unnecessary cruelty that are the problem.  I do not believe for a second that all people everywhere should abstain from animal based diets.  Veganism is a luxury that we have while living in a consumer driven country.  Many people throughout the world do not have that luxury.

What I challenge all vegans to consider, is that eating vegan is not always the most responsible dietary choice.  Consider this story I heard from my friend Krissi Green.  Her friends were in Hawaii on vacation.  At one point they were out to lunch at a local restaurant.  The man, whose name I can’t recall orders the mahi mahi and his wife orders a tofu dish.  Which is the more responsible choice?  The mahi was caught wild that day, by a local fisherman with one boat.  The tofu started as soybeans grown in Iowa.  During the process, the soil was tilled and fertilized, seeds were planted, crops were irrigated, harvested, shipped, processed, packaged in plastic, shipped again and only then does it arrive at the restaurant.  Which meal required the lives of more animals, directly or indirectly?  Which meal had a more profound affect on the source ecosystem?

I have been vegan for a very long time and I feel there is merit to maintaining that diet, however we seem to overlook the overwhelming negative affects that our agricultural practices have on the environment and human and non-human animals.  Would the worldwide acceptance of a vegan diet be any more sustainable than the current omnivorous one?  I think there is a strong argument to be made, that hunting or fishing for the meat that you eat and growing your own vegetables would, over a lifetime, lead to less unnecessary suffering than 90% of the diets vegans maintain today.  I know this is idealistic, and I am not trying to convert vegans to meat eaters.  I am only trying to promote real pragmatic thought about the goals you hope to achieve and whether those goals can or even should be met by your current diet.  When it is all said and done, eat responsibly and with intent.

As far as eating people…I don’t recommend it, but I guess if you kill them with your bare hands, it’s vegan.

Ok, so here is the idea.  I have a broad range of interests and expertise, and I am interested in imparting whatever wisdom I may have to whomever may need it.  Nothing is explicitly off the table.  If it happens to be an area where I lack, I will research a reliable source to satisfy your query.  I expect that queries, while not limited to, will largely be regarding my opinion on one matter or another.  Please consider that in most cases, I am not inclined toward the use of euphemisms and am less inclined to tell you only what you want to hear.  If you don’t really want to know, I suggest you direct your question elsewhere.  That being said, lets get the ball rolling.  Here’s how it will work:  Send your queries directly, through the Ask Keller Form at the top of the page.  I will get back to you if I feel clarification is necessary.  In absence of extenuating circumstances you can expect an answer within 24 hours.  Please do not leave questions in a comment, as they may go unnoticed.

If I might recommend some topics:  Travel, Veganism, Fitness, Interior Design, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Marine Corps, Straightedge and Literature are ripe choices.