A new way to use up coleslaw mix

We haven't updated this in a while so I thought I'd add this little recipe that I'd make when Dori's in the mood for soup.

Got a huge bag of coleslaw veggie mix in your fridge but sick of coleslaw?  Well, fear no more!  Here's a healthy, hearty soup you can make out of it....

Grab:

6-7 stalks of celery

2 medium onions

6 carrots

Your leftover coleslaw veggies 

Along with...

A can of diced tomatoes

A can of V-8 juice (8oz)

3 cans of beef broth (8oz)

1 packet onion soup mix

Raid the spice rack for....

Onion powder (2 tbsp)

Garlic powder (2 tbsp)

Black pepper (1 tbsp)

Cayenne pepper (1 tsp)

Parsley (1 tbsp)

1 bay leaf

Would be nice if you had....

A smoked ham hock or leftover smoked, pulled pork (About 2-3 cups worth)

And a 4-quart pot to put it all in.

So chop up the celery, onions, carrots and coleslaw mix and just toss it into the pot like you see on the Food Network.  Toss in the ham hock or pork next.  Then throw in the spices, onion soup mix, V8 and beef broth. Finally, pour some hot water over the the whole mix until everything is covered.  Heat until boiling, stirring constantly, then cover, lower to a simmer and let it all sit for a an hour and a half.  

Serve hot with a dash of Tabasco, more salt to your preference, along with buttered rye bread.  Great for cold weather!  Put the leftovers in some food containers and refrigerate for up to three days, and after that I'd recommend that you freeze the lot.  The best part about this is that the flavors improve as long as they're in the  fridge.

Alternatively, if you don't have coleslaw cabbage, use a head of fresh cabbage instead.  Cut the core out and toss that in with the rest of the soup mixture.  The cabbage should be chopped up into 1" square pieces.