Vegetable Broth with Fennel, Herbs, and Dried Parmesan Cheese Rind

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 leeks, root ends and half of green tops trimmed, sliced
• 1 fennel bulb, thickly sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced, and leaves chopped
• 2 Principe Borghese or other medium vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
• 3 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3 sprigs fresh basil
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 12 black peppercorns
• Dried Parmesan cheese rind (about 1/4 cup of pieces)
• Sea salt

1. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot, add the garlic, and saute over very low heat for several minutes.
2. Add the carrots, leeks, fennel, and celery and saute briefly.
3. Add the tomatoes, parsley, basil, bay leaves, and peppercorns and saute for a couple of minutes.
4. Add 7 cups water and the Parmesan rind.
5. Cover and bring to a boil.
6. Lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 1 hour, adding salt to taste toward the end of the cooking time.
7. Strain.
8. Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

extra virgin olive oil, garlic, carrots, leeks, fennel bulb, celery stalks, borghese, parsley, basil, bay leaves, black, parmesan cheese rind, salt

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/vegetable-broth-with-fennel-herbs-and-dried-parmesan-cheese-rind (may not work)