02 Dec Soup, it’s what’s for Dinner!

It’s the time of year where heavy foods and sweets abound. I’m also freezing. It’s a bit embarrassing for this born and raised Western NY girl to admit that she’s cold living in San Diego but I am just freezing, OK? During this busy season I want to eat light/fast foods and lately, soup has just sounded amazing. Also, hot soup is the best when your “cold”. I like to have soup with salad and maybe some crusty bread (which if I’m really ambitious, I’ll throw in the bread maker). My kids LOVE the bread but I try to exercise self control.

Here’s a few soup recipes for you to try this winter:

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

INGREDIENTS:

2 small trimmed chicken breasts
·1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed

1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers

1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons)

1 teaspoon of onion powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4-teaspoon black pepper

1 bay leaf

1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (use leaves only, no stems)

Tortilla chips

Mexican cheeses

DIRECTIONS:

Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chiles, and chicken broth into a slow cooker. Add garlic, and season with onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.

To serve, place chips in bowl, pour soup over chips and top with cheese.

Sausage Bisque Soup 

1 lb sausage cut into small slices (flavored chicken all natural sausage is our fav)

1 qt whole milk

1 bag frozen sweet corn

1 small onion

1 t Salt & pepper

2 T flour

1 or 2 potatoes (optional) cut into small pieces

tabasco to taste

In a frying pan cook sausage and onion. Add flour, salt & pepper

In a pot, add milk, corn – start cooking on low

When sausage is done add it to the pot.

Now all you need to do is cook it until the extra potato pieces are cooked

You can cook on Med heat if you are going to watch it – it will burn if you don’t keep an eye on it -stir frequently

Tabasco sauce can be added if you like it a little spicy. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

Healthy Minestrone Soup

1 c onion chopped

4-5 garlic cloves minced

1T Olive oil

1 c Celery minced

1 c carrots cubed

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil (dried)

1 c green peppers chopped

1 c zucchini cubed

1 c tomatoes chopped

1 c tomato puree

3 1/2 c chicken stock

1 1/2 c garbanzo beans

1 c whole wheat pasta (I use rotoni)

serve with Parmesan cheese on top

In non stick skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until softened. add celery, carrots, salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Cover and cook on low for 5-8 min. Add green pepper, zucchini, tomatoes. tomato puree, chicken stock and garbanzo beans. Cover and simmer for 30 min. Cook pasta seperatly and ad to soup before serving. Serve with parmesan cheese. Serve immediatly. Soup loses liquid if it sits to long, add more chicken stock to thin.

CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

3 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
2 small trimmed chicken breasts
1 package (6 ounces) converted long grain and wild rice mix with seasoning packet  (not quick-cooking or instant rice)
2 cups water
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker; mix well. Cover; cook on low 4-6 hours (at most!!) it will dry up very easy!

Crockpot Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 small chicken breasts trimmed
2 12 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 12 oz. cans of tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can of chili beans (mild, or hot)
1/2 red bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
1 whole yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (add more for more heat)
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper & salt

Add all ingredients to crockpot with chicken, stir ingredients. Cook on low for 6 hours. Shred chicken (will fall right apart) Top with diced onion and shredded cheddar. Serve with tbsp sour cream.

This recipe can be made a variety of ways, and when I’m in the mood for something just a little different-I like to play with the ingredients just a bit. Add a southwestern touch with 12 oz. of frozen corn, or substitute 16 oz. of Boca ground crumbles instead of Chicken. You may wish to start with less chili powder and ground red pepper flakes, and sample chili during cook time–you can always add a little more halfway through the cooking process if you like to turn up the heat!

Best~ Autumn