If you love homemade Soup as much as I do, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, the Chunky Pizza Soup, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
LEMONY WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH TURKEY AND GREENS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "Bright with lemon and herbs, and packed with hearty greens, this highly adaptable soup can be either light and brothy or thick and stewlike, depending on your preference. Smashing some of the beans to release their starch will give you a thicker soup that’s almost worthy of a fork. To keep it on the brothy side, add a little more liquid and leave the beans intact. Either way, it’s a warming, piquant, one-pot meal that’s perfect for winter."
Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "This Spicy White Bean Soup Is a Poem in a Pot," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021776-lemony-white-bean-soup-with-turkey-and-greens. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 bunch sturdy greens, such as kale, broccoli rabe, mustard greens or collard greens
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1/2 pound ground turkey
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 quart chicken stock
2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped fresh, soft herbs, such as parsley, mint, dill, basil, tarragon, chives or a combination
Fresh lemon juice, to taste
Preparation
Heat a large pot over medium-high for a minute or so to warm it up. Add the oil and heat until it thins out, about 30 seconds. Add onion and carrot, and sauté until very soft and brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse the greens and pull the leaves off the stems. Tear or chop into bite-size pieces and set aside.
When the onion is golden, add tomato paste, 3/4 teaspoon cumin and 1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes to the pot, and sauté until paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add turkey, garlic, ginger and 1 teaspoon salt, and sauté, breaking up the meat with your spoon, until turkey is browned in spots, 4 to 7 minutes.
Add stock and beans, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer until the soup is thick and flavorful, adding more salt if needed, 15 to 25 minutes. If you like a thicker broth, you can smash some of the beans with the back of the spoon to release their starch. Or leave the beans whole for a brothier soup.
Add the greens to the pot and simmer until they are very soft. This will take 5 to 10 minutes for most greens, but tough collard greens might take 15 minutes. (Add a little water if the broth gets too reduced.)
Stir herbs and lemon juice into the pot, taste and add more salt, cumin and lemon until the broth is lively and bright-tasting. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if desired.
CHUNKY PIZZA SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 tb Oil, vegetable
1 Onion, chopped small
1/2 c Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c Green peppers, slivered
1 c Tomatoes, undrained
1 c Stock, beef
1 c Pepperoni, thin sliced
1/2 ts Basil, dried
1 c Cheese, mozzarella shredded
Directions
Preheat oven broiler. Heat oil over medium heat, stirfry onion, mushroom and green pepper till soft, not browned. Add tomatoes, stock, pepperoni and basil, cook till heated through. Ladle soup into ovenproof bowls and sprinkle with cheese. Broil till cheese melts and is bubbly.
ZUPPA DE FARRO
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Farro is a delicious alternative to rice or pasta in this Tuscan-inspired soup, made with chicken broth, pancetta and tomatoes, and seasoned with garlic, basil and thyme. It's easy to make, and it's absolutely delicious!”
Serves: 6 servings (about 1-3/4 cups each); Prep Time: 100 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes
View this online here.
Ingredients
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons uncooked whole cereal farro grain or pearl barley (about 8 ounces)
4 ounces pancetta or deli ham, chopped
1 small onion, sliced (about 1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
4 cups Swanson® Chicken Broth (Regular, Natural Goodness® or Certified Organic)
2 medium plum tomato, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Parmesan cheese (optional)
Directions
Place the farro in a large bowl. Add water to cover and let soak for 1 hour. Drain the farro in a strainer.
Place the farro and 8 cups of water in a 6-quart saucepot and heat over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Add the pancetta, onion, garlic and thyme to the saucepot and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until the pancetta is well browned. Add the farro, broth, tomatoes, basil and black pepper and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 10 minutes. Serve with the cheese, if desired.
WINTER SQUASH SOUP
This comes from Ina Garten from the Food Network show Barefoot Contessa.
Level: Easy; Total Time: 50 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this recipe online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/winter-squash-soup-recipe-1925833.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon good olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
1 (15 - ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut in chunks
3 cups homemade chicken stock or canned broth
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup half - and - half
Creme fraiche, grated Gruyere, or croutons (see Note), for serving (optional)
Directions
Heat the butter and oil in a heavy - bottomed stockpot, add the onions, and cook over medium - low heat for 10 minutes, or until translucent. Add the pumpkin puree, butternut squash, chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium - low heat for about 20 minutes, until the butternut squash is very tender. Process the mixture through the medium blade of a food mill. Return to the pot, add the half - and - half, and heat slowly. If the soup needs more flavor, add another teaspoon of salt. Serve hot with garnishes, if desired.
Cook's Note: To serve with croutons, remove the crusts from 2 slices of white bread, cut them in 1/2-inch cubes, and saute them in 1 tablespoon of butter until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
THREE SISTERS SOUP
This is from American Heart Association, and begins, “Simple Cooking with Heart brings you this interesting vegetable and bean soup called Three Sisters Soup.
“This is actually a Native American recipe and the three 'sisters' refer to corn, beans and squash!”
Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://recipes.heart.org/en/recipes/three-sisters-soup
Note: This recipe calls for either chicken or vegetable stock on the American Heart Association web site. However, since this is a vegetarian blog, I'm keeping it at only the veggie broth. Also, if you're looking for quite a few yummy heart-healthy recipes, check out the AHA's site and follow around to their recipes.
Ingredients
6 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
16 oz. canned, low-sodium yellow corn or hominy, drained, rinsed
16 oz. canned, low-sodium kidney beans (drained, rinsed)
1 small onion (chopped)
1 rib celery (chopped)
15 oz. canned, cooked pumpkin (Tip: Be careful, don’t get pumpkin pie filling!)
5 fresh sage leaves
OR
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/2 tsp. curry powder
Directions
Bring veggie stock to a slow boil.
Add corn/hominy, beans, onion and celery.Boil for 10 minutes.
Add sage leaves, curry and pumpkin and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
Confessions of a Foodie
Showing posts with label Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Soup
For years, I've had a soft spot for homemade Soup. There's just something comforting inthe stuff, no matter the time of year.
To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to help you through the day, including Turkey Club Soup and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Enjoy!
RED LENTIL SOUP
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "This is a lentil soup that defies expectations of what lentil soup can be. Based on a Turkish lentil soup, mercimek corbasi, it is light, spicy and a bold red color (no murky brown here): a revelatory dish that takes less than an hour to make. The cooking is painless. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then stir in tomato paste, cumin and chile powder and cook a few minutes more to intensify flavor. Add broth, water, red lentils (which cook faster than their green or black counterparts) and diced carrot, and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée half the mixture and return it to the pot for a soup that strikes the balance between chunky and pleasingly smooth. A hit of lemon juice adds an up note that offsets the deep cumin and chile flavors."
Total Time: 45 min utes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "A Lentil Soup to Make You Stop, Taste and Savor," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup.
Check out Melissa Clark's guide, "How to Cook Beans." While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper
Pinch of chili powder or ground cayenne, plus more to taste
1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup red lentils
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, 1/4 teaspoons each salt and black pepper and the chili powder, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partly cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup, then add it back to pot. The soup should be somewhat chunky.
Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder, if desired.
HERBED CARROT SOUP

From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett

Directions
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap.)
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
TACO SOUP
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "A cozy mash-up of tacos and hearty chili, this soup fills the spot on those days when you're in need of a quick bowl of comfort. You can use a taco seasoning packet from the store, but it’s very easy to make your own blend to suit your taste (and whip up extra, if you like, to have on hand for other dishes). If using a packet, it will also include salt, so adjust accordingly when seasoning. You can easily make this soup vegetarian by omitting the meat and using an extra can of beans or subbing in a meat substitute. Set up a colorful toppings bar and be sure to squeeze on a little lime to brighten up all the flavors."
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024354-taco-soup.
Ingredients
For the Taco Seasoning (equivalent to a 1-ounce Packet)
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder, to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Soup
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped, plus more for serving
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef, (or pork, turkey or chicken)
1 to 2 jalapeños, finely chopped, to taste, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles (see Tip)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, or water
2 cups frozen corn
Handful cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
Chopped avocado, pickled red onion, grated Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, tortilla chips and/or lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Preparation
If making your own taco seasoning: Mix the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano in a small bowl. Set aside.
Make the soup: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Increase the heat to medium, add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and brown until all the pink is gone, about 5 minutes. Season with salt (about 1 teaspoon) and black pepper. Add the jalapeño and the taco seasoning and stir for 1 minute. Push the meat to the sides of the pan, making a little space in the center, and add the tomato paste. Cook to deepen its color, about 1 minute, then stir everything together.
Add the green chiles and their liquid, and the pinto and black beans. Season with salt (about 2 teaspoons). Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, and the broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded, about 20 minutes.
Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and chili powder, if desired. Stir in the frozen corn and cilantro. Cover and simmer until the corn has heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with toppings of choice. Thin out with stock or water when reheating, if necessary.
Tip
If your fire-roasted tomatoes include green chiles, omit the 2 cans of green chiles.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This is from MyRecipes, and begins, "Once you've made your own veggie-packed pot of chicken noodle soup, you won't go back to the canned, supersalty stuff again."
Hands-on Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings (serving size: about 1-1/4 cups)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/homemade-chicken-noodle-soup.
Ingredients
1-1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 cups thinly sliced carrot
1 cup finely chopped onion
2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
2 cups water
1 (32-ounce) container unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 3 fresh thyme sprigs
6 ounces whole-grain rotini (such as Barilla; about 2 cups)
8 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast, shredded
4 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken thigh, shredded
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Heat a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add carrot, onion, and celery; sauté 5 minutes.
While vegetables cook, pour 2 cups water and stock into a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH for 5 minutes. (This saves up to 10 minutes in the pot.)
Add hot stock mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Stir in thyme and pasta; reduce heat to medium, and cook 8 minutes.
Add chicken, salt, and pepper to pan; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated and pasta is tender.
TURKEY CLUB SOUP
This yummy recipe is from Betty Crocker. It begins, "All of the classic club sandwich ingredients – bacon, turkey, tomato and cheese – come together in this satisfying soup."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 7 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Croutons
3 cups cubed (1-inch) French bread
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
Soup
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
3 cups Progresso™ unsalted chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
8 oz prepared cheese product, cut into cubes (from 1-lb loaf)
1 lb smoked turkey breast, coarsely chopped (3 cups)
1 medium tomato, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
Chopped avocado, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix Crouton ingredients until bread is well coated. Spread in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in 5-quart Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving bacon drippings in Dutch oven; set cooked bacon aside.
Return Dutch oven to stove; reduce heat to medium. Add onion, carrot and garlic to bacon drippings. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened. Stir in chicken broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slowly stir in cheese, stirring constantly with whisk, until cheese is melted. Stir in turkey. Add tomato, spinach and salt; cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until heated through and spinach is wilted.
Serve soup topped with croutons, bacon and chopped avocado.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Reheat cream or cheese soups slowly. Boiling can case the soup to separate and curdle.
tip 2
Ask for thick slices of turkey breast at the deli, then chop them at home. Or use leftover turkey breast that you have on hand.
To that end, here are six yummy soup recipes to help you through the day, including Turkey Club Soup and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Enjoy!
RED LENTIL SOUP
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "This is a lentil soup that defies expectations of what lentil soup can be. Based on a Turkish lentil soup, mercimek corbasi, it is light, spicy and a bold red color (no murky brown here): a revelatory dish that takes less than an hour to make. The cooking is painless. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then stir in tomato paste, cumin and chile powder and cook a few minutes more to intensify flavor. Add broth, water, red lentils (which cook faster than their green or black counterparts) and diced carrot, and simmer for 30 minutes. Purée half the mixture and return it to the pot for a soup that strikes the balance between chunky and pleasingly smooth. A hit of lemon juice adds an up note that offsets the deep cumin and chile flavors."
Total Time: 45 min utes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "A Lentil Soup to Make You Stop, Taste and Savor," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup.
Check out Melissa Clark's guide, "How to Cook Beans." While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper
Pinch of chili powder or ground cayenne, plus more to taste
1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup red lentils
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over high until hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until golden, about 4 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, 1/4 teaspoons each salt and black pepper and the chili powder, and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partly cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft, about 30 minutes. Taste and add salt if necessary.
Using an immersion or regular blender or a food processor, purée half the soup, then add it back to pot. The soup should be somewhat chunky.
Reheat soup if necessary, then stir in lemon juice and cilantro. Serve soup drizzled with good olive oil and dusted lightly with chili powder, if desired.
HERBED CARROT SOUP

From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett

Directions
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable or chicken stock.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap.)
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
TACO SOUP
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "A cozy mash-up of tacos and hearty chili, this soup fills the spot on those days when you're in need of a quick bowl of comfort. You can use a taco seasoning packet from the store, but it’s very easy to make your own blend to suit your taste (and whip up extra, if you like, to have on hand for other dishes). If using a packet, it will also include salt, so adjust accordingly when seasoning. You can easily make this soup vegetarian by omitting the meat and using an extra can of beans or subbing in a meat substitute. Set up a colorful toppings bar and be sure to squeeze on a little lime to brighten up all the flavors."
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024354-taco-soup.
Ingredients
For the Taco Seasoning (equivalent to a 1-ounce Packet)
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder, to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Soup
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped, plus more for serving
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef, (or pork, turkey or chicken)
1 to 2 jalapeños, finely chopped, to taste, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles (see Tip)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, or water
2 cups frozen corn
Handful cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
Chopped avocado, pickled red onion, grated Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, tortilla chips and/or lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Preparation
If making your own taco seasoning: Mix the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano in a small bowl. Set aside.
Make the soup: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Increase the heat to medium, add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and brown until all the pink is gone, about 5 minutes. Season with salt (about 1 teaspoon) and black pepper. Add the jalapeño and the taco seasoning and stir for 1 minute. Push the meat to the sides of the pan, making a little space in the center, and add the tomato paste. Cook to deepen its color, about 1 minute, then stir everything together.
Add the green chiles and their liquid, and the pinto and black beans. Season with salt (about 2 teaspoons). Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, and the broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded, about 20 minutes.
Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and chili powder, if desired. Stir in the frozen corn and cilantro. Cover and simmer until the corn has heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with toppings of choice. Thin out with stock or water when reheating, if necessary.
Tip
If your fire-roasted tomatoes include green chiles, omit the 2 cans of green chiles.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This is from MyRecipes, and begins, "Once you've made your own veggie-packed pot of chicken noodle soup, you won't go back to the canned, supersalty stuff again."
Hands-on Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings (serving size: about 1-1/4 cups)
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/homemade-chicken-noodle-soup.
Ingredients
1-1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 cups thinly sliced carrot
1 cup finely chopped onion
2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
2 cups water
1 (32-ounce) container unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 3 fresh thyme sprigs
6 ounces whole-grain rotini (such as Barilla; about 2 cups)
8 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast, shredded
4 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken thigh, shredded
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Heat a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add carrot, onion, and celery; sauté 5 minutes.
While vegetables cook, pour 2 cups water and stock into a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH for 5 minutes. (This saves up to 10 minutes in the pot.)
Add hot stock mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Stir in thyme and pasta; reduce heat to medium, and cook 8 minutes.
Add chicken, salt, and pepper to pan; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated and pasta is tender.
TURKEY CLUB SOUP
This yummy recipe is from Betty Crocker. It begins, "All of the classic club sandwich ingredients – bacon, turkey, tomato and cheese – come together in this satisfying soup."
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Makes 7 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Croutons
3 cups cubed (1-inch) French bread
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
Soup
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
3 cups Progresso™ unsalted chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
8 oz prepared cheese product, cut into cubes (from 1-lb loaf)
1 lb smoked turkey breast, coarsely chopped (3 cups)
1 medium tomato, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
Chopped avocado, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, mix Crouton ingredients until bread is well coated. Spread in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in 5-quart Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving bacon drippings in Dutch oven; set cooked bacon aside.
Return Dutch oven to stove; reduce heat to medium. Add onion, carrot and garlic to bacon drippings. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened. Stir in chicken broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slowly stir in cheese, stirring constantly with whisk, until cheese is melted. Stir in turkey. Add tomato, spinach and salt; cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until heated through and spinach is wilted.
Serve soup topped with croutons, bacon and chopped avocado.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Reheat cream or cheese soups slowly. Boiling can case the soup to separate and curdle.
tip 2
Ask for thick slices of turkey breast at the deli, then chop them at home. Or use leftover turkey breast that you have on hand.
Friday, June 6, 2025
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay!
What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing yet; probably some work around the house, maybe some grocery shopping, a movie or two in the evening, or maybe even a couple of naps.
Anywho, no matter what our plans are, we still have to eat. Here are today's recipes to get us through the weekend...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.
Ingredients
2-1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix
1 cup chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)
12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes
3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa
Sliced green onions
Diced avocado
Diced tomato
Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices
Preparation
Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.
Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.
Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.
Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.
Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.
DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths
1 head garlic, cut crosswise
5 fresh thyme sprigs
5 fresh rosemary sprigs
Fine or coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
1/2 lemon
3/4 cup white wine
For the Vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)
1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)
For Serving:
3 to 4 handfuls salad greens
Preparation
Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.
Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.
Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.
While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.
Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.
To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.
LOADED BAKED POTATO
This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.
This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.
Ingredients
6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)
4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 medium scallions
1 bunch fresh chives
3/4 cup sour cream, divided
1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper
Directions
Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.
Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.
When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.
Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.
When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.
Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.
Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.
Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES
This is from The Mayo CLinic.
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cups zucchini, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon mild chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.
Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing yet; probably some work around the house, maybe some grocery shopping, a movie or two in the evening, or maybe even a couple of naps.
Anywho, no matter what our plans are, we still have to eat. Here are today's recipes to get us through the weekend...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!
SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO
This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.
Ingredients
2-1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces
1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix
1 cup chopped onions
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)
12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes
3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa
Sliced green onions
Diced avocado
Diced tomato
Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices
Preparation
Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.
Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.
Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.
Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.
Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.
DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE
This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."
Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours
This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths
1 head garlic, cut crosswise
5 fresh thyme sprigs
5 fresh rosemary sprigs
Fine or coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
1/2 lemon
3/4 cup white wine
For the Vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)
1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)
For Serving:
3 to 4 handfuls salad greens
Preparation
Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.
Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.
Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.
Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.
While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.
Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.
To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.
LOADED BAKED POTATO
This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.
This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.
Ingredients
6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)
4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 medium scallions
1 bunch fresh chives
3/4 cup sour cream, divided
1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper
Directions
Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.
Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.
When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.
Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.
When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.
Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.
Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.
Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES
This is from The Mayo CLinic.
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cups zucchini, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon mild chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.
Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.
Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS
This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1-3/4 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded
Directions
Heat grill to medium-high heat.
Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.
Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Soup's On!
If you love homemade soup, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, the Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, and the rest of today's post. Enjoy!
TACO SOUP
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "A cozy mash-up of tacos and hearty chili, this soup fills the spot on those days when you're in need of a quick bowl of comfort. You can use a taco seasoning packet from the store, but it’s very easy to make your own blend to suit your taste (and whip up extra, if you like, to have on hand for other dishes). If using a packet, it will also include salt, so adjust accordingly when seasoning. You can easily make this soup vegetarian by omitting the meat and using an extra can of beans or subbing in a meat substitute. Set up a colorful toppings bar and be sure to squeeze on a little lime to brighten up all the flavors."
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024354-taco-soup.
Ingredients
For the Taco Seasoning (equivalent to a 1-ounce Packet)
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder, to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Soup
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped, plus more for serving
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef, (or pork, turkey or chicken)
1 to 2 jalapeños, finely chopped, to taste, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles (see Tip)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, or water
2 cups frozen corn
Handful cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
Chopped avocado, pickled red onion, grated Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, tortilla chips and/or lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Preparation
If making your own taco seasoning: Mix the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano in a small bowl. Set aside.
Make the soup: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Increase the heat to medium, add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and brown until all the pink is gone, about 5 minutes. Season with salt (about 1 teaspoon) and black pepper. Add the jalapeño and the taco seasoning and stir for 1 minute. Push the meat to the sides of the pan, making a little space in the center, and add the tomato paste. Cook to deepen its color, about 1 minute, then stir everything together.
Add the green chiles and their liquid, and the pinto and black beans. Season with salt (about 2 teaspoons). Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, and the broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded, about 20 minutes.
Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and chili powder, if desired. Stir in the frozen corn and cilantro. Cover and simmer until the corn has heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with toppings of choice. Thin out with stock or water when reheating, if necessary.
Tip
If your fire-roasted tomatoes include green chiles, omit the 2 cans of green chiles.
HERBED CARROT SOUP

From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett

Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock or chicken stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
SLOW-COOKER TACO SOUP
This comes from Amy Cipolla Barnes on the Southern Living site. The recipe begins, " Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or an ordinary Friday, this slow-cooker taco soup recipe is a great meal option. Filling and warm, the soup is also simple to prepare.
"During chilly fall and winter days, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup. Add in the ease of a slow cooker, and you’ve got dinner on the table with only a few minutes of hands-on work with this easy Slow-Cooker Taco Soup recipe."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 8 to 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/slow-cooker-taco-soup-7108646.
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, diced (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 (1-oz.) pkg. taco seasoning
1 (15.5-oz.) can chili beans, drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can tomatoes, garlic, and onions
1 (14.5-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 (15.5-oz.) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15.5-oz.) can pinto beans, drained
1 (15.25-oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (1-oz.) pkg. dry ranch seasoning mix
Sour cream, salsa, tortilla strips or chips, corn chips, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, cilantro (for garnish)
Directions
Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium, stirring constantly, 5 to 8 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Add onions, and cook until tender and translucent. Add one package of taco seasoning, and stir until meat is covered.
Spoon ground beef mixture in the bottom of the slow-cooker crock. Add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls, top with preferred garnishes, and serve.
CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This yummy soup is from Chungah, on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. I've mentioned her site once or twice. But if you haven't visited it yet, I highly recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap...)
Okay, hopefully you checked it out. Now, this recipe begins, "So warm, so cozy, so soothing. A must for those busy cold weeknights, using up that leftover rotisserie chicken!"
Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes
You can view this online at https://damndelicious.net/2022/04/29/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in chicken stock and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes.
Stir in chicken and pasta and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream, peas and parsley until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve immediately.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
AUTUMN VEGETABLE MINESTRONE
This is from an older Weight Watchers' emailing list.
Ingredients
2 14.5 oz cans vegetable broth
1 18 oz can crushed tomatoes – undrained
3 medium carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2" slices
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2" pieces
8 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
Mix all ingredients except rice and basil in a 3-1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in rice. Cover and cook on low heat setting for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
Per serving: WW Points: 1; 195 Calories; 2g Total Fat; 7g Protein; 39g Carbohydrate; 1mg Cholesterol; 1198mg Sodium
TACO SOUP
This is from Naz Deravian at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Naz wrote, "A cozy mash-up of tacos and hearty chili, this soup fills the spot on those days when you're in need of a quick bowl of comfort. You can use a taco seasoning packet from the store, but it’s very easy to make your own blend to suit your taste (and whip up extra, if you like, to have on hand for other dishes). If using a packet, it will also include salt, so adjust accordingly when seasoning. You can easily make this soup vegetarian by omitting the meat and using an extra can of beans or subbing in a meat substitute. Set up a colorful toppings bar and be sure to squeeze on a little lime to brighten up all the flavors."
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024354-taco-soup.
Ingredients
For the Taco Seasoning (equivalent to a 1-ounce Packet)
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder, to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Soup
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow or red onion, finely chopped, plus more for serving
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef, (or pork, turkey or chicken)
1 to 2 jalapeños, finely chopped, to taste, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 (4-ounce) cans diced green chiles (see Tip)
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 (15-ounce) cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
2-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, or water
2 cups frozen corn
Handful cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
Chopped avocado, pickled red onion, grated Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, tortilla chips and/or lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Preparation
If making your own taco seasoning: Mix the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and dried oregano in a small bowl. Set aside.
Make the soup: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Increase the heat to medium, add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and brown until all the pink is gone, about 5 minutes. Season with salt (about 1 teaspoon) and black pepper. Add the jalapeño and the taco seasoning and stir for 1 minute. Push the meat to the sides of the pan, making a little space in the center, and add the tomato paste. Cook to deepen its color, about 1 minute, then stir everything together.
Add the green chiles and their liquid, and the pinto and black beans. Season with salt (about 2 teaspoons). Stir in the tomatoes and their juices, and the broth. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded, about 20 minutes.
Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and chili powder, if desired. Stir in the frozen corn and cilantro. Cover and simmer until the corn has heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with toppings of choice. Thin out with stock or water when reheating, if necessary.
Tip
If your fire-roasted tomatoes include green chiles, omit the 2 cans of green chiles.
HERBED CARROT SOUP

From the December 2005 issue of Runner's World; reprinted from HerbWise: Growing, Cooking, WellBeing, by Bruce Burnett

Ingredients
2 pounds of carrots, chopped
1 large onion, diced
6 sprigs of fresh parsley, 3 sprigs of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 6 six black peppercorns, bundled together so that they can be easily removed after cooking
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Tbs of butter
6 C of vegetable stock or chicken stock
Freshly grated mace or nutmeg
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Lightly sauté the onion & garlic in the butter. Add the stock & carrots & simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the bundle of herbs & continue to simmer for another 20 minutes. Remove the herbs, allow the soup to cool, & put it through the blender in batches. Reheat the soup over low heat while adding the mace or nutmeg & salt & pepper to taste. Serve with some fresh, homemade bread & garnish with some fresh parsley & a little chopped fresh thyme.
SLOW-COOKER TACO SOUP
This comes from Amy Cipolla Barnes on the Southern Living site. The recipe begins, " Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or an ordinary Friday, this slow-cooker taco soup recipe is a great meal option. Filling and warm, the soup is also simple to prepare.
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 8 to 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/slow-cooker-taco-soup-7108646.
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, diced (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 (1-oz.) pkg. taco seasoning
1 (15.5-oz.) can chili beans, drained
1 (14.5-oz.) can tomatoes, garlic, and onions
1 (14.5-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 (15.5-oz.) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15.5-oz.) can pinto beans, drained
1 (15.25-oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (1-oz.) pkg. dry ranch seasoning mix
Sour cream, salsa, tortilla strips or chips, corn chips, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, cilantro (for garnish)
Directions
Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium, stirring constantly, 5 to 8 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Add onions, and cook until tender and translucent. Add one package of taco seasoning, and stir until meat is covered.
Spoon ground beef mixture in the bottom of the slow-cooker crock. Add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW 6 hours, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls, top with preferred garnishes, and serve.
CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This yummy soup is from Chungah, on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. I've mentioned her site once or twice. But if you haven't visited it yet, I highly recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap...)
Okay, hopefully you checked it out. Now, this recipe begins, "So warm, so cozy, so soothing. A must for those busy cold weeknights, using up that leftover rotisserie chicken!"
Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes
You can view this online at https://damndelicious.net/2022/04/29/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in chicken stock and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes.
Stir in chicken and pasta and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream, peas and parsley until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve immediately.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
AUTUMN VEGETABLE MINESTRONE
This is from an older Weight Watchers' emailing list.
Ingredients
2 14.5 oz cans vegetable broth
1 18 oz can crushed tomatoes – undrained
3 medium carrots, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
3 small zucchini, cut into 1/2" slices
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2" pieces
8 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
Mix all ingredients except rice and basil in a 3-1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in rice. Cover and cook on low heat setting for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
Per serving: WW Points: 1; 195 Calories; 2g Total Fat; 7g Protein; 39g Carbohydrate; 1mg Cholesterol; 1198mg Sodium
Friday, May 3, 2024
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Bistro Onion Burgers and Classic Shepherd’s Pie. Enjoy!
CHEF JOHN'S SALISBURY STEAK
This is from Chef John at All Recipes. He wrote, "When I was a kid, we didn't have smartphones or the internet, all we had was a TV. But we didn't care because as we watched, we got to enjoy a little something called a "TV dinner." The king of those dinners, in my opinion, was the Salisbury steak, which is what I'll show you how to make here, along with one of the greatest gravies ever invented. Serve with buttered mashed potatoes and a vegetable side of your choice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/280901/chef-johns-salisbury-steak/.
Ingredients
For the Steaks:
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 large egg, beaten
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
For the Gravy:
2 tablespoons salted butter
12 large white button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 cups high-quality, low-sodium beef broth
salt to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
Combine beef, black pepper, dry mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, egg, cayenne, and bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Use a fork or your hands to stir the ingredients until very evenly distributed.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
While the meat is resting, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick pan over high heat; add mushrooms, onions, and a pinch of salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, until very nicely browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add flour. Cook and stir for 3 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth; increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the gravy thickens slightly and reduces, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup, scraping the pan clean with a spatula, and reserve.
Remove meat from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions. Moisten hands and form into oval patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides of the patties lightly with salt.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the previously used nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in gravy and bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until gravy is piping hot, and the meat is just cooked through and springs back lightly when touched, about 5 minutes.
Chef's Notes:
You can use the meat mixture immediately rather than wrapping and refrigerating.
You can make the meatballs round or in any shape you like.
BISTRO ONION BURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and starts off, “Are you looking for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love? Try these burgers that use dry onion soup mix to add a savory touch.” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 envelope (about 1 oz.) dry onion soup & recipe mix
3 Tbsp. water
6 Pepperidge Farm® Farmhouse™ Premium White Rolls with Sesame Seeds, split and toasted
lettuce leaves
tomato slices
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, soup mix and water. Shape the beef mixture into 6 (1/2-inch thick) burgers.
Cook the burgers in batches in a 10-inch skillett over medium-high heat until well browned on both sides, 10 minutes for medium or to desired doneness.
Serve the burgers on the rolls. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
ITALIAN HERO SANDWICH
Yield: 2 servings
Source: "Mix 'n Match Meals in Minutes"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/13.shtml
Ingredients
2 small French or Italian whole-grain rolls (about 2 ounces each)
Olive oil cooking spray
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
4 ounces roasted chicken breast pieces (1 cup)
2 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup canned pimentos, drained and cut into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Slice rolls in half horizontally and remove the centers. Spray each side with cooking spray.
Layer tomato, chicken and mozzarella on one side of the roll. Add pimentos, salt, and pepper. Cover with top of roll, cut in half, and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 of recipe): Calories: 326, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 63 mg, Sodium: 507 mg, Carbohydrate: 31 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 30 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch, 3 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA
This is from the long since forgotten email list. Serves 4
Ingredients
8oz (2 c) uncooked ziti
1 (14oz) jar pizza sauce
2 oz sliced pepperoni, halved (about 3/4 c)
1/4 c finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 c grated parmesan
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
4oz (1c) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 375. Spray 8" sq. baking pan with nonstick spray. Cook ziti according to pkg directions. In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, pizza sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, Parmesan, oregano and garlic; mix well. Spoon into baking pan; sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-35 min. or throughly heated and cheese is melted.
CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE
This is from Alex Guarnashelli on the Today's site. She wrote, "This is a classic that makes me feel like I am in a pub enjoying myself. It's so comforting, especially with the cold weather. This is traditionally made with ground lamb but the American in me likes to make it with a somewhat lean beef and creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes instead. You can actually make this entirely in advance and bake when ready to serve. You can also shortcut by using premade mashed potatoes. This is a great freezer dish, which you can defrost and bake off any time.
"Technique tip: Cut your carrots, onions and celery all about the same size so they cook evenly and retain some of their texture.
"Swap option: Substitute ground chicken or turkey for the beef for a leaner option. Swap mashed sweet potatoes or Butternut squash puree for the mashed potatoes for a sweeter, lighter version."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced, divided
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Meat
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 sprigs fresh thyme
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 large red onion, diced small
1 large carrot, diced small
2 ribs celery, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup hearty beef broth
Directions
For the mashed potatoes:
In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover amply with cold water. Bring the water up to a boil and reduce the heat so that it simmers. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water and allow the potatoes to cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
Drain the potatoes in a colander. Run the potatoes through a food mill or ricer.
Return the empty pot to the heat and add the milk. Bring the milk to a simmer and gingerly add the potatoes back into the pot. Season with salt and whisk in 8 tablespoons of the sliced butter and sour cream. Taste for seasoning. Remove from the heat.
For the meat:
In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the ground beef in small pieces with the thyme and brown over high heat until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the onions, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook with the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are translucent and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off any excess grease. Discard the thyme.
Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the meat. Stir in the peas, vinegar and broth. Taste for seasoning.
To assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Use the remaining tablespoon butter to grease the sides and bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
Spoon a layer of the mashed potatoes on the bottom so it hugs the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Top the potatoes with all of the meat mixture. Top with all of the remaining mashed potatoes and all of the remaining cheese.
Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the center is hot when poked with the tip of a knife and the top browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
CHEF JOHN'S SALISBURY STEAK
This is from Chef John at All Recipes. He wrote, "When I was a kid, we didn't have smartphones or the internet, all we had was a TV. But we didn't care because as we watched, we got to enjoy a little something called a "TV dinner." The king of those dinners, in my opinion, was the Salisbury steak, which is what I'll show you how to make here, along with one of the greatest gravies ever invented. Serve with buttered mashed potatoes and a vegetable side of your choice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/280901/chef-johns-salisbury-steak/.
Ingredients
For the Steaks:
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 large egg, beaten
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
For the Gravy:
2 tablespoons salted butter
12 large white button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 cups high-quality, low-sodium beef broth
salt to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
Combine beef, black pepper, dry mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, egg, cayenne, and bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Use a fork or your hands to stir the ingredients until very evenly distributed.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
While the meat is resting, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick pan over high heat; add mushrooms, onions, and a pinch of salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, until very nicely browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add flour. Cook and stir for 3 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth; increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the gravy thickens slightly and reduces, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup, scraping the pan clean with a spatula, and reserve.
Remove meat from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions. Moisten hands and form into oval patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides of the patties lightly with salt.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the previously used nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in gravy and bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until gravy is piping hot, and the meat is just cooked through and springs back lightly when touched, about 5 minutes.
Chef's Notes:
You can use the meat mixture immediately rather than wrapping and refrigerating.
You can make the meatballs round or in any shape you like.
BISTRO ONION BURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and starts off, “Are you looking for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love? Try these burgers that use dry onion soup mix to add a savory touch.” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 envelope (about 1 oz.) dry onion soup & recipe mix
3 Tbsp. water
6 Pepperidge Farm® Farmhouse™ Premium White Rolls with Sesame Seeds, split and toasted
lettuce leaves
tomato slices
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, soup mix and water. Shape the beef mixture into 6 (1/2-inch thick) burgers.
Cook the burgers in batches in a 10-inch skillett over medium-high heat until well browned on both sides, 10 minutes for medium or to desired doneness.
Serve the burgers on the rolls. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
ITALIAN HERO SANDWICH
Yield: 2 servings
Source: "Mix 'n Match Meals in Minutes"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/13.shtml
Ingredients
2 small French or Italian whole-grain rolls (about 2 ounces each)
Olive oil cooking spray
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
4 ounces roasted chicken breast pieces (1 cup)
2 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup canned pimentos, drained and cut into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Slice rolls in half horizontally and remove the centers. Spray each side with cooking spray.
Layer tomato, chicken and mozzarella on one side of the roll. Add pimentos, salt, and pepper. Cover with top of roll, cut in half, and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 of recipe): Calories: 326, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 63 mg, Sodium: 507 mg, Carbohydrate: 31 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 30 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch, 3 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA
This is from the long since forgotten email list. Serves 4
Ingredients
8oz (2 c) uncooked ziti
1 (14oz) jar pizza sauce
2 oz sliced pepperoni, halved (about 3/4 c)
1/4 c finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 c grated parmesan
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
4oz (1c) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 375. Spray 8" sq. baking pan with nonstick spray. Cook ziti according to pkg directions. In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, pizza sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, Parmesan, oregano and garlic; mix well. Spoon into baking pan; sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-35 min. or throughly heated and cheese is melted.
CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE
This is from Alex Guarnashelli on the Today's site. She wrote, "This is a classic that makes me feel like I am in a pub enjoying myself. It's so comforting, especially with the cold weather. This is traditionally made with ground lamb but the American in me likes to make it with a somewhat lean beef and creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes instead. You can actually make this entirely in advance and bake when ready to serve. You can also shortcut by using premade mashed potatoes. This is a great freezer dish, which you can defrost and bake off any time.
"Technique tip: Cut your carrots, onions and celery all about the same size so they cook evenly and retain some of their texture.
"Swap option: Substitute ground chicken or turkey for the beef for a leaner option. Swap mashed sweet potatoes or Butternut squash puree for the mashed potatoes for a sweeter, lighter version."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced, divided
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Meat
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 sprigs fresh thyme
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 large red onion, diced small
1 large carrot, diced small
2 ribs celery, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup hearty beef broth
Directions
For the mashed potatoes:
In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover amply with cold water. Bring the water up to a boil and reduce the heat so that it simmers. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water and allow the potatoes to cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
Drain the potatoes in a colander. Run the potatoes through a food mill or ricer.
Return the empty pot to the heat and add the milk. Bring the milk to a simmer and gingerly add the potatoes back into the pot. Season with salt and whisk in 8 tablespoons of the sliced butter and sour cream. Taste for seasoning. Remove from the heat.
For the meat:
In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the ground beef in small pieces with the thyme and brown over high heat until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the onions, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook with the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are translucent and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off any excess grease. Discard the thyme.
Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the meat. Stir in the peas, vinegar and broth. Taste for seasoning.
To assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Use the remaining tablespoon butter to grease the sides and bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
Spoon a layer of the mashed potatoes on the bottom so it hugs the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Top the potatoes with all of the meat mixture. Top with all of the remaining mashed potatoes and all of the remaining cheese.
Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the center is hot when poked with the tip of a knife and the top browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
Friday, April 12, 2024
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Bistro Onion Burgers and Classic Shepherd’s Pie. Enjoy!
CHEF JOHN'S SALISBURY STEAK
This is from Chef John at All Recipes. He wrote, "When I was a kid, we didn't have smartphones or the internet, all we had was a TV. But we didn't care because as we watched, we got to enjoy a little something called a "TV dinner." The king of those dinners, in my opinion, was the Salisbury steak, which is what I'll show you how to make here, along with one of the greatest gravies ever invented. Serve with buttered mashed potatoes and a vegetable side of your choice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/280901/chef-johns-salisbury-steak/.
Ingredients
For the Steaks:
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 large egg, beaten
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
For the Gravy:
2 tablespoons salted butter
12 large white button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 cups high-quality, low-sodium beef broth
salt to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
Combine beef, black pepper, dry mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, egg, cayenne, and bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Use a fork or your hands to stir the ingredients until very evenly distributed.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
While the meat is resting, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick pan over high heat; add mushrooms, onions, and a pinch of salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, until very nicely browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add flour. Cook and stir for 3 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth; increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the gravy thickens slightly and reduces, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup, scraping the pan clean with a spatula, and reserve.
Remove meat from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions. Moisten hands and form into oval patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides of the patties lightly with salt.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the previously used nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in gravy and bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until gravy is piping hot, and the meat is just cooked through and springs back lightly when touched, about 5 minutes.
Chef's Notes:
You can use the meat mixture immediately rather than wrapping and refrigerating.
You can make the meatballs round or in any shape you like.
BISTRO ONION BURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and starts off, “Are you looking for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love? Try these burgers that use dry onion soup mix to add a savory touch.” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 envelope (about 1 oz.) dry onion soup & recipe mix
3 Tbsp. water
6 Pepperidge Farm® Farmhouse™ Premium White Rolls with Sesame Seeds, split and toasted
lettuce leaves
tomato slices
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, soup mix and water. Shape the beef mixture into 6 (1/2-inch thick) burgers.
Cook the burgers in batches in a 10-inch skillett over medium-high heat until well browned on both sides, 10 minutes for medium or to desired doneness.
Serve the burgers on the rolls. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
ITALIAN HERO SANDWICH
Yield: 2 servings
Source: "Mix 'n Match Meals in Minutes"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/13.shtml
Ingredients
2 small French or Italian whole-grain rolls (about 2 ounces each)
Olive oil cooking spray
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
4 ounces roasted chicken breast pieces (1 cup)
2 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup canned pimentos, drained and cut into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Slice rolls in half horizontally and remove the centers. Spray each side with cooking spray.
Layer tomato, chicken and mozzarella on one side of the roll. Add pimentos, salt, and pepper. Cover with top of roll, cut in half, and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 of recipe): Calories: 326, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 63 mg, Sodium: 507 mg, Carbohydrate: 31 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 30 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch, 3 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA
This is from the long since forgotten email list. Serves 4
Ingredients
8oz (2 c) uncooked ziti
1 (14oz) jar pizza sauce
2 oz sliced pepperoni, halved (about 3/4 c)
1/4 c finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 c grated parmesan
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
4oz (1c) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 375. Spray 8" sq. baking pan with nonstick spray. Cook ziti according to pkg directions. In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, pizza sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, Parmesan, oregano and garlic; mix well. Spoon into baking pan; sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-35 min. or throughly heated and cheese is melted.
CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE
This is from Alex Guarnashelli on the Today's site. She wrote, "This is a classic that makes me feel like I am in a pub enjoying myself. It's so comforting, especially with the cold weather. This is traditionally made with ground lamb but the American in me likes to make it with a somewhat lean beef and creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes instead. You can actually make this entirely in advance and bake when ready to serve. You can also shortcut by using premade mashed potatoes. This is a great freezer dish, which you can defrost and bake off any time.
"Technique tip: Cut your carrots, onions and celery all about the same size so they cook evenly and retain some of their texture.
"Swap option: Substitute ground chicken or turkey for the beef for a leaner option. Swap mashed sweet potatoes or Butternut squash puree for the mashed potatoes for a sweeter, lighter version."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced, divided
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Meat
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 sprigs fresh thyme
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 large red onion, diced small
1 large carrot, diced small
2 ribs celery, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup hearty beef broth
Directions
For the mashed potatoes:
In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover amply with cold water. Bring the water up to a boil and reduce the heat so that it simmers. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water and allow the potatoes to cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
Drain the potatoes in a colander. Run the potatoes through a food mill or ricer.
Return the empty pot to the heat and add the milk. Bring the milk to a simmer and gingerly add the potatoes back into the pot. Season with salt and whisk in 8 tablespoons of the sliced butter and sour cream. Taste for seasoning. Remove from the heat.
For the meat:
In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the ground beef in small pieces with the thyme and brown over high heat until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the onions, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook with the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are translucent and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off any excess grease. Discard the thyme.
Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the meat. Stir in the peas, vinegar and broth. Taste for seasoning.
To assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Use the remaining tablespoon butter to grease the sides and bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
Spoon a layer of the mashed potatoes on the bottom so it hugs the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Top the potatoes with all of the meat mixture. Top with all of the remaining mashed potatoes and all of the remaining cheese.
Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the center is hot when poked with the tip of a knife and the top browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
CHEF JOHN'S SALISBURY STEAK
This is from Chef John at All Recipes. He wrote, "When I was a kid, we didn't have smartphones or the internet, all we had was a TV. But we didn't care because as we watched, we got to enjoy a little something called a "TV dinner." The king of those dinners, in my opinion, was the Salisbury steak, which is what I'll show you how to make here, along with one of the greatest gravies ever invented. Serve with buttered mashed potatoes and a vegetable side of your choice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Additional Time: 2 hours; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Makes 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/280901/chef-johns-salisbury-steak/.
Ingredients
For the Steaks:
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 large egg, beaten
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
For the Gravy:
2 tablespoons salted butter
12 large white button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 cups high-quality, low-sodium beef broth
salt to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter
Directions
Combine beef, black pepper, dry mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, egg, cayenne, and bread crumbs in a mixing bowl. Use a fork or your hands to stir the ingredients until very evenly distributed.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, or up to overnight.
While the meat is resting, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick pan over high heat; add mushrooms, onions, and a pinch of salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, until very nicely browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add flour. Cook and stir for 3 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth; increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the gravy thickens slightly and reduces, about 10 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup, scraping the pan clean with a spatula, and reserve.
Remove meat from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions. Moisten hands and form into oval patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides of the patties lightly with salt.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the previously used nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Pour in gravy and bring to a simmer; reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until gravy is piping hot, and the meat is just cooked through and springs back lightly when touched, about 5 minutes.
Chef's Notes:
You can use the meat mixture immediately rather than wrapping and refrigerating.
You can make the meatballs round or in any shape you like.
BISTRO ONION BURGERS
This comes from FamilyTime, and starts off, “Are you looking for a quick and easy dinner that everyone will love? Try these burgers that use dry onion soup mix to add a savory touch.” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 envelope (about 1 oz.) dry onion soup & recipe mix
3 Tbsp. water
6 Pepperidge Farm® Farmhouse™ Premium White Rolls with Sesame Seeds, split and toasted
lettuce leaves
tomato slices
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, soup mix and water. Shape the beef mixture into 6 (1/2-inch thick) burgers.
Cook the burgers in batches in a 10-inch skillett over medium-high heat until well browned on both sides, 10 minutes for medium or to desired doneness.
Serve the burgers on the rolls. Top with the lettuce and tomato.
ITALIAN HERO SANDWICH
Yield: 2 servings
Source: "Mix 'n Match Meals in Minutes"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/13.shtml
Ingredients
2 small French or Italian whole-grain rolls (about 2 ounces each)
Olive oil cooking spray
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
4 ounces roasted chicken breast pieces (1 cup)
2 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup canned pimentos, drained and cut into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Slice rolls in half horizontally and remove the centers. Spray each side with cooking spray.
Layer tomato, chicken and mozzarella on one side of the roll. Add pimentos, salt, and pepper. Cover with top of roll, cut in half, and serve.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/2 of recipe): Calories: 326, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 63 mg, Sodium: 507 mg, Carbohydrate: 31 g, Dietary Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 7 g, Protein: 30 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Starch, 3 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat
PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA
This is from the long since forgotten email list. Serves 4
Ingredients
8oz (2 c) uncooked ziti
1 (14oz) jar pizza sauce
2 oz sliced pepperoni, halved (about 3/4 c)
1/4 c finely chopped bell pepper
1/4 c grated parmesan
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
4oz (1c) shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat oven to 375. Spray 8" sq. baking pan with nonstick spray. Cook ziti according to pkg directions. In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, pizza sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, Parmesan, oregano and garlic; mix well. Spoon into baking pan; sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30-35 min. or throughly heated and cheese is melted.
CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE
This is from Alex Guarnashelli on the Today's site. She wrote, "This is a classic that makes me feel like I am in a pub enjoying myself. It's so comforting, especially with the cold weather. This is traditionally made with ground lamb but the American in me likes to make it with a somewhat lean beef and creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes instead. You can actually make this entirely in advance and bake when ready to serve. You can also shortcut by using premade mashed potatoes. This is a great freezer dish, which you can defrost and bake off any time.
"Technique tip: Cut your carrots, onions and celery all about the same size so they cook evenly and retain some of their texture.
"Swap option: Substitute ground chicken or turkey for the beef for a leaner option. Swap mashed sweet potatoes or Butternut squash puree for the mashed potatoes for a sweeter, lighter version."
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
4 pounds Idaho potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks
kosher salt
1/2 cup whole milk
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced, divided
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Meat
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 sprigs fresh thyme
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 large red onion, diced small
1 large carrot, diced small
2 ribs celery, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup hearty beef broth
Directions
For the mashed potatoes:
In a large pot, add the potatoes and cover amply with cold water. Bring the water up to a boil and reduce the heat so that it simmers. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water and allow the potatoes to cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
Drain the potatoes in a colander. Run the potatoes through a food mill or ricer.
Return the empty pot to the heat and add the milk. Bring the milk to a simmer and gingerly add the potatoes back into the pot. Season with salt and whisk in 8 tablespoons of the sliced butter and sour cream. Taste for seasoning. Remove from the heat.
For the meat:
In a medium-size skillet, heat the olive oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the ground beef in small pieces with the thyme and brown over high heat until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove the beef with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the onions, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook with the thyme sprigs. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are translucent and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour off any excess grease. Discard the thyme.
Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the meat. Stir in the peas, vinegar and broth. Taste for seasoning.
To assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Use the remaining tablespoon butter to grease the sides and bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with 2-inch sides.
Spoon a layer of the mashed potatoes on the bottom so it hugs the bottom of the dish and sprinkle with about 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Top the potatoes with all of the meat mixture. Top with all of the remaining mashed potatoes and all of the remaining cheese.
Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the center is hot when poked with the tip of a knife and the top browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Soup's On!
Soup is one of those wonderful comfort foods that is great, no matter the weather. To that end, here are six soup recipes to help you through the day, including Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup and Ham and White Bean Soup. Enjoy!
LASAGNA SOUP
This yumminess is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This simple, one-pot soup delivers all the comfort of a classic lasagna with very little of the work. A jar of marinara sauce is its secret to speedy flavor, along with a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage (though for ease, you can use one or the other), plus a pinch of ground nutmeg. Dried lasagna noodles are broken into small pieces and cooked directly in the soup, thickening the broth with their starches as they soften. Don’t skip the ricotta-Parmesan topping; it adds richness and the unmistakable essence of lasagna. This soup comes together quickly and is best served right away; the noodles will continue to absorb the broth as it sits."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in: "Will It Soup? Lasagna Edition." It can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025009-lasagna-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Lots of recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic (from about 6 cloves)
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage (or sausages, with casings removed)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
8 ounces dried lasagna noodles, broken crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1-1/2 cups/12 ounces whole-milk ricotta
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent but not browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
Add the beef, sausage, oregano, nutmeg, crushed red pepper, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
Add the chicken broth and marinara sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the lasagna noodles, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender and the broth has reduced slightly.
While the soup simmers, combine the ricotta and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and mix well; set aside.
Off the heat, stir the cream and basil into the soup, then taste and add more salt and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Serve the soup in shallow bowls, topped with a large dollop of the ricotta mixture and a few torn basil leaves.
REAL LASAGNA SOUP
This is from John Mitzewich, aka Chef John, on AllRecipes. This yumminess begins, " If you love lasagna, but don’t love the time and effort it takes to do all that layering, then this amazing lasagna soup is for you. Unlike many of the other lasagna soup recipes online, this is way more than just some pasta, meat, and cheese sitting in a bowl of thinned out tomato sauce. This is real lasagna in soup form.
"Anyway, I loved how this came out, and I think one of the secrets is baking the pasta to give it more of the taste and texture of an actual baked lasagna noodle. They may not have looked much different in the final product, but I found the texture to be far superior to the standard technique, which is just to heat up some cooked pasta in the finished soup. So I do recommend the extra few minutes of prep, but either way, if you’re in the mood for lasagna, but aren’t into the whole production, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!"
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/real-lasagna-soup-recipe-7967799.
Ingredients
Noodles:
8 ounces dry lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Soup Base:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
6 ounces bulk Italian sausage, or 1 Italian sausage links, casing removed
1 cup diced yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1 (24 ounce) jar prepared marinara sauce, or 3 cups homemade marinara sauce
4 cups chicken broth
2-1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
Cheese Mixture:
12 ounces ricotta cheese
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Garnish:
1/2 cup torn fresh basil and Italian parsley leaves (optional)
Directions
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in lasagna noodles and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just flexible, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer noodles into cold water until cooled; drain very well.
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and grease parchment with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Cut noodles in half lengthwise. Arrange noodles in evenly overlapping rows on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with melted butter, and use fingers to rub some butter between the noodles.
Bake noodles in the preheated oven until they are golden, blistered, and are beginning to brown with crispy outside edges. Let cool; cut into bite-sized pieces.
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a soup pot, and place over high heat. Add beef and sausage. Use a spatula to break up the meat into small pieces; cook without stirring until liquid evaporates and meat begins to sizzle in its own fat, then continue to cook and stir until meat begins to brown, about 7 minutes.
Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, black pepper, and kosher salt. Cook and stir until onions begin to turn translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, and water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 45 minutes.
In a bowl, stir ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese together; set aside.
Increase the heat under soup to medium high; stir in noodle pieces. Cook, stirring, until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and stir in the 2 tablespoons Italian parsley.
Serve in bowls with a scoop of cheese mixture, and sprinkle with freshly torn basil and Italian parsley if desired.
Cook’s Note
The pasta does not have to be baked first, and can simply be broken up raw, stirred into the soup, and cooked until tender. Other pasta shapes can be used instead.
More or less chicken broth can be used for a thicker or thinner soup texture.
SLOW COOKER CREAMY CORN CHOWDER
This is from Diana Rattray at The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, " Corn chowder is one of those soups you can eat year round—it is comforting on a cold day, but also highlights one of the summer's best crops. It is a versatile recipe, allowing for additions (like bacon and chopped red pepper), as well as alterations (like keeping it chunky or puréeing half of the mixture). Corn chowder is also easily made vegetarian by swapping out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
"What makes this recipe even more appealing is that it is cooked in a crock pot instead of on the stove. You can start the soup in the morning, and then finish it off an hour or so before dinnertime. And because it is filling and nutritious, all you need alongside are biscuits or crackers and a simple salad."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 8 hrs; Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins; Servings: 6 to 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
32 ounces corn (2 16-ounce cans, drained)
3 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold or red-skinned)
1 medium onion
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half)
1 tablespoon butter
2 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled, or chopped chives or parsley), optional, garnish
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Combine the corn, potatoes, onion, salt, pepper, and chicken broth in a slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
Purée in a blender or food processor, or using an immersion blender, if desired, then return to the pot.
Stir in milk and butter; cover and cook on high about 30 to 60 minutes more.
Garnish with crumbled bacon and/or chopped chives, if desired.
Use Caution When Blending Hot Ingredients
Steam expands quickly in a blender, and can cause ingredients to splatter everywhere or cause burns. To prevent this, fill the blender only one-third of the way up, vent the top, and cover with a folded kitchen towel while blending.
Tip
This recipe calls for canned corn, but you can use frozen kernels if you like. And if you are making this in summer when the corn is at its peak, by all means, use fresh ears (about 6 ears) of corn. To make removing the kernels from the ears easier and less messy, place the ear of corn on the center of a Bundt or tube pan, sticking the point of the ear in the hole a bit. Using a serrated knife, slice down the ear, rotating around, allowing the kernels to fall into the base of the cake pan.
Recipe Variation
Add some protein to the soup if you like. Ham, shrimp, lobster, and bacon are excellent choices. Cook the meat or shellfish and add them to the soup shortly before it's ready. If using shellfish, replace the chicken stock with clam juice or broth.
WEIGHT WATCHERS SLOW-COOKER SOUP
This was from a Weight Watchers email at least ten years ago. Each serving is about 1 cup.
Ingredients
10 oz baby spinach leaves
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, minced
4 C vegetable broth
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
Directions
Place all ingredients in slow cooker; cover & cook on high for 5 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir, & serve.
Note: If you need the soup fast, simply add prepped ingredients in a large pot on stovetop. Bring to boil & then reduce heat to low; simmer, partly covered, about 10 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This yummy soup is from Chungah, on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. I've mentioned her site once or twice. But if you haven't visited it yet, I highly recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap...)
Okay, hopefully you checked it out. Now, this recipe begins, "So warm, so cozy, so soothing. A must for those busy cold weeknights, using up that leftover rotisserie chicken!"
Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes
You can view this online at https://damndelicious.net/2022/04/29/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in chicken stock and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes.
Stir in chicken and pasta and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream, peas and parsley until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve immediately.
LASAGNA SOUP
This yumminess is from Lidey Heuck in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lidey wrote, "This simple, one-pot soup delivers all the comfort of a classic lasagna with very little of the work. A jar of marinara sauce is its secret to speedy flavor, along with a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage (though for ease, you can use one or the other), plus a pinch of ground nutmeg. Dried lasagna noodles are broken into small pieces and cooked directly in the soup, thickening the broth with their starches as they soften. Don’t skip the ricotta-Parmesan topping; it adds richness and the unmistakable essence of lasagna. This soup comes together quickly and is best served right away; the noodles will continue to absorb the broth as it sits."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 6 servings
This was featured in: "Will It Soup? Lasagna Edition." It can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025009-lasagna-soup. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Lots of recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic (from about 6 cloves)
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage (or sausages, with casings removed)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
8 ounces dried lasagna noodles, broken crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1-1/2 cups/12 ounces whole-milk ricotta
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for serving
Preparation
In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent but not browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
Add the beef, sausage, oregano, nutmeg, crushed red pepper, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
Add the chicken broth and marinara sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the lasagna noodles, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender and the broth has reduced slightly.
While the soup simmers, combine the ricotta and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and mix well; set aside.
Off the heat, stir the cream and basil into the soup, then taste and add more salt and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Serve the soup in shallow bowls, topped with a large dollop of the ricotta mixture and a few torn basil leaves.
REAL LASAGNA SOUP
This is from John Mitzewich, aka Chef John, on AllRecipes. This yumminess begins, " If you love lasagna, but don’t love the time and effort it takes to do all that layering, then this amazing lasagna soup is for you. Unlike many of the other lasagna soup recipes online, this is way more than just some pasta, meat, and cheese sitting in a bowl of thinned out tomato sauce. This is real lasagna in soup form.
"Anyway, I loved how this came out, and I think one of the secrets is baking the pasta to give it more of the taste and texture of an actual baked lasagna noodle. They may not have looked much different in the final product, but I found the texture to be far superior to the standard technique, which is just to heat up some cooked pasta in the finished soup. So I do recommend the extra few minutes of prep, but either way, if you’re in the mood for lasagna, but aren’t into the whole production, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!"
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/real-lasagna-soup-recipe-7967799.
Ingredients
Noodles:
8 ounces dry lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Soup Base:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
6 ounces bulk Italian sausage, or 1 Italian sausage links, casing removed
1 cup diced yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1 (24 ounce) jar prepared marinara sauce, or 3 cups homemade marinara sauce
4 cups chicken broth
2-1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
Cheese Mixture:
12 ounces ricotta cheese
3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Garnish:
1/2 cup torn fresh basil and Italian parsley leaves (optional)
Directions
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in lasagna noodles and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just flexible, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer noodles into cold water until cooled; drain very well.
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and grease parchment with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Cut noodles in half lengthwise. Arrange noodles in evenly overlapping rows on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with melted butter, and use fingers to rub some butter between the noodles.
Bake noodles in the preheated oven until they are golden, blistered, and are beginning to brown with crispy outside edges. Let cool; cut into bite-sized pieces.
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a soup pot, and place over high heat. Add beef and sausage. Use a spatula to break up the meat into small pieces; cook without stirring until liquid evaporates and meat begins to sizzle in its own fat, then continue to cook and stir until meat begins to brown, about 7 minutes.
Add onions, garlic, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, black pepper, and kosher salt. Cook and stir until onions begin to turn translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce, and water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 45 minutes.
In a bowl, stir ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese together; set aside.
Increase the heat under soup to medium high; stir in noodle pieces. Cook, stirring, until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and stir in the 2 tablespoons Italian parsley.
Serve in bowls with a scoop of cheese mixture, and sprinkle with freshly torn basil and Italian parsley if desired.
Cook’s Note
The pasta does not have to be baked first, and can simply be broken up raw, stirred into the soup, and cooked until tender. Other pasta shapes can be used instead.
More or less chicken broth can be used for a thicker or thinner soup texture.
SLOW COOKER CREAMY CORN CHOWDER
This is from Diana Rattray at The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, " Corn chowder is one of those soups you can eat year round—it is comforting on a cold day, but also highlights one of the summer's best crops. It is a versatile recipe, allowing for additions (like bacon and chopped red pepper), as well as alterations (like keeping it chunky or puréeing half of the mixture). Corn chowder is also easily made vegetarian by swapping out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
"What makes this recipe even more appealing is that it is cooked in a crock pot instead of on the stove. You can start the soup in the morning, and then finish it off an hour or so before dinnertime. And because it is filling and nutritious, all you need alongside are biscuits or crackers and a simple salad."
Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 8 hrs; Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins; Servings: 6 to 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
32 ounces corn (2 16-ounce cans, drained)
3 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold or red-skinned)
1 medium onion
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half)
1 tablespoon butter
2 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled, or chopped chives or parsley), optional, garnish
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Combine the corn, potatoes, onion, salt, pepper, and chicken broth in a slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours.
Purée in a blender or food processor, or using an immersion blender, if desired, then return to the pot.
Stir in milk and butter; cover and cook on high about 30 to 60 minutes more.
Garnish with crumbled bacon and/or chopped chives, if desired.
Use Caution When Blending Hot Ingredients
Steam expands quickly in a blender, and can cause ingredients to splatter everywhere or cause burns. To prevent this, fill the blender only one-third of the way up, vent the top, and cover with a folded kitchen towel while blending.
Tip
This recipe calls for canned corn, but you can use frozen kernels if you like. And if you are making this in summer when the corn is at its peak, by all means, use fresh ears (about 6 ears) of corn. To make removing the kernels from the ears easier and less messy, place the ear of corn on the center of a Bundt or tube pan, sticking the point of the ear in the hole a bit. Using a serrated knife, slice down the ear, rotating around, allowing the kernels to fall into the base of the cake pan.
Recipe Variation
Add some protein to the soup if you like. Ham, shrimp, lobster, and bacon are excellent choices. Cook the meat or shellfish and add them to the soup shortly before it's ready. If using shellfish, replace the chicken stock with clam juice or broth.
WEIGHT WATCHERS SLOW-COOKER SOUP
This was from a Weight Watchers email at least ten years ago. Each serving is about 1 cup.
Ingredients
10 oz baby spinach leaves
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, minced
4 C vegetable broth
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
Directions
Place all ingredients in slow cooker; cover & cook on high for 5 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir, & serve.
Note: If you need the soup fast, simply add prepped ingredients in a large pot on stovetop. Bring to boil & then reduce heat to low; simmer, partly covered, about 10 minutes.
HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP
This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."
Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap
And now, on to the soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds
12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces
1 quart chicken broth
1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.
CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This yummy soup is from Chungah, on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. I've mentioned her site once or twice. But if you haven't visited it yet, I highly recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap...)
Okay, hopefully you checked it out. Now, this recipe begins, "So warm, so cozy, so soothing. A must for those busy cold weeknights, using up that leftover rotisserie chicken!"
Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes
You can view this online at https://damndelicious.net/2022/04/29/creamy-chicken-noodle-soup/.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry white wine
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cups wide egg noodles
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen green peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in chicken stock and bay leaf; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes.
Stir in chicken and pasta and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Stir in heavy cream, peas and parsley until heated through, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve immediately.
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