Taco Soup

This was tonight’s dinner.  Very flavorful and filling.  The only changes I made were to use Velveeta (I mixed it right in at the end, stirring until it melted) and topped it with a spoonful of sour cream and some tortilla strips.

 

Taco Soup

Prep Time: 5 min

Total Time: 25 min

Makes: 12 servings, 1 cup each

What You Need!

1 lb. Extra lean ground beef

1   onion, chopped

3 cans (15.5 oz. Each) mild chili beans, undrained

1 can  (14.5 oz.) whole tomatoes, undrained

1 can (14.25 oz.) corn, undrained

1 can  (8 oz.) tomato sauce

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix

1-1/2 cups  water

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Make It!

BROWN meat with onions in large saucepan; drain.

ADD all remaining ingredients except cheese; stir, breaking up tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally.

SERVE topped with the cheese.

Recipe courtesy of Kraft Foods.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
1 cup white hominy
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
crushed tortilla chips
sliced avocado
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
chopped green onions

In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

Applebee’s Chicken Cheese Tortilla Soup

Applebee's Chicken Cheese Tortilla Soup

1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups chicken broth
15 oz. can tomato puree (see note)
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup hot sauce - optional
1/4 cup chopped green pepper - optional
1 Tbsp. minced jalapeño pepper - optional
1 tsp. chili powder - optional
1/4 tsp. black pepper - optional
1/4 cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1/2 cup water
1 lb. cooked chicken - cubed
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
8 oz. process cheese food - cut in 1" cubes
(10) 6" corn tortillas - cut in 1/4" strips
chopped cilantro - optional, for garnish

Sauté garlic and onions in oil in large pan or Dutch oven until soft.
Add next 10 ingredients to pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and
simmer 20 minutes.

Whisk flour/water mixture into soup.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add chicken and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add cream, sour cream, and cheese; stir until cheese is melted.

Deep-fry tortilla strips in 350F degree oil OR spray with non-stick
cooking spray and bake in a 400 degree oven until crisp.

Sprinkle with salt if desired.

Pour soup into bowls, pile tortilla strips into a "haystack" shape on
top of the soup, garnish with cilantro.

Note: I use an 8 oz can tomato sauce and add another a can full of
chicken broth to rinse the can and make up the difference

Tomato Rice Soup

Time for dinner: Make your own tomato soup

By J.M. Hirsch
Associated Press

Updated: 01/15/2009 02:30:08 PM CST

A magnificent tomato and rice soup must strike a delicate balance between rich creaminess (provided by, yes, cream) and tangy savoriness (you guessed it, the tomatoes).

Let's start with the latter. Since soups like this are best during winter, a time when most of the nation is at the mercy of lousy tomatoes, this recipe uses canned tomatoes.

To intensify the flavors, the tomatoes are pressed to extract as much juice as possible, then tossed with chopped onion, olive oil and herbs, then broiled until just lightly caramelized. A little heat goes a long way in developing flavor. This mixture then is pureed with the extracted juice and spiked with a bit of balsamic vinegar.

For the cream, fat-free half-and-half was the winner. Really. The taste is exceptional, as is the creamy mouth-feel. To make this soup even healthier, you could substitute brown rice for the white, but that will take longer to cook.

CREAMY TOMATO AND RICE SOUP

Makes 6 servings.

1 cup long-grain white rice

1 1/2 cups water

1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes

1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped

6 cloves garlic, peeled

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

1 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 cup fat-free half-and-half

To cook rice: In small saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce to simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from heat. Let stand for 10 minutes.

To prepare tomatoes: Meanwhile, heat oven to broil. Drain diced tomatoes by pouring them into mesh strainer set over medium bowl. Using silicone spatula, press tomatoes to extract as much juice as possible. Set juice aside. Transfer diced tomatoes to rimmed baking sheet. Add onion, garlic, basil and olive oil. Strip leaves from rosemary sprigs. Add to tomatoes and onions. Toss to coat well. Season with salt and pepper. Broil tomato mixture on center rack for 4 minutes. Gently stir. Broil for 4 minutes or until onions and tomatoes begin to brown.

To puree tomatoes: Transfer mixture to a blender. Add reserved tomato juice. Puree until smooth.

To finish soup: When rice is ready, add tomato mixture from blender. Set over medium heat. Add tomato sauce, chicken broth and balsamic vinegar. Heat until warmed through. Stir in half-and-half.

Spanish Garlic Soup

Spanish garlic soup

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Serves 4

Recipe by the Olive Press.

INGREDIENTS

1 medium head of garlic, cloves peeled and thinly sliced

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

8 ( 1/2-inch-thick) baguette slices

1 quart chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

4 large eggs

Salt to taste

1/2 cup packed small fresh cilantro sprigs

4 lime wedges

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook garlic in oil in a deep, 10-inch heavy skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and pale golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer garlic to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

Add bread slices to skillet and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until browned, about 4 minutes. Divide toasts among 4 large soup bowls.

Add broth, red pepper flakes and garlic to skillet, and bring to a simmer. Break 1 egg into a cup and slide egg into simmering stock. Repeat with remaining eggs. Poach eggs at a bare simmer until whites are firm but yolks are still runny, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer eggs with slotted spoon to toasts and season with salt. Ladle soup into bowls and top with cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

Per serving: 270 cal.; 8 g pro.; 8 g carb.; 23 g fat (5 sat., 14 monounsat., 4 polyunsat.); 217 mg chol.; 1093 mg sod.; 1 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 76 percent calories from fat.

From: Olive: The Facts About Olive Oil from The Sacramento Bee

Fiesta Vegetable Soup

Fiesta Vegetable Soup

Serves 4

1 (10-ounce) bag frozen Fiesta vegetable blend, thawed

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (24-ounce) jar black bean and corn salsa (medium-heat)

2 (14-ounce) cans reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

(Optional side: Tortilla chips)

1. Combine Fiesta blend vegetables, beans and salsa in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in broth.

2. Bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Comments

Taste: 4; prep: 5. Prepare in 20 minutes. Extremely simple. Sprinkle crushed chips on top.

Nutrition

240 calories, 38 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 2 g fat, 12 g protein, 1,300 mg sodium.

Source: Cook on a budget without cutting flavor by Joanie Fuson, Indystar.com

Homemade Cream-Style Soup Mix

Homemade Cream-Style Soup Mix

Cooking for One or Two Cookbook

This easy-to-make soup mix is great to have on hand for those nights when you need to whip up supper in a hurry. It's also a great substitute for canned cream soup in a recipe.

SERVINGS: 16
CATEGORY: Soup
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 5 min.

2 cups instant nonfat dry milk powder
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
1/4 cup chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried vegetable flakes
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

In a food processor or blender, combine all the ingredients; cover and process until vegetable flakes are finely chopped. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 year. Yield: 3 cups total.

Use as a substitute for half a 10-3/4-oz. can of condensed cream of chicken, mushroom or celery soup.

For half of a can of soup, in a microwave-safe dish, whisk together 2/3 cup water and 3 tablespoons soup mix. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes, whisking occasionally.

For mushroom soup, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup sauteed sliced mushrooms. For celery soup, add 1/8 teaspoon celery salt or one sauteed sliced or chopped celery rib.

Yield: 3 cups total.

Nutrition Facts:
One serving: 3 tablespoons Calories: 87 Fat: 0 g Saturated Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 3 mg Sodium: 742 mg Carbohydrate: 15 g Fiber: 0 g Protein: 6 g

Chicken and Corn Chowder with Thyme

Chicken and Corn Chowder with Thyme

"What could be more comforting than a bowl of corn chowder or a bowl of chicken soup? A bowl of Chicken And Corn Chowder With Thyme, it will cure what ails you."

PREP TIME 10 Min

COOK TIME 35 Min

READY IN 45 Min

• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 2 large potatoes, diced
• 4 cups frozen corn kernels
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 2 cups half-and-half
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

1. In a large pot, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from the pan, and set aside. Drain all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan.
2. Saute the onions in the bacon fat. Add broth and the potato to the pot. Cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add corn, chicken, and thyme. Cover. Simmer until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
4. Stir half and half into the soup, and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls, and sprinkle with the bacon and scallions. Serve.

Grandma's Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

Grandmas Hearty Chicken Noodle

1 fresh 2-3 lb chicken, cut in pieces

8 bouillon cubes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 16 oz pkg GRANDMA’S Wide Egg Noodles

3 ribs of celery, chopped

2 carrots, sliced

1 large onion chopped

1 cup frozen peas

2 Tbs parsley

salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken in large pot with bouillon cubes and garlic. Cover generously with water and simmer covered until meat is tender (about 3/4 hour). Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Remove from heat and let sit a few minutes to allow fat to rise to the top. Skim fat and discard. Add GRANDMA’S noodles thawed and separated according to package directions and all the veggies to the broth and cook 12 minutes or until desired tenderness is obtained. In the mean time, skin and debone cooled chicken. Just before end of cooking time, return the chicken to the pot and heat thoroughly and Enjoy!

HINT: You can always adjust your consistency of the soup with water or canned chicken broth. Another way to thicken a soup is by using instant potato flakes.

Sicilian Sausage Soup

Sicilian Sausage Soup

This is a great soup.  It is hearty and very filling.  I added 3 cloves
garlic with the sausage and onion.

Recipe By     : Family Circle
Serving Size  : 8
Categories    : Soups
  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2  pound         pork sausage or sweet Italian sausage
   1      large         onion, chopped  (1 cup)
   1      can           (2 pound 3 ounces) Italian-style tomatoes
   2      cans          (13 3/4 ounces each) chicken broth
   1      teaspoon      leaf basil, crumbled
     1/2  cup           orzo macaroni
     1/4  teaspoon      salt
     1/8  teaspoon      pepper

Cook sausage in a large saucepan, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until meat loses its pink color.  (If using Italian sausage, remove casings before cooking.) 

Add onion; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes.  Add tomatoes, broth and basil; bring to boiling; stir in orzo, salt and pepper.

Lower heat; cover; simmer until orzo is tender, about 10 minutes.  Taste and add additional salt and pepper if needed.  Ladle into a tureen or soup bowls.  Serve with bread sticks or sesame crackers.

Recipe Author: Family Circle
Recipe Source: Family Circle Recipes America Loves Best
Author Note: Sausage adds a fine, robust flavor to this easy 30-minute soup.

Olive Garden Toscana Soup

Olive Garden Toscana Soup

Serves 4 as an appetizer, 2 as an entree

Menu description: "Spicy sausage, russet potatoes, and cavolo greens in a light, creamy broth."

2 3/4 cups chicken stock or broth

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 medium russet potato

2 cups chopped kale

1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1. Combine the stock and cream in a saucepan over medium heat.

2. Slice the unpeeled potato into 1/4-inch slices, then quarter the slices and add them to the soup.

3. Add the kale.

4. Grill or saute the sausage.  When cooked and cooled, cut the sausage at an angle into slices about 1/2 inch thick.  Add the sausage to the soup. 

5. Add the spices and let the soup simmer for about 1 hour.  Stir occasionally.

Note: This was hijacked out of a cookbook, but I don't know which one.