Lasagna Soup

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tbsp firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 (32 oz) box chicken broth
• 2 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups broken lasagna noodles
• 1 (5 oz) package grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1. In a large pot, combine ground beef, onion, bell pepper and garlic. 
2. Cook until beef is browned.
3. Drain well.
4. Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt.
5. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
6. Add noodles, and simmer until noodles are tender.  (If you want, you can boil these separately and then just add in at this point).
7. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
8. Serve in bowls, covered in mozzerella cheese.

My review:  This was delicious!  Tasted just like lasagna, with a little less work!  Serve with crispy baguette slices and a yummy green salad.

Tomato Spinach Tortellini Soup

Who's a huge slacker??  This girl.  I've been up to my ears in my last 2 grad classes, wedding planning, house hunting, cleaning, and working that I haven't had much time to cook, much less be able to post recipes.  Thanks to an anonymous comment begging me to come back, I'm back!  I'm not promising crazy amounts of posts, but I'm hoping one new recipe a week.  So... here comes the first recipe!

adapted from the Well Fed Newlyweds recipe found here: Tortellini Soup.  Check out their blog for more delicious and wonderful recipes!


1 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 quart vegetable broth (you can also use chicken broth)
1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes (or canned whole tomatoes)
Salt
Pepper
2 (9oz) packages frozen tortellini, cooked according to the package
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
Parmesan Cheese and Mozzarella Cheese, for garnish
1/2 pound ground Italian sausage, cooked and drained (optional)


Heat olive oil on medium heat in a large soup pot.  When heated up, add the garlic and onion, and saute until the onions are soft.
Add the broth, oregano, and tomatoes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  If you plan to add sausage, add it at this time.
Bring the soup to a boil.  (You can be cooking your tortellini separately at this time)
Once the soup is boiling, stir in the spinach and cook for 1 minute.
Add the tortellini, and remove soup from the heat.
Serve immediately with cheese to garnish.
With garlic bread, this makes a great dinner!

My review:  This was delicious.  I'm not a huge fan of cooked spinach, so I wish I would have chopped my spinach up smaller, but other than that, it was delicious!  I like it best with vegetable broth, and no italian sausage, but if I'm making it as a meal, I like to have the meat in there for some extra protein and flavor.

BBQ Chicken Corn Soup

 

Inspired by the BBQ Chicken Pizza soup over at Picky Palate

I added more chicken broth and more corn, and kicked out the cilantro for parsley.

Also took out the salt, because it was plenty salty enough.

And added some cheese, because it makes everything better!

This made it more Alisa - friendly.  :)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 (11 oz) cans mexicorn, drained (corn with green and red peppers)

2 (12 oz) cans chicken, drained (or two boneless skinless chicken breasts, shredded  -- or 2 cups cooked chicken)

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup BBQ sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp garlic salt

2 tbsp parsley flakes

Sharp cheddar cheese for garnish

(Makes 4-6 servings)

Heat the olive oil in a medium pot, on medium heat.

When hot, add the onion, and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft.

Add in the garlic, corn, and chicken, and stir.

Pour in chicken broth, bbq sauce, pepper, garlic salt, and parsley flakes.

Turn the heat up to medium high, and heat until simmering.  Turn the heat down to low and simmer until ready to serve.

Top with cheddar cheese.

My review:  This tastes like BBQ chicken pizza.  So yummy!  The BBQ sauce added a great depth of a flavor.  I served this with some crusty french bread, as a meal.  It was also great that the soup was ready in about 15 minutes.  Delicious!

Crock Pot Turkey Chili

1 package 97/3 Ground Turkey (1.3 lbs)
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (only add the seeds if you like lots of heat!)
2 cans light kidney beans, slightly drained
1 can black beans, slightly drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
1 small can tomato sauce
1 cup frozen corn
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp chili powder

Brown the turkey with the onion, garlic and jalapeno.
Mix turkey and all other ingredients in your Crock Pot.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3 hours.
Serve topped with shredded cheese, onion, black olives, or crushed tortilla chips.

My review:  This was a good chili.  I think next time I will add at least one or two more jalapenos, because I felt like it needed a bit more heat, but overall it was a really good chili.  I topped it with cheese and dipped it with tortilla chips.  Obviously ground beef can be substituted for the turkey. 

French Onion Soup

I love French Onion Soup.  When I went to Paris in January, the first thing I wanted to try was real, authentic french onion soup, la soupe de l'oignon gratinée.  Unfortunately, it was the worst french onion soup I've ever had.  For some reason, I don't like it when there's wine included in the mix.  Maybe someday I will try making it with the wine, but until then, there's always Campbell's... or this recipe.  :-)

4 Large Onions, thin sliced
3 cloves Garlic, fine chopped
2 sprigs Fresh Thyme, minced
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Flour
2 quarts (8 cups) Beef Broth
Mozzerella, Swiss, or Gruyère Cheese (shredded or sliced)
Toasted Baguette Slices or Croutons

 

Melt the butter on medium heat in a large pot. Add onions, garlic and thyme, and stir.
Cook for 20 minutes or until the onions and garlic are nice and caramelized.  If necessary, add a bit more butter, you don't want the onions to burn, you want them to be nice and brown and gorgeous.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook for 5 minutes until thickened.
Pour in the beef broth and simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Ladle the deliciousness into a bowl, and top with toasted baguette slices or croutons, and lots and lots of cheese!  I like to slice up a baguette, drizzle a cookie sheet with olive oil, place the slices on top, and drizzle with more olive oil.  Then, I sprinkle some garlic salt and fresh ground pepper over the top, and place under the broiler on low for 5 minutes.  Watch them closely, they burn easy!
If you want to take this soup to a party, it is easily doubled, and can be thrown into a crock pot!

My review:  This was so easy to make, and delicious!  I only wish that I had an oven safe bowl, because I would have thrown that sucker under the broiler and made it all browned and gooey, but unfortunately, I've only got my Corelle dishes.  So, anyone out there who loves me, and wants to buy me an oven safe bowl, please put that on my Christmas wish list.  And make this soup, cuz you'll love it!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

It's no secret that I have a great love for all of Pioneer Woman's recipes.  So, when she created Tasty Kitchen, I was very excited, because it would be this huge community of wonderful cooks, sharing all of their wonderful recipes.  This recipe was featured on the side as a "Ree Recommends" recipe.  Thank you, Ree, for recommending this recipe, and thanks to RealMomKitchen for sharing.  I love CrockPot recipes, and this one is definitely going to stay in my file.

1 can Black Beans, Rinsed And Drained
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 package (10 Oz.) Frozen Corn
½ cups Onion, Chopped
½ cups Red Pepper, Diced
1 can (10 Oz) Enchilada Sauce
1 can Condensed Cream Of Chicken Soup
1-½ cup Milk
2 whole Chicken Breasts
Pepper Jack Cheese, Sour Cream, Crushed Tortilla Chips for topping!

In a 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker, combine drained beans, tomatoes, corn, onion, and bell pepper. Place 2 chicken breasts on top of the mixture.
In a large bowl, whisk together the enchilada sauce and soup. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth. Pour sauce mixture over ingredients in cooker. Cover; cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Remove chicken and cut or shred into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken back into the soup. Top with pepper jack cheese and serve. The soup can also be topped with avocado, sour cream, or crushed tortilla chips.

My review:  This was a delicious, filling soup.  I used skim milk, which I think made it a little thinner, but that was good for me.  Definitely make this.  And enjoy!

Cheddar Broccoli Soup

1 can chicken broth
1 onion, diced thin (use whatever size you like, depending on how much of the onion flavor you want)
1/3 cup flour
1/2 stick butter
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups skim milk (or whatever milk you like)
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
3-4 cups steamed broccoli (use fresh, you won't regret it!!!)

In a small saucepan, simmer the onions and chicken broth, until the onions are soft, which will take about 20 minutes.
Heat the milk in the microwave for a few minutes.
In a stock pot, melt the butter.  Once it's melted, add the flour and pepper.  Stir until combined.
Whisk in the warm milk.  Heat on medium high heat until thick, stirring the whole time.
Add in the chicken broth and onions, and stir to combine.
Add the cheese and broccoli, and stir again to combine.
Enjoy it!  Serve with french bread, or in bread bowls.


My review: I used skim milk and reduced fat cheeses in this, and could tell absolutely no difference. There's a ton of broccoli in this soup, but that's what made it good.  This and some french bread is all you need for a meal!  This soup was just what I needed on the coldest day of the year so far.  Yum!