Hearty Lentil Soup

Filed under: BUDGET MEALS, RECIPES - Breakfast, RECIPES - Soup / Salad, THE BOOKSHELF

Here is a hearty Lentil Soup to warm the bones through the last scraps of winter. I have tried many lentil soup recipes but they either had an off taste or they lacked flavour. I hope this soup is to your liking.

When ever possible I like to add a little history with a recipe. It makes for an interesting conversation starter at the dinner table.

A member of the legume family, the lentil in addition to providing a rich source of iron is packed with fiber, folate and B vitamins. The lentil is often associated with Middle Eastern fare; however, the origins of this tiny legume dates back to 9000 BC Asia. Traces of the lentil are evident in Greece where it was once considered a poor man’s food while in Egypt the lentil has been discovered amoung the belongings of the royal Egypian tombs. Lentils were also a staple in early settlements of Hungary, Britain, Switzerland, Africa, Peru and Eastern Indian civilizations.

Lentils remain a popular source of protein for many cultures throughout the world. They cook quickly and do not require an overnight soaking like their cousins. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lentils to any soup or stew. Mix cooked lentils with recipes like hamburgers, meatloaf and pasta dishes.

2 Italian Sausage links, castings removed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon oregano
1 large bay leaf
1 teaspoon basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups dry lentils
8 cups chicken broth or water
1-2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Salt to taste

In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage; crumbling as it cooks. Add the garlic, onions, carrots and celery and saute until tender. Stir in garlic, oregano, bay leaf, basil, lentils, broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 2 hours until thickened and the vegetables are soft. When ready to serve, stir in spinach and pepper; cook until wilted. Season with salt if needed.

Variations:
- Note that the chicken stock helps give the soup flavor. Do not use canned broth it is flavorless. Use a good quality chicken base or homemade stock. I like Better than Bullion. If using water you might need to adjust the spices adding some thyme, salt, rosemary and a tablespoons of vinegar (distilled, red or white).
- For a vegan version of the soup omit the sausage and stock adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar.

Technorati Tags: food, lentil soup, RECIPES, soup, st. patricks day, stew, vegan, winter

| No Comments »

Chicken and Corn Chowder with Sweet Potatoes

Filed under: RECIPES - Soup / Salad

The combination of sweet potatoes and muffin mix was the deciding factor in trying this version of corn chowder. Surprisingly the soup was light with a hint of sweet.

Source: Cook’s Country
serves 6-8
3 cups whole milk
1 cup yellow corn Jiffy muffin mix
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 quarts chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 ” cubes
2 sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
3 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper

Mix milk and muffin mix in bowl until well combined.

Meanwhile, heat butter in large pot over medium heat until foaming. Add onion and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic, cumin and oregano and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, chicken and sweet potatoes. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until sweet potatoes are just tender, about 8 minutes.

Stir in milk and muffin mixture and simmer until soup thickens, about 10 minutes. Add cheese and corn and cook until cheese begins to melt, about 2 minutes. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper.

Technorati Tags: chicken corn chowder with sweet potatoes, Cook's country, food, RECIPES, soup, summer

| 4 Comments »

Cheap and Tasty: Super Quick Minestrone

Filed under: BUDGET MEALS, RECIPES - Soup / Salad

I really jumped on the eating fresh band wagon years ago when I spotted Michael Chiarello on the Food Network. His dishes looked amazing. He made making gnocchi and tomato puree look so simple.

In some recipes that call for pancetta I will go ahead and substitute thick bacon. But in this recipe I suggest stopping by the deli to purchase the real thing. One alternative to using bacon in the place of pancetta would be to cook the bacon in the pot but remove before adding the rest of the ingredients then crumble the bacon and sprinkle over the soup ladled in individual bowls before serving.

Source: Michael Chiarello

1 cup (4 ounces) tubetti pasta, or other small pasta shape
Extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups chicken stock
1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 3 pieces
6 medium garlic cloves, each cut in 1/2 lengthwise
2 cups finely chopped yellow onions (2 small onions)
1 cup small-diced celery (2 medium stalks)
1 cup small-diced carrots (2 to 3 medium carrots)
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary or thyme leaves
1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
4 cups small-diced zucchini (green/yellow) (5 small zucchini)
2 cups small-diced, peeled russet potatoes (1 large russet)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and transfer the pasta to a baking sheet. Toss the pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the chicken stock.

In another large saucepan over high heat, heat 1/4 cup oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, celery, and carrots.

Cook until the vegetables are soft, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. Add the chopped herbs. Raise the heat to high. Add the beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Then bring it down to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes, skimming any foam off the top of the soup. Season generously with pepper. Add salt, to taste. Just a few minutes before serving, add the cooked tubetti pasta. Serve warm with Parmesan and olive oil passed at the table.

Technorati Tags: cheap meals, Italian, michael chiarello, Minestrone, soup, summer

| No Comments »

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Filed under: BUDGET MEALS, RECIPES - Soup / Salad

I love fall. The brisk autumn air pared with the smell of a warm fire calls for a cup of hot soup. I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. I added black beans and a little more cumin.

1/2 tsp olive oil
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup chopped onion
1 tsp ground cumin
1tsp minced garlic
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 can black beans
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup chunky salsa
corn tortilla chips
shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

In a large pot over medium heat, saute the chicken in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and mix well. Then add the broth, corn, onion, chili powder, lemon juice and salsa. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes.

To serve, break up some tortilla chips into individual bowls and pour soup over chips. Top with the Monterey Jack cheese or shredded cheddar/jack blend.

Technorati Tags: allrecipes.com, chicken tortilla soup, fast easy meal ideas, healthy meals, RECIPES, soup, tortilla soup

| No Comments »

A Bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup

Filed under: BUDGET MEALS, RECIPES - Soup / Salad

In college, I took an Aromatherapy class as part of my major. In class, we not only learned about the properties and effects of the oils, we also covered natural holistic healing. I was visiting my parents one day when my dad was sick. I thought I would try my hand at a cold remedy to help my dad feel better. The directions dictated that I place the vegetables in a juicer. I did not have a juicer on hand, so I decided the next best thing would be a blender. I processed the vegetables and poured the concoction into a pot to simmer. I did not think about straining the broth so instead ladled some into a bowl to serve my dad. He did not eat it. I did not blame him, it was pretty horrible. The shredded celery made the soup taste like straw. My second attempt at playing doctor was when my mom was sick and I convinced her to eat some toast that was covered with roasted garlic. She complained the next day that she stunk of garlic.

What I took away from those experiences was, when you are sick you just want comfort. You don’t want the dreadful tasting cough syrup and certainly we can do without the ill concoctions. Growing up, when I was sick, my mom would make me chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. The combination is comforting to me even so today. Now, when my kids get sick, I do not terrorize them with garlic and onion brews. I make them homemade chicken noodle soup. Eating a bowl does not actually cure them, but it does help them feel better while the bug runs its course.

1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 cup Onions, chopped
4 cloves Garlic, chopped
1 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups chicken, shredded or chopped
1 medium potato, chopped
1/4 cup peas
1carrot
2 celery stalks
4 cups broth or 4 cups water and 4 bullion cubes

Heat the oil in a pot. Add carrots, potatoes, celery, onions and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent. Add the broth and spices. Bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender. Add peas and chicken. Simmer until heated through.

Variations:
This recipe is my basic starter recipe. When I am feeling gourmet I like to change it up a bit with shallots, leeks and kale.
Add 1/2 cup of your favorite pasta.
During flu season I add more onions and garlic.

Technorati Tags: chicken and vegetables, chicken noodle soup, easy dinner ideas, easy meal ideas for kids, flu season, homeopathic medicine, soup

| 2 Comments »