Vegetable Beef Soup

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. beef stew meat

2 T. vegetable oil

1 c. onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 - 32 oz. container beef broth

1 - 14 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 qt. water

2 bay leaves

1 - 12 oz. package mixed vegetables

½ t. dried oregano

½ t. dried thyme

½ t. dried basil

Directions:

1. Trim the fat from stew meat and cut into 1-inch chunks.
2. Place meat in a large pot over medium heat with oil, onion, and garlic and cook, stirring, until meat is browned and onion is tender.
3. Add broth, tomatoes, water and bay leaves. 
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 hour.
5. Add vegetables, oregano, thyme, and basil and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender; about 30 minutes.

Potato and Canadian Bacon Slow Cooker Chowder

Ingredients:

2 C. potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 large carrot, diced

1 C. leek, chopped, white part only

1 medium garlic clove, minced

4 C. fat free chicken broth

½ C. pearl barley

¼ t. dried thyme, crushed

¼ t. black pepper

4 oz. Canadian-style bacon, cut into ¼-inch pieces

bay leaf

½ C. fat free evaporated milk

2 fl. oz. fat free creamer,  such as fat-free half-and-half

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker, combine potatoes, carrots, leek, garlic, chicken broth, barley, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and Canadian bacon. 
2. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until vegetables and barley are tender.
3. Stir in evaporated milk and half-and-half and heat through uncovered, about 10 minutes. 

Yields about 1¼ cups per serving.

Basic Chicken Stock

Ingredients:

Carcass from a roast chicken or about 2 pounds chicken bone, chopped into pieces
3 large carrots, peeled
1 parsnip, peeled
1 large leek, washed
2 onions
1 stalk celery, trimmed
Small bunch of parsley
Sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
4 black peppercorns
8 cups boiling water

Directions:

1. Put the carcass into a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
2. Roughly chop all the vegetables and add to the pan together with the herbs and peppercorns.
3. Pour in the water, bring to a boil, and then remove all the surface sediment with a slotted spoon.
4. Half cover the pan and simmer gently for 1½ hours or until the liquid is reduced by half.
5. Allow to cool, then leave in the fridge overnight.
6. Remove any congealed fat from the top in the morning.
7. Strain the chicken and vegetables to make the stock.

Broccoli and Shrimp Chowder

Ingredients:

1 medium uncooked Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced   
2 c. uncooked broccoli, florets   
1 medium uncooked shallot, minced   
2 c. fat free chicken broth   
¼ t. dried thyme   
½ lbs. cooked shrimp, peeled (medium size)   
½ c. fat free sour cream   
½ c. fat free skim milk   
¼ t. table salt   
¼ t. black pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium-size pot, combine potato, broccoli, shallot, broth and thyme; bring to a boil, partially cover pot and cook until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Pour soup into blender and purée in batches careful not to splatter hot liquid; return soup to pot. (Or puree soup in pot using an immersion blender.)
3. Add remaining ingredients to pot; reduce heat to low and simmer until hot, about 3 minutes. (Do not allow to boil.)

Prep Time:  10 Minutes
Cook Time:  18 Minutes
Serves 4 - Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Zuppa Toscana Soup

This recipe is very much like the Zuppa Toscana you might find at Olive Garden.

Ingredients:

1 pound Italian sausage
½ lb. cooked bacon
4 c. water
2 cans (29 oz. total) chicken broth
2 large potatoes
2 cloves garlic
1 medium onion
2 c. kale
1 c. heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. In a skillet, over medium-high heat, brown Italian sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it; drain, set aside.
2. In a skillet, over medium-high heat, brown bacon; drain, set aside.
3. Place water, broth, cubed potatoes, crushed garlic, chopped onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
4. Add sausage and crumbled bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add chopped kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through. 

Chicken Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:

4 t. olive oil
1 pkg. Italian Chicken Sausage Links
5 cloves garlic, minced
½ C. white wine (optional)
3 - 14 oz. cans low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
18 oz. refrigerated cheese tortellini
6 oz. baby spinach leaves
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 T. unsalted butter
Shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional) 

Directions:

1. Heat ½ teaspoon oil in a Dutch oven and sauté chicken until browned (safe internal temperature of 165° F). 
2. Remove from pan and carefully slice into small pieces; set aside.
3. Heat remaining oil in Dutch oven; sauté garlic for 30 seconds.
4. Stir in wine and broth; bring to a boil.
5. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add tortellini.
6. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, then stir in spinach and tomatoes.
7. Cook until the spinach wilts, approximately 2 minutes.
8. Return sautéed sausage to the soup; heat throughout.
9. Melt butter into soup.
10. Refrigerate any leftovers

Serving Suggestion
Shredded Parmesan cheese and pieces of crusty bread are the perfect accompaniments.

Serves 6