Crock Pot Red Lentil Soup

 

With the weather getting cold, there is nothing like hot soup.  This is a healthy soup made in the crock pot that is "umm umm good!"  And red lentils are really good for you!  I like mine thick, but if you want it more soupy, just add more water.

Crock Pot Red Lentil Soup

1 (16 oz.) package red lentils
2 teaspoons tomato bouillon with chicken flavor



2 teaspoons onion powder

1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
5 cups water

Mix all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cook on low for 5 - 6 hours.

**I found my red lentils at an Asian grocery store.

Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Leftover turkey?  Here is a delicious turkey noodle soup your family will love.  If you don't have any leftovers, just use chicken instead.  Of course, then it will be chicken noodle soup :-)

Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups chopped carrots
2 cups chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 1/2 oz. (about 4 cups) cooked noodles
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup evaporated milk or 1/2 cup whole milk
2 -3 cups diced turkey (or chicken)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning (optional)
1 Tablespoon parsley (optional)

Heat chicken broth and bouillon together.  Add carrots celery and onions.  Simmer until vegetables are tender.  Mix cream of chicken soup and milk together, then add to soup mixture.  Add chicken and noodles.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Umm, Umm Good! 

Cabbage Soup with Meatballs

It's getting to be soup weather, so here is a great recipe to share with your family.  It is so good and I love the meatballs in it.  It has a little sweet and sour taste.  I have already made it three times.  My family loves it!

Cabbage Soup with Meatballs

3 lb. cabbage (one head)

1 (16 oz) can tomatoes

3 cups water

2 (8 oz) cans tomato paste

½ cup vinegar
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
large onion

Meatballs

1 ½ - 2  pounds ground beef

1 egg
¼ cup quick oats
1 small onion, grated
Salt and pepper to taste

Soak cabbage in hot water for about 5 minutes.  Slice onion and place in bottom of large pot (4-6 qt).  Shred cabbage and place in pot together with tomatoes, water, tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, mix meat mixture and form into balls.  Place meatballs on top of cabbage soup and bring to a second boil.  Cover and simmer for 2 hours. 

Easy Breezy Vegetable Soup

Has it really been since February 12, 2013, that I have shared a recipe.  I do have an excuse--promise!  On February 13, 2013, I was at Institute and tripped on some chairs.  I caught my fall, but almost crushed one of the students.  When I came home, I decided to check myself to see if I might have bruised myself.  As I checked, I found a lump in my breast and you can guess the rest of the story.  I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and started chemotherapy on March 5, 2013.  I'm doing good and know it's in the Lord's hands.  In the meantime I do have lots of recipes to share.  Cancer can't stop me from cooking!  I'll start out with something a little healthy.  This is my sister's easy vegetable soup, and it is delicious.

Easy Breezy Vegetable Soup

1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
2 onions, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 package frozen lima/butter beans (I like the baby ones)
1 package frozen corn
1 package frozen cup up okra
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 cans water
2 beef bouillon cubes

Brown meat in a little oil.  Add onions.  Cook until onions are soft.  Add tomatoes and seasoning.  Add all the vegetables and 2 cans of water.  Bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are done. (My sister simmers hers for about 1 1/2 hours.)

Serve with cornbread.  Also good served over rice.(You know us Southerners--we love rice!)

I personally did not like so much the corn. Mainly because corn doesn't like me :-)  I would only put in 1/2 the package of corn.  You could also add other veggies that your family might like.  It is really delicious soup and doesn't take much time to prepare.  Yes, I like quick and easy and this soup is both!

Potato Soup or Clam Chowder

Every Christmas Eve my daughter-in-law Brandi makes potato soup.  Since it's Christmas Eve, she makes it very special and buys bread bowls from Panera Bread to serve it in.  It is a very special evening anyway because we always celebrate her husband's (my oldest son's) birthday, which is Christmas Day.  Well this year she gave me her delicious Potato Soup recipe to share with you.  It's easy and sure to be a hit with your family.

Potato Soup

1 cup onions, diced small
1 cup celery, diced small
2 cups diced potatoes
Add just enough water to cover the veggies and simmer until tender.

Mix together:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
Pour over the veggies.

Add:
1 quart half and half (you can use fat free)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Cook and stir until thick.

**You can also use this recipe to make Clam Chowder.  If making clam chowder drain the clam juice from 2 (two) 6 1/2 oz. cans of clams over the veggies first and then simmer.  Add the clams to the mixture when you add the half and half, salt and sugar.  Cook and stir until thick.

Weight Watcher's Vegetable Soup

 Well, I went back to the doctor for my recheck.  Guess what!  Everything is back to normal.  My triglycerides are good, so I don't have to worry about eating a low carb diet.  Yes!  However, I do want to eat right and eat healthy.  Therefore, I'm back on Weight Watchers.  I love it!  You can eat what you want and don't have to worry about the carbs.  You focus on portion control and of course, count your points--which isn't too bad, especially when you can eat this delicious vegetable soup for 0 (yes, zero) points.

Weight Watcher's Vegetable Soup

2/3 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
2 minced garlic cloves
3 cups fat free chicken broth (you can use beef or vegetable broth)
1 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini

Spray a large sauce pan with nonstick cooking spray, heat.  Saute carrots, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.  Stir in the zucchini and heat for 3-4 minutes.  Serve hot.

Chicken Edamame Chowder

This is a crock pot recipe I got from my daughter-in-law, Brandi. I use a lot of her recipes. As a matter of fact, she told me I should rename my blog to Brandi's Recipe Box! I think Nana's Recipe Box sounds better :-)

Chicken Edamame Chowder

1 - 2 pounds chicken tenders or breasts, cut bit-sized (I did put some salt and pepper on the chicken)

2 cans cream style corn

3 cups frozen shelled edamame

2 - 3 cups diced potatoes

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup crumbled bacon

1 can chicken broth

1/2 cup half and half

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in the crock pot except the half and half and mix together. Cook on high 4 -5 hours. Before serving stir in half and half and salt and pepper to taste.

Taco Soup

It's getting to be "soup" weather. Here is one of our favorites--Taco Soup!

Taco Soup

2 - 3 chicken breasts

1 can Mexi-corn

1 can black beans

1 small salsa or picante sauce (mild)

2 cups chicken broth

Boil the chicken in water with salt, a piece of celery and a small onion. Takes about 30 minutes to cook. Save 2 cups of broth and put into a pot. You can use canned or boxed chicken broth if you'd like, but I figure if you're boiling chicken anyway, you may as well use the broth. Right?

Cut chicken breasts into pieces and put into pot. Add 1 can of Mexi-corn. Drain beans and add to soup (you can rinse beans if you'd like or put the beans in, liquid and all). Pour in the small salsa or picante sauce. Mix together and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips. Delicious and Easy! We always double the recipe because everyone eats seconds or thirds--even fourths!.

My kids love to put sour cream and cheese in their soup before eating. Me--I'm just a plain Jane and eat it like it is. I always scoop it up with tortilla chips. I don't use my spoon until the very end so I can get every last drop!