Delicious Soups

January is a wonderful month for soups. It’s pretty chilly in most places in January and a bowl of hot, steamy soup makes you warm inside. Even if it’s not cold where you live, soups can be fast and fun to make.

A-Plus Alphabet Soup
Makes 4 Servings

·        2 cups all-natural chicken broth or vegetable broth (such as Imagine Natural)

·        1 1/2 cups water

·        One 8-ounce can tomato sauce

·        4 ounces dried alphabet pasta (about 3/4 cup)

·        1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

·        One 7 3/4-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

·        1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Add the broth, water, and tomato sauce to a medium saucepan and stir to combine. Cover and bring to a boil. Add the pasta, vegetables, and chickpeas, and boil gently, uncovered, until the pasta is done, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve in individual bowls and top with Parmesan cheese as desired. (Courtesy of www.mealmakermoms.com)

Simple Ramen Noodle Soup

·        2 – 15 oz cans of vegetable broth (you can use chicken or beef broth as well)

·        1 cup water

·        4 to 6 ounce package of curly ramen noodles

·        1 scallion, green part only, thinly sliced

·        1 cup small mushrooms, sliced (optional)

·        1 cup frozen peas, thawed

Bring the broth and water to simmer in a large saucepan. Add the noodles and cook for a couple of minutes or until you can separate the noodles with a fork.  Add the scallions and the mushrooms and cook until the noodles and mushrooms are tender, about 5 – 7 minutes. Add the green peas and cook unto heated through. Use the curly Ramen noodles found in the Asian section of your market, not the Ramen soup. You can also substitute very fine egg noodles. (http://www.vegkitchen.com & The Vegetarian Family Cookbook)

Chili Concoction

·        1 1/2 pounds of hamburger

·        1 – no. 2 can tomatoes  (large can about 15 – 20 oz)

·        1 – no. 2 can kidney beans

·        1 large onion, chopped

·        1 tablespoon chili powder

·        1/2 teaspoon salt

Brown hamburger in large skillet. Drain extra grease with an adult’s help. Then stir in the tomatoes, beans, chili powder and salt. Heat to boiling. Turn down heat to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. Makes 4 – 6 servings. (Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys and Girls – used with permission.)

Fun Things to Do with Canned Soup

Start with a can of your favorite soup and use these fun ideas to spice it up.

·        Tomato Soup – sprinkle cheese or croutons on top, add a handful of frozen peas or mixed vegetables, add some cooked hamburger

·        Cream of Chicken or Mushroom – Add sliced mushrooms, stir in chopped cooked chick or turkey, or toss in some frozen chopped broccoli

·        Chicken Noodle Soup – Add some extra ABC noodles, shredded carrots, chopped chicken or frozen veggies

·        Mix more two favorites – Tomato & Vegetable Soup, Chicken noodle with Cream of chicken, Tomato & Chicken Noodle