Cold Strawberry Soup

This is such a fun way to start out a meal! I think it is particularly tasty in the spring or summer. It is refreshing and delicious! We served this with our St. Patty's Day dinner.

(Photo Courtesy Confections of a Foodie Bride)

Cold Strawberry Soup

(Adapted from Cooks.com)

2 cups strawberries, chopped

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. finely grated orange peel

2 Tbsp orange juice

2 cups buttermilk

In saucepan combine berries, 1 1/2 cups water, sugar, orange juice and orange peel. Bring to a boil; simmer until thick, 15-20 minutes. Cool 30 minutes. Put in blender until smooth. Stir in buttermilk. Chill.

Kandi's Stew

This healthy and hearty meal has few ingredients, is quick to put together and because it cooks all day in the crockpot...Your house smells fabulous and dinner is ready when you are with little effort!

In high school, my brother's friends would head straight to our house every Friday afternoon after school for "Stew Crew," their energy meal prior to that night's football game. So, it's a favorite among teenage athletes and the whole family! {The LHS football team barely lost in the state championship game that year...They were full of talent and if I'm being honest...played as well as they did all because of the stew!}

Stew

Brown stew meat in 1/3 cup margarine. Layer:

Potatoes (I use 4-6 potatoes for my family of 5)

Carrots (I bag baby carrots)

Onion (1, sliced)

Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to top of crockpot. Leave juice in pan. Add 1 cup water and 1 Tbsp. flour. Cook until thick like gravy. Add 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp parsley, and 1 tsp thyme (optional.) Pour gravy on top. Cook on low 8-9 hours or on low for 4 hours.

Serve with some yummy rolls for a delicious meal!

Tomato Macaroni Soup

A combination between pasta and soup, this healthy meal is something the whole family will love! It's a sweet tomato flavor that will leave you coming back for seconds. Perfect comfort food for a fall night.

Tomato Mac

Cook 1 1/3 cup elbow macaroni until slightly undercooked (al dente) and set aside.

In a large soup pan mix the following ingredients:

1 large (32 oz.) can tomato juice and then a half can of water

1 ½ t. dried parsley flakes

1 t. chili powder

½ c. sugar

2 T butter

½ c. Catalina light dressing

1 pound browned ground beef (salt and pepper to taste)

Heat the above and add cooked macaroni last. Simmer until macaroni is warmed.

Mom's Chili

Delicious...SUPER EASY! This Chili recipe is amazing and requires little effort. Perfect for a chilly fall night! Serve with corn bread or breadsticks to round out the perfect middle-of the week meal.

Mom's Chili

2 large cans chili beans

1 Tbsp minced onion

1 tsp salt

dash of pepper

1 Tbsp sugar

1 quart tomato juice

1/2 cup ketchup

1/8 tsp chili powder

2 cups water

Bring to a boil. Add 2 lbs. UNCOOKED hamburger beef. Boil 30-40 minutes. (Watch it so the beans don't burn...I like to stir every few minutes...) Serve with sour cream and grated cheese.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

As happy as I would be to have soup season over (just for weather sake!), it's snowing like crazy here...So, we might as well enjoy some yummy food as long as we're stuck inside! Here is one of my childhood favorites...And it's super quick and easy! Add some yummy rolls, breadsticks or muffins and it makes a perfect meal for a cold night. Variation: Also tasty with broccoli.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

1 1/2 cubes margarine, melted

Add 3/4 cup flour

Let bubble for 3 minutes on low.

Add:

2 tsp salt

1 quart half & half

1 can evaporated milk

Stir well until thick. Add 2 cups (16 oz) cooked cauliflower.

Clam Chowder

I recently hosted a luncheon for my friend Jen who is expecting her 5th child. We decided on cold cuts and soup with a variety of desserts. I was in charge of the soup, two desserts and drinks (all of which will be posted in sequence...) It had been a particularly busy week including time in my preschooler's classroom, hosting playgroup, trying to make St. Patty's Day magical for the kids and getting all things ready (cleaning the house, laundry, grocery shopping, packing etc...) for grandma to come while the hubs and I ran away to the beach for a week...Anyhow, I was running a little behind (okay a lot behind....thank you Lisa for coming to my rescue!) and had not even started the soup when guests were arriving...(Are you panicking?? Lisa (the co-host) silently was!) The good news is in no time flat, this super yummy clam chowder was ready and the party could begin...It's that easy! The bad news is I didn't take any pictures...

Clam Chowder

(Note: I always double the recipe for my family of 5)

2 Tbsp. Butter

2 Tbsp. Minced onion

1 can (10 oz) Campbell’s Cream of Potato Soup

10 oz Half and Half

1 can Minced Clams

Salt and Pepper to taste

Saute onion in butter. Add potato soup, half & half and juice from clams. Thicken with 3 Tbsp. Flour mixed with a little milk. Simmer 5 minutes. Add clams and heat.

CAUTION: Never boil or simmer after clams have been added.