Category: Soups

Pinto Beans And Ham

Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!
Well, here’s my first post in 2015. Nothing fancy or glamorous, but this meal is sure inexpensive, FILLING, and delicious! If you’ve ever had extra ham or ham bones left over after a meal, then this recipe for Pinto Beans And Ham is perfect for you!

This dish (besides being quite economical) is also totally easy to prepare, so consider that a win-win! Only a few ingredients are necessary to make a big soup pot full of these tasty, filling, tender pinto beans and shredded pieces of ham, flavored with salt/pepper, cumin, onion and garlic!

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Make A Pot Of Pinto Beans And Ham With Leftover Ham

I prepare this meal often, usually any time we have leftover ham (always after a holiday like Christmas or Easter, and in the cold winter months). The recipe makes about 8 servings, so there is always enough left over for other meals.

Leftover ham is perfect to use in this soup.

If you have a large ham bone from a ham hanging around (with pieces of meat still attached), that’s PERFECT! If not, then just use slices of ham, cut into small chunks. The long cooking time will help the meat to be pulled off the bone or shredded easily!

Pinto beans can be found in just about every single grocery store in the country, and are quite cheap. Buy dry pinto beans (in a bag). They will cook and soften during the cooking process.

Dried pinto beans are used to make this recipe.

Why The Beans Need To Cook for So Long

The long cooking time helps the beans to soften. Find another activity to do while they are cooking, and just check on them every hour or so to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan, and give them a good stir!

During the last part of the cooking time, the liquid will begin to thicken. This is a GOOD thing! The ham also becomes very tender, so it is easy (especially if you added big chunks), to pull it apart into smaller pieces or shreds.

Pinto beans and ham is served!

Your house will smell GREAT while these pinto beans and ham are cooking! We love to eat this thick bowl of “soup” with some Copycat Marie Callender’s Cornbread or warm, buttered flour tortillas on the side… yum!

Cornbread goes perfectly with pinto beans and ham

When all is said and done, you will end up with a nice sized pot of pinto beans and ham, and not have to sped a lot on it, especially if you start with leftover ham!

If you like pinto beans or need other ways to use dried pintos, be sure and check out my blog post on how to can dried beans or how to make refried beans in the crockpot. Both recipes start with dried pinto beans!

Hope you’ll give this humble recipe for pinto beans and ham a try. I think you’re gonna love them! Sometimes simple can be so good! Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon. Be sure to check out ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Pinto Beans And Ham
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 5 mins
 
Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pinto beans and ham
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 289 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 bag pinto beans (regular sized - about 2-3 cups)
  • 1 large leftover ham bone (with meat attached), OR 2 cups chopped cooked ham
  • 1 medium brown onion , chopped
  • 1 heaping Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Water
  • Additional Salt/Pepper , to taste (I usually have to add more before serving)
Instructions
  1. Rinse the pinto beans in a strainer. Place beans into a large stockpot. Cover completely with water.
  2. Add ham bone (or chopped ham). Add additional water, if necessary to more than cover the beans and ham.
  3. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin.
  4. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low heat. Let beans cook for approximately 4 hours. For first half of cooking time, keep a lid on the beans, but with lid vented. After about 2 hours, remove the lid and continue cooking, uncovered for remainder of time. As water level begins to reduce, add a bit more water back into the pot so that beans remain submerged during cooking time.
  5. Check beans to make sure they are fully softened. Remove ham bone from pot; remove any ham meat from bone and add the ham back into the pot.
  6. Taste test the beans when fully cooked. Mixture will thicken slightly as the amount of water reduces through the long cooking time. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
  7. Serve hot with some cornbread or tortillas on the side, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Pinto Beans And Ham
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/8th of total))
Calories 289 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 671mg29%
Potassium 1028mg29%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin C 5.9mg7%
Calcium 87mg9%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Pinto Beans and Ham is an easy, economical way to make a big pot full of tasty, filling, pinto beans and shredded leftover ham, flavored with onion and garlic!

 

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Classic Beef Stew

Classic Beef Stew, a “comfort food” soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!

My husband and I just returned home after an 11 day road trip to San Diego for Thanksgiving.  It was freezing cold when we returned to our home in Oregon, so I decided to make some Classic Beef Stew for our first dinner home.

I found the recipe for this stew in one of my old copies of Taste of Home magazine years ago. I had cut out the recipe and saved it, but had never made this particular recipe before. I grew up in a home where my Mom made beef stew all the time, and that has been the recipe I have used for years, but decided to try this one, this time.

It turned out wonderful!  This classic beef stew is baked over a couple of hours time, so the entire house smelled so amazingly good! My husband and I enjoyed this beef stew; it was easy to make, and since it yields 6-8 servings, we have leftovers for another meal!

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How To Make Classic Beef Stew

Here is how you make this hearty stew.  Start by browning the stew meat in an ovenproof baking dish.

Beef stew meat is browned in ovenproof pan.

Pan seared, browned stew meat is used to make classic beef stew.

Time To Bake The Beef Stew

Add chopped onions, tomatoes, beef broth, garlic, and spices to the stew meat in the pan. Give it all a good stir, to mix it together.

Tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices are added to classic beef stew in pan.

You will need to transfer the mixture to an ovenproof baking dish, if not already using one, then bake the stew (covered) for 1½ hours. Pretty positive you are gonna love the smell in your kitchen as this classic beef stew bakes!

Classic Beef Stew is baked for one and a half hours in oven.

Remove Stew From Oven, Add Veggies And Bake Again

Remove the hot stew pan from the oven. Add potatoes, celery, carrots, and green beans to the classic beef stew. Mix well, to combine. Bake for an additional hour (covered).

Carrots, potatoes, celery and green beans are added to classic beef stew, then baked.

Classic beef stew goes back into oven after veggies are added.Time To Serve And Eat Classic Beef Stew

When done baking, carefully remove the baking dish from oven, because it will be HOT. Dish this classic beef stew up into individual bowls, to serve!  I’m pretty sure you will be surprised at how tender the meat is!

Classic Beef Stew comes out of the oven, and is now ready to eat.

I sure hope you will give this classic beef stew a try! We love it, served with some crusty sourdough bread on the side. Hope you enjoy this perfect winter meal!

Looking For More STEW Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a couple delicious stew recipes you will enjoy, like West African Chicken and Peanut Stew, or a vegetarian friendly Lentil Stew. They’re both delicious and I highly recommend them!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signatureRecipe slightly adapted from: Taste of Home Magazine (year unknown), pg. 55, by Alberta McKay, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma

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Classic Beef Stew
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 45 mins
 
Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic beef stew
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 349 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat (or chuck roast), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 can (16 oz) diced tomatoes, with liquid
  • 1 can (10-1/2 oz) beef broth, undiluted
  • 3 Tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca (or whisk in 2 Tablespoons flour)
  • 1 1/2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 medium carrots , cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 3 medium potatoes , peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 cup sliced celery , cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 can green beans , cut into 2-inch pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a dutch oven or large pan, heat the oil until very hot. Add the beef cubes, and cook until all sides are browned. Drain the oil from pan.
  3. Add the onion, tomatoes, beef broth, tapioca (or flour), garlic, parsley, salt, pepper and bay leaf. Bring this mixture to a boil, then remove pan from the heat.
  4. Cover pan (or transfer to an ovenproof large baking dish). Bake mixture in covered dish at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Remove from oven.
  5. Stir in carrots, potatoes, celery and green beans. Bake, covered, 1 hour longer, or until the meat and vegetables are tender. (mine took about 15 minutes longer). Remove bay leaf before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Classic Beef Stew
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 349 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 88mg29%
Sodium 527mg23%
Potassium 927mg26%
Carbohydrates 23g8%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 8090IU162%
Vitamin C 20.5mg25%
Calcium 79mg8%
Iron 6.2mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Classic Beef Stew, a "comfort food" soup filled with meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, and tomatoes, is a hearty and filling meal on a cold day!

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Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions…tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato! Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato in SOUP form.
Do you love to make soup when it is cold outside? I sure do! One of the things I love about the crisp and cool weather in Fall is making Potato Soup… Fully Loaded Potato Soup!

Fully LOADED Potato Soup is packed with all the good things you would stuff a baked potato with, given the chance. Bacon, cheese, chives, sour cream… well, you get the picture! A hot bowl of this flavor-packed potato soup on a cold day is just what you need to satisfy a growling stomach.

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Trying Out This Soup Recipe On Friends

A couple of years ago I had about 9 ladies from a Bible Study group I was in, over for lunch. I made a big pot of fully loaded potato soup. No recipe was used, I just put it all together (had made it many times from scratch!) and it was wonderful! I received several compliments on the soup. My friend, Judy asked me where I got the recipe, and told her I just made it up as I went along. I couldn’t even give her the recipe because I didn’t write anything down as I cooked. Epic FAIL.

Sooo… it’s now two years later and I finally remembered to document with PHOTOS the making of this delicious and filling, fully loaded potato soup. I made a big batch recently on a rainy, cold, dismal day (aren’t those the BEST days for making a big pot of soup?)

It’s easier than you think to make fully loaded potato soup… and IT IS YUMMY! Perfect for a cool evening’s meal (very filling) and lunch leftovers the next day! Hope you will give this recipe a try… I am confident you will LOVE it!

Making Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Chop peeled Russet potatoes into planks, then cut into small cubes. Smaller potato cubes will cook a lot faster than large chunks!

Cubing potatoes for fully loaded soup

Cook the potatoes with green onions, salt, pepper, and part of the bacon pieces until the potatoes become tender. Let me tell you, it sure smells GOOD, because of those onions and bacon!

Potatoes are cooked with green onions, bacon, etc. for soup

Add a little bit of flour to the cooked potatoes. The ingredients will continue to cook and soften. This flour will act as a thickening agent for the fully loaded potato soup, making it thick and creamy!

Flour is added to potatoes to act as a thickening agent for soup.

Time To Turn The Ingredients Into Fully Loaded Potato Soup!

Pour milk and whipping cream into the pan with the fully loaded potato soup. Once the soup has thickened, add grated cheddar cheese. Continue to cook the fully loaded potato soup, and the cheese will melt into the thickened soup. This will add another layer of flavor and creaminess.

Milk, whipping cream and cheddar cheese are added to potato soup.

Here you can see the thickened fully loaded potato soup, with the bacon and potato chunks! It looks so good, but is not quite finished!

Fully loaded potato soup is thick and creamy.

Right before serving, stir sour cream into the hot, thick fully loaded potato soup! The sour cream will add yet another layer of flavor and creaminess to the soup.

Sour cream is added to fully loaded potato soup just before serving.

Serve The Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Ladle the hot, fully loaded potato soup into individual serving bowls. It looks good just like that, but the garnishes for the soup is what helps put it over the top! Garnish each bowl of soup with crispy bacon pieces, additional cheddar cheese, and chopped chives. That REALLY pretties this soup up, and adds even more flavor! ENJOY!

Fully Loaded Potato Soup is garnished with crisp bacon, cheddar and chives.

This fully loaded potato soup is one of our family’s all time favorite soups. I hope it will become one of your favorite soups, too! Have a great day!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, at the top of the page. A few of our favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Fully Loaded Potato Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 
Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fully loaded potato soup
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 478 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 5 large Russet potatoes , cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • Salt and Pepper , to taste
  • 2 heaping Tablespoons flour
  • 5 pieces bacon
  • 5 green onion stalks , sliced (green stem and white bulb),
  • 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (reserve a bit for garnish)
  • 5 cups milk
  • 3/4 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons chives , chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
  1. Cook bacon in skillet. When half way cooked, remove 2 slices. Chop into small pieces and place into a large soup pot. Continue cooking the 3 pieces of bacon remaining in the skillet until crispy. Drain, crumble, and set aside (2 slices will go into the soup later, one will be used for garnish),
  2. Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in the soup pot with the 2 slices of chopped, half-cooked bacon. Add cubed potatoes, and chopped green onions,, and stir to combine. Cook potatoes, stirring frequently for about 7-8 minutes, or until softened slightly.
  3. Generously salt and pepper the potatoes. Sprinkle potatoes with 2 heaping Tablespoons of flour. Stir well to combine..
  4. Add milk to soup pot and stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
  5. Add whipping cream (do not boil), cheddar cheese, and 2 slices crispy, (chopped) bacon. Stir to combine.
  6. Simmer on low for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed.
  7. Right before you serve the soup, add the sour cream and mix well.
  8. Ladle the soup into serving bowls, and garnish with a bit of crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, and the chopped chives. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

**I usually add 2 slices of halfway cooked bacon to the soup pot to cook with the potatoes for extra flavor, BUT If you prefer, you can cook ALL the bacon until crispy. Add all but one piece to the soup at one time (saving one slice to crumble for garnish!)

Nutrition Facts
Fully Loaded Potato Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 478 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Cholesterol 93mg31%
Sodium 352mg15%
Potassium 872mg25%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 1075IU22%
Vitamin C 9.7mg12%
Calcium 384mg38%
Iron 1.5mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Fully Loaded Potato Soup is thick and creamy, filled with bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions...tastes like a fully stuffed baked potato!

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Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!
Fall is here! I am ready for cool, crisp mornings… and soup! I made a pot of Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup yesterday, and it was really good!

We’re had a gorgeous summer here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but I am really enjoying the cooling air, the trees beginning to turn into their Fall colors, etc. There’s just something about Fall that calls for a large pot of delicious smelling soup cooking away on the stove.

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How I Came Up With This Recipe For Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup

Yesterday I was in the mood for a yummy, Italian-inspired Tuscan chicken vegetable soup. I’ve seen many recipes online for Tuscan Soup over the years (trust me, there’s a bazillion of them). Because of that, I had a basic idea of what items COULD go into this soup. I I ended up not using any ONE particular recipe, because I decided to simply create my own version. Guess what? We LOVED it!!!!

Seriously, people, we LOVED this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup! Success! Lots of “good-for you-veggies”, cannelini beans, chicken, and spices in a light Italian broth produces one great pot of soup!

Can You Make This Soup Vegetarian?

If you wish to make this a vegetarian friendly soup, it is easy! I typically use chicken broth and chicken in this soup when I make it. However, this soup tastes just as good using vegetable broth and NO chicken (if you’re vegetarian).

A bowl of the Tuscan chicken vegetable soup, ready to eat!

The Tuscan chicken vegetable soup was fun to make, because I was able to use some of the veggies I grew in our garden. These home-grown veggies included onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, carrots, kale and spinach! Of course, all those ingredients can also be found at your local grocery store!

All that said, this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup is an easy recipe to prepare, and is absolutely delicious! I sure hope you’ll try it. Serious… you just gotta try this soup, because it is so yummy! Throw on a warm sweater, some sweatpants, turn on some great music, and make a pot of this soup. While you’re at it, enjoy the beauty of this glorious Fall season! Enjoy!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. These recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: My brain. In “Fall” mode.

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Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Tuscan chicken vegetable soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 194 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts , cooked and cubed
  • 7 cups chicken broth (may substitute vegetable broth, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup onion , chopped
  • 3 carrot stalks , sliced thinly
  • 3 celery stalks , sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 small zucchini , sliced thinly
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup kale , chopped (stems removed) (if omitting, double the spinach quantity!)
  • 1 cup baby spinach , chopped
  • 1 can cannellini beans , drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt & pepper , to taste (may have to add more)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • Parmesan cheese , grated (for garnish if desired)
Instructions
  1. In a large soup pot, saute the onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken broth and cooked, cubed chicken to soup pot. Now add the salt & pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder to season the soup. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

  2. Add tomato paste, Mix well to combine. Add cannellini beans, kale and spinach. Season again with salt & pepper to taste, if necessary. Cook on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. When ready, ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tip: Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for the fastest way to make this recipe.

*I boiled the chicken breasts in water for 45 minutes earlier in the day... then used them later in this recipe. Whatever works best for you is the bottom line.

Nutrition Facts
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 194 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 1556mg68%
Potassium 826mg24%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 7035IU141%
Vitamin C 44.1mg53%
Calcium 116mg12%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

 

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Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho

Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup… refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories… and delicious!Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!
Ooh… today’s recipe is for a delicious, cold, sweet, and a bit spicy Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho. I tried this chilled soup for the first time last year, and LOVED it! I truly enjoy the crunch of the vegetables and the sweetness of the watermelon. It’s FRESH & HEALTHY!!!!

I love this quote: “A true friend is like a good book – the inside is even better than the cover”. (author unknown)  I am so grateful for the friends God has given me the opportunity to know over the course of my life. I’ve learned many things from each of them, including making this wonderful watermelon gazpacho (with cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, jalapeno, lime juice and mint).  Isn’t it gorgeous?

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How I Found This Recipe

I have a beautiful, dearly loved friend named Shari who has taught me many things about cooking. She taught me great food presentation, creating recipes outside the “box”, and being fearless to try new cooking experiments in the kitchen. By far the most important thing she has modeled is how to be a loving, caring, encouraging friend.

I was first served this chilled soup in her home, at a themed dinner party (photo above shows how Shari served it to us that evening)!  Can you guess what the theme was?  Watermelon.

Picture of smiley face watermelon rind

We Had A “Watermelon-Themed” Dinner

Every single part of the meal had to include watermelon. That’s right…soup, salad, beverages, main courses, (including pasta, I might add), and even the desserts (my contribution) had to include watermelon. I’ve posted one of the desserts on my blog: Tropical Watermelon Sorbet with Lime Semifreddo. Yum.

The dinner was a bit of a challenge, to say the least, but it ended up being a FUN, phenomenal, absolutely DELICIOUS watermelon-themed meal to eat, sitting outside on the deck on a gorgeous, hot summer night! Here’s a peek at the menu and a collage picture of some of the dishes we had, including this watermelon and cucumber gazpacho!

Menu from watermelon themed dinner

Can you believe all the watermelon-themed food we ate that night?  There were 8 of us at the dinner, and we left, completely full of delicious food. I think I might have DREAMED about watermelons for weeks after this evening!

Collage of photos from watermelon-themed dinner
We all contributed dishes or beverages following the theme! One of the courses served and made by our hostess Shari was this Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho, originally created for Bon Appétit magazine (August 2005 issue) by chef Cat Cora.

What Is IN Watermelon Cucumber Gazpacho?

This chilled watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is full of yummy, healthy ingredients like watermelon, cucumbers, bell peppers, celery, onion, jalapeno, lime juice and fresh mint… and it is PACKED with flavor! The soup is served chilled, which adds to the deliciousness!

Oh my goodness…this soup was FANTASTIC! Completely HEALTHY, chock full of sweet and slightly spicy ingredients –  absolutely PERFECT!  My husband and I loved it so much that I got the recipe from my friend, and have made it several times since then! I’ve posted the photos I took, with her permission. Here is a picture with my friend Shari. She’s the “creative brain” behind our fun themed dinners!

Two women, holding flowers

This refreshing watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is amazingly simple to make! Honestly- chopping/prepping the veggies is the “hardest” thing about it. I think you will LOVE the results…absolutely refreshing, a bit sweet, crunchy, low in calories… and delicious!

The recipe can be doubled very easily!  With warm Spring and hot Summer days ahead, I’m looking forward to making this wonderful chilled soup many times!

Looking For More WATERMELON Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. If you enjoy watermelon, you might also enjoy these recipes for Watermelon, Lime & Mint Agua Fresca, Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad, or Watermelon, Feta and Balsamic Bites.  Have a great day!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Watermelon-and-Cucumber-Gazpacho-232543

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... absolutely refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: watermelon and cucumber gazpacho
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 146 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1- 3 pound seedless watermelon (about 5 cups), finely diced
  • 1 small cucumber , peeled, seeded, finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium-sized red bell pepper , seeded and finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium-sized yellow bell pepper , seeded and finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small jalapeno chile , seeded and very finely minced
  • 3 pale green inner celery stalks , finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 of a small red onion , finely diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup creme fraiche , or sour cream (for garnish)
Instructions
  1. Place 4 cups of the watermelon in blender or food processor. Puree until it is completely smooth.
  2. Transfer watermelon puree to a large bowl.
  3. Add remaining 1 cup of diced watermelon and the next 10 ingredients to the puree; stir to combine.
  4. Cover the gazpacho and refrigerate for several hours (up to 4 hrs.).
  5. To Serve: Serve cold. Divide the gazpacho among bowls or margarita glasses and garnish each bowl with a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream. ENJOY!
  6. *Note: The dice on all the veggies is fairly small.
Recipe Notes

Be sure and chill this gazpacho very well. It's the best when completely cold!

Nutrition Facts
Watermelon and Cucumber Gazpacho
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 146 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 115mg5%
Potassium 616mg18%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 2675IU54%
Vitamin C 94.9mg115%
Calcium 72mg7%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is a healthy, sweet and spicy chilled soup... absolutely refreshing, flavorful, crunchy, low in calories... and delicious!

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Olive Garden Toscana Soup

Olive Garden Toscana Soup is a delicious copycat recipe for a beloved, hearty soup with potatoes, Italian sausage and kale, in a seasoned broth!Olive Garden Toscana Soup is a delicious copycat recipe for a beloved, hearty soup with potatoes, Italian sausage and kale, in a seasoned broth!
I’m sitting in my office at home looking out the window at freshly fallen snow in our backyard. We had a crazy snowstorm yesterday (it gets crazy in Portland when we have significant snow). Today another 3-5 inches of snow is expected. Whoa! 

This is a great day for Olive Garden Toscana Soup! My husband and I have both been fighting pesky head colds for several days now, and we decided a big pot of soup was what we needed.

This way we can have soup made for 1) the snowstorm, and 2) leftovers (so I don’t have to cook much while sick). It was a really good idea (we occasionally have good ideas!).

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Where I Found The Recipe For Olive Garden Toscana Soup

Once my hubby and I settled on what KIND of soup it was easy: A big pot of Toscana Soup, a copycat version of the popular soup found at Olive Garden restaurants nationwide. It is also known as Zuppa Toscana.

I dug out my trusty cookbook called “Top Secret Restaurant Recipes”, by author Todd Wilbur, and got busy in the kitchen. Honestly, I can’t count how many times I’ve made this recipe over the years.

We find this soup wonderfully tasty, filling, and it’s ridiculously easy to make. The blended flavors of Italian sausage, potatoes and kale are enhanced by a light, creamy broth.

Olive Garden Toscana Soup is a seriously good soup to cozy up with on a cold, snowy day, or any time you want a great bowl of soup!

How To Make Olive Garden Toscana Soup

Place four Italian sausage links into a large skillet. Pan-sear the sausage links on medium heat until they are browned, and cooked through.

Cooking the sausage links will take between 10 and 15 minutes to cook the sausages all the way through.

Italian sausage links are pan-seared in skillet.

Once they are finished cooking, transfer the sausages out of the skillet, and let them cool for about 10 minutes before attempting to slice them..

Use a sharp knife to slice the cooked Italian sausage links into thin rounds. Set the sausage slices aside to rest while you add other ingredients to the soup.

The cooked Italian sausage links are cut in thin slices.

Time To Slice Those Potatoes!

Slice the cleaned, unpeeled potatoes into thin slices, and then cut them into quarters. The potato slices will cook more evenly if they are all cut about the same size.

Unpeeled russet potatoes are cut into thin slices, then cut into quarters.

Add Potatoes And Kale To The Toscana Soup

Add the sliced potatoes (make them “walk the plank”) to the Toscana soup base that is simmering in a large soup pot.

Potatoes being added to the Olive Garden Toscana Soup in pan.

Next into the soup pot goes the kale. Yes… this recipe calls for lots of fresh chopped kale (the HEALTHY veggie)! Stir to incorporate the potatoes and kale into the soup.

The kale will wilt and reduce in volume as it heats in the hot broth. Now your big ol’ pot of Olive Garden Toscana Soup is almost ready to eat! Are you getting excited? I know I am!

Chopped kale is added to the soup in pan.

Final Step, Then It’s Time To EAT!

Add the cooked and sliced Italian sausage to the soup, and stir, to combine. Continue to heat the soup, until it is very hot, and then get ready to serve it!

Ladle the hot Toscana Soup into individual serving bowls. Serve Olive Garden Toscana Soup with some crusty Italian bread on the side, and enjoy!

The sliced, cooked Italian sausage pieces are added to the pot of Olive Garden Toscana Soup.

Hope you will give this Olive Garden Toscana Soup a try and will discover (if you haven’t already), how delicious it really is!

It’s pretty easy to make a big pot of this soup to enjoy! Sure hope you like it!  If you enjoy the soups at The Olive Garden, be sure to check out my recipe for Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup! It is fantastic, and is one of my all-time favorites!

Thanks for stopping by today. Please come back soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a great day.

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious soups for you to enjoy, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
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Author's signature
Recipe adapted from the cookbook: “Top Secret Restaurant Recipes”, by Todd Wilbur, (published 1977).
 

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Olive Garden Toscana Soup
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
 

Olive Garden Toscana Soup is a delicious copycat recipe for a beloved, hearty soup with potatoes, Italian sausage and kale, in a seasoned broth!

Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Toscana soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 396 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 Italian sausage links (mild or hot flavors are okay-I typically use mild)
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 3/4 cup milk (for an even creamier version, use heavy whipping cream, then omit the butter)
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 cups chopped kale
  • 3 small russet potatoes- unpeeled (or 1 1/2 large potatoes-unpeeled)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
  1. Grill or sauté the sausages till done (approx. 15 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool. Once sausage has cooled, slice the sausages at an angle into slices about 1/2 inch thick.
  2. In a large saucepan, combine the chicken stock and the milk/butter (or heavy cream) over medium heat. Add the grilled Italian sausage slices and kale to the soup. Slice the unpeeled potatoes into 1/4 inch slices, and then quarter each slice. Add the quartered potato slices to the soup.

  3. Add the spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes) to taste. Let the soup simmer on low, uncovered for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from the cookbook: "Top Secret Restaurant Recipes", by Todd Wilbur, (published 1977).

Nutrition Facts
Olive Garden Toscana Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))
Calories 396 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 77mg26%
Sodium 1245mg54%
Potassium 1000mg29%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 3560IU71%
Vitamin C 47mg57%
Calcium 116mg12%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Olive Garden Toscana Soup is a delicious copycat recipe for a beloved, hearty soup with potatoes, Italian sausage and kale, in a seasoned broth!

 

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Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Nothing is as comforting as a hot bowl of soup on a cool day. This delicious, creamy tomato basil soup will really hit the spot, and it’s simple to make!Nothing is as comforting as a hot bowl of soup on a cool day. This delicious, creamy tomato basil soup will really hit the spot, and it's simple to make!

Writing this post made me laugh…my entire life I have despised (I know, harsh words!) tomato soup. Really, really despised it. However, I am married to a guy who loves it. Go figure! But the truth is… I have come to love the taste of this Creamy Tomato Basil Soup!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Tomato Soup Was NOT On The List Of Foods I Enjoyed… Originally!

Years ago I worked at a school where occasionally they would serve the students and staff grilled cheese sandwiches with a small cup of tomato soup.  Word on the street was the soup was good with a grilled cheese sandwich on the side, but I could never even bring myself to try the soup.

I grew up watching that gelatinous blob of tomato soup come out of canned tomato soup when my Dad would have it for lunch. No Thanks! I had such an “ugh” factor going on.

Then I married a guy who LOVES tomato soup, so through the years I would occasionally buy him a can of the stuff to make him happy. He sometimes even buys a carton of freshly made tomato basil soup from the grocery store deli to “heat and eat”.

Why I Ended Up LIKING Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Fast this story forward to this past summer –  our little garden was overflowing with fresh basil. I decided to combine my home-grown basil with my deep love of cooking and my love for that “tomato-soup-lovin’ husband of mine”. 

 I searched online to find a homemade tomato basil soup recipe he could enjoy.  This recipe for creamy tomato basil soup is the one I tried, and guess what? I had a tiny cup of it and it was absolutely delicious…who knew? Wait… now I like this soup? I was totally surprised!

Now I really enjoy this yummy tomato basil soup! That has to be some kind of miracle! Maybe my taste buds have changed as I’ve gotten older. Perhaps it is the fact that it didn’t come sliding (in one gelatinous blob) out of a little red and white labeled can?
 

How To Make Homemade Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

In a medium sized pan, sauté onions and garlic in butter over medium heat until they are fairly clear (about 4-5 minutes).  Don’t let the garlic burn!

Add the canned tomatoes (including juice) and the chicken stock to the saucepan. Bring the tomato mixture to a full boil.  Reduce the heat, and let it simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.  Once the tomato mixture has cooked for 10 minutes, remove pan from heat.

 
Cooking the tomato soup before pureeing the tomatoes.
 
Use an immersion blender to puree. Be careful… the soup is HOT! NOTE: If you don’t have an immersion blender, no problem! Carefully transfer the “hot” tomato mixture to a blender or a food processor and puree. You may need to do this in batches.
 
 
Using an immersion blender to puree the tomato soup.
 
Creamy tomato basil soup, AFTER it has been pureed.
 

Add The Fresh Basil

Once the tomato mixture has been pureed, add in the fresh basil and pulse (or blend) a few more times to incorporate the basil into the soup.
 
Fresh, chopped basil is added to tomato soup, then blended in.
 
If you used a blender, return the hot soup carefully to the saucepan. Whisk in the heavy whipping cream, until blended.
 
Whipping cream is added to creamy tomato basil soup.
 
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.  Heat on low until the creamy tomato basil soup is fully heated through. Do NOT let the soup boil!
 
Creamy tomato basil soup, after whipping cream has been whisked in.
 

Serve This Delicious Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Ladle the hot soup into cups or bowls. Garnish each portion with croutons and fresh basil leaves, if desired. ENJOY!
 
Creamy tomato basil soup is served in white bowl, with croutons and basil leaves as garnish.
 
This creamy tomato basil soup is very EASY to make and it’s DELICIOUS. Hope you will give it a try!  Have a wonderful day!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of soup recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://unsophisticook.com/tomato-basil-soup/
0 from 0 votes
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 
Nothing is as comforting as a hot bowl of soup on a cool day. This delicious, creamy tomato basil soup will really hit the spot, and it's simple to make!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy tomato basil soup
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 210 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 brown onions , chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced
  • 2 (28 oz.) cans whole tomatoes
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil , chopped (plus additional leaves for garnish, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • salt (to taste)
  • pepper (to taste)
  • Croutons and additional basil (for garnish, if desired)
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized pan, saute onions and garlic in butter over medium heat till they are fairly clear (about 4-5 minutes). Don't let the garlic burn!
  2. Add the canned tomatoes (including the juice) and the chicken stock to saucepan. Bring the tomato mixture to a full boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. When the tomato mixture has cooked for 10 minutes, remove from heat.

  3. Use an immersion blender to puree. NOTE: If you don't have an immersion blender, no problem! Carefully transfer the "hot" tomato mixture to a blender or a food processor and puree. You may need to do this in batches.

  4. Once the tomato mixture has been pureed, add in the fresh basil and pulse (or blend) a few times to incorporate the basil into the soup.
  5. If you used a blender, return the hot soup to saucepan. Whisk in the heavy whipping cream, till blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat on low until the creamy tomato basil soup is fully heated through. Do NOT let the soup boil!

  6. To serve: Ladle soup into cups or bowls. Garnish with croutons and fresh basil leaves, if desired. ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/8th of total))
Calories 210 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 38mg13%
Sodium 447mg19%
Potassium 737mg21%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 900IU18%
Vitamin C 21.2mg26%
Calcium 93mg9%
Iron 2.9mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Nothing is as comforting as a hot bowl of soup on a cool day. This delicious, creamy tomato basil soup will really hit the spot, and it's simple to make!



 

 

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Curried Zucchini Soup

Simple curried zucchini soup has a chicken stock base, is flavored with onion, zucchini, curry powder, and potato. It’s easy to make and very tasty!Simple curried zucchini soup has a chicken stock base, is flavored with onion, zucchini, curry powder, and potato. It's easy to make and very tasty!

“Oh, man…this is soooo good” were the first words I said after tasting this Curried Zucchini Soup for the first time. Once again I had a bumper crop of zucchini having babies growing in my vegetable garden and I was ready to try another new recipe for zucchini. I found a recipe for curried zucchini soup, thought it sounded interesting, and so I tried it!

Quick, easy to fix, and absolutely full of flavor, I give this recipe a two spoons up! If you like the flavor of curry OR you have approximately 3,000 lbs. of zucchini growing in your garden (note: this might be a slight over-exaggeration), then I anticipate you will like this recipe.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

What Is IN Curried Zucchini Soup?

Curried zucchini soup only has a few ingredients. It has a chicken stock base, but it is flavored with onion, zucchini, curry powder, salt, and is thickened with potato. For the potato called for in the recipe, you can use either small, diced potatoes or dried instant potatoes. It’s a VERY simple, but tasty soup!

Curried zucchini soup is easy to make. Once made, the soup is pureed slightly in a food processor or blender, which results in a creamy soup, with tiny pieces of zucchini still present to give it some “bite” in texture.

This curried zucchini soup recipe is also very easy on the budget ($), if that is a factor in your meal-planning. I grow zucchini in my garden, so I tend to have a lot of zucchini needing to be used each summer. This recipe is a great way to use up all those zucchini, by making curried zucchini soup!

Growing the zucchini used to make this curried zucchini soup.This recipe for curried zucchini soup serves 6 and is fantastic as a “leftover”, or “take to work” kind of soup. It reheats well in the microwave. The little pieces of zucchini give the soup a nice texture. 

Sure hope you enjoy this simple curried zucchini soup recipe. It is very unique and tastes great!  Have a wonderful day, and thank you for stopping by. I hope you come back again soon!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of soup recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: http://www.kitchme.com/recipes/curried-zucchini-soup?invite=xyz-p

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Curried Zucchini Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 
Simple curried zucchini soup has a chicken stock base, is flavored with onion, zucchini, curry powder, and potato. It's easy to make and very tasty!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: curried zucchini soup
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 148 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large. brown onion , halved, then thinly sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon curry powder
  • Salt , to taste
  • 4 small zucchini , halved length-wise, then cut into 1" slices
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup instant potatoes OR 2 small , cubed russet potatoes (To thicken soup- I add instant potatoes)
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • Croutons (used as a garnish, if desired)
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large pot. Stir in the onions (and cubed russet potatoes, if using these). Season with curry powder, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook and stir on medium heat until onion (and potatoes) are tender.

  2. Stir in the sliced zucchini, and cook till tender.

  3. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then add the instant potatoes (if using). Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

  4. Remove soup pot from heat. Use a hand mixer OR transfer in batches to a food processor or a blender, and blend till almost smooth. Transfer hot soup to serving bowls and garnish with croutons, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Curried Zucchini Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 148 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 4mg1%
Sodium 242mg11%
Potassium 603mg17%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 270IU5%
Vitamin C 29.1mg35%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Simple curried zucchini soup has a chicken stock base, is flavored with onion, zucchini, curry powder, and potato. It's easy to make and very tasty!

 

 

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Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili

Nothing beats a piping hot bowl of Mom’s old-fashioned chili (just how Mom made it), to serve for lunch or dinner on a cold day! Easy to make, and tastes delicious!Nothing beats a piping hot bowl of Mom's old-fashioned chili to serve for lunch or dinner on a cold day! Easy to make-tastes delicious!

On a cold, wintry day nothing tastes as good as a big bowl of Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili…just the way my Mom always made it for us growing up. The tradition continues, and I’ve been using this family recipe forever! So easy. So GOOD! I think you’ll like it, too.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At the Bottom Of The Page

It’s Easy To Make Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili Vegetarian!

The awesome part is that if you simply omit the meat Mom’s old-fashioned chili can be a totally vegetarian meal. I know this amazing tidbit because I’ve tried it (we have two vegetarians and a vegan in our family) and they loved this hearty chili, too.

So…grab the ingredients, a wooden spoon, knife, cutting board, a big stockpot (or crock pot) and make a big pot of Mom’s old-fashioned chili.  After tasting it, get ready to say “Thank You, JB’s Mom!!!!!!”

I make Mom’s old-fashioned chili year-round, but it is an especially good comforting and filling dish when it is COLD outside. I’ve even left the meat out of this recipe to make a completely vegetarian chili when family members (who are vegetarian or vegan) come over for dinner. It tastes wonderful, even without the meat!

It’s EASY To Make Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili

Making Mom’s old-fashioned chili couldn’t be any easier!  Ground beef, onions and green peppers are cooked until meat is cooked through. The meat, onions and peppers are then added to a large soup pot on the stove (or a crock pot) for cooking.

The rest of the ingredients are stirred into the pot, and cooked for about 1½ hours on the stove top, or for 5-6 hours in the slow cooker on low heat.  Once done, Mom’s old-fashioned chili is ladled into bowls, garnished with sour cream, cheese and cilantro, then served!

A big pot of Mom's old-fashioned chili, cooking on the stove.
Sometimes I change the recipe up and add different quantities of canned beans to this chili, based on what I have in the pantry at the time. You really can’t hurt this delicious chili! The printable recipe shown below is the standard recipe I use 99% of the time for making a big pot of Mom’s old-fashioned chili!

A bowl of Mom's old-fashioned chili, topped with sour cream and grated cheddar cheese.

I can almost smell it cooking away on the stove! It’s also really good garnished with some fresh cilantro, additional grated cheddar cheese, and a small dollop of sour cream!

A bowl of Mom's old-fashioned chili, garnished with cheese, sour cream and cilantro.
Sure hope you enjoy Mom’s Old Fashioned Chili! It is a great tasting, hearty, filling soup, and I really think you will love it! Have a great day! Thank you for stopping by, and please come back again soon.

Looking For More Southwest-Inspired SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few of my yummy Southwest-inspired soup recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
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5 from 1 vote
Mom's Old-Fashioned Chili
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
 
Nothing beats a piping hot bowl of Mom's old fashioned chili (just how Mom made it), to serve for lunch or dinner on a cold day! Easy to make-tastes delicious!
Category: Soup
Cuisine: Southwest
Keyword: Mom's old-fashioned chili
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 498 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
  • 1 large brown onion , chopped (go ahead and have yourself a little cry)
  • 1/2 green pepper , chopped
  • 1 large (big, fat one)and 1 small can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
  • 1 large can chili beans (or 2 regular sized)
  • 1 can kidney beans (14.5 oz.)
  • 1 can black beans (14.5 oz.)
  • 1 can pinto beans (14.5 oz.)
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 3 TBSP. chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2-3 tsp. salt (more or less, to taste)
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 small can tomato paste (I've also used tomato sauce when out of tomato paste)
Instructions
  1. In skillet, brown ground beef, chopped onion and green pepper. Drain off grease.
  2. If you are using a crock pot: Put the browned meat mixture in crockpot; add the rest of the ingredients...(cook on low for 6 hours)
  3. If cooking in a large pot on the stove top, add the browned meat mixture to the rest of the ingredients; simmer (uncovered) for about an hour and a half.
  4. When ready to serve, garnish each serving with grated cheese, a small dollop of sour cream and a sprig of cilantro (optional).
Recipe Notes

This recipe makes a large pot of soup. It will freeze well.

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Old-Fashioned Chili
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 498 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 2179mg95%
Potassium 1574mg45%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 16g67%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 1400IU28%
Vitamin C 23.3mg28%
Calcium 165mg17%
Iron 8.5mg47%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Nothing beats a piping hot bowl of Mom's old-fashioned chili (just how Mom made it), to serve for lunch or dinner on a cold day! Easy to make-tastes delicious!

 

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