Cozy up to soup
Winter weather may be uncomfortable at times, but nothing brings comfort to cold and dark days like a steaming bowl of homemade soup. Soup warms you from the inside out, and when paired with bread or salad, can satisfy even the biggest of appetites. Whether you make them from scratch, from leftovers, or from handy convenience ingredients, soup can delight everyone at the dinner table.
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Chicken Wild Rice Soup
2 quarts chicken broth
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, chopped
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 10.75-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup white wine or additional broth
3 cups cooked wild rice
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
In a large saucepan, combine broth, mushrooms, celery, carrots, onion, parsley, garlic powder, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in soup and wine or broth. Add rice and chicken; heat through. Makes 14 servings.
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Tortellini Minestrone
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage links, casings removed
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups beef or vegetable broth
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups thinly sliced carrots
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 10-ounce package frozen spinach
1 package frozen cheese tortellini
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook the sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the broth, tomatoes, carrots, celery, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Stir in spinach and tortellini; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, until tortellini is tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese just before serving. Makes 8 servings.
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Pantry Pointers
Soup is a great meal when you’re watching calories because the liquids help fill you up. If the soup also contains bulky ingredients like beans, vegetables, and whole grains, it will help you feel full longer.
A low-fat way to thicken soup is to add instant mashed potatoes to the soup.
The Practical Pantry ©2008 Tammy P. Olson
http://www.practicalpantry.com
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