Day Twenty-Nine: Maryland Crab

This is a Baltimore staple and really delicious. If you like crab and tomato-based soups, give this one a try.

Soup by The Dogwood Restaurant, Photo by yours truly

Maryland Crab Soup


3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, trimmed and chopped
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1 cup fresh or frozen lima beans
1⁄2 cup fresh or frozen peas
4 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 1⁄2 tbsp. dry mustard
Pinch red pepper flakes
1  28-oz. can whole peeled plum tomatoes
1 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine carrots, onions, celery, corn, lima beans, worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, mustard, red pepper flakes, and 6 cups water in a large pot. Add tomatoes, crushing them in your hand, and juice from can. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 minutes.

2. Add crabmeat to soup and simmer 45 minutes more, stirring often. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Day Twenty-Three: Crab Chowder

Taking advantage of the lump crab readily available here in Baltimore, I wanted to make a crab soup. I had Maryland crab soup just a couple weeks ago and it was delicious, but I wasn't ready to have it again so soon. You can never go wrong with chowder so I decided to try this crab and corn soup.

Courtesy of Taste of Home

Crab and Corn Chowder

Ingredients

1 medium onion, chopped
5 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3-1/2 cups milk
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 can (16 ounces) lump crabmeat
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 small green peppeer, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
1 can (8-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Directions

In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Add flour; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Gradually add milk; cook and stir until thickened. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 35-40 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Day Twenty-One: Chicken Vegetable Soup

Courtesy of Taste of Home

Chicken Vegetable Soup

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cups chicken broth, divided
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp paprika
4 small red potatoes, cubed
3 small carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
5 celery stalks, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
2 tbsp chopped celery leaves
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

In a large saucepan, combine the chicken, 1 3/4 cups broth, Italian seasoning, garlic, and paprika. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, and celery leaves, Bring to a boil again. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. In a small bowl, combine the flour and remaining broth until smooth; gradually add to pot. Bring to a boil again; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in parsley and lemon juice.

Day Twenty: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Stew

There's something about curry! I can't get enough! So here is yet another stew with curry. This one comes from Betty Crocker; it's vegetarian (can be vegan with a few substitutions) and a slow cooker recipe! Win!

Curried Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew

3 cups peeled sweet potatoes, cubed
1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots
3/4 cup dried lentils, sorted, rinsed
2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger root
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 can (14 oz) vegetable broth or 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt

1 In 3- to 4-quart slow cooker, mix sweet potatoes, onion, carrots and lentils.
2 In 8-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add curry powder, cumin, salt, pepper, ginger  root and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in broth. Pour mixture into slow cooker; stir.
3 Cover; cook on Low heat setting 5 to 6 hours.
4 Increase heat setting to High. Stir in green beans. Cover; cook about 15 minutes longer or until green beans are crisp-tender. Serve topped with yogurt.

Day Thirteen: Minestrone

Another copycat Olive Garden soup. This is one is from Sparkpeople so feel at ease knowing that its low cal. Enjoy!

Minutes to Prepare: 15
Minutes to Cook: 45
Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced white onions
1/4 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup frozen cut italian green beans
1/4 cup minced celery (about 1/2 stalk)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
4 cups vegetable broth
1 (15 ounce)can red kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans, drained
1 /2 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup carrots, julienned
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 cups hot water
3 cups fresh baby spinach
1/3 cup macaroni

Directions

Heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.

Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.

Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices.

Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.

Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup servings.

Day Six: Fast Fix

I haven't had tomato soup since I was a little kid. Instead of popping open a can of Campbell's I decided to try this recipe from Lanaee O'Neill featured in the latest issue of . . . you guessed it, Taste of Home!

Simple Tomato Soup

2 cans diced tomatoes with basil, oregano, and garlic, undrained
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 carton chicken broth

1. In a blender, process tomatoes with juices until puréed; set aside. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, stir and cook until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.

2. Remove from the heat and stir in flour until smooth. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in broth. Add tomato purée and bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Serve sprinkled with grated Parmesan if desired.