Italian Inspired Soup

I found this lovely recipe on Pinterest a good while ago and decided to finally try it. I had all the ingredients and it came together so quickly. I didn't have Italian sausage so I seasoned my turkey like I was making meatballs with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. It came out great and made wonderful lunch leftovers!

Ingredients:

1 15-ounce can cannelini beans, drained
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, garlic, oregano, & basil seasoned
1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce, garlic, oregano & basil seasoned
1 pound ground sausage or turkey
1 small onion, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 celery stalk
1 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 cup ditalini pasta

Instructions:

In a large pot, season and brown the ground turkey. Remove from pot. Add onion, carrot and olive oil and saute for 5 minutes until soft. Add celery and garlic, saute about a minute more. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, the drained beans, and the sausage and cover the pot. Cook for about 30 to 45 minutes over low heat, at a gentle simmer.

Family Favorite

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Prep

Season turkey with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can add bread crumbs to keep your patties together better. Mix and form into 8 or 9 small burger patties. Pan sear the patties until brown and cooked through. While the meat is cooking, whisk together the soup with 3/4 can of water until smooth. Pour over patties in the pan and stir. Simmer until heated through. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. 

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 Sixteen: Lebanese Lemon Lentil Soup

I've always enjoyed the world flavors of places near and far. Keeping up that same tradition I've found a Lebanese lentil soup that deserves trying.

Adas bil Hamod
8 Servings

 1 tablespoon olive oil
 1/2 cup chopped onions
 1 pound brown lentils
 3 cloves garlic, minced
 1 (16 ounce) package frozen whole leaf spinach
 1 tablespoon dried mint, crushed
 salt to taste
 3/4 cup lemon juice

Directions

Heat oil in large pot over high heat. When oil is very hot, add onions and stir until onions begin to turn dark brown and caramelize, about 10 minutes. Put the lentils, garlic, frozen spinach, and mint into the pot. Pour in enough water so that it is about 2 inches deeper than the lentil mixture. Stir well to loosen browned bits of onion on the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. If soup gets too thick, add a little more water. Salt to taste. Lower heat and stir in lemon juice.

Day Fifteen: Kicked Up Chicken Soup

A broth based soup for those cold nights. Simple, hearty, and healthy.

Southwestern Chicken Soup

1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Plain yogurt and fresh cilantro for garnish

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken and onion in oil until the chicken is no longer pink. Add the garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the corn, beans, broth, tomatoes, cumin, salt, chili powder and cayenne. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with yogurt and cilantro.

Day Twelve: Chicken Fajitas in Soup Form

I love anything with southwestern or tex mex flavors. This recipe is a must try. :)

Fiesta Chicken Chowder

Ingredients

3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 envelope fajita seasoning, divided
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
3 tbsp canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups water
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can Mexican stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can Mexicorn, drained
1 cup uncooked instant brown rice
1 can chopped green chilies
1 can condense nacho cheese soup, undiluted
3 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
1 tbsp lime juice

Directions

1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour and 2 tbsp fajita seasoning; add chicken. Seal the bag and shake to coat. In a large saucepan, sauté chicken in oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.

2. In the same pan, sauté onion until onion is tender; and garlic, cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the water, beans, tomatoes, corn, rice, chilies, and remaining fajita seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until rice is tender.

Stir in the soup, cilantro, lime juice and chicken, heat through.

Day Eleven: Country Soup

Another country soup. Simple and quick.

Country Sausage Soup

Ingredients

3/4 lb pork sausage
1 can (14oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp crushed rosemary
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Directions

In a large saucepan, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, broth, thyme, rosemary, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in the beans; heat through.

*Note: Any time you see ground beef, I substitute with ground turkey.

Day Eight: Country Cabbage Soup

Next to broccoli, cabbage is my favorite vegetable. I love it in slaw, on tacos, sautéed, boiled, and steamed. I wanted a new way to prepare it and found this recipe. Simple ingredients makes this a nice and easy weeknight soup. It reminds me of a deconstructed stuffed cabbage.

Country Cabbage Soup

2 lbs ground beef
2 cans (28 oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1 medium head cabbage, shredded
2 large onions, chopped
6 celery ribs, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, season and cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink;drain. Add the tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and celery and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in salt and pepper.