Family Favorite: Broccoli Cheese Soup

If I ever want my kids to eat their broccoli, I just cook it up into this soup! While this is not exactly a diet recipe, since it is a cream soup, it still packs a lot of nutrition in it. Paired with a crusty bread, it makes a hearty meal that keeps everyone satisfied in the winter months. Because this is a cream soup, I would not recommend freezing it. We usually don’t have any leftover to freeze anyway. It will stay nicely in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it to warm on the stovetop for … Continue reading →

Crockpot Split Pea in Broth

The rough winds are definitely shaking the darling buds of May today. In fact, they have been shaking them all weekend. After unseasonably warm temperatures, things have gotten decidedly cooler. With the influence of the weather plus a lesser pantry due to a skipped shopping trip this week, I decided that a good soup, bread and salad was in order. For bread, I’m choosing buttermilk biscuits, simply because I already have the dough and the family loves them. For the soup, I’m trying a split pea in broth, using the Crockpot or slow cooker. Traditionally, a ham bone is used … Continue reading →

Championship Chili

Here’s some food for thought during this weekend dedicated to whittling down the NCAA tournament field: According to a new study, scheduled vasectomies jump by 50 percent during the college basketball tournament. Apparently, some men have discovered that this weekend is a great time to recover from surgery. Doctors say men undergoing vasectomies need to rest for 24 to 48 hours with an ice pack strategically placed on their nether region post operation. If the study results are true, then thousands of men are chilling out on the couch right now glued to the NCAA tournament games, and there’s nothing … Continue reading →

Winter Warm Ups

After a string of days with above normal temps, winter has returned to the Upper Midwest. Our high today is supposed to be 6 degrees with windchills bottoming out at –25 degrees. In addition, a massive winter storm is affecting millions to the south and east of us, as heavy snow, ice and flooding rains make the season even more dreadful. In my opinion, there’s nothing positive about cold weather, save for the fact that it creates great soup making conditions. If you are trapped indoors because of the wicked weather, consider using the time to make huge pots of … Continue reading →

Cream of Turkey Rice Soup

Here is one of those recipes that just came about under the right circumstances. It was cold outside with a fierce wind making us want to snuggle in even more. We were all exhausted from the trials of the past week. The pantry was a bit bare, and no one felt like venturing out. I reached into the freezer and pulled out some homemade turkey stock and a bit of frozen cooked turkey. While a clear turkey noodle or turkey rice soup would have been nice, I wanted to make something a bit richer to warm us up and feed … Continue reading →

Tis the Season for Soup

Tis the season for frigid temperatures and family gatherings. If you’ve hosted meals for friends and family during the holiday season, then you know nothing feeds the masses like homemade soup. Not only is soup affordable, nutritious and tasty, it’s also very simple to make. What’s more, nearly all soup recipes can be prepared in advance, so you aren’t left chained to the stove in the kitchen while the rest of family is partying in the living room. The following are some of my family’s favorite winter soups: SIMPLE RAVIOLI SOUP Ingredients: 1 pound Italian sausage 1/2 cup diced onion … Continue reading →

Recipes for Soup Season

Whenever the temperature dips below 40 degrees for more than five consecutive days, I declare it “soup season.” Unfortunately, this year, soup season started a bit earlier than I would have liked. I enjoy warm weather, but I can tolerate chilly temps when I have a large bowl of hot soup to slurp down each night. The following soup recipes are some of my all-time favorites: CLASSIC TORTELLINI SOUP Ingredients: 1 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed 1 small onion, chopped 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup, finely diced carrot 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon black pepper … Continue reading →

50th State Stews

I grew up enjoying balmy year-round temperatures in Hawaii. Average highs in the 50th State during the fall range from 80 to 89 degrees. However, despite the tropical setting, locals love stew. Hot stew. I have always loved eating stew, regardless of how high the mercury climbs. In fact, some of my favorite stews are “native” recipes, which feature popular local ingredients, such as curry powder and soy sauce. And while it is not noted on the ingredient’s list, it goes without saying that no one in Hawaii would dare eat a bowl of stew without a piping hot scoop … Continue reading →

Warm Up With Chili

Fall is one of the best times of the year to make chili. After all, nothing beats digging into a piping hot bowl of hearty chili following a marathon leaf-raking session. Chili is also great to serve up during Sunday football tailgate parties. Regardless of where you serve this highly versatile dish, the preparation is a breeze. My favorite chili recipes are delicious, nutritious, and will help warm up the coldest autumn day. See for yourself: EASY CROCK POT CHILI Ingredients: 1 can pork and beans 1 can kidney beans 1 can pinto beans 1 can black beans 1 can … Continue reading →

Hearty Fall Stews

Say bye-bye to boring beef stew. The fall favorite is a dinner classic, especially this time of year. When the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, nothing is more warm and inviting than a hearty bowl of stew. However, a person can only eat so much traditional beef stew before he longs for something new. Enter the following culturally kicked-up stews. Not only are they easy to make, but their unique ingredients will put a spring in your step on a chilly autumn night: AFRICAN VEGETABLE STEW Ingredients: 1 tablespoon margarine 1 cup onion, chopped 1/2 cup parsley, chopped … Continue reading →