It’s one of the cheapest ways to warm up your family on a bitterly cold winter’s day–stirring up a pot full of steaming hot soup. Homemade soups and chowders are simple to prepare and make for quick and healthy midweek meals. The following recipes are not only affordable, but they also feature ingredients that even your pickiest eaters will happily devour:
CRAB AND PEPPER JACK CHEESE CHOWDER
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 14-ounce can low-fat chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon finely minced, canned smoked chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
1 1/2 cups small red potatoes, unpeeled and diced
2 cups fresh sweet corn kernels, cut from the cob (or use 2 cups frozen kernel corn)
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons cornstarch
6 ounces Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
2 cups crabmeat chunks, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro, freshly chopped
Directions:
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic, saute 4 to 5 minutes until softened and golden. Stir in red bell pepper, broth, water, cumin and minced chipotle pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, stir in potatoes. Adjust heat to maintain a gentle boil, cover and cook 5 minutes.
Stir in corn kernels, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir together half-and-half and cornstarch until smooth. Slowly stir half-and-half mixture into soup. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in Pepper Jack cheese, stirring until smooth and thick.
Stir in crabmeat chunks and cilantro and heat through for several minutes.
Garnish individual servings with fresh cilantro leaves.
Serve with crusty bread and a salad.
EASY HOMEMADE CHICKEN SOUP
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
2 small onions, diced
4 large carrots, diced
4 large stalks celery, diced
3 teaspoons garlic salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
10 to 12 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon thyme
3 to 4 shredded cooked chicken breasts
1 bag cooked noodles
1/4 chopped parsley
Directions:
In a large soup pot, melt butter. Saute onions, carrots and celery until soft for about 8 to 10 minutes. Season with garlic salt and pepper. Add chicken, broth and thyme. Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. Add parsley and cooked noodles just before serving.
Related Articles:
More Hearty Winter Soup Recipes: Turkey and Rice and Tropical Chicken
Tips for Hosting a Winter Soup Party
Hearty Homemade Winter Soup Recipes