SOUPS
We're not much on lunch at our house, but I thought this would be the place to add some of our favorite soup recipes. I can eat a soup at most anytime of the day and make a meal of one at dinner time. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

NEW for 2009!

Autumn Chowder
Broccoli Chowder
Pepperoni Pizza Soup
Italian Wedding Soup
Tomato Bisque Soup
Zuppa Toscana Soup

CORN AND POTATO CHOWDER
2 tbls. butter
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
5 1/2 c. chicken stock
2 large potato, diced
1 ?1/2 c. frozen corn
salt, to taste
1 c. heavy cream
3 tbls. flour
pepper, dill or parsley, to garnish

Cook onion and celery in melted butter until soft. Add stock, potato, corn and salt; simmer about 5 minutes or until potato is done. Mix cream and flour together and gradually add to soup, stirring constantly; simmer another 8 minutes. Pour into bowls and garnish as desired.

Autumn Chowder
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 c. onions, chopped
1 c. water
2 1/2 c. potatoes, peeled, diced
1 c. carrots, chopped
2 tsp. instant chicken bouillon
3 c. milk
2 (16 oz.) cans whole kernel corn, drained
3 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
3 Tbls. flour
pepper to taste

Partially cook bacon in Dutch oven; stir in onions and cook until bacon is crisp. Stir in water, potatoes, carrots and bouillon. Heat to boiling; cover and reduce heat. Simmer until potatoes are tender about 15-20 minutes. Stir in milk, corn and pepper; heat to simmering. Mix cheese and flour together; add to soup mixture, stirring constantly until cheese is melted. Makes 8 servings.

Broccoli Chowder
1 lb. fresh broccoli, cut into flowerets
1 1/2 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. chopped cooked ham
1/4 tsp. pepper
11/2 c. grated Swiss cheese (6 oz.)
2 Tbls. butter
Salt to taste

Pour broth into large pot; bring to a boil. Add broccoli; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 3 minutes. Cover; cook 10 minutes or until broccoli is just tender. Remove broccoli with slotted spoon; chop into bite-size pieces. Add milk, ham and pepper to stock; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese, butter and broccoli; heat until cheese is melted. Add salt to taste. Do not boil. Makes 4 servings.

Pepperoni Pizza Soup
4 c. beef broth
1 lg. can stewed tomatoes
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 bag frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 - 1/2 lb. pepperoni stick, sliced
Grated Mozzarella cheese

Mix all ingredients together except cheese and cook until vegetables are done.

Put in bowls and top with grated Mozzarella.

Italian Wedding Soup
3 cans chicken broth
1/2lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. parsley
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1 medium head curly endive (escarole) cleaned and chopped into 3-inch sections

In saucepan, heat chicken broth over medium heat until boiling. In a separate bowl, make meatball mixture by combining the meats, crumbs, basil, parsley, 1/4 cup of the cheese and enough of the beaten egg (probably a little less than half) to bind the mixture together. Form into bite-size meatballs. Add the meatballs and chopped escarole to the broth. The meatballs will be done when they rise to the top. The escarole is done when it is wilted. In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese with the remaining beaten egg, and pour into the soup, stirring constantly until cooked.

Tomato Bisque Soup
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. flour
1 qt. chicken broth
1 qt. milk
1/2 c. honey
1 Tbls. dried parsley
1 Tbls. dill seed
1 Tbls. dill weed
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 qt. diced tomatoes

In large pot, melt butter; add onions and saute until soft. Add flour and cook for a minute or two. Add chicken broth and stir over medium heat until thickened. Add all other ingredients and simmer 1-2 hours. Thicken with corn starch, if necessary. (Freezes well).

Zuppa Toscana Soup
(like served at the Olive Garden)

1 lb. Italian sweet sausage (loose)
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbls. bacon pieces
2 tsp. garlic puree
10 c. chicken broth
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 c. half and half
1 lb. sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 lg. potatoes
1/4 of a bunch of kale

Saute sausage in large pot; drain excess fat. Refrigerate meat while you prepare other ingredients. In the same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic for about 15 minutes or until onions are soft. Mix together the bouillon and broth, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling, stirring occasionally. Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour. Add half and half and cook until thoroughly heated. (Do not boil). Stir in the sausage. Add kale just before serving (should be wilted only and not soggy). Delicious!!

CURRIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
2 medium butternut squash (about 3 lbs.)
1 med. onion, chopped
1 tbls. butter
4 c. chicken broth
1 c. apple juice
1 c. milk
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. curry
2 c. half and half

Preheat oven to 350. Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove and discard seeds and membranes. Place squash cut side down on greased baking pan. Bake, uncovered, about an hour. Let cool; scrape out pulp and discard rind. In the meantime, cook onion in melted butter until soft. Puree squash and onion in batches in food processor or blender until smooth. In large pot, combine squash, chicken broth and rest of ingredients, but not half and half; stir well. Cook, uncovered, over low heat 10 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally. Add half and half and stir until heated through. Makes about 11 cups.

CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
2 tbls. butter
2 lbs. mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. rice
3 1/4 c. chicken broth
3 1/4 c. beef broth
1/2 c. cream or half and half

Saute mushrooms in melted butter; add garlic. Stir in rice. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until rice is tender. Cool slightly. Puree in blender or food processor until smooth. Stir in cream. Serves 8.

Tortilla Soup

(Makes 16-20 generous servings)

3 lbs. ground turkey
1-2 tsp. cumin
1/2 envelope Taco season mix
2 medium onions (or 1 large)
1 bulb garlic
1 bunch celery
8 oz. chopped black olives
4 oz. chopped mild green chilies
16 oz. can refried beans
2 cans (14 1/2 oz.) cut up tomatoes
4 cans (14 1/2 oz.) chicken broth
14 oz. can creamed corn
16 oz. frozen corn

Brown turkey very well. Add taco seasoning and cumin. Chop garlic, onions, celery and saute until tender-crisp. Add to turkey along with rest of ingredients. Heat through. Simmer 2 hours or longer, if using a crock pot. Taste for added seasonings. Serve with the soup: chopped cilantro, grated cheese and corn or tortilla chips–to sprinkle on top.

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

2 medium butternut squash (about 3 lbs.)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 c. chicken broth
1 c. apple juice
4 c. half & half (I use fat free)
1 tsp. chicken bouillon
1 tsp. curry

Cut squash in half; remove seeds. Place halves, cut side down on greased baking pan. Bake uncovered one hour. Let cool then scrape out pulp. In the meantime, cook onion in small amount oil until soft. Place squash and onion in blender or food processor until smooth. In large pot, add pureed squash and rest of ingredients. Cook, uncovered over low heat until mixture is heated through, stirring occasionally. Makes about 11 cups of soup.

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SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLE CHOWDER

1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 (1 lb.) can kidney beans, drained
1 1/2 c. drained canned tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp each thyme, basil and oregano
1 potato, peeled and diced
1 carrot, sliced thin
1 c. sliced zucchini

In large pot, brown sausage, stirring so it browns evenly. Pour off any fat and add 2 cups water and rest of ingredients except zucchini. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the liquid to a boil and simmer mixture, covered, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. Stir in the zucchini, simmer chowder for 5 more minutes; discard bay leaf. Makes about 8 cups or 6 - 8 servings.

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SKINNY SOUP

1 large can tomatoes
1 lb. carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
2 cups green beans, fresh or canned
1 small head cabbage, coarsely chopped

Mix all ingredients in large pot; add enough water to come to top of vegetables. Season with salt and pepper to taste and simmer with lid on until vegetables are cooked. This flavors as it sits. Delicious served with crusty bread.

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THREE-BEAN CHILI CHOWDER
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2c.)
2 tbls. vegetable oil
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (15 1/2 oz.) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 oz.) can each pinto and black beans, drained
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1 c. chicken broth or stock
3/4 to 1 c. picante sauce
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt

Cook onion in oil in large sauce pan until tender, but not brown. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Ladle into soup bowls. Serve with shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Makes about 10 cups soup.