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minestrone soup

Minestrone Soup

Welcome to December! December is usually a very busy month for me. At work we tend to have some bigger meetings and deadlines. My children have music concerts, indoor sports, and parties to attend. My husband and I have our own social events to add in. Most importantly, we have a very special birthday in December – our youngest turns 8 this year. Just thinking about all this makes me want to forget about planning and making meals.

Bowl of Winter Black Bean Soup

A Staple in My Freezer

Growing up, my mom was always quick to make my sisters and me soup when we were feeling under the weather. A big bowl of soup has always provided me a bit of comfort during times when I have needed it the most. As an adult with my own children, I find myself doing the same thing when my preschooler isn’t feeling well. Recently my entire family came down with a bad cold. Luckily, I had chicken noodle soup in my freezer. In a matter of a few minutes, we were able to have a delicious, comforting meal!

cheesy broccoli soup in bowl

Homemade vs Bought: Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

As colder weather arrives, I find myself drawn to a warm bowl of soup. My boyfriend’s favorite soup is broccoli cheddar, and we find ourselves craving it this time of year. The question becomes, do we go to the nearest restaurant and try theirs, grab a can from the store, or make from scratch? I recently tried all three and am here to share my thoughts!

bowl of hot soup with steam

Soup…What’s Saving My Life Right Now

A co-worker asked on a recent meeting as an icebreaker question ‘what’s saving your life right now?’ My response was a good book. The more I thought about it though, soup should have been my answer. I’m in a real rut of meal planning right now. The thought of having to think about what to cook my family for supper makes my head hurt. Soup to the rescue! My family loves soup and I’m grateful for that. Here’s what I love about soup.

Loaded Potato Soup

Loaded Potato Soup

Our March recipe of the month is Loaded Potato Soup. Potato soup is a favorite in my home. It comes together pretty quickly and it makes a filling meal in one bowl.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

“Go-To” Meals and Quick Recipes

If your schedule is so hectic that a trip to drive-up seems like the only option, consider stocking your shelves with “Go-To” Meals. These are meals that satisfy hunger, take minimal effort and time, but maximize taste. Nutritional value is fulfilled when you plan for at least one food from each group in MyPlate. Only a few ingredients are required, so preparation and clean-up is a snap. Plus, they save money on your food bill!

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

It’s fall and soup’s on

This month’s featured recipe, 3-Can Chili,  is one of my “Go-To” recipes. You know what I mean—the ones that you know by heart, make often, and everyone likes. Plus, you can have this one on the table in about 20 minutes. To lower the cost, I buy canned tomatoes, canned beans, and frozen corn when they are on sale. I use my price book so I know a good price and try never to buy full price.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

It’s Cold Outside, Time for Soup

Soup is a great comfort food for winter meals, and so good for you too. Our featured recipe for January is  Mexican Chicken Soup. Making this soup takes less time than getting in the car and driving through your favorite takeout place. You don’t have to cook the chicken ahead of time. Just place raw boneless chicken in the pot with the other ingredients. After cooking for about 20 minutes, take the chicken out and shred it into bite-size pieces. Serve it with tortilla chips or bread, apple/orange slices and you have a meal with something from each food group plus plenty of fiber. For extra instruction, check out the preparation video under the recipe instructions.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

Winter Black Bean Soup

A hot soup tastes just right in the cold winter months.  It is filling and warms me to the core.  Our Winter Black Bean Soup is simple to make with only few ingredients.   When you use the Mexican style tomatoes and spices you will get a little heat.  To add more heat add a chopped jalapeno pepper.  To cool it down use diced tomatoes and less chili powder.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

Quick Garbanzo Bean Soup

I make lots of soup in the winter.  It’s easy to do, lasts for several meals, and I can freeze small containers of it to take to work for lunch.  Most of the soup I make is broth or vegetable-based without lots of cream or cheese so it is low in calories.

VegSoupKaleLentils

Recipe Feature: Vegetable Soup with Kale and Lentils

I never heard of either kale or lentils when I was growing up. Recently, I’ve started enjoying both. Kale is being promoted as one of our most powerful vegetables. It is low in calories, but rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and calcium. Lentils are very high in protein and they contain fiber, folate, vitamins and minerals. They come in a range of colors including yellow, red, green, brown and black. Lentils are easy for me, because they cook much faster than other dry beans.

Vegetable Pasta soup

Vegetable Pasta Soup

I always look forward to fall, it is my favorite season. I enjoy watching the harvest come in and I like that the weather cools down. I also enjoy putting my soup recipes back into my menu rotation. Our recipe of the month for September is Vegetable Pasta Soup.