Chicken Noodle Soup

I found this recipe online and fell in love with the simplicity of this dish.  So good, so simple, and easy to make!

The Ingredients:

6 cups water
4 chicken breasts
1 tsp salt
1 onion
1 cup of thinly sliced carrots
2 TBS. Better than Bouillon (Chicken Flavor, of course)
1/2 cup finely diced celery-(I don't always add celery) it's good either way
2/3's bag of Homestyle Egg Pasta (or homemade noodles)


The Instructions:
In a large stock pot combine water, chicken and salt. Boil until chicken is cooked completely through. Remove the cooked chicken into your kitchen aid and (with the cookie paddle) shred your chicken (30 seconds on the lowest speed). Keep the broth. Cover the chicken with plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out. Strain the broth to get a nice clear broth for the soup and put it back into the stock pot.

Peel onion and dice. Combine 1/2 c. of water and onion in a food processor. Puree for 30 seconds, add to the chicken broth. Add carrots, bouillon and celery. Bring to a boil, then add noodles. Cook the noodles until done, 15-20 minutes. Add the chicken. If you need to add more liquid to the soup, either add a can of Swanson's chicken broth or water and season with more of the chicken bouillon to taste. Add bouillon granules and pepper to taste. 

Split Pea Ham and Barley Soup

Now, I must admit I have never been much of a fan of soups. But LATELY... I guess this winter was just the right kind of cold and I got on a soup and stew kick that left me in LOVE with some new recipes. This one in particular is so fantastic. Super creamy and smooth, without all the cream and butter! And the barley adds just the right touch of chewiness that I so very much love. PLEASE try it, and I bet you, too, will love it! (Picture and recipe courtesy of MelsKitchenCafe.com)

The ingredients:

1 cup dry split green peas
1/2 cup medium pearl barley (not quick-cooking barley)
2 cups chopped ham
3/4 cup chopped carrots
3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
5 cups water
2 chicken bouillon cubes (or 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf

The instructions:

In a medium bowl or liquid measure, combine the water, bouillon cubes and spices and whisk to combine (it’s okay if the bouillon cubes don’t completely dissolve).

In a medium round slow cooker (about 4-quart), layer peas, barley, ham, carrots, onion and celery. Do not mix. Pour in the water/spices mixture and add the bay leaf to the slow cooker. Don’t stir! Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours or on low eight hours, until the peas reach the desired creamy, soft texture. Remove the bay leaf, stir well, and add salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Serve immediately. Upon sitting and/or refrigerating, this soup thickens considerably. Simply add water or chicken broth to thin the soup to the desired consistency before reserving.

(Brown rice makes an excellent barley substitution!)

Condensed Cream of Soups

My son has recently been diagnosed with an allergy to milk, and this revelation has really thrown a kink in my regular cooking plans... Sooooo- I have begun my quest to find recipes for some of my regular dairy filled foods, that I can substitute with non-dairy options. To start, here is a couple Cream Soups to substitute out with the canned stuff.

Cream Of Chicken Soup (Condensed)

Makes two can's equivalent

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt (or less; taste to test)
1/4 teaspoon parsley
dash of paprika
1 1/2 cups milk (separated) (I used goats milk)
3/4 cup flour

1. In medium-sized saucepan, boil chicken broth, 1/2 cup of the milk, and the seasonings for a minute or two (longer if using fresh onions or garlic).
2. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 cup of milk and flour. Add to boiling mixture and continue whisking briskly until mixture boils and thickens.

Cream of Mushroom Soup (Condensed)

Makes 1 can's equivalent

1 c Mushrooms,Sliced
1/2 c Onion,Chopped
1/2 c Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 T Parsley
1/4 t Garlic Powder
2/3 c Non Diary Creamer or milk (I will be using goats milk or soy milk)
2 T Cornstarch

1. Cook mushrooms, onion and spices in the chicken broth until soft.
2. Process in a blender or food processor until well pureed. Leave some out if you like mushroom chunks in your soup.
3. Shake together creamer and cornstarch until dissolved. Cook and stir until thick.
4. Stir in veggie mixture.

8 Can Enchilada Soup

I found this recipe online, and was pretty happy with the flavor. Spicy, but not too much. MY husband is unable to eat corn, so most taco/enchilada soups are out of the running. I was excited to finally find one I could make! Enjoy!

The ingredients:
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can corn
1 can white chicken breast
1 can northern white beans
1 can Rotel tomatoes (whichever flavor you like best- I like mild...I'm a pansy.)

The instructions:
Add all cans not drained in a large pan and heat through. Just until it boils then turn down the heat. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, and cheese.

Creamy White Chili

This recipe has become a family favorite of ours. It is mild in spice, and has such a unique flavor for a chili. It is also pretty easy to make, and therefore is a winner in my books.

The ingredients:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 medium onion

1 ½ tsp garlic powder

2 15 oz cans white beans rinsed and drained

1 4 oz can chopped green chilies

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper (more or less as preferred)

1 tsp ground cumin

1 14.5 oz can chicken broth

1 can green beans (chopped)

1 cup sour cream

½ cup whipping cream

The instructions:

In a crockpot add chicken onion and garlic powder. Add broth, chilies, and seasonings and cook on low for 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked through. Take a pair of tongs and squeeze the chicken breasts to shred them (or use two forks). Add white beans, green beans and creams. Continue cooking on low until heated through. Serve immediately.

Crock Pot Chili

Since I am sharing some of my favorite Sunday dinners, I figured I would add this one in as well. I adapted this recipe 5 years ago or so. It is a family favorite at my house.

The ingredients:
1 lb. Ground meat (turkey, hamburger, or pork)
1 lb. Sausage
2 cans Beans (whatever you have on hand…I like black beans)
1 can Tomato sauce
1 Bell pepper, diced
1 can Tomatoes
2 cups Diced fresh tomatoes (or another can)
½ cup Onion flakes (or one fresh onion, diced small)
1 clove Garlic
1 package chili seasoning or 4 Tbs. Chili powder


The instructions:
Brown meat, and add to crock-pot. Add all other ingredients, and let simmer on low for about 6 hours. Serve with tortilla chips, and cheese.

(Feel free to add more spice if you like it hot, or if you have hot sensitive kids, add a bit of sour cream to their bowl to tone down the spice a bit.)