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Friday, January 15th, 2010 | Recipe | No Comments

Yes, it’s true, sometimes you just need to know somebody is reading… it’s enough to make you want to write those posts! So that’s MY resolution this year, to be a better blogger and keep you abreast of all of the wonderful discoveries, amazing recipes, and motivational tidbits I collect!!!

I’m pumping up the filling foods this week. It’s hard to adjust back to normal amounts of food after a decadent holiday season sometimes, so give yourself a break and focus on comforting stuff you can indulge in a lot of without feeling bad about it.

I suggest we kick this off with a soup!  Not only will it warm your soul with comforting goodness, but people, it’s been a cold winter so far, hot soup sounds fantastic!!! This one is so smart… you start out by making a big pot of veggie soup, and can customize it in different ways on different days to come up with a totally new meal!!! Start with the base, then add the variations.  It’s easy and takes stress out of your life… that’s a great idea!  Try this one out below, and leave me a comment, let me know what your favorite winter soup recipe is!

There are lots of variations on this recipe, but the original came from  Good HouseKeeping:

All-You-Can-Eat Soup (serving is 1c)

• 1 pound carrots, sliced
• 3 medium (1 1/2 pounds) onions, chopped
• 4 stalk(s) celery, sliced
• 2 large cloves garlic, crushed with press
• 2 can(s) (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes in juice
• 1/2 small (1-pound) head green cabbage, thinly sliced
• 3/4 pound(s) green beans, trimmed and each cut into thirds
• 1 can(s) (48-ounce) chicken broth
• 6 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 medium (1 1/4 pounds) zucchini, sliced into half-moons
• 2 bag(s) (6 ounces each) baby spinach leaves

1. Coat 12-quart stockpot (or 2 large saucepans) with nonstick cooking spray. Over medium-high heat, add carrots, onions, celery, and garlic; cook 8 minutes or until veggies soften, stirring occasionally.
2. Add tomatoes with their liquid, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Add cabbage, green beans, broth, water, salt, and pepper; heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high; stir in zucchini and spinach and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.

Calories	45
Total Fat	1g
Saturated Fat	–
Cholesterol	–
Sodium	410mg
Total Carbohydrate	9g
Dietary Fiber	4g
Sugars	–
Protein	2g

Minestrone Variation

• 2 cup(s) All-You-Can-Eat Soup Basic Recipe (above)
• 1/2 cup(s) drained and rinsed canned white kidney beans (cannellini)
• 1/2 cup(s) whole wheat fusilli  or rotini cooked
• 2 tablespoon(s) (plus 1 additional tablespoon for serving) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh basil

Heat up 2 cups of your basic soup, add all other ingredients for a quick and easy minestrone! Make sure you count for the extra ingredients!!!

Goulash Variation

• 2 cup(s) All-You-Can-Eat Soup Basic Recipe, (above)
• 4 ounce(s)ground turkey breast
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) paprika
• 1 pinch(s) caraway seeds
• 1 pinch(s)salt
• 1/2 cup(s) egg noodles or whole wheat egg noodles  cooked as label directs
• 2 tablespoon(s) reduced-fat sour cream or greek yogurt

In nonstick saucepan, cook turkey, paprika, caraway seeds, and salt 4 minutes or until turkey is browned and cooked through, stirring to break up turkey. Stir in Basic Soup; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Stir in cooked egg noodles. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in sour cream.
Red Beans and Rice Variation

• 2 cup(s) All-You-Can-Eat Soup Basic Recipe, (above)
• 2 ounce(s) turkey kielbasa, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces
• 1 thinly sliced green onion
• 1/2 cup(s) drained and rinsed canned red beans
• 1/2 cup(s) cooked brown rice
• 1/8 teaspoon(s) Cajun seasoning
• Hot sauce, for garnish

In saucepan coated with nonstick cooking spray, cook kielbasa with onion (white part only; reserve green part for garnish), until sausage browns lightly. Add Basic Soup, beans, rice, and Cajun seasoning; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Sprinkle with reserved green onion. Serve with hot sauce.

Come up with your own variations and let me know how it goes!!!

Tags: cajun, filling food, goulash, italian, minstrone, Soup, vegetable