Cheater's Latin Soup

Yesterday I wanted soup. But I wanted it quickly, and I was feeling lazy. So here's what I did.

1 32-oz. carton Latin Style Black Bean Soup

1 32-oz. carton Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup (I had the low sodium version on hand)

2 15-oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed

garlic salt and coarse black pepper to taste

That's it. I heated it all up together. Toasted some corn tortillas in my iron skillet. Put out the Fritos and leftover cornbread, along with some shredded cheese and sour cream. Pretty darn tasty for a cold Sunday afternoon.

Happy eating!

linking up with Made by You Monday

Vegetable Barley Soup

It got really cold here last week. We had a couple of those days in the low 40s with 20 mile winds gusting from the north. The only solution to that in my mind is a big pot of soup. I picked up a bag of barley when we were in Amish country a few weeks ago, and I had gotten a package of pre-cut asparagus, red onion, and mushrooms at Trader Joe's, so it was time to create!

3/4 cup barley 

2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 carrots, chopped 

1 onion, coarsely chopped
8 oz. asparagus, red onion, mushroom blend
2 potatoes, chopped
3 15-oz. cans of diced tomatoes 

1 cup of Melanie's Bean Soup beans, quick soaked and drained

64 oz. chicken broth

kosher salt and black pepper, after cooking if needed (mine didn't need anything)

Place all ingredients in your crock pot. Set pot to high and cook for 4 hours. Reduce heat and cook until beans are tender, maybe 2 more hours -- it will depend on your crock pot. Enjoy with hearty bread and a light dusting of Parmesan cheese. Heats up well if you have leftovers. Makes 8 hearty servings.

linking up with Made by You Mondays

Beef and Bean Taco Soup

Friday morning was clean out the pantry, fridge, and freezer day. That always makes me realize how much food I have in the house, even though I don't think I have much at all. For some reason I decided to put beans on to soak. I don't usually cook on Fridays since it's date night, but I figured a big pot of soup wouldn't go to waste over the weekend. Little did I know that a friend of Alan's was in need of dinner that night. God does work in mysterious ways!

Anyway I created a new recipe based on what was in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. I'm pretty happy with it, so I'm sharing it here. The picture is really just the leftovers because I didn't get a shot before sharing the love.

2 cups beans, soaked and drained (I use a blend that I make and just keep on hand)
1 pound ground chuck, browned and drained
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon each:
salt
cumin
garlic powder
oregano
black pepper to taste
1/2 cup water
4 cups chicken broth (or beef broth)
1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz.)
1/2 cup taco sauce
1/2 cup refried beans
1/2 large onion, chopped and sauteed in olive oil until translucent
1 Tablespoon chili powder
pepper to taste
1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt

Add spices and water to browned ground chuck. Let cook for 5 minutes. Meanwhile saute onions. Add all ingredients except 1/2-1 tsp. salt to slow cooker. Set cooker to high and cook for 5- 6 hours. Check beans for tenderness. Taste and add salt and pepper. Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream. Serves 6-8.

Happy eating!

linking up with Skip to My Lou

Made by You Monday -- Honeybaked Ham Soup

Each Christmas we get a coupon for a Honeybaked Ham. And each year I save the bone to make soup. And am just a little disappointed in the flavor, but this year I think we have a winner.
It's really just a variation on my standard ham and bean soup, but it was SO GOOD! Of course, it might have helped that dh and dd actually made it since I've been sick for nearly 2 weeks.

Anyway, here you go . . .

Place ham bone in large Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours or until meat is falling off the bone. Remove bone and meat. Discard bone. Shred meat. Strain broth and set aside. 

Soak 2 cups assorted dry beans overnight OR using quick soak method. Drain and rinse beans. 

In large Dutch oven combine beans, ham, broth, 1 15-oz can tomatoes, and one large onion, diced. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours, checking moisture level periodically. We added 2 cups of water and adjusted the temperature. It was perfect after about 4 hours. We didn't add any additional spices or salt.

Serve with English Muffin loaves or any good crusty bread.

Happy Eating!

linking up at Made by You Monday

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY . . . January 17, 2012

Outside my window . . . cloudy, rainy, and unseasonably warm.

I am thinking . . . about the latest flashback I had a little over a week ago. It answers some long held questions, but also requires me to rethink my position with my extended family.

I am thankful . . . for my dh. I've said it before, and I'll most likely say it many more times. He is my rock. He has helped me through so much. He is a gift from God.

From the learning rooms . . . school is back in swing. Ds had decided to take his work more seriously (his last semester of high school!), so there is more studying going on than usual.

In the kitchen . . . last night I made up a soup recipe after scavenging through the pantry and refrigerator. I'll post it later, but I was pretty happy with it. Spicy!

I am wearing . . . black yoga pants, a tank top, and long-sleeved t-shirt.

I am creating . . . still working on finishing up some projects. I have a hat and a poncho in progress, but all this showed up last week!

I am going . . . . work on a new housekeeping plan (yet again!). I'm still trying to find my groove with this.

I am wondering . . . when dh and I can get away again for some scuba diving.

I am reading . . . Murder in the Marais (Aimee Leduc Investigations #1) by Cara Black on my new Kindle Fire.

I am hoping . . . to get the grocery shopping done today, but why does it always rain when I need to shop?

I am looking forward to . . . going back to my local yarn shop this week to get some yarn wound, and visit with Emily -- my favorite yarn lady.

I am hearing . . . ds calling the dogs in from the backyard. Two of the dogs had surgery last week. They look like Franken-dogs!

Around the house . . . the dining table is finally usable again. It seems as if we haven't eaten at the table since before Christmas!

I am pondering . . . . why I can't seem to get back into a good routine for completing my Precepts Bible lessons. I kind of fell off the wagon toward the end of the autumn session. We're just getting started again, so here's hoping I'll do better!

One of my favorite things . . . is soup. I love throwing things in a pot and seeing how it turns out. The only flaw in this plan is that often I can't recreate the mixture a second time.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . yoga, therapy, Bible study, housekeeping, crochet, reading -- all the usual suspects!

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing . . . 

last week I bought myself a miniature rose bush.

 So pretty!

for more visit The Simple Woman's Daybook