I have always been a soup-and-salad-type of girl. I love soup, as in I could (and do) eat it all year round! I realize that while not everyone may enjoy soup all year long, most of us can enjoy a good bowl of soup in these colder months. Here are several of my favorite soup recipes. These have been big hits, not just in my family, but also to most everyone I have served them too. Since soup is so easy to throw in a pot and let simmer, it is often my fall back-up option when entertaining—and these recipes have been real crowd pleasers!
Hot Sausage Soup
18 oz. (1 pkg.) hot sausage links (I like Uncle Charley’s)
1 medium onion
3 cloves garlic
1-32 oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 cans great northern beans
1 pkg. of spinach
Dash of hot sauce
1 green pepper
Water
Oil
Salt and pepper
You can make this either on a stovetop or in a crockpot. If you decide to make it in a crockpot, you do not have to brown the meat, onions and pepper beforehand, but be sure to cook for about 6-8 hours if this is what you choose. Also, beware the onions and green pepper will have a slightly softer taste, however I hardly ever take the time to cook my onion and pepper ahead of time and I have had no complaints.
Slice sausages links and brown in a pan over medium/low heat. While the meat is browning, slice onions and green pepper and once sausage is mostly brown, add in the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook until onion and pepper are soft and sausage is thoroughly browned. Add the crushed tomatoes and 32 ounces of water to your cooking pot of choice. Rinse and add one can of beans. Rinse the other can of beans and the purée(?) before adding. This will thicken your soup. Add sausage, onions, green pepper, and garlic from pan. Add a touch of salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Cook for 1.5 hours on stove top or longer if using a crockpot. Stir occasionally. After 1.5 hours add the spinach and cook another 15-20 minutes until spinach is wilted. Then, dish up and enjoy!
Garlic bread, croutons, and shredded cheddar cheese go great with this!
Broccoli Cheese Soup
2 Tbs. butter
1 medium onion
6 cups water
6 chicken bouillon cubes
8 oz. of rice
2-10 oz. pkgs. of chopped broccoli
½ tsp garlic powder
6 cups milk
1 lb. Velveeta cheese
Sauté onion for 3 minutes, until tender. Add water and bouillon cubes and bring to a boil. Add broccoli and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes, or until broccoli pierces easily with a fork. Cube cheese. Reduce heat and add milk and cheese and stir until dissolved.
This is soup—grandma always said cook low and slow so the flavor can really come to strength and this is so true! You can cook for a short amount of time or several hours. The important thing is about 20-30 minutes before you finish cooking the soup, add the rice and the salt. You want to cook it long enough that the rice will soften, but not so long that it will become mushy.
Considerations and Alternatives:
Instead of using rice, you can use a small noodle such as Acini de Pepe. I prefer rice because it is gluten free but either will do.
Be sure the water and bullion are simmering and not boiling when you add your milk and cheese; otherwise, rather than becoming creamy your milk will separate which, although it will still taste good, it will not look pretty!
Tomato Pepper Jack Cheese Soup
2 cans (or one family-size can) of tomato soup
14.5 oz. (1 can) of diced tomatoes
1.5 cups of milk
1 block of pepper jack cheese
4 oz. of cream cheese
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. basil
½ tsp. garlic powder
Dash of hot sauce
Shake of crushed red peppers, if you like spice!
Use a food processor to shred the block of pepper jack cheese into tiny pieces. Then add the diced tomatoes* and process in a food processor until creamed. Cube cream cheese. Add all ingredients to a crockpot and cook on high for 3-3.5 hours, or longer on low. Stir occasionally.
Garnish with croutons, cheese, or serve with garlic bread.
*You do not have to process the tomatoes but I prefer the more creamy texture
There you are! These are three of my favorite cold weather recipes. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family and friends do! I’d love to hear what are some of your favorite soups and cold weather recipes.