Tuscan Bean Soup

If there's one person who loves soup (and new recipes) as much as me, it's my Mom. This one's for you. :)

2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 medium carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 medium zucchini, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried rosemary 

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

1 (19 oz) can cannelloni beans

1 (19 oz) can chick peas

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes 

3 cups chopped kale, ribs removed

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp white sugar

1 tbsp white wine vinegar 

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and zucchini. Sauté for 4 minutes. 

Add the garlic, thyme and rosemary. Cook 30 seconds.

Stir in the broth, beans, chick peas and tomatoes. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low and add the chopped kale. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. 

Using an immersion blender partially blend, leaving some chunks of vegetables and beans for texture. 

Add the salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan. 

Adapted from http://thewanderlustkitchen.com/easy-tuscan-bean-soup/

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

I love soup! Have I mentioned that before? Makes for great leftovers. This recipe is a copycat version of a soup you can order at Olive Garden. Don't be scared off by the long list of ingredients. It's really not hard to make. And the flavour it so good!

1 lb mild Italian sausage (or ground beef)
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
3 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
3-4 cups broth (I used vegetable, but beef or chicken would work too)
1 cup water
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup ditalini pasta, uncooked
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, drained & rinsed
Romano cheese, for serving

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in non-stick skillet and brown the sausage (or ground beef) over medium heat. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in large pot and saute the carrots, celery and onion over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute about another minute. Reduce heat to low, add tomato sauce, broth, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram and cooked sausage. Season with salt & pepper. Cover and allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables are soft. Meanwhile prepare the ditalini pasta according to package directions; cooking to al dente.

Add cooked & drained pasta to the soup, along with the kidney beans and great northern beans. If soup is too thick, add an additional cup of broth. Allow to cook another 5 minutes. Serve warm with grated Romano cheese, if desired.

Enjoy!

* From www.cookingclassy.com

Chicken & Barley Soup

Okay, so it's been quite cold here. I guess since it's not even mid-January I shouldn't be surprised. Nonetheless, soup is always a good option on a cold winter day.

1 tsp olive oil

1 cup diced onion 

1 cup diced celery 

2 cups diced carrot

1 clove garlic 

1 large chicken breast, chopped into bite sized pieced

1/2 tsp oregano 

1/2 cup barley, rinsed

2 cups chicken broth

4 cups water

1/2 tsp black pepper

In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, celery and carrots until onions are soft. About 10 minutes. 

Add garlic and chicken and cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. 

Add oregano, barely, stock and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for an hour. 

Season with black pepper and serve. 

* from http://www.heartandstroke.com/

Sausage Tortellini Soup

I think soups are one of my favourite things to make. There are so many different kinds and they are super easy to freeze to save for another day. Here's a new one that is quite nice for a cold winter day.

1 lb Italian sausage (casing removed)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsps fresh basil, snipped
1 lb cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese

Brown Italian sausage in a large pot and break into small chunks. Drain and set aside.

In the same pot, saute the onion, carrots, garlic and basil in the oil over medium heat for a few minutes. Whisk in the tomato paste, chicken broth and water. Heat about 10 minutes on medium high heat.

Add the sausage and tortellini. Cook about 8-10 minutes until tortellini is tender. Serve with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6.

*From http://www.shugarysweets.com/2014/01/sausage-tortellini-soup

Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup?

Please don't let the picture fool you, this tastes a lot better than it looks. And it was supposed to be a soup, but ended up being quite thick, so not sure, maybe its a stew? I guess if you shortened the simmering time it wouldn't end up being quite so thick.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup onions, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
2/3 cup corn
1/2 cup flour
5 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 1/2 cups wild rice (or wild rice blend), uncooked
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp thyme
3/4 tsp dry mustard powder
3/4 tsp curry powder
1/2 tbsp dry parsley
1 1/2 cups cream (I just used 1% milk cause that's what I had and it worked fine!)

Melt butter over medium heat in soup pot. Stir in the onions, celery, carrots and green pepper and saute a few minutes until tender crisp. Add mushrooms, corn and flour. Stir until well combined. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Stir in the chicken, wild rice, all the seasonings and the cream/milk. Simmer until done, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours (or less if you don't want it too thick).

*Adapted from http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2013/10/wild-rice-blend-soup.html

Roasted Tomato Soup

Now if I had been thinking, I'd have taken pictures of the actual roasting process. Unfortunately I did not . . .  I roasted them a couple days before actually making the soup. Sorry! : )

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat; cook onion, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the roasted tomatoes, stock, 1 1/2 cups water, sugar and basil; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Now you could let it cool for a few minutes and then blend in a blender or food processor, but I used my immersion blender and did it right in the pot. I'm all about less dishes. I have too many to wash as it is.

Heat soup through, if it cooled down any. Add any salt or pepper if needed.

Yum! Would be good topped with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese (but I didn't have any). Or add a little cream or milk and some crackers.

Here's the recipe for the soup, followed by the recipe for the roasted tomatoes:

40 roasted tomato halves
2 tsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp parmesan or asiago cheese (optional)

Roasted Tomatoes

4 lbs ripe plum tomatoes (about 20 whole)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp each salt & pepper

Trim stems off tomatoes and cut in half lengthwise. Arrange, cut side up on a large foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.

Stir together garlic, basil and oil; brush over tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in 400F oven for about an hour or until softened, shrivelled and edges begin to darken.

Zuppa Toscana

What a perfect soup for a cool day! This is a version of the soup made famous by Olive Garden. So good!

1 lb ground Italian sausage (I used spicy to give it some kick because I didn't have the next ingredient)
1 1/2 tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic, minced
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
3 large potatoes, sliced
1/4 of a bunch of kale

Saute Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.

In the same pan, saute bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 min or until the onions are soft.

Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.

Add the heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated. Stir in the sausage and kale. Heat through and serve.

Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

Today is Louis Riel Day, so a long weekend for me! I decided to do a bit of cooking and have kept busy most of the day. Cheesy soup and scones. Yum!



1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 carrot, grated
1 stalk celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 cups milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
parsley or chives (optional)

Cook cauliflower, carrot, and celery in chicken broth until tender. Do not drain. Mash vegetables with a potato masher.

Melt butter in large saucepan. Add onion and saute until limp. Do not brown. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk. Heat and stir until it boils and thickens. Add cheese and stir until cheese melts. Add this sauce to mashed cauliflower mixture. Remove from heat and serve. Garnish with parsley or chopped chives, if desired.

Delicious served with a buttery cheddar scone. Recipe to follow... ;-)

*From Mennonite Girls Can Cook