Soup's On!

19 degrees here! What better time to make a delicious hot and hearty soup! I love making soup! It's different everytime! I take whatever I have and use my imagination!

Here's the one I created today:

I sauteed lots of chopped celery and onion in olive oil and butter (I usually add carrots and maybe red, orange, or yellow pepper, but didn't have those today). This is the way I start all soups. Some soups, such as lentil soup, can start with cooking up some bacon.

Now is the time I go through my refrigerator and pantry and start getting creative!

Here's what I found today!

Oh-my favorite thing! RoTel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies! I add one can of that to just about everything! If you like a little heat-then try it! If you do not want the heat, just add a can of diced tomatoes!

Can of small white beans

Hearts of palm (I had opened a can of these a few days ago to put on my salad, so I decided to add them-they're crunchy and kind of tangy) -my husband asked me what "hearts of palm" were-and I couldn't answer him!

A little bit of fresh cilantro

Sauteed mushrooms (sauteed because they were kind of getting old and it's a good way to bring them back to life and not waste them)

Chopped scallions

Garlic salt, pepper, and italian seasoning

Mini penne pasta and some whole wheat bow pasta

3 or more cans of chicken broth

Let that cook until the pasta is tender....and in the meantime, slice up some french bread, butter the slices, sprinkle with garlic salt, italian seasoning and some mozzerella cheese-cook at 350 for about 5 minutes then broil on low for 1 minute.

At the end I add some heavy cream to my soup-it gives it a richness!

So get creative-don't use my recipe word for word-see what you have and have fun! There are ways to make this a bit more low calorie too-like not adding the yummy cream that I add!

Here's a secret that I use when I think I still am hungry and tempted to eat more--I eat one little piece of chocolate-Godiva chocolate is one of my favorites! That and some hot black coffee-and I'm good to go!

Keep warm everyone! oh-and if you love that cute vintage Mikasa bowl-check out my shop www.jenscloset.etsy.com - I will soon be listing a set of these!

Jen

ps-make enough to share with others-I will be giving some to my precious neighbor, Rea, and my mother-in-law too!!