I Love Italian Wedding Soup and This is So Easy

If you have a half hour and are in the mood for an easy and hearty soup for supper, try this simple recipe for one of my favorite soups, Italian Wedding Soup.  Is there anything better than meatballs and vegetables in a delicious broth?  Check this out.  Simple ingredients.  Delicious.

Italian Wedding Soup serving Four

1/2 lb. lean ground beef

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoons dried basil & onion powder

6 cups chicken broth

2 cups chopped spinach

1/2 cup uncooked orzo pasta

1/3 cup finely chopped carrot

grated parmesan cheese

In a medium bowl combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil and onion powder and form into small meatballs.

In a large sauce pan, heat chicken broth to boiling and stir in spinach, pasta, carrot and meatballs.

Return to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook at a slow boil for 10-12 minutes or until the orzo is tender, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.

Ladle into individuals bowls or mugs and sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese.

I always serve crusty bread with my soups. Perfect buttered or for dipping into the soup. Hearty!

Happy Tuesday:)

Easy Hearty Supper in the Slow Cooker

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo Lakehouselyn

Photo  Campbell's 

We are all rushing this week to prepare for Christmas next weekend and don't have a lot of time to prepare creative suppers.  Here's an awesome and tasty go to that you literally put in your slow cooker and let go the entire day.
In a skillet over high heat, brown the 2/3 lb. beef rump roast roast in oil on all sides to seal in the juices. Place the roast in a slow cooker.  Pour two  10 3/4 cans of cream of mushroom soup undiluted over the top of the roast.  Place 4 beef bouillon cubes around the roast, cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours.  (Easy)!  Remove the roast from the slow cooker, let rest for 5 minutes.  Slice thinly or shred with forks and serve on sandwich buns or Texas style toast as open face sandwiches.  You can use the sauce from the slow cooker for dipping.  Delicious and only took a few minutes. This truly is one of the most flavorful slow cooker dishes I've ever tasted. It won't disappoint.

     ~The first falls of snow are not only an event, they are magical events~
                                                        J. B. Priestly

Soup Tuesday - Easy Pasta Fagioli

I love Pasta Fagioli soup for the health benefits of the spinach, beans and tomatoes and the fact that it about 30 minutes from stovetop to table.  This recipe will make 6 servings and kids love it as much as adults.  

Ingredients:  2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 chopped garlic clove, 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can premium diced, peeled tomatoes, undrained, 1 (48 ounce) can chicken broth, 1 cup ditalini pasta or small shell pasta, 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, 4 cups baby spinach leaves rinsed (a 10 ounce bag), 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, add garlic and saute for 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes, chicken broth, pasta and beans.  Stir.  Simmer covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the spinach and continue cooking, covered, until leaves are tender, about 5 minutes.

Ladle into individual bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  If the soup is too thick (the pasta absorbs the liquid), add more chicken broth as needed.    

You have a quick and hearty supper dish sure to please.  I like to keep a couple of refrigerated Pillsbury french bread loaves on hand to put in the oven as a perfect side with soup.  Bakes up in 20-25 minutes and smells amazing.  Happy Tuesday!

SOUP TUESDAY

                                                  

                                               Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup  
                                                      

Today's "Soup Tuesday" recipe features a recipe that's so easy and quick and let's face it!  Through the Holiday season, we all need some shortcuts with our busy schedules.  This literally takes 5 minutes to put together in your crockpot or slow cooker and cooks 8-9 hours on LOW and 4-5 hours on HIGH.
Makes 12 servings... here goes!

Ingredients:

3-4 chicken breasts skinless and boneless
2 - 15 ounce cans black beans, undrained
2 - 15 ounce cans Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4 ounce can chopped green chilies
1 - 4.5 ounce can tomato sauce

Directions:

Spray your crockpot with non stick spray.  Place rinsed chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. (Can use frozen chicken breasts).  Add remaining ingredients on top and turn your crockpot to low for 8-9 hours of cooking or high for 4-5 hours.  Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top if you desire and ENJOY!  Try serving with hot rolls or cornbread.  Ever make honey butter to serve on hot rolls or cornbread?  Soften a stick of butter in a small dish and add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of honey and blend.
DELICIOUS!! ..................................   LYNDA :)