When the temperature drops and the days become shorter, there’s something so comforting about sitting down to a nice bowl of piping hot soup. Soup warms the body and soul and gives you that feeling that everything is going to be o.k. It can be compared to getting a hug, except it’s in the form of food.
I remember as a child dumping a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup in a sauce pan, adding water and gobbling it up. Back then, I thought it was the most delicious, wholesome soup I had tasted. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Campbell’s was not as healthy as I thought. Today, I make my own soup and I eat much healthier than I did in the past.
Today, I want to share two simple hearty soups to warm the soul. These are family favorites and we eat them often during the colder months. Not only are they healthy, they are perfect if you’re in a crunch for time. The first is Roxanne’s Italian Chicken Soup. This is named after my step-mom, Roxanne. She is the master of coming up with delicious recipes on the fly and this one proves to be no exception.
Roxanne’s Italian Chicken Soup
1. Remove the meat from 1 Baked Chicken and set aside.
2. Next, finely chop 1 small Zucchini and 1 Yellow Squash. Add 1 liter of Chicken Stock
to a large pot and bring to a boil.
3. Once at a boil, add 2 cans of Italian Stewed Tomatoes.
4. Stir well to combine and bring back to a boil. Next, add chopped Chicken, Zucchini
and Squash.
5. Boil for 15-20 minutes on low/medium heat or until Vegetables are slightly soft.
6. To finish the soup, add in ½ cup of Orzo or Noodles of your choice.
7. Continue boiling until the noodles are done.
8. Add more Water or Chicken Stock to your desired thickness
The second soup I make regularly is Debbie’s Chili. Debbie’s Chili is my mom’s chili recipe and it’s also super simple to make. It’s always a hit in our house. This recipe makes a big batch, perfect for freezing and eating later.
Debbie’s Chili Brown 2 lbs of Lean Ground Beef, Turkey or Deer Meat with 1 Onion, chopped fine.
Season with Salt and Pepper.
Add one 64 oz bottle/can of Tomato Juice,
two 14 oz cans of Chopped Tomatoes,
two 14 oz cans of Kidney Beans (drained),
1 tsp Garlic Powder,
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper and nearly ¼ cup of Chili Powder.
Taste test along the way to determine the amount of Salt and Chili Powder preferred.
Simmer until bubbly or cook in crock pot on low all day or high for 2 hours and serve.