Italian Chili

Last week we went to Wyoming and spent Easter with my family. It's become a tradition that when we drive through Missoula, we stop at Johnny Carino's for lunch. This time when we stopped there I ordered their soup and salad. I got the Italian chili and I thought it was delicious. So when we returned home, I decided to do a google search for the recipe and I couldn't find one! The closest thing I came across was an ingredient listing, but that wasn't much help. So, I decided to make my own recipe for it. You know how I hate to brag about my cooking...ok maybe not...but anyway, this turned out really good. Very similar to the Carino's one, but Jason actually said it was better. I will say though, that if you don't like a lot of meat in your soup or if you don't want it to be very spicy, then just do 1/2 pound of sausage. Also, I only used one can of beans because Jason's not a big fan of them, but I would have used 2 if I were just making it for myself because I like them. OK, so here's my very own made-up version of Carino's Italian Chili. Hope you like it!

Italian Chili
1/2 lb - 1 lb ground Italian sausage
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/2 to 1 onion, chopped
2 (11.5 oz) cans Campbells tomato juice (you can find it next to the V8 in the juice section)
1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
1 c. chicken broth (or bouillon)
1 clove minced garlic
1 - 2 cans navy beans (or any other white bean you like)
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper to taste

Brown sausage with pepper and onion then drain the fat. Add tomato juice, broth, tomatoes, garlic, beans and spices to the meat mixture. Bring to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes. Add whipping cream then salt and pepper . Top with plenty of parmesan and enjoy!

Cheesy Potato Soup (Crockpot)

Last year we had an enrichment where you were supposed to bring a crockpot dish to share with everyone, and then you were all supposed to vote for your favorite one. So, I found this recipe online and brought it. Well, I don't mean to brag or anything, but I definitely won. My prize was a ladle, and everytime I use it I think about my glorious win :) This is another good fall/winter meal. I love using my crockpot when it's cold outside.

Cheesy Potato Soup
1 bag of southern style hashbrowns (the ones that are in cubes), or 6 c. diced, peeled potatoes
5 c. water
2 c. diced onions (I actually only do about one cup)
1/2 c. diced celery (I don't do the celery)
1/2 c. chopped carrots
4 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp pepper
2 c. cooked, diced ham (I just buy one of those packages of hormel cubed ham)
12 oz can evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. cubed velveeta

Combine all ingredients except milk and cheese in the the crockpot. Cook on low 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Stir in milk and cheese until cheese melts. This is really good with a fresh batch of Rhodes Rolls.

Minestrone Soup

Natalee invited me to contribute my recipes, so here is one of our favorite fall meals. I got this "recipe" from my mom, and it is so easy, I don't think it can even be called a recipe. But, that is my kind of meal! So here it is:

1 package Bear Creek Minestrone Soup Mix
1 lb. Italian Sausage
Frozen Carrots

Cook the soup according to the package directions, but add desired amount carrots when it starts to boil. Cook Italian Sausage and add to soup and cook a few more minutes. Turn the heat off, cover pot with the lid, and let it sit for about an hour. Serve and enjoy a meal that everyone will think you slaved over!


Seriously, this is Brady's favorite soup. When I have guests for dinner and offer several different soups, this one is that one that everyone always wants the "recipe" for, instead of the soups I slaved over. So, try it and see what you think.

Baked Potato Soup

When I woke up this morning, it was FREEZING, and I all of the sudden got this craving to make soup for supper tonight. Well as luck would have it, it was 82 degrees outside by the time we actually ATE supper, but this soup actually turned out really good. I had never made it before, I was just looking through cookbooks trying to find something yummy, and sort of easy to make, and this one caught my eye. The true tale sign in our household if something is "good" or not is whether or not Reagie will eat it, and... (drum roll please) SHE DID every drop! So this soup works even for the pickiest of eaters! :)

Ingredients:

4-5 large potatoes baked and cooled
2 cups of cheese
8 oz of sour cream
9-10 slices of cooked bacon crumbled
green onions
minced garlic
6 cups of milk
1/2 c. margarine
2/3 c. flour

Directions:

Once your potatoes are cooled, take the skins off of them, and cut them into pieces. In a frying pan, saute your green onions and garlic in either olive oil or butter. In a big pot melt 1/2 c. margarine and add flour. Mix until smooth. Add milk and stir until it starts to bubble, then add potatoes, bacon, cheese, onion's and garlic. Stir until the cheese has melted and you soup has started to become thick and creamy. Lastly add sour cream. Stir until sour cream has mixed in well, and serve.
I made whole wheat Rhoads Rolls and served them with the soup. It was really good, despite the fact that it was 82 degrees outside. :)

Taco Soup

Apparently my family really likes Mexican food! I didn't realize I was posting so many Mexican type dishes on here. I'll try and find some others! I got this recipe from my friend Amy, who got it from a Weight Watcher's Recipe book. Funny Huh? This is one of my family's favorite meals during the winter. I seem to make soup a lot when it's cold outside. :) It is probably the easiest thing I make too, and it is really good!


Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
1 can pinto beans
1 can chili hot beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can stewed tomatoes Mexican flavored
1 can stewed tomatoes Any flavor ( I usually just buy the "regular" flavor)

Directions:

Cook Hamburger and drain grease. In a crock pot pour Pinto beans, chili beans, corn, and stewed tomatoes. Do not drain any of them. Next add hamburger into the crock pot. Stir mixture together. Add Ranch Dressing Mix and Taco Seasoning. Mix in well. Simmer for about an hour on low/med heat.

Serve with Sour Cream, Cheese, and Fritos, or Corn Chips on top.

Toscana Soup

This soup is Cameron's favorite, it is very similar to the Olive Garden Potato and Sausage Soup.


Ingredients:

3 links sweet Italian sausage
2 medium baking potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
2 to 3 slices bacon, diced
3/4 cup onions, diced
1 medium to large clove garlic, minced
2 cups kale, cut in half, then sliced
2 tablespoons chicken base
4 cups water
1/2 cup whipping cream


Directions:

Remove sausage from casings; brown in skillet, breaking up until cooked through.
Place onions and bacon in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until onions are tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.

In a crockpot chicken base, water and potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are tender, usually an hour and a half or so on high heat. Add sausage, bacon and onions, along with kale and cream.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Thanks Natalee for letting me contribute recipes to your blog! This recipe, that I got from my mom, is a HUGE family favorite that my kids request all the time.....and it has broccoli in it......and they actually eat it!!


Broccoli Cheese Soup

2 tbsp butter
3/4 c. chopped onion
1 tsp chopped garlic
6 c. chicken broth
8 oz dry fine egg noodles
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 pkg frozen broccoli
6 c milk
1 lb Velveeta cheese cubed

Saute onion and garlic in butter. Add chicken broth and heat to boiling. Gradually add noodles and salt so broth continues to boil. Cook uncovered 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in broccoli and cook 4 more minutes. Reduce heat and add cheese, milk and pepper. Continue cooking until cheese melts. Stir constantly on medium heat so that you don't scorch your milk and cheese. This is a thin soup, sometimes I will mix a little cornstarch and water and add it at the end to thicken it up a little!


We usually serve this with a fresh green salad and homemade rolls.....ok frozen Rhodes rolls! YUM!