Cheddar Chicken Soup

It's been a mild winter, but I have still discovered that my favorite recipes lately are soups. I also discovered Soupapalooza, so I'm linking up!!

I've had this soup for ages and we love it. I have had to add to the original because my family has grown! :)  and I've increased the vegetables to make it a little healthier. This soup is made delicious by it's secret ingredient!

Cheddar Chicken Soup

Ingredients:
2 cups diced potatoes
2 cups diced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cups chicken broth

Dice your potatoes... and your celery & onions... and your carrots, using the handy-dandy Pampered Chef Food chopper... one of my favorite Kitchen tools. Mine is starting to crack and I am very sad!!

Combine first 5 ingredients and bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Add 1 cup water w/ bouillon cube if you need more broth.

Dice your 3 cups cooked chicken (with Pampered Chef food chopper, as well)

Add SECRET INGREDIENT: 1 Tbsp steak sauce (I highly recommend A1)

Then add 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium.

Stir 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper together till smooth.

Gradually stir into soup until boiling and slightly thickened.

Add 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese. Heat and stir on medium low until melted. Do not boil.

Serve and enjoy!!

It even passes the test of my most picky 4 YO!!

 

Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset

also linked up to Works For Me Wednesday, because my Pampered Chef Chopper works for me!
and Feasting in Fellowship; Tasty Tuesday

Printable Recipe available here

Stuffed Pepper soup!

Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine and Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset

I haven't had Stuffed Peppers in AGES... honestly, I mostly like the filling, and a little bit of pepper taste.  I got tired of green peppers. My kids would just complain, but then I found this recipe and immediately pinned it!!

However the recipe was huge, so I altered it according to what I had on hand!  It honestly tastes JUST like Stuffed Peppers and it is so easy in the crockpot!!  and it was soo good I didn't take any pictures the first time around.  This was my bowl of leftovers the next day!! YUM

Here is my edited version, which my husband and I LOVED and the kids tolerated very well.

3 cups beef broth
2 cups chicken broth
1 lb ground beef
16 oz tomato sauce
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
3 peppers diced (I had red and yellow)
1 cup rice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder

Cook ground beef and drain, then add everything to the crockpot... easy peasy!! Cook on High for 4 hours, then enjoy!!

side notes: my peppers were diced VERY small for my kids; it could use a little more broth like the original recipe; I can't wait to make it again, but I have to go buy more peppers--will freeze more next summer!!

I also added cheddar cheese on top of mine, because everything is better with cheese! :)

linking up with The CSI Project for SOUP theme week!

Soup... ultimate comfort food!

So, I make soup a lot in the winter and I almost always use my slow cooker. I am still looking for the miracle soup that all of my kids will eat without complaining and the closest I come is Taco Soup...

but today is about Pasta Fagioli... Olive Garden knock-off! I started with my favorite Crockpot Lady's recipe and here's my version!!

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained (I had mine pre-cooked ready in my freezer at a moment's notice)
1/2 large onion
2-3 carrots (depending on size, mine were small)
2 celery stalks
1 large garlic clove (because garlic makes everything better)
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 can petite diced tomatoes (to make it easier on my kids)
1/2 jar (or so) of 24 oz jar spaghetti sauce
4 cups beef broth
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp hot sauce
3/4 cup dry small pasta

Brown meat and drain, (unless you already did that) then dump it in the slow cooker.
Chop up the veggies and add them to slow cooker.

Drain and rinse the beans and add them.  can I just say how much I love this quick little colander I got at the dollar tree... perfect for these moments!!

Add the tomatoes and spaghetti sauce and beef broth.
Add spices and hot sauce.
Stir

Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low.
Then add pasta and cook for another hour on low.

Serve with Parmesan cheese and these delightful garlic knots I found... on Pinterest! :)

Pin It


Linking up to The CSI Project this week.


I'm also joining up with Small Kitchen College and their Slow Cooker Challenge this week. Go check it out!

Using the crockpot Works For Me! Go check out other great ideas at Works For Me Wednesday!

Taco Soup

another one of our favorites in the slow cooker is Taco Soup!!!  many thanks to The Crockpot Lady to introducing me to this recipe... here's my version!

Ingredients:

One lb of ground beef... cooked and drained (I buy bulk and freeze for later use)
One large can of pinto beans (or kidney or black, or a combo)
One large can diced tomatoes (I used crushed this time for the sake of my kids)
One can of diced tomatoes w/ chiles
One bag frozen corn (or 2 cans of corn)
One Ranch Packet
One Taco Seasoning packet (I make my own... want the recipe?)

And cheese and sour cream and tortilla chips for topping! :)

Brown meat, drain and dump in the crockpt

sprinkle season packets on top
drain and rinse beans and add

add the corn and tomatoes

cover and cook on low for 8 hours

Serve up with lots of shredded cheddar cheese, some sour cream and  tortilla chips!!

The joy of this recipe is that it is soo flexible...
want vegetarian? just skip the meat and add more beans
pick whatever beans you have on hand
add spicy tomatoes or plain, diced, or crushed (for less chunky, more smooth)

I love it, and I hope you will, too!!

Linking up with The CSI Project for Slow Cooker week!!