Mushroom Soup Without Cream

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Mushroom-Soup-Without-Cream/Detail.aspx

Very good.

I used about half the mushrooms (baby bellas) and changed the directions a good bit.

Cook the veggies as directed, then add the stock and cook an additional 10 minutes.  Puree all and put in a bowl.  Add some more butter to the pot and saute mushrooms and thyme for 5 minutes.  Add the pureed veggies and simmer 30 minutes and add green onion.

Very mushroomy flavor.

Winter Root Vegetables Soup

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Winter-Root-Vegetables/Detail.aspx

Surprisingly good.  Although I made it into a soup.

I simmered the veggies in about 4 cups of chicken stock and doubled the horseradish, vinegar and dill.  Pureed it all and added a bit more water to make it the right consistancy.

Slightly tart and spicy.  An unusual flavor but quite good.

Maryanne’s Pasta Primavera

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/maryannes-pasta-primavera/detail.aspx

Really good and filling.

Changes:

• Vegetable broth/stock instead of water and boullion.
• Didn’t have tarragon so used basil.  Also added 1/2 tsp garlic powder.
• Added sausage.

Put all veggies/spices in a pot and simmered til tender with a little extra stock.  Pureed all and added the sour cream and a bit of water til it was the right consistancy.  Added the sausage (precooked) and treated it like a thick spaghetti sauce.

I don’t think I’d have liked it as much without the sausage but with sausage, it was very good.

Fat-Free Vegetable Soup

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fat-Free-Vegetable-Soup/Detail.aspx

Surprisingly good.

Recipes is good as is, though I did puree it all.  I did add extra curry and dill, to taste.

Scottie’s Chicken Tortilla Soup

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/scotties-chicken-tortilla-soup/detail.aspx

Way too spicy as is, but could be good with changes.

What I will change next time:

• 1/4 to 1/2 tbsp cayenne instead of  1 tbsp (need to taste as I go)
• 1/2 to1 tbsp cajun seasoning instead of 2 tbsp (need to taste as I go)

Changes I already made

• skip the beef boullion, tequila and onion powder.
• use garlic powder instead of garlic salt.
• Tortilla chips instead of frying the tortillas.
• frozen corn instead of canned
• I kept the corn and beans out of the first step and pureed it once the broccoli was done.  Then added the corn and beans with the rest of the ingredients.

It was very salty, in part due to the cajun seasoning.  Reduce the salt in everything else as much as possible.

I think, if it’s not so spicy and salty, it would be good.

Russian Mushroom and Potato Soup

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Russian-Mushroom-And-Potato-Soup/Detail.aspx

This is really really good.

Changes:  Made extra potatoes separately.  Kept the mushrooms separate.

After step 1, I pureed it all.  Then I added the extra potatoes and the mushrooms.  Continue as directed.

Strong mushroom flavor (I used baby bellas) with a nice creamy soup.  Wanted to eat more but couldn’t.

Finances have improved.  I plan to be trying recipes for the next 2 weeks.  We’ll see if I can afford more veggies after that.

Danish Potato Soup

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Danish-Potato-Soup/Detail.aspx

Very very good.  Filling and warming.  I’m happy to have a good recipe using a ham bone.  Now I can stop throwing it away and wasting it every Christmas and Easter.

I left the ham out when I cooked the veggies.  I also did a separate pot of more potatoes.  When the veggies were done, I pureed them.  Then I added the ham and extra potatoes.  Heated through then added the cream.

Reminded us of baked potatoes.  Will try adding sour cream and/or shredded cheddar.

Still having financial difficulties so am unable to afford fresh veggies.  So this blog is still on hiatus.  I have no idea when things will improve.

A short hiatus

I’m sorry I’ve not been posting.  Our finances took a dive so I’ve not been able to afford the fresh veggies for my recipes.  We’ve been eating the leftovers from previous recipes that I froze.  Happy to say that they all have thawed well.

I’m hoping to get back to making new recipes in about 2 weeks but it might not be until after the new year begins.

A streak of bad luck

I seem to have a had a streak of bad luck in choosing recipes this week.  None of them were good enough to repeat, which is my standard to add them to this blog.

I hope next week is better.  I have some using turkey lined up for after Thanksgiving.

Black Bean, Sausage, and Sweet Potato Soup

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/black-bean-sausage-and-sweet-potato-soup/detail.aspx

Very very good!

But I rearranged the recipe quite a bit.

Changes:

• 2 cans of black beans for the dry beans (I cut the recipe in half)
• 1/2 lb of pork sausage for the Italian sausage

Revised Instructions:

Cook sausage over medium heat, drain and set aside.  Drain black beans, saving the liquid.  Peel and cube sweet potatoes (if you’ve never dealt with them, they’re very hard and difficult to cube).  Put bean liquid, garlic, potatoes, bay leaf, allspice and about 4 cups of chicken broth into a pot and simmer until potatoes are tender.  Add green onions and simmer for another minute.  Remove bay leaf and puree all.  Return to pot and heat (med-low).  Add sausage, beans, Worcestershire and tomato paste.  Simmer for 15 minutes and serve.

Rich and filling.  Somehow tasted a bit like beef stew despite not having any sort of beef.  Just a touch of sweetness.

It thickens considerably on sitting for awhile.  My husband added some beer to thin his second bowl and declared it to be even better.