Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Have you ever been to Zupa's and tried their delightful Tomato Basil soup???  Well, I have and I am a little bit more than obsessed with it.  I literally could eat it every week.  I am happy to say that I have found an exact replica of this yummy soup!

Ingredients:
1 bottle of v8 tomato juice
1 cup heavy cream
1 cube butter
2 cans whole tomatoes (drained)
20-30 basil leaves.
Salt and pepper

Directions:
1-  Simmer Tomatoes and Juice in stock pot on medium heat for 30 minutes.
2- Slowly add tomato mix to blender and puree until smooth.
3-  Puree the basil leaves in as well until smooth.
4-  Put mixture back in the stock pot and stir in the heavy cream and butter.
5-  Continue simmering on medium heat until the butter is melted.  Make sure not to boil, it will burn the soup.

Every one I have made this for raved about its delicious flavor!
Enjoy!

Crockpot Chili

I made this for some friends of ours.  One guy had 4 bowls of it and begged for the recipe.  It really is an easy preparation soup and it mighty tasty! 

4 Cloves crushed Garlic

(I just buy the McCormick minced garlic in the spice isle.)

1 1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup green pepper

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. basil

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

(if you are making it for younger children don't put any of the cayenne in.)

1/4 tsp. black pepper

2 to 3 cups carrot sticks

2 large cans chopped tomatoes

2 cans kidney beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can black beans

1 cup tomato sauce

Put everything directly into crockpot with out draining the cans. Cook in crock pot for a few hours until bubbling.  Serve with sour cream and cheese on top.

Baked Potato Soup

Well, Autumn is back, and that means so am I!  :)  I have the hardest time wanting to be in the kitchen during the summer months and once it gets a tid bit chilly I find myself LOVING the kitchen!  I made this YUMMY soup for my cute family on Sunday, and the husband LOVED it.  My 1 year old gobbled it up too.  Hope you enjoy it!

2/3 cup butter

7 cups milk

4 green onions diced

1 1/2 cup shredded cheese ( I use sharp, and I add to taste)

3/4 tsp salt (Sea Salt is what I used and it tasted great)

2/3 cup flour

4 large potato peeled and cubed (boil first to make soft)

1 package Real Bacon toppers (found in the salad isle)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp Pepper

In large skillet melt butter.  Stir in flour, heat and stir til smooth.  Gradually ad in milk, stirring constantly until thickened.  Add soft potato cubes and onions.  Bring to a boil, stir constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until cheese is melted.  ENJOY!

Tortellini Soup

I made this tonight for the first time. I can't even begin to tell you how absolutley DELICIOUS this was!!! This is with out a doubt my new favorite soup. :-) The great thing about it is you can cook this all year round. It calls for fresh veggies and with the summer months coming up it will be perfect to just grab ingredients from your garden. MMMM... I'm just salivating thinking about this dish!!!

3 tbsp. Olive Oil

1 cup carrot straws

1 zucchini halved lengthwise and sliced

1 yellow crook neck squash, diced

1 qt. jar of Classico tomato & basil sauce (24 oz.)

32 oz. of Chicken broth (more or less)

9 oz. pkg. stuffed cheese tortellini (or 1 1/2 cups)

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Saute veggies in olive oil for 10 mins or so, in a large soup pot. Add chicken broth and tomato sauce, (which has been blended in a blender until smooth), stir well. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 min., or until pasta in tender. Top with parmesan cheese.

ENJOY!!!

Shore Lunch Soup Mixes

Ok, I totally admit that I was OBSESSED with these this winter!

I made probably one packet a week at least.

They taste homemade and are SO YUMMY.

I loved to put them in bread bowls from Harmons.

They are around $4 each, but most stores will have them on sale.

Each pack feeds about 5 to 6, depending on how hungry you are. :)