[spicy toscana soup]

Serves 4 as an appetizer, 2 as an entree

Based on top secret's version of the same name

2 3/4 cup chicken stock or broth

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 medium russet potato

2 cups chopped kale

1/2 pound hot ground sausage (I use jimmy dean hot sausage)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium high heat. When crumbled and cooked, drain the fat from the meat by letting sit on a plate covered with a paper towel. 

Meanwhile, combine the stock and cream in a large pot over medium heat. 

Wash the potato and cut into 1/4 inch slices, then quarter the slices and add them to the soup. 

Wash and dry, then chop the kale. Add to the soup. 

Add the sausage to the soup. 

Add the spices and let the soup simmer for 1 hour. Stir occasionally. 

Optional: top with shredded Parmesan cheese. 

[minestrone w/ turkey meatballs]

This is just the 'easy minestrone' recipe with turkey meatballs, but it makes a world of difference and it's amazingly good.  You're welcome

The soup: based on Nigella Lawson's 'Minestrone in Minutes'

The balls: based on Giada De Laurentiis' 'Mini Turkey Meatballs'

Serves 2-3

Turkey Meatball Ingredients:

1/2 small onion, grated or finely chopped

1 1/2 garlic cloves, minced 

1 large egg

1/8 cup dried bread crumbs

1 1/2 Tbsp ketchup

small handful of fresh Italian parsley leaves, chopped.  (or a large pinch of dry)

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

1/2 pound extra lean ground Turkey (I use the 99% fat free stuff)

2 Tbsp olive oil

Meatball Directions:

(These can be prepared ahead of time and then chill in the fridge for a day or two before you make the soup.)

 

Add the onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, salt & pepper to a large bowl and blend. Mix in the turkey. Shape the turkey mixture into 1 1/4-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a large plate or baking sheet. 

Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan, or electric skillet, over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and saute until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. (Note to self - turkey browns quickly - turn often).  Turn off heat. Transfer the meatballs to a paper towel covered plate.

Let the meatballs sit and prepare the soup...

Soup Ingredients: 

Meatballs

1 14-oz can Cannellini beans

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup tomato-based pasta sauce, I use Prego Traditional

4 oz ditalini passta

Red Pepper flakes, optional

Soup Directions:

Bring the chicken broth and the pasta sauce to a boil in a large saucepan.  Drain the beans and add them to the broth. Carefully add the meatballs and bring the pan to a boil and then add the ditalini, cooking according to the time on the package instructions.  (Usually 10 minutes).  (Depending on your desired level of spiciness, shake some red pepper flakes into the soup - I usually do about 4-6 shakes).  Once the pasta is tender, switch off the heat, remove the pan to a cool surface and let stand for 10 minutes.   Serve the meatball minestrone with Parmesan, if desired.

[easy minestrone]

Based on Nigella Lawson's 'Minestrone in Minutes'

Serves 2-3

1 14-oz can Cannellini beans

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup tomato-based pasta sauce, I use Prego Traditional

4 oz ditalini

Red Pepper flakes, optional

Bring the chicken broth and the pasta sauce to a boil in a large saucepan.  Drain the beans and add them to the broth. Bring the pan to a boil and then add the ditalini, cooking according to the time on the package instructions.  (Depending on your desired level of spiciness, shake some red pepper flakes into the soup - I usually do about 4-6 shakes).  Once the pasta is tender, switch off the heat, remove the pan to a cool surface and let stand for 5-10 minutes. 

[dutch oven chicken pot pie]

Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup

Campbell's Cream of Celery Soup

1/2 cup 1% milk

Chicken, cooked and cubed (1 boneless skinless breast per person, recipe below)

1 medium onion, diced

Canned peas, (small can with the pull top)

3 carrots, (cleaned, peeled and sliced)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Canned Biscuits

Butter

Line a clean dutch oven with foil (for easy cleanup).  

Prepare 30 briquettes.  Place a large piece of foil on the ground where you'll place the dutch oven, (should be a fairly flat and clean area).  Gather all of the briquettes on the foil on the ground and place the Dutch Oven on top of all the briquettes.

Heat soups and milk in the dutch oven, stirring occasionally, (a large wooden spoon is best).

Stir in cooked chicken, onion, peas, carrots, salt and pepper. Let the mixture come to a boil, then remove the Dutch Oven from the coals.  Open the can of biscuits and place the biscuits over mixture.  Dot each biscuit with butter.  

Arrange the briquettes so 6 are on the foil (to be under the oven), and 18 are set aside to be placed on top.  (You'll have extra - this is so you can choose the best briquettes.)  Put the lid on the Dutch Oven and place over the 6 briquettes.  Carefully place the 18 briquettes on the lid.  Bake for 45 minutes, or until brown on top, rotating the dutch oven 45 degrees every 15 minutes or so.  Let rest and prepare each serving with one or two biscuits per person. 

[erin's master recipe for cooked chicken breast]

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Salt & Pepper

Olive Oil

Place the chicken breasts between sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet (or large frying pan) until each is about 1/4 inch thick.  

Heat a small amount of olive oil (about a tsp per breast) in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.  Once the pan is hot, place the breasts in the pan and cook about 6 minutes per side, or until each side is golden brown.  When both sides are browned, place them on a large piece of aluminum foil.  Carefully fold the foil around the chicken so they are fully enclosed in a foil package.  Let the chicken rest in the foil on the counter for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes: serve, slice or chill for another use.  (For this recipe above, cube the chicken and chill until ready to pack for camping.  Keep chilled with your cold food until ready to use.)

[super easy corn and shrimp chowder]

Serves 2 generous servings.  Serve with garlic bread.

3 ears corn, kernels cut off the cobs, cobs reserved

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper

1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 green onions, white and green parts, chopped

4 strips bacon

Heat oven to 375 and place bacon on pyrex pan.  Cook for 20 minutes or until crisp.  Transfer to paper towels and let rest.  Chop and reserve.

Put the corn cobs in a large pot with just enough water to cover, (at least 5 cups).  Bring the cobs to a boil and boil for 20 minutes.  Discard the cobs and reserve 1 1/2 cups of corn-infused water.  

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally until opaque and softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the corn kernels you cut from the cobs, chicken broth, cream and 1 1/2 cups of the corn water.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil.  Lower the heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes.  Add the shrimp and simmer until opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes.  

Ladle the chowder into soup bowls and garnish with the green onion and chopped bacon.  Enjoy!

[chicken noodle soup]

This has to be the best Chicken Noodle Soup we've ever tasted. You can leave out the parmesan and cream if you want - but it's better with it. This is based on Paula Deen's 'The Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup.

Ingredients: (part one... yes, there are two parts here)
One 2 1/2 - 3 pound Chicken, cut up (buy the pkg with all the pieces already cut up)
3 1/2 quarts Water (= 14 cups)
1 Onion, peeled
2 tsp Italian Herbs
1 tsp Lemon-Pepper Seasoning
3 cloves Garlic, minced
4 Bay Leaves
3 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
Salt and Pepper to taste (about 3 shakes each)

Add all the ingredients above into a large soup pot. Bring to a boil and cook for 35-45 minutes until chicken is cooked and tender. Remove the chicken from the pot and let rest on a plate or cutting board (careful so the juices don't go everywhere). Remove the pot from the heat and discard the bay leaves and the onion. Let the chicken cool until it's easy to hold. Once it's cooled, pick the bones clean, discarding the cartilage, skin and bones. Set the chicken aside.

Prepare:
2 cups sliced Carrots
2 cups sliced Celery, with leafy green tops
2 1/2 cups Uncooked Egg Noodles
3 Tbsp minced fresh Parsley
1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
3/4 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup Cooking Sherry

Bring the stock in the pot back to a boil. Add the carrots and cook for 3 minutes. Add the celery and cook for 5 minutes. Add the egg noodles and cook according to the directs on the package, (usually about 8 minutes). When noodles are done, add chicken, parley, cheese, cream and sherry. Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed by adding salt and pepper. Serve with hot crusty french bread.

[chicken stock and sauteed breast meat]

I use this recipe when I need chicken meat for soups, pastas or salads. It's completely fool-proof, (unless you're really stupid - then you're on your own). The bonus is I get the chicken I need, and real chicken stock to use for the same dish, or the next night. I usually half the recipe and use the wings and thighs only.

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 whole chicken cut up with the bone and skin
1 medium onion, cut into medium dice
2 quarts (8 cups) boiling water
2 tsp salt
2 bay leaves

Heat oil in a large stock pot or soup kettle. When oil shimmers and starts to smoke, add chicken breast halves, saute until brown on both side, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken breast pieces and set aside. Add onion to the pot; saute until colored and softened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer onion to large bowl.

Add half of chicken pieces to pot; saute until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to bowl with onion. Saute remaining chicken pieces. Return onion and chicken pieces (excluding breasts) to pot. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until chicken releases its juices, about 20 minutes.

Increase heat to high; add boiling water, chicken breasts, salt and bay leaves. Return to simmer, then cover and barely simmer until chicken breasts are cooked through and broth is rich and flavorful, about 20 minutes.

Remove chicken breasts from pot; when cool enough to handle, remove skin from breasts, then remove meat from bones and shred into bite-sized pieces discard skin and bone. Strain broth into separate container and discard solids. Skim fat and reserve for later use in soups or other recipes.

The shredded chicken and broth can be covered and refrigerated separately up to 2 days.

[corn chowder]

Adapted from Rachel Ray's 'Bacon-Makes-It-Better Corn Chowder' This soup is really filling and can serve 4 - so we had two bowls of leftovers. They re-heat really well from the fridge and keep for a few days after.

1 quart chicken stock or broth (4 cups)
4 ears of fresh corn, shucked
1 tbsp olive oil
6-7 slices bacon, chopped
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
1 bay leaf
4-8 dashes hot sauce, Tapatio (we like some heat, but if you don't - try 4 small dashes)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and Pepper

Place the chicken stock/broth in a large pot (3 quart pan will do), over high heat, bring to a boil. While it comes to a boil, prepare the corn - cut off the corn kernels from the cobs and reserve the kernels. Add the cobs to the stock cover and simmer over low heat. (Let is simmer until you add it to everything else later).

Preheat a large soup pot over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon (leave as much liquid as possible in the pot) and place on a plate lined with a paper towel. Return the pot to the heat and add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the yellow onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, hot sauce, salt and pepper (just a little - adjust later). Cook, stirring frequently until the onions are starting to brown.

Add the reserved corn kernels to the onions in the soup pot and cook for 2 minutes (stirring). Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Remove the corn cobs from the broth and add the broth to the onions and corn in the soup pot. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.

Serve the soup garnished with lots of the crispy bacon pieces and saltines, oyster crackers or crusty bread.