Taco Soup and Salad

Here's another way to eat your taco soup.  In a bowl, fill with lettuce about half way.  Pour soup on top to desired amount.  Then sprinkle with cheese and drizzle a little ketchup on top.  Seriously, an awesome warm meal, with a good light salad at the same time.  We love eating it this way.  You can also do this with chili. 

Taco Soup

Thanks Mom for the recipe! My family has this soup all the time in the winter and I love it! It is also very very easy! I cooked mine in a crock pot, but you can also simmer it in a pot if you want.

Here's what you need:

1 lb ground chicken or turkey

1 onion, chopped

2 cans corn

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

1 package ( or 3-4 Tbsp) Taco Seasoning

Begin browning meat with the onion on  medium heat in a skillet

Cook until meat is no longer pink and onion is soft

Add corn (with the water from the can!)

Add kidney beans (with the juice water from the can!)

Add tomato cans (with the water from the can!)

Add tomato sauce (there is no extra water in this can!)

Add taco seasoning

Add meat and onion (no need to drain, unless you are using ground beef)

Stir and heat in the crock pot on high for 1-2 hours, or simmer in a pot on a stove for 30 minutes.

Serving options: shredded cheese, Fritos, sour cream, cilantro

Alpine Village House Soup

I got this recipe from A World of Wisdom Cookbook.  Everyone should own this cookbook.  I decided to do one of the soup recipes since its so cold out already.  Guys, this soup ROCKS. Everyone needs to try it.  So filling, so yummy, so warming!

Here's what you need:

2 qts. stock (chicken, beef, vegetable)

2 tsp. celery salt

2 tsp. multi herb seasoning (I used "Herb de Provence")

1 lb. ground turkey or chicken

1 minced onion

2 tsp. salt

2 minced carrots

1/2 cup olive oil

1 c. flour

Mince the onion and carrots.

Combine all but flour and oil in a large pot.  Boil for 30 minutes. (If prefer to use a crockpot, I boiled for fifteen minutes and then transfered everything to a crockpot)

In a small skillet, heat oil and add flour , stirring with a whisk. 

Oil and flour should be the consistency of mashed potatoes after mixed together. 

Add this roux to the soup, using a whisk to blend it well.  

I added mine to the crockpot for thirty minutes, then left on high for 3 hours.

Serve this with some homemade bread or rolls and I promise you, you will be glad it's cold out.

Mashed Winter Squash

I always stress to eat what is in season.  Well, squash is in season during the winter! So I will try to post lots of squash recipes! Here is my first. 

Start with your favored winter squash.  This is banana squash. Rinse it off.

Cut it into sections.

With a spoon, scoop out the seedy center and discard.

This is what it should look like.

Then peel off the skin.

Chop the squash into 1" cubes. If you have a steamer that can be inserted into a sauce pan (like the one below), fill pan with water until it the water line touches the bottom of the steamer. Then add squash. Cover and let water boil for about 15 minutes.  Check squash for doneness with a knife. Make sure not to over cook because if the water evaporates, the squash can burn.

Discard water and move squash into a mixing bowl.  Add a couple Tbsp of butter. With a beater on low setting, beat until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes.  Add more butter if it is too dry. 

Scoop and serve! Makes a great side dish!