Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Soup

The usual fall and winter bugs have arrived and I was in need of some chicken soup so I threw this together sans recipe and it turned out great! I decided to share it with you all. Hope you enjoy!

6 cups water
3 tablespoons chicken broth powder
1/4 cup mushroom soup mix (if you don't have these powders you could do 3 cans chicken broth and 1 can cream of mushroom)
1 tbls garlic salt
1 tbls pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
12 oz. of frozen chopped broccoli
1 cup fresh or frozen diced carrots
1 raw chicken breast chopped
4 cups cooked rice

Cook in crock pot on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Super easy and delcious! Enjoy!
PS- This makes A LOT. You could halve the recipe or freeze leftovers.

Easy- Nummy- Potato Soup!

We got back from a weekend trip and there was not much in the fridge... I did however have a 10 Ib bag of potatoes, milk, frozen veggies and canadian bacon (which we use for our pizza).

Serves 8

Chop and place in large pot on high:
4 cups potatoes
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen broccoli
1 cup cooked bacon, canadian bacon or ham
6 cups water

Once boiling cook for 10 minutes. Meanwhile in a large skillet melt 1/2 cup butter over medium/low heat. Stir in 1/2 cup flour, stirring constantly until thick. Heat for 1 minute until mixture is bubbly. Add 2 cups milk slowly- mixing constantly until very thick.

Add 2 tablespoons chicken broth powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper and milk mixture into pot of veggies. Stir vigoriously, kind of mashing at the same time, and heat over low for 2 minutes.

Pour into bowls and let cool slightly (this will thicken the soup up more).

Enjoy!

Vegetable Beef Stew

A good basic stew with great texture and tomato base. Add more spices to your desire.

Put large ziplock bag and shake:

1-2 Pounds stew meat cubed

1/4 flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tbls minced garlic

Add to pan over med/high heat with 3 tbls olive oil.

Brown evenly on both sides of meat.

Remove from pan and place in crock pot.

In same pan add:

3 cups diced onion

1/2 cup apple juice or cider

Until onion is tender.

Pour into crock pot and scrap pan (making sure to get the brown chunks into the crockpot too!)

Add to crockpot:

1 bay leaf

3 cups chopped celery

5 large chopped potatoes

3 large diced tomatoes (or 2 cans diced tomatoes with juices)

1- 12 oz can of tomato or spaghetti sauce

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

2 cups fresh largely chunked carrots

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

Mix in separate bowl:

1 cups hot hot water

1/4 cup mushroom soup mix (you can also use 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup)

1/4 cup onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbls italian seasoning

Pour into crockpot.

Turn on high for 30 minutes and then reduce to low for 6 hours.

Enjoy!

Spicy Crockpot Chicken Soup

This is a like a chicken taco soup. Based off of the recipe Catherine's Spicy Chicken Soup on allrecipes.com The nice thing about this easy chicken soup is one ingredient doesn't make or break it. If you are out of tomato soup- replace with more diced tomatoes. If you're out of bell pepper, just add a little more onion. You get the idea. It's easy- it's good.

4 cups water
2 chicken breasts halved
1 tsp pepper
2 tbls chicken broth powder or chicken seasoning
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbls chili powder
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup salsa
2 cups diced tomato
1 can tomato soup
1 can chili or can of black beans drained
2 cups corn

Suggested toppings: Crush tortilla chips, shredded cheese or shredded cabbage!

Heat for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

Easy-Tasty Crockpot Chili

Based off the recipe Boilermaker Tailgate Chili from allrecipes.com

1 Ib cooked ground beef (if you want vegetarian replace with 1 can black beans)
2 12 oz cans chili
1 tsp diced jalepeno
3 cups diced tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato paste
2 cups water
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 chopped bell pepper
2 celery stalks diced
2 cups corn (optional... I think this is perfect for this chili, but my husband thinks that corn does not belong in chili)
1/4 cup salsa
1 tbls hot sauce
1 tbls chili powder
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar

Heat in crock pot at least on low for 4 hours. The longer the better!

Top with diced cabbage and some cheddar cheese.

Creole Chicken Soup

Spicy and delicious. A spin off of jumbalaya.

Add to crock pot in this order...
2 chicken breasts chopped in pieces
1 tbls minced garlic
1 cup salsa
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp red pepper flakes OR 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can chopped tomatoes
2 cans black beans

1 cup instant rice
2 cups chopped potatoes
2 cups chicken broth

2 cups raw shrimp (optional: add in the last 10 minutes)

Place in slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

Lasagna Soup

Serves 8
1 pound ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cups broccoli
1 cup celery
2 tbls minced garlic
1 tsp brown sugar
4 cups chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 tsp basil
2 cups frozen tortellini or frozen ravoli halved
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions
In a large pan, combine ground beef, onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until beef is browned. Drain well. Stir in brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese and broccoli into cooked meat mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add tortellini and simmer until noodles are tender. Serve in bowls and top with cheese.


Total for all the ingredients is about $9. This serves 8 easily so cut in half for a $4.50 meal for 4!

Garden Edition: To save on cost and stretch this meal even further use chopped zuchinni, 2 cups fresh tomatoes chopped, 1 bell pepper, fresh basil leaves and if you grow spinach use the spinach instead of broccoli!