Homemade Soup Recipes______


White Bean and Bacon Homemade Soup Recipe
Serves 8

Souper simple soup with pasta.  Comes together quickly.

6 slices thick-sliced bacon, diced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/8 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper
2 cups crushed tomatoes
2 1/2 cups drained canned white beans
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup macaroni or other small pasta shape
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a large deep skillet, sauté bacon until some fat is rendered; add onion, celery, carrot, garlic and red pepper to skillet and sauté until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, cook and stir occasionally for 10 more minutes.

Stir in beans; add broth and bring to a gentle boil. Add macaroni and continue cooking until pasta is tender, but still firm, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately with Parmesan cheese if desired. 





Apple and Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Serves 6-10

Pumpkin soup can be made 1-2 days in advance.  Flavors will meld and intensify.  Store well covered in the refrigerator

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced
2 large green apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
3 cups homemade or canned pumpkin or sweet potato puree
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1/2 cup half-and-half
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.  Add the onions and apples and cook until soft.  Add the flour and stir until flour is blended and onions and apples are coated, 2-3 minutes.  

Add the stock, stirring well.  Add the pumpkin puree, brown sugar and spices.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, about 25 minutes. 

Transfer the hot soup to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.  Return soup to the saucepan and stir in the juice, half-and-half and salt and pepper. 

Adjust spices to taste.  Add a little more juice to thin soup if necessary.  Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and serve warm. 



Curried Carrot Soup
Serves 4

Not a curry fan? Substitute with dried thyme, oregano or basil.   Also use whole milk if desired

6 medium carrots, thinly sliced
2 cups vegetable stock
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup plain soy milk
2 teaspoons curry powder
Pinch dried pepper flakes (optional)

Combine all ingredients except the soy milk and cook over medium heat until carrots are tender. Pour into a blender and purée until smooth. Stir in the soy milk. Cook over low heat until hot.


Sweet and Spicy Carrot Soup
Serves 8

1 1/2 cups cold water
1/2 teaspoon salt
16 ounces frozen carrots
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup chicken broth

Combine the water, salt and carrots in a 2 1/2-quart saucepan; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the carrots are very soft. Remove from the heat and let cool.

In a blender or food processor puree the carrots and cooking liquid.  In a large bowl combine the pureed carrots with the orange juice, nutmeg, and broth, blending well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate 2 hours or until well chilled.

Serve cold with orange zest and/or chopped mint (optional) 



Easy Crab Gazpacho
Serves 4

This refreshing crab soup is the perfect summer party soup and can be served smooth or chunky.  For a chunky soup blend half of ingredients (except crab) and mix with remaining items.  For a smooth soup blend all ingredients (except crab) in blender until smooth.  Chill.  Gently fold in crab meat before serving.

Soup can also be prepared with 1/2 -1 pound chopped cooked shrimp or half crab, half shrimp. 

1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 bunch Italian parsley, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 (32-ounce) bottle or can V-8 juice
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 cup red or green bell pepper, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper (or to taste)
Juice of 2 lemons
Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped
1 pound lump or backfin crab meat

GARNISH
Lemon wedges
Horseradish sauce
Hot sauce
Croutons or Crackers

Mix together all ingredients, then gently fold in crab meat. Chill well before serving with garnishes.



Simple Meatball  Soup

Serves 6

1 slice bread
1/2 cup milk
1 pound ground chicken
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cups chicken broth
16 ounces tomato sauce with tomato bits
1 medium onion
2 carrots, sliced thin
2 stalks celery, sliced
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Place bread and milk in bowl and allow bread to absorb milk.  Mash bread mixture with a fork.  Add meat, salt and pepper and mix well. Form into 24 balls. Brown meat balls in oil and drain. Do not cook through.  

To a large pot, add remaining ingredients and drained meatballs.  Simmer uncovered for 1 hour.




Baked Potato Soup
Serves 4-6 for a main course

4 large baking potatoes
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup flour, all purpose
1-1/2 quarts milk
Salt and pepper to taste
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup light sour cream
2 cups crisp-cooked bacon, crumbled
5-ounces grated cheddar cheese
Hot sauce or ground red pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350F and bake the potatoes until fork tender. Melt butter
in a medium saucepan. Slowly blend in flour with a wire whisk until thoroughly blended. Gradually add milk to the butter flour mixture, whisking
constantly. Whisk in salt and pepper and simmer over low heat, stirring
constantly.

Cut potatoes in half, scoop out the flesh and set aside. When milk mixture is very hot, whisk in potato and green onion. Whisk well, add sour cream and crumbled bacon. Heat thoroughly. Add cheese a little at a time until it is completely melted.  Add hot sauce or red pepper to taste



Savory Sweet Potato Soup

Serves 8

2 tablespoons margarine
2 medium onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
1 large celery stalk, diced
6 cups diced sweet potatoes (1/2")
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup plain soy milk or whole milk (optional)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the margarine in a large pot. Add the onions, carrots and celery and saute over low heat until the onions are golden. Add the sweet potato. 

Just add enough water to almost cover the vegetables. Bring to a boil.  Add bay leaves, thyme and nutmeg.  Simmer over moderate heat until the sweet potatoes and vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the soup to a food processor until smoothly pureed.   Stir puree back into the soup pot.  Add a little milk at a time if using, to achieve desired consistency.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer over very low heat for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve hot with cornbread croutons and green onion slices



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