Fire-Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup with Fresh Salsa

I got this soup recipe from Mel's Kitchen Café blog and it is truly delicious!  In fact, we love most of her recipes.  This one is really hearty and full of flavor, and I love the contrast of the fresh salsa on top.  The younger kids don't like salsa, so I just left that off their bowls. Now that it feels like winter again (most of our February was unseasonably warm here in Utah), we will be eating this soup on those chilly nights.

Fire-Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup with Fresh Salsa

Serves 4-6

 

Ingredients

Soup:
• 1 tablespoon oil (canola, vegetable, olive, coconut)
• 1 red onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cans (14-ounces each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 cans (15-ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice, a couple teaspoons
Salsa:
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (thawed if frozen)
• 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a 4-quart pot, heat the oil over medium heat until rippling. Add the onion and saute 4-5 minutes until it turns translucent. Add the garlic, oregano, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring constantly, for another minute or so.
2. Stir in the tomatoes, black beans, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 30-45 minutes. Carefully puree the soup with a handheld immersion blender or by ladling it into a blender (may need to do it in batches depending on the size of your blender). Puree to your desired consistency. Stir in the lime juice and any additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
3. For the salsa, stir together the ingredients, adding salt and pepper to taste. The salsa can be covered and refrigerated for a day or so.
4. Ladle the warm soup into bowls and top with a generous spoonful of salsa.

Best Shrimp Cocktail

Best shrimp cocktail ever! I got the recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Best Shrimp Cocktail

• Shrimp:
• 2 pounds deveined, shell-on jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 10 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 8 (2-inch) strips lemon peel plus 1/4 cup juice, from 2 lemons (reserve the lemon halves that have been juiced)
• 8 cups ice
• Cocktail sauce:
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the shrimp, 4 cups cold water, salt, thyme, peppercorns, bay leaves and celery seeds in a large pot. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring every so often, until the water registers 170 degrees and the shrimp are just beginning to turn pink, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Remove the pot from the heat and add the lemon peels, juice and lemon halves that have already been juiced. Cover the pot and let the mixture sit until the shrimp are completely pink and firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir the ice into the pot and let the shrimp cool completely, about 5 minutes. Drain the water and peel the shrimp, leaving the tails intact. Refrigerate the shrimp up to 24 hours until ready to serve.
3. For the cocktail sauce, whisk all the ingredients together until combined. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve with the shrimp.

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup {Gluten-Free}

We have recently decided to go gluten-free as a family, but a few of our favorites have cream-of-something soup as an ingredient, so I came up with this recipe.  It tastes 1000 times better than canned soup and is way better for you, too!  If you aren't gluten-free, you could just use flour in the recipe. PS I have added a wheat-free label to my sidebar, so be sure to check those recipes out if you are looking for some ideas.  We have been using cornstarch a lot when a recipe calls for flour for thickening or coating meats, and it works great- we can't even tell the difference!

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup {Gluten-Free}
2 Tb butter
2 Tb cornstarch
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1 tsp chicken bouillon powder or 1 cube
1 tsp dried parsley

Melt butter in saucepan.  Whisk in milk, water, cornstarch and bouillon.  Stir constantly over medium heat until thickened.  Mix in parsley and use in any recipe.  This makes the equivalent of one can of soup.

Suggestions for using this soup: Chicken Divan, Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Variations: you could use this recipe for any cream soup, just leave out the bouillon powder and...

• Cream of Mushroom- sauté 4 ounces sliced mushrooms with butter, continue as directed.
• Cream of Broccoli/Asparagus- trim 1 cup broccoli florets or asparagus spears, chop into 1/2" pieces, cook 'til tender, and add to soup at end of recipe.
• Cream of Potato- Peel, cube & boil 1 potato 'til tender, add to soup at end of recipe.
• Cream of Celery- sauté 1-2 chopped celery ribs with butter, continue as directed.

Each of these would need to be seasoned with salt & pepper at the end of cooking.  Enjoy!

100% Whole-Wheat Waffles & Buttermilk Caramel Syrup

After eating our way through way too many treats during the holiday season, we are again trying to eat healthier. For a long time we have been making our own 100% whole-wheat bread, but recently I've been trying my favorite whole-wheat flour in baked goods- and it is so good! Rolls, pizza crust, banana bread, pancakes, and even chocolate chip cookies are all wonderful with it- we don't even notice a difference and I feel a lot better about giving my kids occasional treats if it's not made with the awful-for-you white stuff.  This is the waffle recipe we used this morning. Of course we slathered them in butter and served them with sliced bananas and OBB Buttermilk Caramel Syrup, but nobody's perfect, right?!  If you think you don't love whole-wheat flour, you've really gotta try this stuff- it is really finely ground and made from soft white spring wheat, not hard red winter wheat- it is so much better than other whole-wheat flours at the store!  Try mixing it with white flour at first and then go from there.  It is from a company called Wheat Montana and the one I use is the Prairie Gold flour (I buy it at Wal-mart). If you have a wheat grinder, they sell the wheat itself in 25 lb bags.

100 % Whole-Wheat Waffles

1 3/4 c whole-wheat flour

1/4 c flax seed

1 Tb baking powder

2 Tb sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 c buttermilk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 c canola oil

Mix dry ingredients in bowl. Mix wet ingredients together and whisk into flour mixture. Heat waffle iron and cook waffles until lightly browned and crispy on the outside. Top with butter & syrup or fruit & whipped cream- and enjoy!

Buttermilk Caramel Syrup (Our Best Bites)

1/2 c butter

1 1/2 c sugar

3/4 c buttermilk

1 tsp baking soda

2 Tb corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all except vanilla in large saucepan (this bubbles up A LOT). Heat to boil, stirring frequently, then turn to low simmer and cook 7-9 minutes, until is turns a deep golden color. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm and refrigerate leftovers (can be re-heated in microwave for about 30 seconds).

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Here's another great recipe from Melanie at Mels' Kitchen Cafe.  So quick & easy, and really tasty!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

from www.melskitchencafe.com

*Serves 4-6

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

3/4 cup quick oats

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into about 12 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter. Place in a casserole dish. Cover with sauce (below). Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Sauce:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon mustard

1/4 cup barbeque sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine ingredients and blend thoroughly. Heat in a small saucepan until combined and sugar is dissolved and pour over meatballs. (This dish is not overly abundant on sauce so if you enjoy things a bit saucier, double the sauce ingredients- I did and we loved the extra sauce over our rice.)

Foil Packet Fish over Greek Orzo

You know how sometimes you find a recipe and try it, and it's just so-so?  And then other times you try one and it is WAY more amazing than you expected?  Well, this recipe definetely fits the latter description!  It was really flavorful and delicious, not to mention quick and easy, and healthy!  We loved it!

Foil Packet Fish over Greek Orzo (from Annie’s Eats)

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:
8 oz. orzo (this is found in the pasta section)
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
¼ large red onion, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
4 oz. sliced kalamata olives (I used black olives)
1 tbsp. butter
Salt and pepper, to taste
2-3 oz. crumbled feta cheese
6 white fish fillets, about 6-8 oz. each (we used tilapia)

For the compound butter:
6 tbsp. butter, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. minced fresh dill (or 1 tsp. dried)
½ tsp. lemon zest
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Heat a grill to medium-high. Bring a medium pot of water to boil. Add the orzo to the pot and cook until a few minutes shy of al dente. Meanwhile, combine the spinach, onion, tomatoes, olives, and butter in a large bowl. Drain the orzo in a fine strainer. Pour the hot pasta into the bowl with the butter and vegetables and toss gently until well mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut out 6 large squares of foil, about 12-inches on each side. Divide the orzo mixture evenly between the pieces of foil, placing it over the lower half of each square of foil. Sprinkle some of the crumbled feta over each pile of orzo. To make the compound butter, combine the butter, garlic, dill, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.

Spread a layer of the compound butter over each of the fish fillets. Lay the portions of fish over the orzo. Fold the foil over and crimp the edges together to seal the packets. Place the packets on the heated grill, cover, and let cook for about 12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the fish registers 160˚ F on an instant read thermometer. Remove the packets from the grill. Open the packets, being careful to avoid the steam. Sprinkle each serving with a bit of fresh dill. Serve immediately.

Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

I adapted this recipe from one I found on the Sister's Cafe.  They used a crock-pot, but somehow I often forget to start dinner that early, so I made it on the stove.  It was the best soup we've had in a long time!

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

2 (14oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup finely diced onions
1 bay leaf
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 Tbsp fresh oregano
1 Tbsp dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups half and half, warmed
1/2 tsp black pepper
salt, to taste (I didn't need to add any)

In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and basil . Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer for about 30 minutes, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

Blend soup with an immersion blender or in batches in your regular blender. Next prepare a roux: Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour; stir constantly with a whisk for 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup until smooth. Add another 3 cups soup and stir until smooth.

Add all back into the pot. Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for about 10-15 minutes until ready to serve. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper to taste.