Healthy Tomato Basil Soup

I had a request from a good friend to post a healthy tomato basil soup recipe. So I took on the challenge since I have been craving soup non stop now that the weather has changed. This is perfect for those cold nights when your craving good ol' comfort food and want to be warm and cozy.

(Why did I waste all those years on canned tomato soup?! This was delicious!)

 Healthy Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients:

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 - 14 oz. can of diced fire roasted tomatoes

1 - 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes

2 cups of chicken stock

1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of stevia

1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup of heavy cream

1/4 cup of fresh basil, julienned

grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 1 minute - being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the crushed tomatoes and then the whole tomatoes.  Smash the tomatoes with a potato smasher and then add chicken stock, salt, pepper and stevia. Simmer for 10 minutes. Pour soup in a blender and blend until desired consistency. Pour soup back into saucepan and simmer for another 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to low and stir in heavy cream and basil. Serve and top with grated parmesan cheese and grilled triple cheese sandwich.

Health Benefits of Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are a treasure of riches when it comes to their antioxidant benefits. In terms of conventional antioxidants, tomatoes provide an excellent amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene; a very good amount of the mineral manganese; and a good amount of vitamin E. In terms of phytonutrients, tomatoes are basically off the chart!

Read more: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=44

Chicken Wonton Soup

This recipe was posted by my sister in law Erin!

This soup turned out great! It's definitely one of those soothing soups that is great for a cold day or just a bad day! It has the feel of an oriental soup, but not real strong oriental flavors. The main flavor is chicken.  My husband hates soup, and he even thought it was a decent soup! So hopefully that is a good enough description for you to know if your family will like it! I really liked it!

Chicken Wonton Soup

Chicken Wontons (see recipe below)

8 cups fat-free chicken broth

2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

1 cup sliced carrots

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Prepare your wontons first! In large saucepan, heat chicken broth, spinach, carrots, salt and pepper to a boil. Reduces heat to low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes. 

Return soup to a boil; add chicken wontons. Reduce heat to a low and simmer, uncovered 2 to 3 minutes or until wontons are tender and rise to the surface of the soup.

Chicken Wontons

1/3 cup of ground chicken, or 1/2 large chicken breast chopped.

1 tablespoon minced shallot or onion

1 clove minced garlic

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

24 wonton wrappers

water

In a small amount of oil, brown chicken, shallots, garlic, salt, pepper and nutmeg.  If you are using cubed chicken, place cooked chicken in a food processor and shred into small pieces. Using a teaspoon or small cookie scoop place a rounded spoonful of chicken mixture in the center of 12 wonton wrappers. Using your finger moisten each edge of wrapper with water. Top with remaining wrappers, and press to seal edges. Refrigerate until ready to cook.

1 bowl of soup (1/6 of prepared soup) and 2 wontons equals 130 calories!

Low Fat Pumpkin Bisque

This recipe was posted by my sister in law Erin! 
So the last week or so the weather has been pretty gloomy, and the chill in the air has gotten to the point where all I think about is soup and bread! Last weekend I made this to hit that craving, and it was yummy! I found the recipe here but have made a few changes to the original recipe. Hope you like it too!

Apple Pumpkin Bisque

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped ginger root
1 can (24 ounces) 100% pumpkin purée
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
1 small, dried chile pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg
Salt and ground white pepper, to taste
1/2 cup sour cream or fresh cream

Melt butter over medium heat in a large, heavy saucepan. Sauté the onion and ginger until onion is tender, about 4 minutes. Add pumpkin, applesauce, chicken broth, honey, vinegar, cinnamon stick, chile pepper, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and simmer about 15 minutes until flavors are blended. Stir in sour cream just before serving. If you have a good blender or food processor, I would recommend before adding the sour cream place soup in the blender and puree it even more. It is pretty pureed to begin with, but  like it a little smoother if possible.  Enjoy your yummy, guiltless bisque! 

Click here to see the health benefits of pumpkin! It's amazing!

Southwestern Style Chili

This recipe was posted by my sister in law Erin! 

This soup, I created. :) I was inspired by taco soup, but this ended up completely different, but still really yummy! You can use canned or dried beans for this, I used dried, so make sure you plan your time accordingly if that is what you want to do also!

Southwestern Style Chili

1 lbs. ground beef or turkey or chicken, whatever you prefer or have in your freezer!

1 c. kidney beans (or 1 can)

1 c. pinto beans

1c. black beans

1 can unsweetened corn

1 green pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 pkt. taco seasoning (or make your own) (I also make my own chili powder)

Brown your meat with the chopped onions. Drain fat. Add your beans. If you use dried beans add 2 cups of water ( you may use more or less depending on how thin or hearty you want your chili). Add corn and green pepper. Add taco seasoning. Let simmer about 10 minutes, for flavors to incorporate. Garnish with Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, chopped fresh tomatoes, and avocado! So yummy, and guiltless! 

Why should we eat more beans?? Well let me tell you, they are more than the magical fruit for just one thing! They are also great for anti-aging and disease prevention! 

http://www.prevention.com/health/nutrition/smart-shopping/healthy-eating-the-many-health-benefits-of-beans/article/7aef06ef823d6110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/2