Chipotle Basil Corn Chowder

This is delicious, so healthy, practically fat-free, and even vegan if you follow the recipe exactly (I don't since we're not vegan.) My extremely-meat-loving husband adores it, if that tells you anything.

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, finely diced (1/2 cup)

5 small red potatoes, diced small (3 cups)

1 cup shredded carrots

1 tsp chipotle in adobo, minced (canned)-(This gives the soup a spicy "kick." I use some Hickory Farms chipotle ranch sauce instead because we always have it in the fridge.)

3 cups water

1 vegetable bouillon cube

3 cups sweet corn

1/2 cup soy milk (I use regular milk)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp lime juice

1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped

Black pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in large pot with a tight fitting lid. Add onions and saute until golden. Add the potatoes, carrot, and chipotle and stir to coat. Let them cook over medium heat for a minute. Add water and bouillon cube and mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover, cooking for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. If your corn is frozen, put it in a strainer and run lukewarm water over it until it has softened. Transfer all or half of the mixture to a blender (I transfer all but about 1 cup). Add half of the corn, soy milk, salt and lime juice and blend until smooth. Return to the pot and stir in basil and remaining corn. Add black pepper to taste. This comes from this great cookbook called Vegan Yum Yum.

Raw Gazpacho

This is the most yummy raw soup ever! Whenever I need comfort food, this does it!

Recipe taken from Natalia Rose's book The Raw Food Detox Diet

Ingredients:

• 6 tomatoes


• 1/2 to 1 cup fresh basil or fresh cilantro


• 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar


• 2 T. olive oil


• 1 t. soy sauce


• 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped


• 1 to 2 cobs corn, kernals cut off (during winter, I use frozen)


• 1 apple, chopped

In a blender, combine tomatoes, basil or cilantro, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and soy sauce. Process until desired consistency is reached. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour soup base from blender into bowl and mix well. Serve chilled. Tastes even better the next day.

Baked Potato Soup

I found this recipe on a random blog and have made it mine :D

Ingredients:
6 large potatoes, cleaned and stabbed with a fork a few times
1/2 c butter
4 cloves garlic
1/2 c flour
2 cans chicken broth (4 c)
24 oz evaporated milk, I use fat free or skim
dill
shredded cheese and other potato toppings

Prep:
Microwave taters until done
Melt butter in a soup pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add flour and stir until it gets all thick like. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and broth. Chop cooked potatoes into various sizes, some big, some small, and toss into the soup. Add salt, pepper, and dill to taste. Heat through :D
Add cheese or other toppings to your bowl!

Serve with fresh bread. YUM!

this soup does not store very well... it turns into a big gelatinous mush after a while.. does okay on reheat but is much thicker the second time.

Sausage Vegetable Soup

Another family favorite, we just serve it to the kids with almost no broth, and cut the sausage slices into quarters. The turkey sausage looks like kielbasa, but it's turkey!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients
1 14 1/2-ounce can beef broth
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups frozen loose-pack diced hash brown potatoes
1 10-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 pound smoked turkey sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch thick pieces
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. In a large saucepan combine beef broth, undrained tomatoes and water. Bring to boiling. Stir in hash brown potatoes, mixed vegetables, sausage and pepper. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

2. Ladle into soup bowls. If desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings. (6 weight watchers points)

Harvest Vegetable and Rice Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 cans vegetable broth
  
• 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  
• 3 med. carrots, chopped
  
• 3 small zucchini, chopped
  
• 1 med. yellow bell pepper, chopped
  
• 8 med. green onions, sliced
  
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  
• 2 c. shredded cabbage
  
• 2 t dried marjoram leaves
  
• 1 t salt
  
• 1/4 t pepper
  
• 1 c. uncooked instant rice
  
• 1/4 c chopped fresh basil leaves

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients except rice and basil in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or vegetables are tender. Stir in rice. Cover and cook on low heat setting about 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in basil.

Serves 7