MONDAY RECIPE POST - A SOUP FOR BUSY DAYS

This week's recipe came from Simple Stacie, another great food blog whose host Stacie lives in Ontario, Canada.  This is the link to her recipe.

Busy Day Soup

Serves 6
Calories per serving 230, which does not include our additions of the peppers and the spoonful of sour cream.

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

1 lb. ground beef
1 package onion soup mix (there is also a copycat homemade version to replace the store-bought onion soup mix packet below)
1-3/4 cups mixed frozen vegetables
5 cups water
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 cup macaroni, uncooked

In a large soup pot, brown ground beef.  Drain off fat.  Pour in water, onion soup mix and tomatoes with juice.  Simmer for 1 hour on medium low.

Add macaroni and frozen vegetables.  Cook 15 minutes longer on medium heat.  Serve hot.

Nutritional information:

Calories: 230  
Total Fat: 3.1g
Saturated Fat: 1.3g
Trans Fat: 0.1g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.4g
Cholesterol: 45.2 mg
Sodium: 522.4mg
Carbohydrates: 28.5g
Fiber: 5.1g
Sugar: 5 g
Protein: 22.1g

I have made this twice now, once for our last lot of company, and yesterday for us.  It was enjoyed by all.

This is one of the easier prep soups we have made.  We added extra pasta and a few cups of beef broth the second time as we wanted more broth.  Also, because the pasta is not pre-cooked, we thought it would have absorbed more broth.  The noodles are added to the soup the last 15 minutes of cooking time. 

I exchanged the macaroni for bowtie pasta.

Last weekend I put a small cheese tray together for our company.  I was looking for extra color and I came across the above at the supermarket.  On the packet they are called Sweety Drop Peruvian Peppers and are 25 calories for 2 tablespoons.   They are tiny peppers not much bigger than the size of a green pea.  I have been eating them as a snack and what I had left I added them to the broth.  They are pickled but not overpowering, and they made a nice flavor addition to the soup.  I like these and would buy them again if available.

We put a dollop of sour cream on top for garnish.

The soup is delicious.  The temperature has taken a bit of a nose-dive again and soup is always a great comfort food on a chilly night.

I made cornbread to serve with the soup but you really don't need anything else as it is very hearty and good on its own.

Added recipe:

Copycat Onion Soup Mix
If you are like me and trying to delete as many preservatives and additives out of your life as you can, I found this copycat version here at 'A Mind "Full" of Mom'.

Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
This homemade recipe is gluten-free, paleo, whole 30 approved, egg free, corn free and vegan, for those who need to take note.  The host of  'A Mind "Full" of Mom' says it is just like Lipton Onion Soup Mix, and is great for a variety of recipes.  

Preparation time: 5 minutes 

1/2 cup dried onion flakes 
1 teaspoon onion powder 
1 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/2 teaspoon celery powder 
1/2 teaspoon pepper 
1 teaspoon dried parsley 
1 teaspoon salt 

Combine and store in airtight container.    

Dry onion soup mix can be stored in your pantry for up to three months for best flavor.

When a recipe calls for 1 packet of dried onion soup mix, use 1/4 cup of this homemade blend.

Have a great week everyone and thank you for visiting.