Soup Season: Part Two

Three Family Friendly Soup Recipes Sure To Be Your New Favorites

Welcome back soup fans! In the first installment of this series, I shared my favorite multipurpose paleo soup base and three recipes you can use to get started. If you missed it, don’t worry! Soup Season: Part One is just a simple click away. All caught up? Then, let’s get started…

In this second installment, we’re going to take a break from the word “paleo” and side step into the realm of “family favorites.” After all, we can’t forget about the people who don’t like “green things” (or coconut milk, or nutritional yeast, etc.). Wink!

If you’re looking for a cheesy comfort soup, I’ve got ya’ covered. Do you want a spicy chili perfect for crowded football Sundays? Got that in here too! Believe me when I say part two won’t have you asking “where’s the beef?” These soups are meaty, hardy, and hot. Let’s go!

Don’t Forget The Sidekicks

But before we tackle each recipe, let’s take a minute to appreciate the real game changers…the accompaniments. What do I mean by that? Well, an accompaniment is anything you serve on top of, or on the side of, your favorite soup. Each family’s preferences are as unique as each soup.

For example, one of my favorite people on the planet thought I was nuts when I said I had never heard of peanut butter sandwiches being served with chili. Her eyes got even bigger when I told her that in the area I live in, we serve it with cinnamon rolls. A third party that was present agreed to disagree. They said cornbread was the only way to go. After trying out all three, I have to admit….cornbread won. Check out my favorite cornbread recipe at Food.com.

If all that hullabaloo was just over chili accompaniments, what about other soups? Well, I can tell you that crackers, cheese, and sour cream are pretty standard in my house (at least for the ones that eat dairy). Sometimes we’ll have crescent rolls, biscuits, grilled cheese, or these phenomenal old fashioned dinner rolls. Whatever you choose to serve with your favorite soup, be sure to measure it with your heart. Soup is for the soul after all.

Without further adieu, I give you my top three family favorite soups…Vegetable Beef, Cheeseburger, and Kitchen Sink Chili.

The Recipes

Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients

1 tbsp butter
1.5-2lbs stew meat
1 medium onion, diced
1 can diced tomatoes
2-3 potatoes, diced

1 bag frozen mixed veggies
8 cups beef broth (or 8 cups of water and 9-10 bouillon cubes)
salt, pepper, Italian seasoning to taste.

Directions

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Sautee beef an onion in melted butter until beef is brown and onion is translucent. Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 1-2 hours, or until beef is tender. Add small amounts of water if broth gets to low. Season to taste and serve.

Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients

1lb ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup diced celery
4 cups diced potatoes
4 cups chicken broth (or 4 cups of water and 5 bouillon cubes)

1 tsp basil
1/4 cup flour
8-16oz Velveeta (depending on desired cheesiness preference)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Brown ground beef in a large pot. Add in onion, carrot, celery, and basil and sauté until veggies are tender. Add in potatoes and flour. Mix well. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until potatoes are fork tender. Add in milk and Velveeta cheese. Heat until cheese is melted. Turn off heat and add sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Kitchen Sink Chili

Ingredients

2lbs ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 can great northern beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can refried beans

1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 large V8 juice
1 can of beer
2 packets chili seasoning
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp granulated sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large stock pot, brown ground beef and drain. Add garlic, onion, and yellow pepper and sauté until tender. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an hour.

Conclusion

My parents used to joke when I was a child, that no matter what restaurant we ate at, I’d always ask for soup and salad. Who would have thought that nearly three decades later I’d be sharing my favorite foods with all of you!

I sure hope that you’ve enjoyed reading my soup season series as much as I have enjoyed writing it. In all honesty, I could continue this series for several more weeks to come. The possibilities are endless! But alas, I’ll be moving on to more festive posts and saving the extra soupy goodness for a later date.

Speaking of….be sure to stay tuned for a special holiday post coming your way NOVEMBER 7th!

HAPPY SOUP SEASON YA’LL!