I don't usually post recipes because I'm not a very good cook. I do make good soups and stews though. It's fucking cold today and I have my electric throw going. Man, I love that thing. So, I figured I'd make soup 'cause it's easy and hot. I have some ham in the fridge because my girlfriend buys entire pigs and cows for her family. It sort of freaks me out, but, she likes to make sure I get some, it makes her happy to feed people. I don't care for ham, but, I like it in bean soup and I don't want it to go to waste.*
Lentils are beans. (For you young'uns.) That all they are. Restaurants who can't get rich people to order beans, serve Lentils. Please. I like them because they're tiny and cook fast and they thicken up fast too. I browned the ham in a skillet and set it aside. I rinsed one package of Lentils and put them on high heat. Lots of water in a big pot. Then I added a chopped onion and lots of herbs. I still have a ton of fresh Rosemary, but, dry works fine. I only had garlic powder so I added a bunch of that. Dried basil leaves and crushed red pepper flakes. I dunno what kind of peppers, they were ornamental..but, I washed my hands good after I touched them. They smell hot. A little bit of black pepper went in. Then a tablespoon of Worcestershire. I like the smokey taste. Oh, and some chopped Parsley, I have a bunch of that left too.
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By the time I got that done, the ham was cooled. I cubed it and threw it in the pot. No, it won't get tough, it really doesn't matter when you throw it in. Then I waited for the boil and turned the heat down. All that's left to do, is remember to stir it once in awhile. And sit here under my blanket and smell it cooking. When the Lentils are tender, I'll throw in a can of carrots. Usually, I put in fresh ones in the beggining, but, they were $6 bucks a package and that's fucked up. I already had canned ones in the cupboard.
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I love making these kinds of soups in Winter and you don't have to get all hung up on "correct" ways to do it and ingedients. Anything you like or have on hand goes in the pot. You don't have to get out in the snow and you can eat it for days. The more it's reheated the better it gets. Do you have an easy soup recipe to share?
26 comments:
Sounds yummy!
Around Christmas I had picked up a rotisserie chicken at the store. Was just cutting off slices for dinner w/other sides. Got tired of eating it that way... and really love chicken & dumplings... so, I put the bird in a pot of water to heat it up & flavor the broth (then pulled it apart)... added some veggies and seasonings & thickened the broth, then made dumplings. hmmm, good.
I posted this one a while ago, but my fam LOVES it, so here it is again:
1 rotisserie chicken
2 cans cannelini beans (drained)
1 lg jar salsa verde
32 oz low sodium chicken broth
you just throw it all in and cook it for about 45 to an hour and we eat it with sour cream and cheese and usually tortilla chips....if you guys try it, let me know what you think.
snowbunnie
snowbunnie
are you throwing the bird in bones and all or stripping it off first?
I cooked a chicken & lots of winter veg (leeks, sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions & carrots, garlic) in the slow cooker last week so had a load of lovely rich chicken stock left over so made butternut squash soup today.
1 decent sized butternut squash, 1 large onion, 2 garlic cloves & 4-5 large cups of stock. Chuck it all in the slow cooker for 3 hrs, then add a large knob of butter & cook for another 3 hrs.
Take the squash & onion & puree with a hand blender until smooth, add a pinch of dried basil, ground rock salt & black pepper & a small drizzle of maple syrup then add a stock by the spoon & blend until it gets the consistency you like.
Bloody delish & enough for 3 good sized bowls.
note; this can be cooked in a saucepan if you don't have a slow cooker, just fry the onion & garlic in the butter, then add the squash & stock & bring to the boil, simmer for about 45mins till squash is cooked & puree & blend as above.
Bubble
I love lentils. They smell so good to me when they are cooking.
I think I'll try that sqaush soup. I'll let you know how it works out.
6 bucks for carrots is criminal!
CJ, biscuit dough from a can makes GREAT dumplings! As long as it is the traditional, not the flaky style.
Meissa, thats a great tip. Thanks.
a small bag of baby carrots is $1.99 on sale! I get them sometimes and the pups love them, so I share them. But food is getting too expensive. Thank gawd for my friend that keeps me supplied with farm fresh brown eggs. They are so heavy when you hold them, compared to a carton of eggs at the store. They are wonderful. I am beginning to think we will all be thin soon soon due to lack of groceries!! Eat drink & be merry for tomorrow, we wont be able to afford food! Your soup looks so good and all thr ecipes sound yummy. Girls love soup, ya know? Its girl food. Esp the brothy veggy kinds. What a good idea. I have never used a leek, I will soon! How much is a leek costing these days? :)
rox
snowbunnie, is that rotisserie chicken cooked already & brown when you make soup with it? & whoever asked, chicken broth just wont be the same rich stock w/o the skin left on. Just clean it off when you add the meat. The fat & skin makes the broth the best.
This makes me think...has anybody ever actually made Doralees cupa-cupa-cupa cake? I have thot of it but never did. LOL
rox
dunno if you get them where you are Pat but in UK, supermarkets sell tins of pre cooked whole baby carrots. they are so tender but keep well in a soup & casseroles. 6 dollars for a bag of carrots is insane, they sell a huge bag here for about 1.50 gbp. why so expensive?
Bubble
Everything is seasonal and right now carrots are not in plenty and they cost. We don't even have leeks..I've never seen them here. Small town, limited selection of things. We pretty much just have the basics. I can't even buy rye bread here, except once a month.
Sorry,
You do pull the meat off the chicken first.....
snowbunnie
$6 for carrots?!?!? gee, i just bought a 2# bag of baby carrots for $2.49 and i thought that was expensive! i shall think not after that!!!!
as a joke years ago someone gave me oprah's cook's cookbook...in the kitchen with rosie is the title of it....well there was only one really really good recipe....can't locate the cookbook right off hand but the recipe does have lentils in it...it's an awesome vegetable lentil soup.....
sometimes i'll take left over chicken--the carcass---and put in a stock pot with water for a couple hours with onions and celery and then take the bones out and then add carrots, and other veggies and herbs and let it simmer for an hour or so.....then toss in noodles or lentils or rice or whatever i have.....
My husband works for the electric co. and loads of people around here are still without power so he's been putting in crazy shifts and eating at work. I've been living on soups. I guess it is girl food, especially in this type of weather. I made red lentil soup the other day, starting with an on-line recipe but continuing based on what I had available (the beauty of soup).
Red Lentils
Sweet Potato
Carrots
Red Bell Pepper
LOTS of Paprika (4 TB for 8 oz of lentils)
Squirt of Siracha Sauce
Another is sometimes called Italian Wedding Soup
Chicken Broth (I usually cheat & use bouillon cubes)
1 lb of frozen chopped spinach (some people use escarole)
Pastina (any small pasta like orzo)
If I'm ambitious, I'll make some tiny meatballs out of ground beef, a little seasoned breadcrumbs & parmesan cheese. Just let them cook in the soup to flavor each other.
You don't have to cook it long at all but make sure to serve with grated cheese.
Another little trick for any soup is to throw in a piece of parmesan cheese rind. You know the part that you normally throw out cause you can't grate any more cheese off it?
Snowbunnie, that's very similar to my green chili, I use ground turkey instead & yes, yummy.
Yum I love that kind of stuff. I am married to a chef so I really have nothing to share cause he spoils me rotten cooking all the time. I have lots of clean up to do.
Snowbunnie I have saved yours from the past and want to try it looks good.
Highway carrot robbery! That is 6 items on the dollar menu at Mcdonalds. No one should wonder why there is an obesity issue in this country.
I like lentils. Lentils for $6 a pack is a huge rip-off though.
What's really good and cheap is to make lentil and kidney bean casserole. All you do is saute chopped celery, chopped onion, and chopped tomato in a little butter, then add 1 can of red kidney beans (rinsed) and 1 can of lentils (not rinsed). Sprinkle with basil and oregano and put it in a casserole dish, then grate mozza cheese and cover the casserole with it. Bake it at 365 degrees for about half a hour. That's it, it's done. It's really good!
I like soup. Know what I don't like? Mean haters.
Buffalo chicken soup (I am on a diet so I make it low fat but here is the regular version)
1 can cream of celery
2 cans cream of chicken
6 cups milk (less if you want it thicker)
1 cup sour cream
1.4 cup hot sauce
As much grilled chicken (shredded) that you want
1 can of cut up carrots
Pour contents in crock pot and let be for 4-5 hours.
It's tasty and is reaching the buffalo wing craving I've been having ever since starting this diet :)
Megan...just checking. When you say 1.4 cups hot sauce, are you talking about a Tobasco type of sauce?
Love lentils too. My chili has been simmering for about two hours now and I can't wait to have myself a big ol' bowl with crusty bread. Does not really qualify as a soup but just as satisfying on cold days.
BJ, I'll bet that Megan hit the . instead of the / since they're by each other on the keyboard. That's GOT to be 1/4 cup hot sauce. Or she's got a strong stomach!
My soup turned out real good, but, I could have skipped the ham. I think I like it better when it's vegetarian.
Alison, I like Kidney beans in anything. 'Specially salads.
my apologies! I meant 1/4 cup of hot sauce. I use Franks Red Hot...it's yummy and not super strong! Yumm
Mmm! Lentil soup is mental fruit, as Dead Prez say. Sounds yum.
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