soup

Tortellini en Brodo with Spinach and Chicken

/ Kristen / Leave a comment

Tortellini Soup 2.jpg

If you’re looking for a super quick, healthy, and totally delicious dinner look no further. This soup is wonderfully flavored and thanks to the tortellini and chicken, very filling as well. I came across this recipe in my Cook’s Country magazine, the August/September 2017 issue. It’s made with ingredients that most everyone should have on hand and it comes together within minutes. The recipe calls for chicken broth however, I feel that stock imparts a richer and more flavorful profile to the soup but feel free to use whatever you have in the pantry. To save time and add an extra boost of protein I also threw in some diced rotisserie chicken. Enjoy!!

Ingredients

  • 3 tbs unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth or stock (I prefer Kitchen Basics Stock)
  • 1 tbs soy sauce
  • 8-10 ounces cheese tortellini
  • 3 oz baby spinach
  • 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8-10 oz diced Rotisserie chicken

Instructions

Melt butter over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the onion, salt, and pepper. Cook until the onions are softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the broth/stock and soy sauce and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the pasta and cook until al dente. Remove the soup from the heat and add the spinach, cheese, and diced rotisserie chicken. Serve hot.

French Onion Soup Gratinee

/ Kristen / Leave a comment

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup is one of my favorites and I’ve tried it out at countless restaurants over the years. Some have been delicious, some have been just okay and others have tasted like dish water. But this recipe right here is top-notch! I am heads over heels in love with this version and it’s the only one I make in my kitchen. This soup is rich, beefy, and has such a nice complex flavor. It’s an amazing dish to have on a cold winters night, just add a crusty loaf of bread and a nice glass of wine and you have a perfect evening meal!

When making this dish, make sure you take the time to fully caramelize the onions. It’s the “hardest” step of this soup but it will yield an incredible flavor when it’s finished. Wine is also called for in this recipe, I almost always use Bogle Merlot but by all means, use whatever red wine is your favorite or that you have on hand. Lastly, don’t feel obligated to stick to only mozzarella cheese on top. I am always changing up what cheese I use and sometimes I use a blend. My favorites are Gruyère, Asiago, Parmesan, and of course, mozzarella. You can’t go wrong with any of these! Also, don’t hesitate to throw in a little extra red wine or Worcestershire sauce, it only makes it that much more delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 5 tbs unsalted butter
  • 2 lg red onions, sliced thin
  • 2 lg vidalia onions, sliced thin 
  • 48 oz chicken stock (I prefer the Kitchen Basics brand) 
  • 14 oz beef broth
  • 3/4 cup good red wine
  • 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce 
  • 2 sprigs fresh parsley 
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme 
  • 1-2 bay leaves 
  • Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbs balsamic vinegar
  • 4 thick slices of rustic, crusty bread
  • 8 slices of Gruyère
  • 8 slices of mozzarella
  • Parmesan, for sprinkling

Instructions

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in salt, pepper, and onions. Cook 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until caramelized and almost syrupy. If the onions start to stick to the pan too much, lower the heat and add a little extra butter.

Add the wine and deglaze the pan. Add in the Worcestershire, chicken stock and beef broth. Bundle the herbs in a tea strainer or cheesecloth and add them to the pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer over medium heat for about 25-30 minutes.

Remove the herb bundle, add the vinegar and adjust seasonings. Cover and keep on low while you prepare the bowls.

Preheat broiler. Place 4 oven safe bowls on a sturdy cookie sheet. Place one slice of bread in each bowl and then ladle in the soup. Top with cheese. Broil until brown and bubbly. Serve hot.

 

 

 

Mommy’s Chicken Soup

/ Kristen / Leave a comment

chicken soup

There is nothing better when you’re feeling a little under the weather than a hot, steaming bowl of homemade chicken soup. It is so warm and comforting and for me, it always reminds me of being a kid. I grew up on my Mom’s chicken soup, it was a staple in our house in the wintertime and one of the meals I’d often request if I got to choose. It’s a very basic, simple recipe but it’s just perfect!

I use to make this on the stovetop and let it simmer most of the day until the chicken was cooked through and falling from the bone. The problem is, cooking it this way binds you to the house for hours so instead, I starting making it in my Crock Pot. It comes out great every time and you’re free to go about your day and then come home to a nice, hot meal. I usually cook this on low for about 7 hours or until the chicken easily falls from the bone. If you get a late start and are pressed for time, you can also cook it on high for about 5 hours or again, until the chicken falls from the bone. You can even cook it with frozen chicken, you will just have to adjust the cooking time and let it go a touch longer.

This soup will keep for about 2-3 days in the fridge and it can also be frozen. If you freeze it, you may need to add a little more stock to the pot when you warm it back up. Also, do NOT add the pasta directly to the pot of soup. The pasta will absorb all of the broth and become mushy so I keep the pasta separate and add it it to the individual bowls as I am serving.

Ingredients

  • 1 box (32 oz) of good chicken stock (I like Kitchen Basics brand)
  • 2 cups of cold water
  • 2 large bone in split chicken breasts
  • 2 cups of petite baby carrots or about 2-3 carrots sliced
  • 3 ribs of celery, thinly sliced
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbs parsley
  • 1 package of wide egg noodles or orzo pasta

Instructions

Place the chicken in the bottom of the Crock Pot then add all of the veggies and seasonings. Pour in the chicken stock and water. Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours or until the chicken falls easily from the bone.

Towards the end of the cooking, boil the pasta and set aside. You can a little olive oil to the pasta to prevent it from sticking and forming a clump.

Remove the chicken from the Crock Pot and using two forks, pull the chicken from the bone. Discard all of the bones and skin and then return the chicken to the pot. Adjust seasonings as needed.

Place a scoop of pasta into a soup bowl, cover with a hearty ladling of soup, and serve hot. Enjoy!

chickensoup