Recipes

[Honeybit]

After all the kind comments about the Russian Potato Mushroom Soup I posted, I thought you might like to see these also. They are all "pass-along" recipes which have grown and changed while in my cookbook. For a little bit of history, my mother never liked soup, so whenever she went out of state to visit her family, my dad and I loved to experiment with soup making -- good memories!

Hobo Stew

1/2 pound Bob Evans mild sausage
1/2 pound Jimmy Dean mild sausage (or just one pound of your favorite)
1 Vidalia onion, chopped
1-1/2 cups raw Minute rice, cooked in juice from corn, salsa, mushrooms, etc.
1 (16 oz) jar mild salsa
1 fresh small squash, cut up (optional)
1 (6 oz) jar sliced mushrooms
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can Kuner's Southwestern black beans
1 can chick peas (also known as garbanzo beans)
1 can Niblets Zesty corn or Green Giant Mexicorn

Cook sausage in skillet with the onion. Drain the vegetables and save the liquid to cook the Minute Rice (for extra flavor). Mix all the ingredients and simmer together. (I like to add the cooked rice at the very end so it doesn't overcook.) Holds well and makes the house smell wonderful if you have guests driving in who are tired at the end of a long trip.

Santa Fe Soup

2 pounds ground chuck, browned and drained
2 medium onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped fine

1 jar (16 oz) Thick & Chunky Salsa, Mild
1 (14.5 oz) can Clear Chicken Broth
1 (10.75 oz) can Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup
1 soup can water
2 cans (11 oz each) white shoepeg corn, undrained
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15.5 oz) white hominy, drained
1 can (16 oz) pinto beans, drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (16 oz) navy beans, drained
1 can (16 oz) garbanzo beans, drained
1 can (16 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can (16 oz) Ro-Tel diced tomatoes & green chilies, milder, undrained
(use the hot version if you prefer)

2 envelopes (.5 oz each) taco seasoning, mild (dry mix)
2 envelopes Ranch recipe soup & dip mix (dry mix)

You’ll probably want a 12-quart stockpot for this. Ingredients tend to accumulate when you start making this soup and decide to add something else that sounds good!

Brown meat with one of the onions. Drain and add to stockpot. Add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for two hours. Top each serving with grated cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions. Serve with cornbread or Cool Ranch Dorito chips.

(Footnote: Several times I've taken this soup to get-togethers. It's always been the guys who have asked for the recipe!)

Conversely, I got the following from the husband of one of my neighbors who traditionally brings it to New Year's Eve parties. Two secrets to its success: (1) use some of the cayenne, even if you -- like me -- don't like HOT; just a hint of "bite" is wonderful. (2) cook the shrimp separately and add just before serving (I've had it when the original cook let the shrimp overcook; tough shrimp ruin the taste of this soup.)

Spicy Corn Chowder

6 TB butter
2 small potatoes, peeled and diced (he always uses more)
2 celery sticks minced
1 small onion, minced
1-1/2 tsp salt
2 TB flour
2 TB paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional if you don't like it)
black pepper to taste
1-1/2 cups broth (chicken or seafood; may use clam broth)
1 (16 to 20 oz) frozen whole kernel white corn (better than canned corn)
1/2 pound peeled and deveined mini shrimp (use more and bigger shrimp)
2 pints Half and Half

In a saucepan on medium heat, cook potatoes, celery, onions, and salt in butter until tender, stirring often. Stir in flour, paprika, and other spices. Cook approximately 1 minute. Stir in broth and stir constantly until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add Half and Half and corn. Cook until heated through. Add warm shrimp and serve.

----------------

Related Tip --

If you like to make chili with beans or any of the various versions of Taco Soup, try adding a can of White or Yellow Hominy (or both). Once I tasted some at a chili cook-off, I no longer like chili without it. (Find Hominy in the grocery store with other types of canned corn; you'll also find it in with Mexican ingredients like Refried Beans or Black Beans.)