Soup On A Whim Food

SPRING MINESTRONE VERDE WITH PISTACHIO PESTO

Steps:

• Make the soffritto:
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook onions, leeks, and celery, stirring often, until soft but not browned, 6-8 minutes. Season with salt.
• Make the pesto:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Let cool; crush using a small saucepan (you want a mix of sizes).
• Pulse garlic, basil, parsley, and 1/3 cup oil in a food processor until a coarse purée forms. Transfer to a medium bowl and mix with Parmesan, lemon zest, crushed nuts, and remaining 1/3 cup oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Make the soup:
• Heat oil in a medium pot over medium-high. Cook thyme, bay leaf, and 1/2 cup soffritto, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. (Reserve remaining soffritto for another use.) Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and add sugar snap peas; cook until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add kale, beans, and peas and cook until kale is wilted and peas are tender, about 3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
• Serve soup, topped with some Parmesan and red pepper flakes, with toast and pesto.
• Do Ahead
• Soffritto can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill, or freeze up to 1 month.

FIVE-BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat stove-top to medium high heat.
• In a large pot, saute the diced onions and red pepper until onions go clear.
• Add garlic and saute together well for about a minute.
• Add broth and tomato sauce.
• Drain and rinse all the beans and add them to the pot.
• Mix the pot continually until it slowly begins to bubble on the edges.
• Add the cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and mix until well combined and soup is pretty much to a boil.
• Top with sour cream and green onions or tortilla chips.
• Serve warm

HAMBURGER AND RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except chedder cheese in a casserole. Cover and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or cover and microwave for 8 minutes (microwave time depends upon your microwave). When time is up, place sliced cheese on top of casserole and place back in oven uncovered until cheese is melted or place uncovered in microwave for 1 minute. Enjoy!
• The prep time is estimated since I brown all meat for the week on the weekend and then use it as I need it.

BEST DIET CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Throw EVERYTHING into a big pot!
• Cover everything with water and place on the stove. You want the water to be just covering all the vegetables by a half inch or so, unless you want it really soupy--then add more water.
• Bring everything to a boil, then slightly turn down the heat so the soup boils gently for about ten minutes.
• Cover and simmer until all the vegetables are soft. Season to taste.