Canned soup is an inexpensive meal that is easy to make. All you have to do is open up the can and heat up the contents. Unfortunately, this can get boring fast. What is an amateur cook to do? If you are in a hurry, you are probably not going to be able to cook a full meal from scratch. The good news is that you can improve any can of soup to make things more interesting, without things getting complicated.
The right additions can turn your canned soup from a bland sort of meal to a fabulous one. For instance, a few extra vegetables can make things a lot more fun. Chop up whatever you have around and saute it quickly in a pan, or just cook it a little in the microwave. Add the partially cooked veggies to your soups and improve the flavor right away.
You can use frozen vegetables, as well. They require even less work than using fresh vegetables or many types of leftovers. Just pour them out of the bag and heat. There is a real difference in taste. Try corn or green beans in chowders or cream soups, for instance.
Meat can make an excellent addition to soups, as well, and it is a great way to use up leftovers. For a tasty chicken soup, save bits from a previous chicken meal, warm them briefly in the microwave, and add to your canned meal for a better taste. Any kind of meat, including seafood, can be used. Just make sure you cook it thoroughly before eating, for safety’s sake.
For those who do not usually have much in the way of meaty leftovers, canned meats can come to the rescue. There are great canned chicken, shrimp, crab, and other meat options out there that can really help you add interest to your soups. It is amazing how easy soup recipes can be.
Grains make great soup addition, as well. If you have a half cup of rice, a spoonful of pilaf, or half a serving of pasta left some night, don’t throw it out. Instead, put it in a bag in the fridge, and then add it to your next soup meal.
Check out your spices and condiments. Some of them can make a boring soup much more interesting. A sprinkle of garlic salt, basil, oregano, or red pepper could add that flavor you have been looking for. A splash of sherry or wine, or a little bit of an interesting vinegar (balsamic is great) are also excellent options. You can get creative with your options, too. A little bit of soy sauce adds an interesting depth of flavor.
Cheese and other dairy products work well, too. Grate a little fresh cheese on top of a soup, or add it to cream soups when heating for a delicious cheesy option. How about a spoonful of sour cream? Add it after heating the soup to make your meal a little richer.
Choose your chicken soup recipe with care. You want to use fresh ingredients and make it from scratch for the most incredible flavor. Canned soups are okay, but they tend to be loaded with sodium. Make it yourself and you can add all kinds of delicious herbs and seasonings.
Filed under Dinner, Fat Burning Foods, Lunch, Negative Calorie Foods, Soup by on Mar 12th, 2010. Comment. 
There is nothing as comforting as a hot bowl of homemade soup. It warms your belly, making you feel content and cared for. Many consider making soup from scratch to be intimidating, but it is really very easy once you have given it a try. When you use your slow cooker, it is even easier.
Soups for the Slow Cooker
Almost any kind of soup can be made in a slow cooker. Whether you prefer simpler soups like vegetable beef or lentil soup, or if your favorites include fancier soups like vichyssoise or pot-au-feu, your slow cooker will come in handy. You can even create delicate soups such as trout chowder or crab soup in a slow cooker while you attend to other tasks. If you like ethnic soups like Indian Dal or Italian Wedding soup, they also turn out perfectly in a slow cooker.
It does not matter what your favorite soup is… you can probably make it in your slow cooker. Leftovers work, too. If you have a ham bone left, toss it in with some split peas for yummy pea soup, or add some navy beans to make a hearty bean soup.
Even soups that seem more complicated, like cheddar cheese or clam chowder, can easily be made in your slow cooker. Whether it is something simple like chicken soup or more complicated, you can make all your favorite soups. Use your favorite ingredients like noodles, dumplings or rice… whichever you prefer.
New Soups
Maybe you will want to try a soup you have never tasted before. Trying new dishes is fun! Take a chance and try a new slow cooker soup. Have you ever tried a taco soup? What about cheesy meatball soup or deviled chicken soup? Ever tried a garden cabbage soup? There are many different soups out there just waiting to become your new favorite!
With a little inspiration, you can create your own slow cooker soup recipes. Why not give it a try? The slow cooker lets you make a few mistakes. It will tenderize a tough piece of meat. Adding different vegetables and herbs add a delicious, complex flavor to your soup. If you like a creamy soup, add some milk or cream towards the end of your cooking time. Let your imagination run wild.
Traditional soups like chicken and dumplings, beef noodle and potato soup are great, too. For something a little different, mix up the ingredients a bit. Try adding bacon or ham to your potato soup, or put brown rice in your beef soup. Adding a new twist can be a lot of fun.
You can even press your slow cooker into service after the holidays to make your day after easier. Add leftover turkey from Thanksgiving to the slow cooker to make a delicious turkey soup. Add rice, potatoes, or noodles, whichever you like best. Add in leftover vegetables like peas, squash, carrots, or leftover gravy. You will end up with a new way to enjoy the fruits of your labors from before the big day. Slow cookers are a great way to use up these leftover goodies.
Soup can be clear and delicate or creamy and thick. Both are definitely delicious. Whether you prefer a clear soup or a creamy soup, you can’t do better than to serve it up with some hot crusty bread or some fresh biscuits, hot from the oven. Your family will love it!
Filed under Dinner, Fat Burning Foods, Fat Burning Recipes, Negative Calorie Foods, Soup by on Dec 11th, 2009. Comment.
Most of us eat soup from a can from time to time. After all, it is easy to make and relatively cheap, too. The downside is that it can get pretty boring, and for those of us without much time, it may be the only solution. Fortunately, you do not have to be stuck with dull soup. There are some great ways to make your soup better without a lot of work. Here are a few.
The right additions can turn your canned soup from a bland sort of meal to a fabulous one. For instance, a few extra vegetables can make things a lot more fun. Chop up whatever you have around and saute it quickly in a pan, or just cook it a little in the microwave. Add the partially cooked veggies to your soups and improve the flavor right away.
Do not forget the frozen vegetables, either. Adding a handful of frozen corn or peas to a can of soup can make it a lot more interesting, especially when you are talking about chowders and cream soups. It does not get much easier than this – just add the veggies and heat.
Meat can make an excellent addition to soups, as well, and it is a great way to use up leftovers. For a tasty chicken soup, save bits from a previous chicken meal, warm them briefly in the microwave, and add to your canned meal for a better taste. Any kind of meat, including seafood, can be used. Just make sure you cook it thoroughly before eating, for safety’s sake.
If leftovers are not common in your kitchen, you can try canned meats instead. Chicken, shrimp, or other options make a canned soup a lot more interesting. Add canned crab to a standard can of clam chowder for mixed seafood chowder. Put chicken in vegetable and noodle soups. Everyone loves a great cup of soup.
Grains make great soup addition, as well. If you have a half cup of rice, a spoonful of pilaf, or half a serving of pasta left some night, don’t throw it out. Instead, put it in a bag in the fridge, and then add it to your next soup meal.
Check out your spices and condiments. Some of them can make a boring soup much more interesting. A sprinkle of garlic salt, basil, oregano, or red pepper could add that flavor you have been looking for. A splash of sherry or wine, or a little bit of an interesting vinegar (balsamic is great) are also excellent options. You can get creative with your options, too. A little bit of soy sauce adds an interesting depth of flavor.
Last, but not least, do not forget about dairy. A little freshly grated cheese can make your soup much tastier, and some soups benefit greatly from a spoonful of sour cream. Do not overdo it, and always add these after heating to prevent separation (to create a cheese soup, you can add grated cheese to a cream soup when heating). You will love the taste that results.
A chicken soup recipe is just the thing when you don’t feel good. It is gentle on the stomach and soothing to the throat. It helps drain the sinuses so you can breathe. This is the best tasting medicine on the planet, so go ahead and eat a large bowl. You’ll feel better sooner.
