LENTIL SOUP

GERMAN LENTIL SOUP

We all liked this. It was posted on the Allred Biggest Loser Blog by Melody. This is what she said about it:

I made this soup for my family, my parents, and my sister's family. Everybody gobbled it up and wanted more, even the kids. We realized that it is actually quite healthy! It's got lots of fiber and nutrients, as well as being relatively low-calorie. Yes, it has bacon in it, but is also makes about 8 servings, so you are only getting a half a slice of bacon, which isn't bad at all. Enjoy!

4 bacon slices, diced
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, sliced
3 or 4 celery stalks, sliced
1 ham steak, cut up
1 16 oz package brown lentils
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
8 cups hot water
2 tsp salt

---2 T lemon juice (the lemon juice makes it!)

In 5 quart pon over medium-high heat, fry bacon until lightly browned (next time I would cook it until almost crisp). Add onions, celery, and carrots and cook until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add ham, lentils, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, hot water, and salt. Cover and simmer over low heat 1 hour or until lentils are tender. Discard bay leaves.

Stir in lemon juice.

INSTANT POT LENTILS
https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-lentils
I really liked this recipe.  Tasted like minestroni soup.  Really good with croutons or crackers.
I soaked and rinsed my lentils.  I also cooked them for about 2 minutes in the instant pot and then rinsed again.  I felt this helped a lot with the gassiness.

2 cups lentils
4 cups vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
2 carrots, roughly diced
2 ribs celery, roughly diced
2 T unsalted butter or olive oil (I didn't use this - just used vegetable stock)
1 # smoked kielbasa sausage (didn't add)
1 onion, roughly diced
1 shallot, roughly diced
6 cloves garlic, roughly diced
14 oz crushed tomatoes
1 tsp cumin seed, ground
1 T regular soy sauce
1 T fish sauce (can substitute with regular soy sauce)

Garnish: (didn't do this)
dash of balsamic vinegar
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in saute more function to heat up Instant Pot.  Wait until HOT appears on the screen (8 min)

Add to 2 T butter or oil or broth - add in sausage and saute 5 min

Add in diced onion, shallots and saute for 3 minutes.  Add in minced garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin and 2 bay leaves then saute another minute.

Pour in 1/2 cup unsalted stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot.  Give it a quick mix.

Add in 2 cups green lentils, diced carrots,, diced celery, 1 T soy sauce 1 T fish sauce.  Pour in 3 1/2 cups stock then give it a quick mix.  Layer 14 oz crushed tomatoes on top of the other ingredients in Instant Pot - do not mix!

Make sure venting position is on sealing.  Pressure cook 10 minutes - natural release 10 minutes.

If you want it thicker, change to saute more function.  Take a little out and put in a bowl to see if you like the balsamic vinegar before adding to the whole pot.

Curried Sweet Potato, Lentil and Chicken Soup

1	large or 2 medium dark-orange sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (2 cups)
1/4	cup chopped onion
1/2	cup apple juice
1/2	cup water
2	cans (19 oz each) Progresso® Vegetable Classics lentil soup
1 1/2	cups Green Giant® frozen cut green beans
1	cup finely chopped cooked chicken
2	to 3 teaspoons curry powder

1.

In 3-quart saucepan heat sweet potatoes, onion, apple juice and water to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 5 minutes.

2.

Stir in soup, beans, chicken and curry powder. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. 1 Serving: Calories 220 (Calories from Fat 30); Total Fat 3 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol20mg; Sodium 670mg; Total Carbohydrate 34g (Dietary Fiber 6g, Sugars 6g); Protein 14g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 150%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 6%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 1Vegetable; 1 Very Lean Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

CHILI

STEVE’S CHILE
Got this recipe from Candace (Pacific Yurts). We love it!
UPDATE: Won 2nd place at Chile Cookoff contest October 2016 at church before trunk or treat.

Brown together until done;
1 - 1 ½ # hamburger
1 chopped onion

Add:
1 lg can crushed tomatoes
1 T chili powder
½ cup salsa
1 lg squirt ketchup
cayenne pepper to taste

Add enough water to cover.  Cover and simmer for 1 hour (or put in crock pot).  Un-cover and simmer for another hour.

Add 1 can of beans (kidney is what we like best but anything works).


Heat until beans are hot.  Serve with grated cheese, raw onion or sour cream.

CAMPBELL'S 2-BEAN CHILI

This is so easy to make and everyone likes it. For leftovers, I like to bake potatoes and have it as a topping for another meal.

1# ground beef or turkey

1 large green pepper, chopped (I have never had on hand, so never added)

1 large onion, chopped

2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

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3 cups Campbell's Tomato Juice

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can great Northern beans (or white beans), drained and rinsed

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options to put on top:

Sour cream

grated cheese

sliced green onions

chopped tomatoes

bacon, cooked and broken into small pieces

Cook beef/turkey, green pepper, onion, chili powder and black pepper in a skillet.

Stir in tomato juice and beans into skillet (I transfered to a pot). Reduce heat to low and cook until hot and bubbling. Top with any of the desired toppings.

"HEALTHIFIED" SALSA-BEEF CHILI

We all really liked this. Made it with the cornbread Taste of Home Contest Winning pg 156 (Creole Corn Bread).

1# extra-lean beef or turkey

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped - I used minced

2 can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 jar (16 oz) salsa

1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup water

1-2 T chili powder

2 tsp. sugar (I think you wouldn't need to add)

2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. oregano leaves

Top with cheese, sour cream and green onions.

Cook meat and onion. After draining grease add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

CHIPOTLE TURKEY CHILI

This recipe came from a EAT BETTER AMERICA 2011 calendar. Scott and I both really liked it, but it was a little too hot for the kids. I don't normally like cilantro, but I really liked it in this recipe. It really added to the flavor. We had it with cranberry cornbread - yum!

3/4# lean ground turkey

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 T finely chopped garlic (I used minced)

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1 cup whole kernel corn, thawed

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, undrained (I would drain and soak for 5 minutes and rinse)

1/2 cup chicken broth (I used a 2 cup can)

1/4 tsp salt (didn't add)

1 chipotle chile in adobo sacue* (from 7 oz can) finely chopped (freeze rest)

*found by enchilada sauce or green chilies

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1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

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shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

In a 4-quart saucepan, cook turkey, onion and garlic over medium-high heat 4-6 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink; drain and blot with paper towels.

Stir in corn, beans, broth, salt and chile. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer 10-15 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally.

Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup of the cilantro (I added it all at once). If didn't already add, serve rest of sour cream and cilantro to go on top along with the cheese.