Yummy, Cheesy Lasagna Soup

Due to Emily's basketball practices and games, I haven't been that good about getting a full week's menu planned, shopped for and produced. So, I've resigned myself that until this basketball season is over I'm only committing to making one or two new recipes per week. 

This one I found at the website Our Table for Seven for Cheesy Lasagna Soup was a gem of a find. 

First, the ingredients are "normal" ingredients with the majority already being staples in most pantries. The only items I had to buy were the ground turkey and lasagna noodles. Secondly, this is such an easy recipe to make and doesn't take that long. I made it in two parts due to a basketball practice for Emily. Earlier in the afternoon, I prepared the soup base bringing it to a boil and then allowing it to simmer the recommended 15 minutes. When we got home from practice, I brought it back to a boil, adding the noodles and allowing it to cook until the noodles were softened. 

Finally, and most importantly the taste was amazing! The Parmesan cheese really thickened the broth so that you could actually eat it with a fork. Everyone gave it a big thumbs up and it is so tasty I would definitely make it as a meal for company. 

Two things I would change for the next time is to cut the Parmesan to 3/4 of a cup from one cup maybe even start with a half cup and determine if more is needed. Also, the mozzarella garnish although good was really not that necessary so I will eliminate it the next time.

This is definitely one you must try and please come back and tell me what you think.

As always, thanks for stopping by! 

Soupdillicious!

Once again, I have found another absolutely amazing soup recipe. It is truly scrumpdillicious or should I say soupdillicious. 

I made this Monday night while the boys were at a baseball game. Emily and I did not stay for the game due to the cool, rainy weather along with her homework load. While she worked on her homework, I made the soup. I found this recipe for Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup at the website Key Ingredient through Pinterest.  

This is such an easy recipe. I didn't make any modifications this first time. Next time, I may use a light cream in place of the half and half to lighten it. Oh, I also didn't add the Parmesan garnish, just remembered that. The boys reheated the soup when they got home from the game and it was a BIG hit. We all gave it a thumbs up and the request was made that this soup be made again when the next cool, rainy day passes through.  

Its a soup you definitely need to try! 

Easy and Delicious

Baseball season has resulted in trying to create quick and easy meals. Meals that can be quickly made or reheated after the game. 

The start of the season tended to be on the cool side as we here in the Northeast are experiencing a true spring this year. Soup seemed like a no brainer due to the cooler temperatures and the ease of preparation. I found this recipe for Cheesy Chicken Meatball and Tortellini Soup in my Fitness magazine. This soup is so easy to make. I was able to make it in just a few minutes after we came home from the game. The ingredients are simple and I didn't have to make any substitutions. I was able to find the Aidells chicken meatballs that are made with Italian seasoning. 

The whole family loved this soup and everyone gave it a thumbs up. This will definitely be a part of our "soup" menu for the cooler seasons.

Another Yummy Soup!

The end of last week including the weekend got a little unpredictable with Matt's new baseball schedule.

What I've learned is that planning meals around practices and games is a little difficult and, for me personally, very frustrating. 

Thankfully the meals I had on the menu were able to be held over to this week and nothing has gone to waste.

Last night, Matt had practice at 5:30. We got to the field a little before his practice time. Thankfully, Dave didn't have to work too late, so he came to the field and I headed home to make dinner for when everyone (Emily was scootering at the field) got home.

Even though it was a warm night, soup was still a good option.  I found this recipe in Fitness Magazine and located a link here on Pinterest.

This Cheesy Chicken Meatball and Tortellini Soup was so quick and easy. The best part is it makes 4 servings just the right amount for our family. Everyone liked it - 4 thumbs up!!

Thursday - Creamy Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup

When I was planning the menu for this week, I never considered what the weather would be like. Thank goodness today was a soup day. Here in northeasten New Jersey the temperature took a bit of a nose dive and the wind was howling most of the day.

Now, this particular soup is not new to the family. I made it several weeks ago and it was a big hit. In order to keep the family interested in trying new recipes, I included two recipes we already tried and added to the family menu binder. 

This soup is so yummy, I must share the blog where it is found again Heather Likes Food, I promise if you try it you will like it.

Enjoy!!

The Food Rating are In

Yay, I am back in the weekly dinner menu routine again.  
I took the time on Monday to make up a menu plan for the next month.  Our family has favorite "easy" meals but I find that I really do like to cook and expose the family to new food. 
We have instituted a food rating here to determine if a meal should be added to our family menu binder. It is a pretty simple rating: thumbs up for "yummy, make it again", thumb side ways for "okay, but not great" and thumbs down for "please not again" - majority rules. 
So, here are the new "items" we have tried so far this week:

Skinny Chicken Parmesan Muffins:

This meal got a thumbs up from everyone. The recipe can be found at Skinny Mom.  I think the kids love this because it was shaped into a muffin. Also, Emily had no complaints that it was made with chicken.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork:

Everyone but Emily liked this meal. We tried to tell her "at least its not chicken".  I don't know where I go the recipe from but here it is:

Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork

Crockpot: 4-6 High; 8-10 Low

1/2 c chopped onion

2-4 lb. hunk of pork

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 c water

1/2 c ketchup

3 T red wine vinegar

2 T brown sugar

2 T soy sauce

1 t dijon

1/2 t pepper

salt

Arrange onions in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place pork on top and spread garlic on pork.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over pork. For best results, cook on LOW 8-10 hours, or HIGH for 4-6. 

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies:

It was time to try a treat. I found this recipe at Tidy Mom. Everyone knows how much I love red velvet so making this cookie should be no surprise. This one got 4 thumbs up, no surprise there either.

Baked Potato Soup:

Made this soup tonight for dinner. The recipe can be found at Skinny Taste. This one had mixed ratings:  Emily, side thumb; Matt, thumb down; me, side thumb; Dave, thumb up. Matt, doesn't like mashed potatoes so the fact the he gave it a thumbs down wasn't a surprise but he did eat the whole bowl. I liked it but wasn't "wowed" by it. 

So far it has been more good than bad ratings and we have more to go this week too!!  

Brrr, so cold.....Mmmm, yummy soup!!

I've gotten back into the menu/meal planning mode this week and I'm off to a great start!

Pinterest has once again provided a winner recipe. This soup is made in the crock pot, so easy and so perfect for this very cold spell we are having here in NJ. 

The recipe for this Creamy Tortellini Soup can be found at the blog Heather Likes Food. It got a thumbs up from all four of us and I would highly recommend it. So easy, so delicious!!!!

Dinner Is Served!

I've been trying to get more consistent with cooking at home and limiting our eating out so I've been making a bunch of different recipes I "pinned" on Pinterest. Tonight was no exception. This evening's meal was Lasagna soup. 

Personally I loved it!  It is a tomato/sausage broth that you pour over a dollop of cheesy goodness and noodles. The kids were not so thrilled with it. Maybe because it was soup and in their minds it is still summer. Their complaints were from there being "crunchies" in it (what Matt calls onions) to the bits of tomato being too large (Emily's complaint). They did end up eating it. Of course, I did tell them that was all I was making for dinner and if they didn't eat it they wouldn't get a snack tonight. To be honest, I think they are just getting tired of eating at home. Matt was asking when we could have Chinese food. 

Like I said I really enjoyed it and will give it another try when the fall comes - this time omitting the onions for onion powder and using crushed tomato instead.  I found the recipe on the blog A Farm Girl Dabbles .  If you try it let me know your opinion. 

Chicken Ravioli Soup

Tonight we had another Pinterest inspired dinner. 

I would say this is a quick version of chicken noodle soup using mini ravioli instead of noodles. It does ask for 1 cup of cooked chicken. I had to poach chicken for the Chicken Ranch Tacos I made earlier this week so I made sure there was extra for today's soup. 

It tasted very good and was just so quick and easy. The kids liked it too!  Dave has yet to eat as he is still at work BUT it is an easy reheat! I will definitely make it again in the fall when a bowl of warm soup is so inviting.  

The link I found the recipe at is: http://family.go.com/food/recipe-630322-chicken-ravioli-soup--t/

Enjoy!!!