Tex Mex Turkey Soup

This delicious recipe is from my amazing friend, Karen. She is such a good cook and I love trying everything that comes out of her kitchen. This soup is a nice change from the traditional, uses up leftover turkey (or like I do, buy one on sale around the holidays, cook it up and freeze it for recipes like this) and will leave you fighting for any leftovers. 

 

Tex Mex Turkey Soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. minced onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
4 c. water
1 can tomato soup
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 c. salsa
4 c. shredded cooked turkey
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can black beans
2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. chopped cilantro

Cook onion and garlic in heated oil ~4 min. until soft. Add chili powder, cumin and oregano, cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in water, soup, tomatoes, salsa, turkey, parsley and bouillon, bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes longer. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20-30 minutes. Serve with:

6 c. corn tortilla chips
3/4 c. green onions, chopped
1 c. shredded cheese
1/2 c. chopped cilantro
1/2 c. sour cream

Let everyone put on desired toppings and enjoy :)

Chocolate Velvet Dessert

Some people buy their Valentine chocolates and flowers, I bake! And this was part of Lyndon's Valentines' gift this year, and oh boy! was it delicious! Don't count calories with this one, because you don't want to know, but once a year it is fun to make something special and memorable. You only need a thin slice because it is filling. This would be an awesome WOW dessert to make for a crowd :)

 

 

Chocolate Velvet Dessert

 

1 1/2 c. chocolate crumbs

1/4 c. butter, melted

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

6 egg yolks

1 3/4 c. heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

 

Combine crumbs and melted butter and press into a greased 9" spring form pan, bake at 350 for 10 min. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips in a large pot, stir till smooth and allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl whisk together egg yolks, cream and vanilla, slowly add to melted chocolate whisking beating vigorously until smooth. Pour into crust and bake at 350 for an additional 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 hour, then run a knife around the edge and refrigerate overnight.

 

1/2 c. butter, room temperature

3 c. icing sugar

3 Tbsp. cocoa

3-4 Tbsp. milk

 

Beat together, and pipe onto cooled cake.

Tomato Soup

My husband loves tomato soup from a can, I'm not sure how this is better than a homemade soup from scratch but nonetheless it's a staple of his. This is a quick and easy recipe from my childhood that dresses up that can of tomato soup and makes it a bit heartier, it's one of those recipes that you just throw in general amounts, so I'll try my best to put a measurement to each of the ingredients. You can adjust the spiciness by how much of the taco seasoning you add, we like it on the mild side but the original recipe asks for the whole package.

 

Tomato Soup

3 c. water
~200 g. spaghetti noodles, broken into 1" pieces
1 lb. ground beef
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 onion, diced
1/2-1 pkg. taco seasoning
4 cans tomato soup
4 cans water
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. parsley
1/2 c. milk

In a large pot boil water and noodles until thick. Meanwhile fry beef, celery and onion until beef is cooked through. When noodles are done combine all the ingredients in the large pot and heat through, enjoy :)