Spicy Autumn Soup

Although it wasn't cold out today there was a nice breeze and the sun was shining bright. The temperature was around 70 degrees but, with the breeze and the leaves changing colors it had that fall smell and feel in the air.

When the weather starts changing I'm suddenly ready to start making soups and heartier meals. So I decided I'd make an Autumn Soup. My husband of course said he didn't want soup but preferred hamburgers. So I decided with the soup I'd make Kobe burgers and sweet potato fries.

Don't ask me how I came up with this combination of ingredients for my soup but it was really good! Spicy with a bit of a kick to it, yet delicious.

Spicy Autumn Soup
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

2 tsp. olive oil
2 yellow onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
1 medium Butternut Squash, peeled and cut into bite size cubes
1 can white beans, drained
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 jalepeno, roasted, seeded and diced
1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced
1 tsp. adobo sauce
4 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup apple juice
2-3 cups fresh spinach, chopped

Directions:

In a stock pot add the olive oil, onions and garlic and cook until onions turn translucent.

Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT the spinach and cook until it begins to boil. Then cover and lower heat for about 8-10 minutes. Check to see if the butternut squash is fork tender at this point. If not continue cooking a little longer until the squash is done.

Then add the chopped spinach and stir for about 1-2 minutes.

Serve.

Note: I had actually added some dried figs to the soup thinking it would give it an interesting flavor but I didn't like them in the soup so I've omitted them in this recipe.

I also wanted to use Swiss Chard but when I got to the store it felt like it wasn't fresh so I opted for the spinach instead.

I thought the soup had a wonderful flavor. Initially I only added about 2 cups of broth but it was a bit too spicy for me when I tested it so I added another 2 cups which made it just perfect for me.

Top with a crostini or large crouton and it makes for a delicious main course meal.

Enjoy!

Quick and Savory Chili

SuperBowl is just 15 days away. If your family is like mine, they will tell you the day of the game that they are having friends over and ask you to make something. Then we're scurring around trying to drum up something to serve everyone. Well fear no more I have the perfect quick and easy chili recipe that's sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

You may look at these ingredients and wonder why should I make this? Trust me, not only is it delicious but you literally can toss it together in 15 minutes or less and forget about it. My family loves this chili and believe me I have many different varieties that I make that take me an hour or more to put together. This is a great simple recipe that will allow you to enjoy the game as well.

Quick and Savory Chili

Serves 6

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey or your favorite meat mixture

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies

29 oz can diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onions

29 oz can tomato sauce

14.5 oz. can chili beans (I like the medium heat, but use what you like best)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup BBQ Texas Hot Sauce (Super Smoker's and KC Masterpiece make one, and there are other brands as well. Any will do)

1/2 cup Kansas City style BBQ sauce

Cook the ground meat to medium rare; drain and then add the remaining ingredients.

My family prefers I make it with ground turkey breast. If using, then spray your stock pot with Pam so it doesn't stick.

I have found that as soon as I put the ground turkey in the pot, if I add all the ingredients and stir, the turkey meat crumbles up. Then it's more like ground meat, instead of in clumps, like ground turkey breast typically tends to do. In my opinion it tastes much better this way.

This can be ready within a 1/2 an hour but without question the longer you cook it the better it gets. You can cook it for 2 hours or all day or even put it in your crock pot for the day. Either way your going to have a delicious quick and easy chili.

Serve it in bread bowls if you like with cheddar cheese and sour cream.

If you try this recipe please let me know what you think. I know you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Not every wonderful dish has to take hours to prepare.

Enjoy and I hope your favorite team wins!