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Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup and Corn Bread”Back in the olden days”  it was said that Monday was wash day and  Meatless Navy Bean Soup was the day’s meal. 

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Pressure cooker speeds up the cooking.

A pot of beans on a busy  day is a good day’s meal .  I like to cook the dried navy beans in the pressure cooker then store in pint jars ready for use in soups, stews, with vegetables or baked beans.  I do not put meat in bean soup, mainly for health reasons there is no ham.  Though wouldn’t ham, bacon, pork or even chicken be a good addition?  That gets to be your choice. 

Canned Navy Beans

Canned Navy Beans    

A good use for the pressure cooker:

Presto Pressure Cooker

Presto Pressure Cooker

This was 1 1/2 cups of dried navy beans, soaked in 4 cups of water for 4 to 8 hours.  After they are drained, I put them in the pressure cooker add enough water to cover about 1/2 inch, no salt or seasonings at this time.  They are cooked for 11 minutes under 15 lbs. of pressure.  I turn off the heat and let the pressure come down slowly before opening.  I like a softer bean for soup, the reasons for the longer cooking.  This  makes 2 pints of beans and the broth.  Best to follow your pressure cookers instructions.  OR  simply buy 2-3 cans of navy or great northern beans.  

I like to add onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, carrots, one small potato and fresh grated ginger to soup.  These I cook in a little water in the microwave on high until almost tender.  Now I am ready assemble the Meatless Navy Bean Soup. The final addition to the soup seasoning  is a natural mesquite liquid smoke.  

Meatless Navy Bean Soup

Julia Ann
A robust Meatless Navy Bean Soup and vegetables with a subtle flavor of mesquite smoke. Makes you think you are around an old chuck wagon out west.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups dried navy beans
  • 4 cups of water to soak beans
  • ---------------
  • soaked beans
  • 2 cups water
  • OR 2 cups canned beans and juice
  • 1/4 cup onion minced
  • 1/4 cup jalapeno pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 cup carrots finely diced
  • 1/2 cup potato finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger freshly grated
  • 1 cup chicken broth or more if thinner soup is preferred.
  • 2 teaspoons mesquite liquid smoke

Instructions
 

  • Soak the dried beans in the 4 cups of water 4-8 hours.
  • Drain beans, cook in pressure cooker with water to cover, 11 minutes.
  • Put 2 cups cooked beans and juice into a large pot.
  • Add all the vegetables together in a microwave proof bowl with 1/4-1/2 cup water.
  • Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the cooked vegetables and water to the beans.
  • Add the chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Add the mesquite liquid smoke.
  • Simmer 30 minutes.

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
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Meatless navy Bean Soup

Meatless Navy Bean Soup and Corn Bread

Benefits of making home-made Meatless Navy Bean Soup

 The great benefit of making any soup is the freedom to substitute or make changes as you prepare.  Now of course there are times when making a specific recipe is the goal. That is the fun and challenge of cooking. 

Suggestions for the the rest of the meal:

The Corn Bread and Chocolate Pudding with Maraschino Cherries are recipes to come in future blogs.  The recipes for the Wheat Flax Seed-Apple Muffins and the Orange Coconut Walnut Bowl are available.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes, outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience. ©2007-2021 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

Snow Days  are good days for hearty soups to warm you

such as  White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach  Vegetable Soup  is a good  to have on hand in the freezer or a full pint jar setting in the refrigerator with soup ready to heat for a lunch.

I like to have soup available for quick lunches, so when I make soup, I make 8 cups from the recipe.  It is usually very thick with vegetables or the main ingredients. Because it is extra thick, I will add extra 99% fat free natural chicken broth when I reheat 2 cups of White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup.

Home cooked White/Navy Beans

Home cooked White/Navy Beans

Preserving the extra soup

The pictures of the white beans illustrate my home cook and canning. After the kettle of soup has cooked, I put the White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup into clean pint jars, seal, let cool to room temperature and set the jars in my refrigerator.  It helps to have an extra refrigerator on hand. These jars of soups are usually used in 2 weeks or less. If frozen in freezer bags or plastic freezer containers,  the soups could be kept longer.

Benefits of eating White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

The choice of vegetables can vary with your likes or preferences.  This is an excellent way to meet the dietary requirements of 5-13 servings of vegetables and fruits each day.  Although fruit does not go in the soup, you have snacks and dessert with your meal.  The beans provide fiber and protein, carrots provide vitamin A, peppers contain vitamin C, potatoes are high in potassium and spinach if rich in folate.

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup

Julia Ann
Heart healthy soups are warming and nutritional addition to winter meals. An excellent way to meet protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals requirements.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion small chop
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper small chop
  • 1/4 cup celery 1/2 inch slices
  • 1/4 cup carrot 1/2 inch slicesl
  • 1-2 cups cooked white potato chopped 1/2 inch
  • 2 cups cooked white navy beans drained or 16 ounce can of white beans, drained
  • 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced or grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2 cups of chicken broth
  • 2/3 cups of water or more for thinner soup
  • 1 1/2 cup frozen spinach
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the white/navy beans or use canned beans.
  • Cook the white potato, chop
  • Chop the vegetables, onion garlic, pepper celery, carrot, ginger.
  • Heat oil in large Dutch Oven or kettle.
  • Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrots.
  • Cook until onion in tender.
  • Pour in the beans.
  • Add tomatoes and juice.
  • Add potatoes.
  • Add ginger and seasonings.
  • Pour in broth and water.
  • Add the frozen spinach.
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer.
  • Cook until thoroughly heated.

Notes

Recipe inspired from Hoosier Farmer, January-February 1998. Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery.  cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® .All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

White Bean-Spinach Vegetable Soup Menu Suggestions

Mixer Whole Wheat Bread

Crock Pot Applesauce

Plain Crock Pot Honey Crisp Applesauce

Plain Crock Pot Honey Crisp Applesauce

  

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes, for your cooking experience. ©2007-20208 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

Ginger, Tomato and Lentil Soup

Bowl of Ginger, Tomato, and Lentil Soup

Bowl of Ginger, Tomato, and Lentil Soup

Cooking from scratch can be time consuming, there are just times when short cuts are necessary. Ta Da!! Ginger, Tomato and Lentil Soup.

A can of tomato soup is handy to have on the kitchen shelf for a quick lunch.  I have a husband who prefers a thick soup.  So tomato soup at our house may have various flavors and additions.  Usually I will add angel hair pasta, rice, beans, or left overs of an entree or vegetable.  This time it was a deliberately  planned  new recipe. 

Cooking lentils and onion

Cooking lentils and onion

 

 

 

In the pantry was a bag of red lentils.  So that was the beginning of thickening the soup.  Cooking lentils does not take a long time, about 20 minutes for 1/3 cup of them.  I add finely diced onion and minced garlic.  All into the water to heat and simmer to soft lentils.  Instead of draining the water, most was absorbed into the simmering.

Next I added the can of tomato soup, 1 can of water, maybe a bit more later, the freshly grated ginger, oregano, salt and pepper to cook an additional 15 minutes.

Ginger, Tomato and Lentil Soup

Julia Ann
With the aid of a can of tomato soup for saving time, a savory hearty soup of spicy ginger and lentils and seasoned with onions and garlic make a quick and filling lunch time soup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 4 3/4 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/3 cup red lentils
  • 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 10 3/4 ounce canned tomato soup
  • 1 can water
  • 1 teaspoon raw ginger freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup mild Cheddar cheese shredded or cheese of your choice.

Instructions
 

  • In a medium sauce pan, mix together water, lentils, onion and garlic.
  • Heat to simmer 20 minutes or until lentils are softened.
  • Add can of tomato soup.
  • Add one can of water, more if needed or preferred thinner.
  • Add grated ginger, oregano, salt and pepper.
  • Simmer 15 minutes.
  • Serve into soup bowls topped with the shredded cheese.

Notes

Jullia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipesfor your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.”nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

While the soup was simmering, I fixed a fruit compote of mixed canned and fresh fruit with yogurt on top, decorated with a walnut half.  Supplied some crackers and lemonade.  There was a quick lunch  for 3 or 4 in less than an hour. 

 

Mixed Fruit with Yogurt

Mixed Fruit with Yogurt

 

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes, ©2007-2020 Netta Belle’s Choice®     cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com All rights reserved.

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken, broth, noodles and vegetables creates a delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

This summer I prepared for the  family reunion a crock pot of simmered chicken breast with minimum seasoning.  This was to meet dietary needs of those who could not tolerate garlic, barbecue sauce, diabetic, or need for fat free foods.  I bought six large skinless, boneless chicken breasts, trimmed off any fat, and cooked them in the crock pot with one 14.5 ounce  can Swanson 99% Fat Free Chicken Broth and water to partially cover the chicken.   I cooked it in the crock pot to take and serve at the reunion.   What was left over, I drained and froze to use later in casseroles and  Chicken Noodle Soup.

Home-made Precooked Chicken Breasts and Broth.

Those precooked chicken breasts did not last long.  It was just too easy to go to the freezer and thaw one or two breasts for a quick evening meal.  The next time I prepared the chicken breasts, I seasoned them with a spice blend  Into the slow cooker I  added 1/2 cup sliced onions, 1/4 cup finely diced celery, arranged the seasoned chicken breasts on top of the vegetables and added the one 14.5 ounces can of chicken broth and water to almost cover.

Chicken Breasts seasoned with Netta Belle's Choice Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend

Chicken Breasts seasoned with Netta Belle’s Choice Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend

The chicken was cooked on high for about 3 hours until  meat tested 165 F.  The tender flavorful chicken breasts were frozen and the broth was put into three pint jars to store in the refrigerator.  This makes such a rich and low fat broth to use in  sauces, for risottos,  rice, vegetables or soups

Cooked chicken breasts to freeze; canned broth

Cooked chicken breasts ready to freeze; canned broth.

Chicken vegetable soup is good, but isn’t chicken noodle soup suppose to be the answer to what ails you?  So this is was the inspiration for Slow-Cook  Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

Although I do a lot of cooking, there have been some recipes I just don’t attempt.  Noodles has been one of them.  I guess the first endeavor they turned out tough and like shoe leather or leather shoe strings.  So some years later, I thought I would try them again.  This time it was success.  Using my mother’s recipe from her cookbook recipe box, I made noodles.

Home made egg noodles.

Home made egg noodles.

Egg Noodles

1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
1 tablespoon milk or teaspoon more if needed.
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sifted flour

Beat the egg in a medium size bowl. Mix in the oil and milk.  Add the dry ingredients and blend with a fork. Work the dough into a ball. Lightly flour bread board and roll out thin. Cut into 2 inch strips, layer and cut into narrow strips. Allow to dry.

Note: My preference is a wider noodle, 1/2 inch. Drying time is about 1-2 hours before using them. What is not used, I bag and freeze. This makes a small batch of noodles.

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Julia Ann
Enjoy a rich soup of chicken, vegetables and noodles to soothe you through the cold chill of winter.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large potato cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Instructions
 

  • Place the vegetables on the bottom of the crock pot.
  • Add the diced chicken
  • Add the broth.
  • Cook about 1 hour on low or until boiling.
  • Add the noodles, stir.
  • Continue cooking on low for about 3 hours or until the noodles are done.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe for precooked chicken breasts and egg noodles are in the Blog content.
Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring
you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Add to your meal:

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Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experiencee.  ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.