Ham and Lentil Soup

In honor of being sick all week, I made soup. Not just any kind of soup, but the kind you put in a crock pot and forget about it for a few hours then BAM! you have soup. Enjoy...

Ham and Lentil Soup

 Ingredients

·         1 cup dried lentils

·         1 cup chopped celery

·         1 cup chopped carrots

·         1 cup chopped onion

·         2 cloves garlic, minced

·         2  cups diced cooked ham

·         1/2 teaspoon dried basil

·         1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

·         1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

·         1 bay leaf

·         1/4 teaspoon black pepper

·         32 ounces chicken broth

·         2 cup water 
      1 6oz can of tomato paste (optional) 

Directions

In a 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker combine the lentils, celery, carrots, onion, garlic and ham. Season with basil, thyme, oregano, the bay leaf and pepper. Stir in the chicken broth and water. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours. Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Purple Monkey Dishwasher Soup

Urban Dictionary definition of Purple Monkey Dishwasher- Despite claims this phrase originated on "The Simpsons", it actually existed long before it was used in the show. The phrase is intended to portray the distortion of facts when passed from person to person.

Its use in "The Simpsons" was accurate; Bart starts a rumour by whispering to one person who whispers it to another, etc. By the time the rumour reaches the front of the crowd, the phrase "Purple monkey dishwasher" has been added to the end due to people mishearing the original rumour as it passed from person to person.

Due to the popularity of "The Simpsons", the phrase has since become a commonly used response to opinions stated based on hearsay and unconfirmed rumours.

Example-Person A - "I heard from a friend of a friend that John cheated on Linda with Karen!"
Person B - "Purple monkey dishwasher."

Example- Nora's pregnant with Greg's baby after sleeping firt with Tony, John and Barney...but she's telling Tim it's his due to their fling at Thanksgiving....purple monkey dishwasher.

Now that you understand what it means let me explain how it came about. I could never come up with a name for this soup. Every time I tried to describe it I would add something new or forget something important. So it would come out like this 

"Hey Kacey what are you eating?" 

"Its a bacon potato leek soup...with tomatoes...but it's not a creamy soup like a potato soup usually is. Uh, er *awkward silence* purple monkey dishwasher" 

One more thing before the recipe. These pictures do not do the soup justice. I'm sorry I was just not feeling creative today. Luckily I make this soup all the time so I'll try again later. Enjoy!

Purple Monkey Dishwasher Soup

Ingredients

olive oil

6 slices of bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

3 small ribs celery from the heart of the stalk, finely chopped

2 small to medium carrots, shredded

3 leeks, trimmed of rough tops and roots

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

3 medium starchy potatoes, such as Idaho, peeled

2 quarts stock (I typically use a combo of vegetable and chicken)

1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Directions

Heat a medium soup pot or deep sided skillet over medium-high heat. To the hot pan add a drizzle of oil and the bacon. Cook bacon until brown and crisp. Add the chopped celery and carrots. Cut leeks lengthwise and then into 1/2-inch half moons. Place the leeks into a colander and run under rushing cold water, separating the layers to wash away all the trapped grit. When the leeks are separated and clean, shake off water and add to celery and carrots. Stir veggies together, add a bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. While the leeks cook to wilt, 3 to 4 minutes, slice the potatoes.

Thinly slice potatoes or shredded them (like hash browns)

Add stock to vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add potatoes and tomatoes. Cook 8 to10 minutes until potatoes are tender.

I know, I know! It's a crappy picture.
 I'll take a better one next time I promise.

Chicken Parmesan Soup

Chicken Parmesan Soup 
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1 large onion, chopped
2 cans of crushed tomatoes (28ounces)
4 cups chicken stock
4 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cooked and shredded
1 tablespoon basil
1 table spoon parsley
Pasta of your choice (broken up angel hair or spaghetti works best)
½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions
Place a large pot over medium-high heat and add olive oil, garlic and onion. Cook until onions are tender about 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes, stock, chicken, spices and bring to a boil. Add Pasta. Season with salt and pepper let simmer for 10 minutes until pasta is cooked. Add grated parmesan cheese before serving.

Chicken Rice Soup

I hope you all like soup because I am addicted. I make a lot of soup. This is one I just put together because I was bored and was running out of my freezer supply of soup. I will make big batches and freeze soups in individual containers so I can grab them for lunches or a quick dinner. Like most of my recipes this is more of a guideline recipe. Play around with the ingredients. 

Chicken Rice Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 carrots, peeled, chopped to desired size

2 celery stalks, chopped to desired size

1 bay leaf

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon dried basil

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups cooked rice ( I had left over brown rice. Use whatever kind you prefer) 

2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 cup chopped baby spinach.

Salt and pepper to taste
 

Directions

Place a soup pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, basil, cayenne pepper and bay leaf. Cook and stir for about 6 minutes, until the vegetables are softened but not browned. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Add in the rice, chicken and spinach; season with salt and pepper. 

Creamy Balsamic Tomato Soup

Ok so I was a little adventurous today and made 3 recipes. This is a super simple and tasty comfort soup. Serve with cheesy garlic bread or a grilled cheese. If your on a diet maybe add a salad. You can also garnish with whatever floats you boat. I choose parmesan cheese and fresh basil. You could also do salsa and sour cream or for your inner 5 year old add goldfish.


Creamy Balsamic Tomato Soup

Ingredients
1 cup broth (I used Beef broth but you could use chicken or vegetable)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup chopped onion
5 cloves garlic
2(28 once) cans whole tomatoes drained
¾ cup half-an-half
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees

Combine ½ cup broth, brown sugar, vinegar and soy sauce in a small bowl. Place onion garlic and tomatoes in a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Pour broth mixture over tomato mixture.  Bake at 500 for 50 minutes or until vegiatables are lightly browned.

Place tomato mixture in blender or food processor. Add remaining ½ cup of broth and half-an-half and process until smooth. This make take a few batches depending on the size of you blender.