Posted by Tastefully Simple on October 18, 2022
If you live in a part of the country where the leaves are turning vivid hues and the air is turning brisk, you know what time it is: soup season! Even if the weather where you are stays balmy year-round, a hearty, homemade soup is always a welcome sight on the dinner table.
Here are some smart reasons to enjoy more soup:
1. They’re souper simple! Many soups can be put together in a few minutes and cooked fuss-free in a slow cooker or electric pressure cooker. Mixes like Chicken Tortilla Soup Mix, Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix and Creamy Wild Rice Soup Mix are expertly seasoned foundations for an endless variety of easy-to-prepare soups.
TIP: Canned and frozen veggies can be even more healthful than fresh, since they are processed soon after harvesting before nutrients are lost. Stock the pantry and freezer!
Here’s a flavorful, loaded-with-goodness soup to try: Tuscan Chicken & Bean Soup.
Thick with chicken, veggies and beans, this is the ultimate comfort soup. Mama Mia™ Marinara Sauce Mix gives it a zesty Italian vibe.
2. They do a body good! Soups can help you stay hydrated during seasons when you might not be keeping up with your water intake. Many soups are excellent sources of nourishing vegetables and proteins.
TIP: Basic broths and clear soups can be souped up with additional veggies and meats to make them more filling and nutritious.
Here’s a tasty example: Rustic Chicken Wild Rice Soup.
Add cooked chicken (Makin’ Magic Chicken works great!) and veggies to Creamy Wild Rice Soup Mix, 5 cups of water and ½ cup half-and-half. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes. Dinner is served!
3. They’re perfect for prepping. Most soups freeze well, so you can make up a BIG kettle of your favorite and divide it into freezer-safe containers for future dinners.
TIP: Save freezer space by filling gallon-sized freezer bags with soup and freezing flat.
You’ll find make-ahead-and-freeze directions for many soup recipes on tastefullysimple.com/recipes. Here are a few to try:
4. They’re budget friendly. Soup ingredients, including dried pastas, canned and frozen veggies and less expensive cuts of meat make soup a delicious way to stretch the food budget.
TIP: Watch for specials on ingredients and stock up when you find a good price.
Here’s a soup recipe that’s short on cost and long on flavor: Potato Kielbasa Soup.
Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix gets a hearty add-in with slices of kielbasa.
5. They’re versatile. Not only can you change up a basic soup mix with additional or substitute ingredients, the mixes themselves can be used for much more than soup.
TIP: Keep Tastefully Simple’s dried soup mixes on hand in the pantry for use in skillet meals, quiches, stuffing, pot pie and more!
Check out all of the soup recipes at tastefullysimple.com/recipes.
-kgm