Carsyn’s Cheesy Confetti Chowder

This little beauty is my youngest granddaughter, Carsyn.  She will be 5 in a couple of weeks.  She is a little spitfire with a quick laugh and equally quick temper.  She loves this soup.  The colorful diced veggies look like confetti and it is cheesy and tasty.  It is a lot of chopping and peeling, cooking and stirring, but she is worth it!!!

CARSYN’S CONFETTI CHOWDER

1 pound smoked sausage, diced (I’ve used turkey, but regular works well, too)

1 med onion, diced

1/2 each red, green, and yellow pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 cup frozen sweet corn

3-4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

2 14-oz cans chicken broth

1 can evaporated skim milk

1/4 cup all purpose flour

8 oz Velveeta cheese cut into small cubes (or use “real” cheese, shredded, but Velveta melts better)

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine diced sausage, peppers, celery, carrots, corn, potatoes, and onion in soup pot with broth.  Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until all vegetables are soft.  Combine flour and evaporated milk, and stir (or shake in covered container) until all lumps are gone.  With heat on med-low, add milk mixture, stirring until thickened.  Remove from heat and stir in Velvetta (or shredded cheese).  Continue to stir until cheese is melted.

I’m not sure how many servings this makes – probably 6-8 1 cup servings (or 4 servings if Carsyn is coming over).

Katy’s Kick Ass Chili –

I’m not really interested in discussing whether true chili has beans or not, or whether it’s spelled chili or chile or chilly.  I’m not a purist – I just know what I like.

Okay, this is probably not for the kiddies or those with weak stomachs.  It is not blazing, kill-your-gut-hot, but you definitely will be aware you are eating chili and your sinuses will be cleaned out.  You are warned.

KATY’S KICK-ASS CHILI

1 pound HOT Italian sausage (I use turkey, usually, but regular will work)

1 diced onion

3-4 cloves chopped garlic

2 16-oz cans chili beans in hot sauce

2 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes

1 14 oz can beef broth (you can use beer, but I usually drink that and use broth instead)

3 tablespoons chili powder

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 -3 Tbsp chopped hot jalapeno peppers (pickled), with 1-2 tsp of the juice

Shredded cheese for garnish (optional)

Brown sausage (if using links, remove from casing).  Add diced onion and sautee until onions are soft.  Add garlic and sautee 1-2 minutes longer, taking care not to scorch garlic, because that tastes bad.

Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for about an hour, stirring frequently, again taking care not to scorch – it just tastes bad (can you tell I’ve scorched it a couple of times?).  Garnish with shredded cheese, if desired.

You’re welcome.

If you’d like to share your chili recipe, I’d love that, too.  just put it in the comments or post a link.  If I make it and like it better than mine, I’ll declare you the winner.

Katy’s Enchilada Soup

Katy’s Enchilada Soup

Ingredients

6 cups  Chicken Broth
1 medium onion(s)
1/2 tsp  Ground cumin
1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 – 15 oz Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
1 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, mixed with 1/4 cup water
8 oz low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
4 oz fat-free sour cream
3 clove(s) garlic clove(s), 2-3 cloves chopped
1/2 cup(s) sweet red pepper(s), or green chopped
2 cup(s) cooked chicken breast, diced
15 oz canned black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz canned yellow corn, drained

Instructions

Sautee onion and chopped pepprs until translucent. Add garlic and sautee another minute or two. Add broth, corn, beans, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder and pepper flakes. Stir in the flour mixed in water and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add diced chicken and shredded cheese. Stir till melted. Add dollop of sour cream to each bowl prior to serving
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Chicken Taco Soup

CHICKEN TACO SOUP (for the CrockPot)

1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 Tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts or 6 thighs cut into cubes

Put ingredients into crockpot, cook for 8 hours on low. Can add shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips and sour cream when served, if desired.