Soups On!

I know someone who recently admitted on Facebook to having eaten a can of condensed soup for lunch. "But, Katherine," you ask, "what could possibly be wrong with soup?" Well, I answer, it was really the fact that he didn't add water. He ate it condensed. Yuck.

So, this is for you "Michael F." (See? I'm protecting you anonymity.)

This is my recipe for Mexican Winter Bean Soup. (Thanks here to my sister for coming up with the name.) It is really easy to make, good for you and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb low fat ground turkey
• 1 small onion chopped (if you're really lazy there's chopped onion in the frozen food section)
• 1 clove garlic minced (use the jarred kind, see if I care)
• 1 can corn
• 2 cans pinto beans (any color)
• 1 can RO*TEL (I can usually only find Original here but any variety will work)
• 1 can fat free low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 1 package ranch dressing seasoning

 In a large pot brown the turkey with the onion and garlic. You'll want the turkey crumbles as small as you can get them. Add all cans without draining. Add seasoning packages. When it's hot, it's done.

If you omit the can of broth it's more like chili and works great over a baked potato.

I'd also like to give a slightly advanced version for those who are interested.

Rather than using the seasoning packages upgrade to Penzeys. I get most all of my spices from them. The closest store is about an hour away from me but the prices are great and the quality is absolutely amazing. Four tablespoons each of their taco and ranch seasonings gives the same amount of flavor without as much sodium and no msg.

I also break the pinto beans before adding them. It makes for a thicker soup and the beans don't all float to the top. Empty the cans into a large bowl and take the back of a fork to them.

For the truly advanced you can divide the taco and ranch seasonings, add half to the ground turkey then make little meatballs like in Italian wedding soup. I've done this twice. Both times I've come close to killing myself. I never want to make tiny meatballs again. You can feel free, though.

Hope you enjoy this! And, Michael, if I ever hear of you eating condensed soup again, you're fired.