Soup’s On! 3 Cozy Recipes to Warm Up Your Winter

I don’t know about where you live, but right about now in the middle of January where I live, it’s dang cold!! Like, so cold your nose hairs freeze when you go outside! And, I don’t know about you, but with the weather so cold and days being darker earlier, all I want to do is eat yummy comfort food and curl up on the couch with a blanket.

Soups are my jam during this time of year. Besides a casserole, I don’t think there is anything more comforting than a good bowl of soup 😊 I know I am always looking for new soup recipes to add to my collection; so, I want to give you 3 of my favorite(or rather, they are my favorites at the moment 😉) to add to your collection or to get you started.

The first soup that is a new favorite came from @thegirlnamedblake on Instagram. I literally took screen shots of her sharing the recipe in her stories and it did not disappoint! It is called Italian Soup, and this is one of those recipes that tastes just as good reheated. My husband would say that most recipes can’t carry that statement, but he agrees with this one. It is very easy to make and doesn’t take a ton of time, so it makes it a good weeknight meal in my opinion.

Italian Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground pork

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (I did not add these, not my jam 🙃)

4 cups chicken broth

14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes

8 ounces pasta

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ cup grated parmesan

4 ounces cream cheese

½ cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

·       Cook the sausage and onion in a large saucepan until cooked, breaking the sausage apart. (I take out my Dutch oven and cook everything right in there ☺️)

·       Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant.

·       Add the broth, tomatoes, pasta, and Italian seasoning, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is cooked, about 8-10 minutes.

·       Add the parmesan, cream cheese, and cream, and let the cheeses melt into the soup, about 3-5 minutes.

·       Enjoy!

 The next soup that is a favorite, and has been for a few winters now, is called Chicken Pot Pie Soup. This is also a screenshot I took from @justingredients stories on Instagram that she shared years ago. This soup is so creamy and hearty, full of veggies, that’s perfect for those really cold winter nights or a stormy day. This soup is also great for those times when you have left over chicken and need something to do with it.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter

1 onion

2 medium carrots (I buy shredded when I’m feeling lazy 🙃)

2 celery stalks

4 garlic cloves

1 cup mushrooms

2 or 3 potatoes

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

3 cups bone broth (I will use chicken broth when I don’t have bone broth)

2 cups heavy whipping cream or coconut cream (I’ve always used the whipping cream)

3 cups shredded chicken

1/3 cup arrowroot powder (could use flour)

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

·       Chop onion, carrots and celery, potatoes and mince garlic

·       Sauté onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms in butter

·       Add arrowroot powder to the sautéed veggies

·       In a sperate pot, warm up garlic, potatoes, peas, corn, bone broth, cream, chicken, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper

·       Combine sautéed mixture with ingredients in separated pot.

·       Simmer until potatoes are soft.

·       Enjoy!

 The last soup I want to share with you has been a family favorite for a long time. We go through spurts of not having it, sure; but it’s one we always come back to. I got this recipe many years ago from a website called The Crockpot Girls. It’s a basic, very easy, throw in the crockpot in the morning and you have dinner just about ready when you get home at night. Love those kinds of meals!

Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

4 potatoes (peeled and diced)

1 can of cream corn

1 can of whole kernel corn

2 cups of chicken broth

8 ounces of diced ham

1 cup of diced onions

¼ cup of butter

2 cups of half and half

Instructions:

·       Place potatoes, both cans of corn, chicken broth, ham, and onions in the slow cooker

·       Cook on low for 7-8 hours (crockpots can vary with their cook times)

·       Mash the mixture to your desired consistency (I use a potato masher) and then add the butter and half and half

·       Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high, and you are set!

I hope these recipes inspire you to try something new and cozy up with a warm bowl of comfort this winter. There’s nothing quite like the aroma of a hearty soup simmering in the kitchen to chase away the chill and bring a little extra warmth to your home. Whether you’re looking for something quick and easy like the Italian Soup, hearty and filling like Chicken Pot Pie Soup, or a set-it-and-forget-it favorite like Corn Chowder, I’m confident you’ll find a new favorite here. Stay warm and happy cooking!