I love soup!!  It is easy to make, filling and the possibilities are endless!!  Taco soup is one of my favorites – pretty much anything goes when making taco soup.

For tonight’s soup (crazy that April 10 it is only in the mid 30s) I used my crock pot.Anytime I can use my crock pot I’m happy!!  I put this together and then spent the afternoon volunteering at Hunter’s school (library).

• 2 pounds ground beef (you could use ground turkey if you prefer)
• onion, chopped
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• can of kidney beans
• can of pinto beans
• can of green chilies
• can of tomato sauce
• package of dry ranch salad dressing
• package of taco seasoning
• frozen corn (amount is up to you)

Brown the meat and onion.

Mix everything in crock pot and set on low for several hours (today I set it for 5 hours).

Serve with whatever toppings you like – sour cream, avocados, cheese)

Enjoy!!!

I have never made Gumbo before but I thought it would be fun to try some!  Cold and snowy outside – warm, filling soup inside!!!

I looked at lots of recipes and then sort-of combined and deleted the things that we like/don’t care for!

Chicken & Rice Gumbo Soup

• diced, chicken breasts (I use the precut, precooked bags – cause I’m all about convenience!)
• package of smoked sausage, sliced
• 4 carrot sticks, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 soup cans water
• 2 T chicken bouillon granules
• dried thyme (I just shook some in)
• 1 package frozen cut okra
• hot cooked rice (I made 3 cups in the rice cooker)

Mix all ingredients except okra and rice in crock pot.

Cover and cook on low 7 hours(ish).

Stir in okra during the last hour.  (I just dumped the frozen stuff right in!)

Spoon rice into bowl and top with gumbo.  If you want it spicy, by all means add hot sauce.  (We did not.)  I toasted up some French bread so we would have a crusty bread to dip into the soup – so good!!!

As Chris said – “This was a homey & hearty meal.”