January is National Soup Month

January is National Soup Month! Seems fitting doesn't it? Soup warms you up, so it's great for cold weather. Clear soups are ideal when you are sick, which seems to come along with that cold weather! Soup is also a comfort food, can be prepared ahead of time and frozen, or cooked conveniently in the crock pot so that you come home to a warm meal.

To celebrate National Soup Month, be sure to add some of these wonderful recipes to your menu plans this month. Just click the recipe name to access a printable version!

Amish Chicken Corn Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup
Chili Soup
Cream of Broccoli Soup
Lentil Soup
Old Fashioned Bean Soup
Wild Rice Cheese Soup
Vegetable Beef Soup



Soup Tips
by Amanda Formaro

Soup is comfort food, but it's also a hearty and inexpensive meal that can be prepared ahead of time and frozen, or cooked conveniently in the crock pot so that you come home to a warm meal. Here are some great tips for your next pot of delicious soup.

Too Much Salt
If you've accidentally become too overzealous with the salt shaker, all is not lost. Simply place a raw potato into the pan and simmer it in the soup for about 15 minutes. The potato will absorb the extra salt.

Thicken It Up
If you would like to thicken your soup, add a bit of instant mashed potato flakes to the simmering soup. Mix thoroughly. Another great option is to add pureed cooked vegetables, such as carrots or peas.


Flavoring Stock
Ever wondered about those inexpensive packages in the meat department? Pork neck bones, beef bones and ham hocks are ideal for flavoring stocks and soups. Pork neck bones are idea for hearty bean soup, as are ham hocks. ham hocks are also available smoked, adding a deeper element of flavor. Skim the foam after bringing liquid and bones to a boil, remove the bones, strain the sock into a separate container, then refrigerate for several hours. After refrigeration, remove the fat layer from the top and use the remaining stock in your soup.


Want to read the rest of this article?
Visit Soup Tips on Annie's Recipes to read the rest!  



Need a salad to go with that soup? We've added these new recipes:


Sunday Supper Salad
Swiss Cheese Salad

More Salad Recipes
More Soup Recipes


See you next week!

~ Amanda