Meal Type: Main-dish

Comforting 15-Bean Soup (Non-vegetarian)

Fall is officially here (even though the Bay Area weather doesn’t always reflect it)! As the days get shorter, we start turning to warm comfort foods. Many people attending our Empty Bowls events throughout the years might be familiar with this month’s featured soup. It comes to us from James Porter, Kitchen Manager and Chef at one of our partner agencies –Loaves and Fishes Contra Costa. We are tremendously thankful he volunteers to make this crowd favorite at our sell-out events.

This is a hearty and flexible soup which is great for filling bellies on a budget. The quantities listed below feed 15-20 people!

Ingredients:

Bag of 15-bean soup (or other available beans)
2 Cups diced ham
2 Cups diced mild sausage links
2 Cups diced chicken
2 Cups diced onions
2 Cups diced bell peppers
2 teaspoons chilli powder
2 teaspoons basil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Cook beans until tender according to directions. Save the liquid the beans were cooked in.
Combine rest of ingredients-saute until ham, chicken, and mild links are done and veggies are tender
Combine meat/veggies with beans
Warm together and enjoy!

Best Carrot Soup by Haley Lindberg

Best Carrot Soup by Haley Lindberg was created as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project.

Ingredients:
12 large carrots, peeled, chopped
1 yellow or white onion, chopped
4 C. water or chicken broth
1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 C. orange juice
1 Tbsp. ginger powder
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

Melt butter/oil in saucepan; add onions and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes).
Place chopped carrots, sautéed onions, garlic and water (or broth) in large pot. Bring to boil, then simmer until carrots are tender (about 30 minutes).
Add orange juice and stir off heat.
Blend in a blender in batches. If needed, add additional water/broth.
Add ginger powder, salt and pepper seasoning to taste.

Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:
• 3 C. reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes or fresh tomatoes.
• 1 (15 ounce) can beans, drained
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 celery stock, chopped
• Bay leaves, sage, thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 2 C. cooked whole wheat pasta
• 1 medium squash, chopped
• 1 C.cauliflower, chopped
• Examples of other vegetables you can add: broccoli, green beans, potato, bell pepper.

Directions:
In a pot, combine broth, tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, onion, cauliflower, bay leaves and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. Thirty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add pasta and squash. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves and season to taste. Serves 4.

Microwave Broccoli Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients:
• 1 cup steamed broccoli
• 2 tablespoons chopped Roasted walnuts or other nut
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or low-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup grated cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 Slices bread

Directions:
Finely chop the broccoli and place in a microwave-safe baking dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover and microwave on high (power level 10) until tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Uncover immediately. Let cool and drain. In a medium bowl, add the nuts, 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt or mayonnaise, cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss gently. Spread the Greek yogurt or mayonnaise on the bread. Divide the broccoli filling between the two sandwiches.

Grilled Cheese with Pears

Ingredients:
• 4 slices of bread
• 4 slices of cheese
• 1 medium pear, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 tablespoons of butter or no-stick cooking spray

Directions:
Heat a frying pan on medium heat. Butter two slices of bread on one side; place buttered side down onto the pan. Top the bread with 1 slice of cheese, 3-4 pear slices, and another slice of cheese. Cook until bottom of sandwich is browned, 3-5 minutes. Flip over and cook 3-5 more minutes.

Tuna Pasta Salad (Pasta de Ajo y Mantequilla)

Ingredients:
• 1/2 pound pasta, cooked and drained
• 2 cups broccoli or zucchini, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1 can tuna, drained

Directions:
Combine pasta and vegetables in a bowl. Add dressing and stir until well combined. Tip: add protein with 2-3 sliced hard boiled eggs, or 1 can of drained beans

Ingredientes:
• 1/2 libra de pasta cocida, enjuagada y escurrida
• 2 tazas de brócoli o calabazas, picado
• 1 tomate, picado
• 1/4 taza de aderezo Italiano
• 1 lata de atún, escurrido

Direcciones:
Combine la pasta y verduras en un tazón. Agregue el aderezo y revuelva hasta que estén bien combinados. Sugerencia: Añada proteína con 2-3 huevos duros, o una lata de frijoles escurridos.

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:
• 1/2 pound of pasta, cooked, drained
• 4 tablespoons oil
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1-2 cloves garlic, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic, vegetables, sauté 5-7 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste, Combine pasta with vegetables.

Ingredientes:
• 1/2 libra de pasta, cocida, enjuagada y escurrida
• 4 cucharadas de aceite
• 1 zanahoria, picada
• 1 calabacita, picada
• 1-2 dientes de ajo, picado
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
Caliente el aceite en un sartén a fuego medio. Agregue ajo, verduras y saltée 5-7 minutes. Sazone con sal y pimienta al gusto. Combine las verduras con la pasta.

Caramelized Onions (Cebolla Caramelizada)

Ingredients:
• 4 medium onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoons of butter or oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Water, 1-2 tablespoons as needed

Directions:
Heat the pan on medium high heat, add the oil or butter, and onions and stir constantly for 30-40 minutes. If the onions begin to burn, reduce the heat to low-medium. If the onions begin to dry out, add 1 tablespoon of water. Add salt and pepper to taste. Once onions are golden brown remove from heat.

Ingredientes:
• 4 cebollas medianas, picadas
• 1 cucharada de mantequilla o aceite
• Sal y pimienta al gusto
• Agua, 1-2 cucharadas según sea necesario

Direcciones:
Caliente el sartén a fuego mediano-alto, agregue el aceite o la mantequilla, y la cebolla. Revuelva constantemente durante 30-40 minutos. Si la cebolla empieza a quemar, reduzca el fuego a bajo-medio. Si la cebolla empiece a secar, agregue 1 cucharada de agua. Añada sal y pimienta al gusto. Una vez caramelizadas retire las cebollas del fuego.

Grilled Cheese (Sándwich de Queso Fundido)

Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 2 slices of bread
• 2 slices of cheese
• 3 thin slices of apple or pear

Directions:
Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.

Once the pan is warm, add one slice of bread, buttered side down, then top with half of the cheese, add the apple slices, and the remaining cheese. Close the sandwich with the second slice of bread, buttered side up. Cook until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Ingredientes:
• 1 cucharada de mantequilla, suavizada
• 2 rebanadas de pan
• 2 rebanadas de queso
• 3 rodajas finas de manzana o pera

Direcciones:
Unta mantequilla en las partes exteriores del pan. Dentro del sandwich pon una rebanada de queso, las rodajas de manzana o pera, y el queso restante.

En un sartén precalentada a una temperatura media-baja pon el sandwich, cocínalo lentamente (asegurando que no se queme) y cuando esté bien dorado dale la vuelta. Estará hecho cuando el queso esté derretido.

Chicken Cabbage Salad (Ensalada de Pollo con Repollo)

Ingredients:
• 4 cups cabbage, shredded
• 1 pound carrots, thinly sliced
• 2 cups chicken, cooked shredded
• 1 cup low fat mayo or salad dressing
• 2 apples or pears, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

Ingredientes:
• 4 tazas de repollo, rallado
• 1 libra de zanahorias, en rodajas finas
• 2 tazas de pollo, cocido y rallado
• 1 taza de mayonesa baja en grasa o aderezo
• 2 manzanas o peras, picada
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
Mezcla todos los ingredientes en un recipiente grande.

Stuffed Peppers (Pimientos Rellenos)

Ingredients:
• 2 bell peppers, cut length wise, remove seeds
• 2 zucchini or yellow squash, sliced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 cup rice, cooked
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/4 cup cheese, shredded (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add squash or zucchini and carrots, sauté 7-10 minutes. Add cooked rice, stir frequently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into bell pepper halves. Optional: sprinkle cheese.

Ingredientes:
• 2 pimientos, cortados a lo largo, sin semillas
• 2 calabazas, en rodajas
• 2 zanahorias, rebanadas
• 1 taza arroz, cocido
• 2 cucharaditas de aceite
• 1/4 taza de queso, rallado (opcional)
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
Caliente el aceite en una sartén a fuego medio. Añada la calabaza y zanahorias, saltée 7-10 minutos. Añada el arroz cocido, revuelva con frecuencia. Sazone con sal y pimienta al gusto. Cuchara en mitades de pimiento. Opcional: espolvoree el queso.

Lentil Soup (Sopa de Lentejas)

Ingredients:
• 1 cup lentils, rinsed
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 bay leaf or teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add water, carrots, lentils and seasoning. Bring to a boil 1-2 minutes , reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender, 20-45 minutes.

Ingredientes:
• 1 taza de lentejas, enjuagado
• 2 1/2 tazas de agua
• 1 cebolla, picada
• 1 zanahoria, picada
• 1 cucharada de aceite
• 1 hoja de laurel o cucharadita de tomillo seco (opcional)
• Sal y pimienta al gusto

Direcciones:
En una cacerola mediana, caliente el aceite a fuego medio. Agregue la cebolla, cocine hasta que se ablanden, revolviendo frecuentemente, unos 5 minutos. Añada agua, zanahorias, lentejas y sazón. Ponga a hervir 1-2 minutos, reduzca el fuego a lento hasta que las lentejas estén tiernas, 20-45 minutos.

Meal Type: Main-dish

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