Month: April 2024

Categories
Healthy Recipes Recipes Soups

Best Homemade Tomato Bisque Recipe

Best Tomato Bisque

If you love tomato bisque, you should definitely try making it homemade. It’s so much better than canned. This is the best homemade tomato bisque recipe. This soup is also a great meatless meal.

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What is the difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque?

Bisque is a French word for a creamy soup made of pureed vegetables. Tomato bisque is made with pureed tomatoes. Tomato soup is also made with pureed tomatoes, but tomato soup could still have chunks of tomato in it. Bisque is by definition pureed to a smooth texture, however it could be garnished with chunks of tomato. Ultimately, they are very similar.

Best Tomato Bisque Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 2 Carrots, diced
  • 3 Sprigs Thyme, stems removed
  • 1-10 ounce jar roasted red peppers
  • 1/4 Cup Sundried tomatoes, minced
  • 28 ounces of canned diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2- 14 ounce cans of vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Tomato Bisque Directions

Sauté the onions and carrots in the butter until softened.

sauteed onions and carrots

Add the Thyme, peppers, tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Mix and bring to a simmer.

tomato bisque before blending

Add the seasonings, sugar, cream and parmesan. Blend with an immersion blender.

blending tomato bisque
blended tomato bisque

Serve with fresh bread, crackers or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Can you freeze Tomato Bisque?

Yes you can! Just make sure you allow the soup to cool to room temperature or refrigerate before freezing. Use a freezer safe soup container for best results.

Can you reheat tomato bisque?

Yes, tomato bisque is perfect for packed lunches. I use a Mug Pop-in to take it to work. It has a vented BPA free lid, perfect for reheating your soup in the microwave at work or school.

More great Soup recipes

Recipe By kristin
Course: soup Cusine:French Difficulty:Easy

Servings

6 minutes

Preparing Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

20 minutes

Calories

kcal

INGREDIENTS

  1. 2 Tablespoons Butter

  2. 1 Onion, diced

  3. 2 Carrots, diced

  4. 3 Sprigs Thyme, stems removed

  5. 1-10 ounce jar roasted red peppers

  6. 1/4 Cup Sundried tomatoes, minced

  7. 28 ounces of canned diced fire roasted tomatoes

  8. 2- 14 ounce cans of vegetable broth

  9. 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  10. 1 teaspoon onion powder

  11. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  12. 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

  13. 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

  14. 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  15. 1 teaspoon sugar

  16. Salt to taste

  17. 1 cup heavy cream

  18. 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTION

  1. Sauté the onions and carrots in the butter until softened.

  2. Add the thyme, peppers, tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Mix and bring to a simmer.
  3. Add the seasonings, sugar, cream and parmesan.
  4. Blend with an immersion blender.

NOTES

    Serve with fresh bread, crackers or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Best Tomato Bisque RecipeDownload

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Categories
Recipes Salads

The Secret to Great Potato Salad Recipe

potato salad

Have you ever wondered why some people just make better potato salad than others? There are a few secrets to a great potato salad recipe. Read on to find out all of them.

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Secrets to Great Potato Salad

  1. Use baked potatoes, boiled potatoes are too soft and wet. They will not hold their shape and tend to make the salad soggy.
  2. Used seasoned rice vinegar. This vinegar is one of my favorites. It is a great vinegar for salads and more. Every time I use it, people always ask for my recipes.
  3. Do not pre-mix your dressing. Add the dressing one ingredient at a time, starting with the vinegar. If you add the vinegar first and mix well, the egg yolks will start to break down a little and become incorporated as part of the dressing. Alternatively, you could blend the yolks into the dressing. Either way your dressing will be creamy and delicious.

Great Potato Salad ingredients:

  • 6 potatoes
  • 5 hard boiled eggs-Use this easy peel recipe.
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 5 radishes, sliced
  • 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions for Great Potato Salad

Wash the potatoes, prick with a fork, and bake at 400 degrees F for 1 hour or until softened. Cool the potatoes overnight. Peel and slice the potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. A paring knife is best for peeling baked potatoes. I like this ceramic one. Place in a bowl.

Peel and slice the hard boiled eggs. Add them to the potatoes. Add the chopped celery, minced onion and radish slices to the bowl.

potato salad ingredients

Fold in the vinegar. Continue to stir in the vinegar until the egg yolks start to break down and become creamy.

potato salad mixture

Add the mustard and continue to mix, then mix in the mayonnaise. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste. For the best flavor, chill a couple of hours before serving.

potato salad

Printable potato salad recipe

Potato salad recipeDownload

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Recipe By kristin
Course: salad Cusine:American Difficulty:Easy

Servings

8 minutes

Preparing Time

15 minutes

Cooking Time

60 minutes

Calories

kcal

INGREDIENTS

  1. 6 potatoes

  2. 5 hard boiled eggs

  3. 4 celery stalks, chopped

  4. 1 onion, minced

  5. 5 radishes, sliced

  6. 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

  7. 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

  8. 3/4 cup mayonnaise

  9. salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTION

  1. Wash the potatoes, prick with a fork, and bake at 400 degrees F for 1 hour or until softened. Cool the potatoes overnight. Peel and slice the potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a bowl.

  2. Peel and slice the hard boiled eggs. Add them to the potatoes.
  3. Add the chopped celery, minced onion and radish slices to the bowl.
  4. Fold in the vinegar. Continue to stir in the vinegar until the egg yolks start to break down and become creamy.
  5. Add the mustard and continue to mix, then mix in the mayonnaise.
  6. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste. For the best flavor, chill a couple of hours before serving.

NOTES

Easy to Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Categories
Healthy Recipes Recipes Soups

Easy Ratatouille Lentil Soup Recipe

Ratatouille soup

This easy ratatouille lentil soup is a perfect way to get more vegetables in your diet. This soup is vegetarian and vegan. It also makes great leftovers for packed lunches and is freezable for later use.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at not additional cost to you.

Ratatouille Lentil Soup Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 eggplant
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
  • 1 summer squash, sliced and quartered
  • 1 medium onion, roasted or diced
  • 2 Roasted peppers, canned or fresh
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced or grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 quarts vegetable broth
  • 1- 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup uncooked dried lentils
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Ratatouille Lentil Soup Directions:

Roast the peppers. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the peppers on parchment paper lined sheet pan. Roast for 10 minutes, flip, then roast for another 10 minutes. Cool, then peel the peppers. Dice the roasted peppers. Alternatively, you can use canned roasted peppers.

roasted peppers

Slice the eggplant and salt the slices on both sides. Allow the salted eggplant to sit for 15 minutes. This will draw out the bitter flavor. Rinse the eggplant and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.

eggplant
salted eggplant

In a large stockpot, sauté the eggplant until just starting to soften. Add the diced onion.

chopped eggplant

Add the zucchini and summer squash, add additional oil if needed to prevent sticking. Sauté until slightly softened.

zucchini and summer squash

Now add the in the crushed tomatoes, and roasted peppers. Season with garlic, basil, and oregano. Mix well.

roasted peppers in ratatouille soup

Use a mesh strainer to rinse the lentils.

rinsing lentils

Mix in the broth and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally until lentils are tender, approximately 40 minutes.

Ratatouille soup

Lastly, add the vinegar and fresh ground pepper.

Ratatouille soup

Serve with crackers or fresh bread.

Can you reheat Ratatouille soup?

You sure can! Ratatouille soup makes great leftovers for packed lunches. I like to pack it in a Mug Pop in, find it here.

Mug Pop in

This mug is perfect for packing soup and other leftovers for lunch. The BPA free lid is vented, so it keeps the microwave clean!

Can you freeze soup?

Yes! You can freeze soup. Just make sure you cool it to room temperature or refrigerate it first. Then put it in a freezer safe container. Warm it up on another busy night!

Can you use chicken stock instaed?

You sure can use chicken stock. If you do, this recipe will no longer be vegetarian or vegan.

More Great Soup Recipes

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Easy Ratatouille Lentil Soup Recipe (1)Download

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Categories
Recipes Soups

Easy Chicken and Orzo Soup with Lemon

Chicken and orzo soup with lemon

Do you need quick idea for dinner tonight? Try this easy chicken and orzo soup. You can even make it easier by using a rotisserie chicken. It has a fresh flavor but still warms you up. It’s really a great soup for any season.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission from qualified sales at no additional cost to you.

What tools do you need to make chicken and orzo soup?

This soup does not require many tools. Most of these items you probably already have on hand.

Chicken and orzo soup ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts cooked and diced (you can use rotisserie chicken)
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery sticks, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
  • 2 quarts chicken stock
  • 1 cup orzo
  • Juice of one lemon
  • zest of one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper (optional)

How to make chicken orzo soup

Start by sautéing the onions, carrots and celery in the olive oil.

When the carrots are softened, add the garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes. Add the stock and chicken. Bring to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 10 minutes.

Chicken and orzo soup with lemon

Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and peppers. Remove from heat and enjoy! Serve with crackers or fresh bread.

Can you make soup ahead of time?

You sure can! This soup makes amazing leftovers. It makes a great packed lunch. I Recommend a mug Pop in for packed lunches. These containers are great for packing and reheating leftovers. They are ceramic with BPA free vented lids. They keep the microwave at home, work or school clean while warming up your lunch.

Mug Pop in

Find this great microwavable mug here.

Can you freeze soup?

Yes, you can freeze chicken and orzo soup. If you don’t finish it all during the first meal, you can chill the remainder in your refrigerator overnight. It is important to chill the soup before freezing it. Then transfer the soup into single servings and freeze for a quick and easy meal later! I try to save sour cream and other similar containers for this purpose but you can also purchase freezer soup containers.

More great soup recipes:

Are you looking for another great soup to serve for a quick and easy dinner? Try one of these delicious options.

Chicken-and-Orzo-Soup-with-LemonDownload

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Categories
New Home

What do you need to make your dorm your home?

Dorm room art

When you are leaving your home to make a new home in a dorm room, there are a few things you will need. What do you really need to make your dorm your new home? This post contains useful dorm items. A few items are not absolute needs, but would be very handy. This list does not contain any items that would be desirable, but not are not useful like decor.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn commission at no additional cost to you.

You need bedding – sleep is important

Most dorm rooms will supply you with an extra long twin bed. If you already have this type of bed at home, then you can just use you current bedding. The only problem with that idea is that you will not have any bedding when you return home for breaks. Therefore, it is best to pick up a new set of bedding for your dorm room. Here is a list of bedding essentials:

Dorm Bathroom Essentials

Hygiene is very important. The type of bathroom you have will determine what you need. If you have a traditional bathroom, a shared community bathroom down the hall, then this is the list of essentials:

If your dorm room is suite style, meaning you share a bathroom with a roommate or suite mate you will need the following items:

College Dorm Medications – Pharmacist Recommended

Find this college dorm medication list here.

Space Saving and Storage Essentials

What could be more useful in a small dorm space than space saving storage items? Here are some suggestions.

Space saving dorm shelf

Dorm room technology needs

I’m sure you have selected a laptop and maybe even a tablet to take with you. Here are some other tech items you may have forgotten. We forgot the cordless mouse batteries.

Dorm laundry essentials

College dorm school supplies

In elementary school and often in high school, teachers will supply students with a list of school supplies they will need for the upcoming year. Once you reach college, you are on your own. Since you are leaving home it does help to have a list of the most common school supply items you will need in college. Keep in mind, you may have last minute schedule changes.

We ended up forgetting more things in this category than any other category. The lab coat was not packed, but needed due to a last minute schedule change. It’s much cheaper to pack one, just incase. We also forgot the graphing calculator and extra batteries for it. The most ridiculous thing we forgot was #2 pencils. I mistakenly assumed they were old school, and no longer needed for testing. I was wrong.

Assuming you already have a laptop, this is a comprehensive list of the other school supplies most college students will require.

college school supply list

Dorm room food prep basics

Even if you have a full meal plan there may be times that you will need to prepare small meals in your room. You may have to leave for a break before the dining hall opens, or maybe return from a sporting event after the dining hall closes. Be prepared!

Other useful dorm room items

Medications and first aid items for dorm rooms

Be sure to check out Pharmacist recommended College dorm medications for a list of medications and first aid items you should pack for your dorm. Be prepared!

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