Hamburger-Vegetable Soup

Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Soups and Stews.

My family downed a huge pot of this soup. Feel free to add other/additional vegetables as desired. The original recipe asked for succotash, but I used more carrots and yellow squash instead.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1 chopped med. onion

1 chopped green pepper

2 cloves garlic

4-6 cups beef broth (I used 6)

2 tomatoes, diced (or 1-15oz can)

1 yellow squash, diced

5 red potatoes, peeled and diced small

2 chopped carrots

Spices to taste – basil, oregano, parsley

Dash or two of black pepper

A drizzle or two of Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Cook ground beef

2. Saute onions, peppers, and garlic until soft

3. Dump all ingredients into large pot

4. Boil

5. Simmer for 15-40 minutes (I prefer longer)

6. ENJOY!

Cheesy Crockpot Cauliflower Soup

I love anything in a crockpot, and this concoction actually turned out to be quite tasty. My sons ate a full bowl apiece.

Ingredients
1 head cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2 carrots, cut into small pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
one med onion, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
Italian seasoning
Parsley
garlic powder
pepper
1-2 cups milk
2 cups cheddar cheese

Directions
Dump all vegetables, broth, and seasonings into a crockpot.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours
Put mixture into blender/food processor and puree to desired consistency
Return to crockpot and add more seasonings as desired
Add the milk and cheese at least 30-45 minutes before serving, stirring occasionally to ensure the melted cheese disperses through the soup.
Enjoy!!

Crockpot Potato Corn Chowder

I truly made this one up on my own, so I do not have exact amounts for some ingredients. It served 3 adults and 2 children with no leftovers. I would recommend not quite doubling the recipe for a full standard crockpot.

Ingredients
3 med potatoes cubed
1 can corn
1 can cream corn
1 can chicken broth
4 pieces turkey bacon
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
approx 1-2 cups milk
parsley
garlic powder
oregano
pepper
instant mashed potatoes

Directions
Cube the potatoes (I used the yellow ones and left the skin on) and put them into the crockpot.
Dump in cans of corn and chicken broth.
Cook turkey bacon until crispy - crumble and put into crockpot
Saute onions and celery for a few minutes in the bacon grease, and then add to the crockpot.
Add seasonings (parsley, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, etc)
Turn crockpot on high for 4-6 hours
Add milk about one hour before serving
Before serving, add enough instant potatoes to thicken the soup to desired consistency.