Creamy Mushroom Soup

A rich, delicious, hearty soup for cold winter days.

The deep earthy flavors of a classic home-made cream of mushroom soup recipe can’t be beat, especially when it’s ready in minutes. You’ll never open a can of mushroom soup after trying our recipe!

What makes this mushroom soup so good?

The additional flavors of:

Garlic– fresh garlic is best, but you can use minced if that’s all you have on hand.

Shallots– I LOVE including these in this soup , as the flavor really shines. 

Coconut milk– It is an amazing base liquid for all kinds of soups – it gives you a warmer, richer, creamier taste!

Wine — dry red or white wines are perfect in this and add an incredible taste. If you prefer to leave wine out, you’re more than welcome to do so. There’s no need to replace it with extra broth or stock.

If using a RED, I recommend a Scout and Cellar Gallivant Cabernet Sauvignon, or Fieldhouse Pinot Noir.

For WHITE I love Scout and Cellar Che Fico Pinot Grigio or TangoTango Sauv Blanc.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs Portobello mushrooms, chopped
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup shallots, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 quart low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 14 oz can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk

Toppings:

• 1 pint cremini mushrooms – for a crispy topping
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• microgreens as garnishment (I used sweet basil microgreens)

Instructions 

Wash and roughly chop the cremini mushrooms. Add the Portobello mushrooms to a large, deep-sided skillet and simmer with the red wine until the wine has cooked off.  About 6-8 minutes. 

While the Portobello mushrooms are simmering, heat the olive oil in a large stockpot. When shimmering, add the shallots and garlic and sauté on medium-low heat until golden brown. This takes a few extra minutes, but adds a lot of flavor.

Add the oregano, thyme and rosemary. Stir to combine and toast until fragrant. About 1 minute. Then add the tomato paste and toast until it becomes a deep red.

Next add the salt, pepper, vegetable broth and coconut milk. Add the cremini mushrooms to the broth and wipe out the skillet. Bring the broth to a simmer.

While the broth is simmering, trim the mushrooms. Wash and wipe off any dirt and tear the mushrooms into smaller pieces. 

Simmer the cremini mushrooms in ¼ cup of water until the water has cooked off. Add the olive oil and sauté on medium heat until crispy. Set aside on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until it is smooth. If you are using a standard standing blender, carefully blend the soup in small batches.

Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil, the crispy mushrooms and microgreens.

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Thai Crispy Tofu Soup

The broth is simmered with ginger and lemongrass and topped with crispy tofu, peanuts, scallions and cilantro.

This flavorful and versatile soup is inspired by some of my favorite Thai flavors – ginger & lemongrass with coconut milk and crispy pan-fried tofu. If you are not a coconut milk fan, use a one cup of heavy cream or not a tofu fan, use cooked chicken chunks. Either way this soup is so cozy, comforting and fragrant and it comes together incredibly quickly. 

The ginger and lemongrass pack this broth full of flavor that is mellowed out a bit by the sweet flavor and creamy coconut milk. The crispy tofu, wild rice, and herbs make it a delicious meal that gets even better as the flavors mingle together overnight. Just remember the rice will soak up some of the broth in the frig, so keep the cooked rice in a separate container.

Where can I find fresh lemongrass?
I have actually been able to find it at Publix or my favorite market in Tampa, Sanwa. Lemongrass is usually near the fresh herbs. You can also look at an Asian market. But don’t worry if you can not find it, you can always use the zest of one lemon. 

I love adding toppings to each bowl of soup! In this recipe, I added chopped peanuts for a little crunch, scallions and cilantro. 

Can’t wait for you guys to try it!

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoon coconut oil, divided
• 1 package of extra firm tofu or 1 lb. chicken breast, diced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 
• 1 bunch scallions, chopped and divided into two piles
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
• 1 stalk lemongrass, leave whole and cut an x in the bottom of the root end (this will help release the lemongrass flavor)
• 3 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 can full fat coconut milk or heavy cream
• zest and juice on 1 lime

Toppings

• Cilantro
• Peanuts
• 4 cups cooked wild or white rice

Instructions:

Cut tofu into cubes and place them in a medium sized bowl. If using chicken, dice. 

Whisk soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil together in a small bowl. 

In a large dutch oven or soup pot heat 1 teaspoon coconut oil over medium heat. 

Pour soy sauce mixture over cubed tofu, or chicken  and toss to make sure each piece is evenly coated. 

Add tofu/chicken to the hot pan and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. 

Remove the tofu/chicken from the pan and set aside.

Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon coconut oil. 

Add onion and carrot and cook until soft and fragrant. 

Add half of the chopped scallions (reserve the rest for garnish), garlic, ginger, and lemongrass. Cook for 2-3 minutes until very fragrant. 

Add the broth and coconut milk and bring the mixture to a boil. 

Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

Remove lemongrass from the pan and toss it. 

Season the soup broth with salt and pepper to taste and add the lime zest and juice. 

Place a serving of rice in each bowl, pour the soup broth over the rice, and top with tofu/chicken, scallions, cilantro, and peanuts. 

Lasagna Soup Remix

The ultimate comfort food in a bowl!

Who doesn’t love lasagna and a nice salad for dinner? Well how about that dinner but in soup form… that’s exactly what this soup is! I received my inspiration for this recipe from a Publix Apron’s recipe. It’s a quick and easy recipe with easily-found ingredients.

The broth of this soup consists of chicken broth and a jar of your favorite pasta sauce! I mean it doesn’t get much easier than a jar of pasta sauce. When my grandparents, Papa and Meme were not making their own homemade sauce, my Meme would have my Papa buy a jar of Ragu. I know, can you believe it… Ragu! Now, for me my go-to jar is Barilla. But this is your creation so you pick what your go-to sauce is. No judgement!

After browning the ground sausage, you start with “humble beginnings”. Have you ever heard of that? Maybe you have heard of Sofrito, Mirepoix, or the Holy Trinity of cooking. These are all the foundation of some of the world’s greatest dishes. It’s simply a group of vegetables sauteed together, disappearing into the dish as it cooks. But their flavors linger and would most definitely be missed if left out. In this soup, we make a “humble beginnings” of carrot, celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic to start the soup. 

Most lasagna soup calls for lasagna noodles, you know the long thick noodles that are for a baked lasagna. Well I just don’t agree that those noodles should be in a soup, they end up taking up the whole bowl. So I used a package of Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini, it usually can be found in the refrigerated section near the cheese. These little tortellinis are stuffed with creamy ricotta, aged Parmesan and Romano. You simply plop them into the soup and you have the noodle and all the delicious cheeses in one bite. 

Do not skip the salad kit’s toppings and dressing, trust me!. I used the Fresh Express Sweet Kale salad kit, it comes with broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, chicory, dried cranberries, roasted pumpkin seeds, poppyseed dressing. That’s 7 superfoods! The cranberries and the poppyseed dressing give the soup a sweet tangy twist, that cuts through the acid from the tomatoes, it’s a delicious combination!! But you can use any salad mix, a Cesar salad kit would be tasty too. If you buy a kit, it comes with everything which means you don’t have to buy a bunch of different ingredients. 

Lastly you plop a nice size dollop of Ricotta cheese into the bowl and you have yourself the perfect one-bowl meal!

Serve on a cold night with a crusty baguette, a glass of Scout and Cellar Fieldhouse Pinot Noir and you are set!

Ingredients

• 1lb mild ground Italian sausage
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. 
• 3 cups or  24 ounce of your favorite  jar pasta sauce
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato pesto
• 1 (9 oz) package cheese ravioli
• 1 (12 oz) Fresh Express Sweet Kale salad kit
• 1 (12 oz.) low fat ricotta cheese

Instructions

Preheat a large stockpot 2–3 minutes on medium-high. 

Brown sausage 5–7 minutes, stirring to crumble meat, until no pink remains.

Remove sausage and drain pot. 

Add a teaspoon of olive oil to the pot.  

Saute the veggies for about 4 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium-low. 

Stir in pasta sauce, broth, and pesto; simmer 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until hot.

Stir ravioli into soup; cook 4–5 minutes or until ravioli is tender 

Add sausage back to the pot and simmer for one hour. 

Meanwhile, mix the salad kit together, expect the dressing. I personally like to drizzle the dressing over the soup but again totally up to you. This is your creation!

Divide soup evenly among bowls. 

Top each bowl with even amounts salad greens and salad toppings, 

Drizzle the dressing over the top. 

Place a dollop about a tablespoon of ricotta cheese on top and serve.

Keto Friendly Taco Soup

Warm, cozy, easy winter soup that is rich with delicious Mexican flavors. 

This soup is the perfect way to enjoy tacos without the added carbs! 

I’m all about quick and easy one-bowl meals this time of year and this taco soup is at the top of the list. It’s made with my favorite taco ingredients and loaded with mildly spicy & zesty flavors that will keep you coming back for more.

It comes together quickly, with simple ingredients, and minimal effort. You will have a delicious dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Oh and this meal is totally affordable… you can get everything for under $20. 

Looking for a wine pairing?

Scout & Cellar 2019 ETNICO CHARDONNAY will pair beautifully with this spicy and zest soup. ETNICO Chardonnay is bright and refreshing with lemon zest, underripe pear, and a touch of pineapple balanced by white flowers and a hint of herbs with a zesty texture.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced (I used red but green works good too)
• 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes 
• 8 oz cream cheese (I used low fat and cut into fours, it helps it melt faster)
• 1 Taco seasoning packet
• Zest and juice of one medium sized lime
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups beef broth

Optional toppings:

sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, freshly minced cilantro, jalapeno, and a drizzle of lime

Instructions

Add olive oil to a large pot, brown beef, remove meat from pot and discard liquid. 

In the same pot, saute onion, and garlic over medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes.

Add the bell pepper, diced tomatoes and saute until pepper and tomatoes are soft and tender.

Add the lime zest taco seasoning packet and stir to combine. 

Add lime juice and cream cheese, until cream cheese is melted and mixed through.

Add beef back to the pot and stir to combine. 

Pour in beef broth and reduce heat to low-medium. 

Simmer for 15-20 minutes.