Autumn Soups

I love soup. A lot of people like soup; I LOVE soup. 

You can tell from searching my blog how much I love soup. I have recipes for chicken noodle soup, lentil and sausage soup, ginger carrot soup, white bean and bacon soup, black bean soup, lasagna soup, potato soup, lemon chicken rice soup, pumpkin pie soup, lamb stew, beef stew, beef stew with Guinness, fish chowder, lemony lentil soup, flu fighter chicken noodle soup, white chicken chili, chicken stew, bacon corn chowder, French onion soup, broccoli cheese soup, summer corn chowder, ukha (Russian fish and potato soup), and borscht. 

But wait, there's more. 

See, that's what I love about soup. There's always another variation to try. It's one of the few foods I'll dare to make without a recipe. I mean, what is soup, anyway? Some kind of broth, with vegetables, meat, seasonings, and maybe pasta or rice or dumplings. Throw it all together and let it simmer, then adjust the flavors the way you like. You can make a single serving to use up leftovers (how many times did I heat up some chicken broth and throw in the half-serving of rice, vegetables, and chicken that my kids didn't finish the night before??), or make a giant pot to feed a crowd. 

So there are always new recipes to try. And if, for some bizarre, inexplicable reason, you're not a fan of the soups listed above - or if, like me, you're just always up to try a new soup recipe - here are ten more you might enjoy. 

Butternut Squash and Potato Soup

1-1/2 c onion chopped
1/4 c butter

2 cloves garlic optional, crushed/minced
4 cups butternut squash peeled & cubed
2 cups potato peeled & cubed

4 c chicken broth
1 c milk

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Add broth, squash, and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.  Remove from heat and puree until smooth (with an immersion blender or by batches with a blender or food processor). Stir in milk, then return to heat until warmed through. Serve with croutons and a dollop of sour cream, if desired. 

Note: There really is no seasoning other than garlic! And I didn't feel like it was bland. But feel free to experiment with various seasonings: curry, savory herbs like rosemary or sage, or something with a kick like a pinch of cayenne, chili powder, or smoked paprika.

Smoky Tomato and White Bean Soup 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 celery ribs, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 

½ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ cup tomato paste

27 oz chopped fire-roasted tomatoes , canned

2 teaspoon salt , plus more to taste

½ teaspoon black pepper , freshly ground

3 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock, for a vegetarian or vegan version)

1 tablespoon sugar 

4½ cups white kidney, cannellini or lima beans, drained and rinsed (canned or dried, but if using dried beans, they must be pre-cooked)

In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion and celery for about 10 minutes, until they are starting to go golden brown. Add the garlic, smoked paprika and cumin and continue to cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add all the other ingredients. Stir well to combine, allow to come to a simmer and cook for another 20 minutes. Add a little water to adjust the consistency to your liking, check the seasoning and adjust to taste; then serve. If desired, you can use an immersion blender to puree right in the pot.

Note: You can reduce the amount of stock to make a thicker version and serve over rice or mashed potatoes. 

Pasta e Fagioli

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

2 large carrots, peeled & chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup white wine

19-ounce can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed

19-ounce can white kidney beans, drained & rinsed

1 cup tomato sauce or crushed canned tomatoes

6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth) - add 1 additional cup if using Instant Pot

1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped

2 bay leaves

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon sea salt 

1-1/25 cup ditali or ditalini pasta

Stovetop Directions:

Heat the oil in a deep skillet or stockpot. Add the onion, carrot and celery, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and continue to sauté until the wine is mostly absorbed by the vegetables, about 4-5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients EXCEPT the pasta, mix well and simmer, with the lid ON, for about 20 minutes. Then add the pasta, give it a stir and continue cooking with the lid on, but slightly askew for another 10 minutes until it is al dente. Do not overcook.

Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving.

Instant Pot Directions: 

Set your pot to sauté and add the oil. When hot, add the onion, carrot and celery. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Then add the wine and continue to sauté until the wine is mostly absorbed by the vegetables, about 4-5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients plus 1 extra cup of broth (7 cups total) and mix well. Close lid, seal, and set to high pressure for 4 minutes. Quick release once complete. (Natural release will overcook the pasta.) Remove and discard the bay leaves before serving.

African Chicken Peanut Stew

2-3 pounds chicken legs, thighs and/or wings

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large yellow or white onion, sliced

3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced

6-8 garlic cloves, chopped roughly

2-3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1 15-ounce can of crushed tomatoes

1 quart chicken stock

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup roasted peanuts

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

Salt and black pepper

1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro

Heat the vegetable oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Salt the chicken pieces well, pat them dry and brown them in the oil. Cook in batches, if needed, to avoid overcrowding the pot. Set the pieces aside as they brown. In the same pot, add the onions and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring often and scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté another 1-2 minutes, then add the sweet potatoes and stir well to combine. Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, peanut butter, peanuts, coriander and cayenne and stir well to combine. Add the chicken. Bring to a simmer and adjust salt to taste.

Cover the pot and simmer gently for 90 minutes (check after an hour), or until the chicken meat easily falls off the bone and the sweet potatoes are tender. Remove the chicken pieces and set them in a bowl to cool, until cool enough to touch. Remove and discard the skin if desired, or chop and return to pot. 

Shred the meat off the bones and put the meat back in the pot.

Adjust the seasonings for salt and cayenne, then add as much black pepper as you think you can stand—the stew should be peppery. Stir in the cilantro and serve by itself, or with simple steamed rice.

Meatball Stew

3 cups beef broth (or 3 cups water with 3 bouillon cubes)

1 8-ounce can of tomato soup

1 bay leaf

1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried

1 to 1-1/2 pounds frozen meatballs

1/2 onion, sliced

4 large carrots sliced into 1-inch pieces

2 russet potatoes (about 2 pounds), cut into bite-sized chunks

3 stalks celery, washed and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons flour

1/2 cup half and half or milk 

In a heavy stockpot over medium heat, combine broth, soup, bay leaf, and thyme and bring to a boil. Add meatballs, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, and celery and simmer for 10 more minutes. Blend butter and flour together and stir into stew. Add half and half or milk and simmer for 20-20 minutes longer, until slightly thickened. 

Note: You can substitute frozen vegetables for the fresh to save on preparation time, and you can use canned cream of mushroom soup instead of the flour, butter, half and half/milk, and thyme.  

Vichyssoise (Cold Potato and Leek Soup)

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large sweet onion, chopped

6 large leeks, thoroughly rinsed and sliced (white and light green parts only)

3 large potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch of nutmeg

1/2 cup heavy cream (or half and half)

Chives to garnish (optional)

In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and the butter over medium high heat. Sauté the onion until translucent (about 2 minutes). Add the leeks and sauté until soft (about 4-5 min).

Add the potatoes and sauté with the onions and leeks for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Puree the soup until smooth, using an immersion blender or by batches in a regular blender.

Tuscan White Bean and Roasted Garlic Soup (Crock Pot recipe)

1 lb dry Cannellini beans, rinsed

1 head garlic, peeled

8 cups water

4 sage leaves, plus more for garnish

2 tsp olive oil

1 cube chicken bouillon 

kosher salt and white pepper to taste

Place beans, 3 cloves of the garlic, water and a few sage leaves in the crock pot; cover and set to HIGH 4 hours, or until beans are soft. While beans are cooking, place remaining garlic cloves in the center of a 7x7 inch square of aluminum foil. Cover garlic with olive oil and a little salt. Seal aluminum tightly and roast at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until garlic is soft and golden. Remove from oven and set aside.

When the beans are soft, add the bouillon and mix well until dissolved. Stir in roasted garlic, reserved a few cloves for garnish, if desired. Using an immersion blender, carefully pulse until soup reaches desired consistency. (Can also blend batches in a regular blender.) Adjust salt to taste. Garnish with fresh sage, white pepper, and whole roasted garlic cloves if desired.

Taco Soup (Instant Pot recipe)

1-2 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 packet taco seasoning (1/4 cup if using bulk seasoning) 

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

1 (10 oz) can Rotel

1 (7 oz) can diced green chiles (do not drain)

4 cups chicken broth

1 (14 oz) can black beans, rinsed & drained

1 (14 oz) can garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained

1 (14 oz) can red kidney or pinto beans, rinsed & drained

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 cup frozen corn

4 5" corn or flour tortillas, cut in thin strips (optional)

Optional garnishes: 

Sour cream

Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Tortilla chips

Avocado, diced

Red cnion, diced

Jalapeño, sliced

Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. (Add 1/2 tablespoon oil if using ground turkey.) When hot, add meat and saute for several minutes. Add the taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until meat is browned. Add Rotel, chiles, and chicken broth. Stir and bring to a slow simmer (cover with a glass lid or a plate, if desired, to speed heating). Add all of the beans and stir well. Pour the diced tomatoes on top without stirring. Close and seal pot (turn off saute function) and cook on manual for 6 minutes. Allow to natural release for 15 minutes, then do a controlled release to avoid splashing. 

Stir soup, then adjust salt to taste, then add the corn and tortilla strips (if using). Stir well and let sit for a few minutes, stirring occasionally to help dissolve some of the tortillas. Serve with desired garnishes.

Gazpacho

1 cucumber, halved and seeded (not peeled)

2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded

4 plum tomatoes

1 red onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups tomato juice

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Chop the cucumbers, red bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion into 1-inch cubes. Place the sliced vegetables separately into a food processor with a steel blade. Pulse the processor until the veggies are coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess. (Can also chop by hand.) Combine in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Stir everything together until well combined. Chill before serving to allow the flavors to develop and meld together.

Serve with a slice of warm, crusty bread as a main dish, or serve in shot glasses as an appetizer. 

Lobster Bisque

2 lobster tails OR 1 large (2-3 lb.) lobster OR 2 chicken lobsters 1 to 1-1/2 lbs. each) 

5 cups water

1/2 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Lobster Base (optional)

1-1/2 cup dry white wine, divided

salt and pepper

1 bay leaf

2 medium carrots, thinly chopped

2 celery stalks, thinly chopped

1 cup onions, chopped

6 oz tomato paste 

4 tablespoons butter, divided

2 tablespoons flour

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Add the lobster and 5 cups to water to a large pot. Bring the water to a boil and cook the lobster tails for 7 minutes. Remove the lobster tails and set aside so they cool, about 5 minutes. (I have my grocer steam my lobsters and skip this step.) Remove the meat from shells and refrigerate. Keep the shells and store the lobster meat in the fridge. Return the shells to the pot of water (or place in 5 cups of boiling water, if your lobsters were pre-cooked) and add Better than Bouillon (if using), bay leaf, 1 cup wine, and salt and pepper to taste. Return to boil. Lower heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.

Place a large strainer over a large bowl. Pour the broth and shells over the strainer to remove the shells from the broth. Reserve broth; discard shells. Add 3 tablespoons of butter to the same pot. When the butter has melted add the celery, carrots, and chopped onion and saute for 6-7 minutes, until soft. Add the flour and stir until fully incorporated.

Add the lobster broth back to the pot along with the fresh thyme, heavy whipping cream, tomato paste, remaining 1/2 cup dry white wine, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Use an immersion or regular blender to smooth the soup.  

Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the reserved lobster meat. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Serve the soup in bowls topped with the cooked lobster and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes

Every year we swear we'll start planning our Halloween costumes in mid-September. And yet, somehow, we always end up un-costumed and panicking on October 27th. But never fear! I have a collection of (easy - but not lame!) homemade costumes that can be thrown together relatively quickly at the last minute using mainly items you already have on hand or can pick up or make easily. 

Here are my favorite easy last-minute Halloween costumes for 2023!

Mary Poppins

All you need is a plain white button-up shirt, a red bow tie, a dark small-brimmed hat, a dark skirt (any length or style), a plain umbrella, a large handbag, a little red lipstick, and a spoonful of sugar to transform yourself into everyone's favorite nanny. 

Flight Attendant

Add a plain white blouse and a silk neck scarf to a pencil skirt and a pair of pumps, plus a full face of makeup and polished updo hairstyle, bring along a rollerbag to collect all your candy, and you'll be flying high in this cute flight attendant getup. 

Allan & Ellie from Jurassic Park

He needs khakis, a denim shirt, a red bandana, a straw hat, and cool shades; she needs tan shorts, a solid color tee and long-sleeved cotton shirt tied at the waist, and you're good to go! Bonus points if you can find a buddy with one of those fabulous inflatable T rex costumes.

Wind-up Doll

Save a paper towel tube, glue or tape it to a figure 8 cut from a piece of cardboard, then put on your cutest babydoll dress and lots of pink blusher, and break out your best robot dance moves for this adorable wind-up doll costume.

Scuba Diver

Black pants and long-sleeved shirt form the basis for this scuba diver costume. Add a pair of swim goggles and a couple of spray-painted 2-liter soda bottles held together with some washi tape and cord and you're ready to go!

Baby Shark (doo doo doo-doot doo doo)

Take an old gray sweatshirt and sew (or glue) on some white felt teeth and eyes (color in the center with a black sharpie), add a fin made from gray fabric scraps (or felt) and some pillow stuffing or more fabric scraps, then break out the two-note cello soundtrack to have everyone fleeing the water. 

Rubik's Cube

If you can come up with a cardboard box that's larger than your child (early Christmas shopping on Amazon can help), cut  a head hole and armholes, open the bottom, add a square of colored posterboard on each side, and use black electrical tape to form a 3x3 grid on each side, and you're the coolest cube in town. 

Barbie

Although it's better if you have a long blond wig (or naturally long blond hair), any stylish outfit in vivid pink plus a pair of high heels will instantly turn you into Barbie (Ken not included, although it will probably be easy to recruit a handsome guy with a dark suit and a pair of sunglasses - or board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt).  

Pasta Pasta Pasta

Get a rectangle of stiff off-white, pale tan, or yellowish fabric or even lightweight posterboard, cut zigzags along the two short edges, run some cord or twine through the center to gather it, and tie around your waist over a neutral colored top and pants, and you're farfalle pasta! Or stitch together a zigzag-edged pillow and be a ravioli. 

Bat

That broken black umbrella that's been hanging around at the back of your closet for years? Take off the handle, cut it in half, and strategically safety pin it to the sleeves of a black hoodie, and pair it black leggings and a couple of black felt or construction paper ears, and you can echolocate the best candy in the neighborhood.

The Bachelorette

Dig out that old bridesmaid or prom dress from the back of your closet, buy yourself a bouquet of roses, and you're ready to win over the hearts of everyone you encounter.

Wednesday Addams

If you have a short black dress and a white top, some goth makeup, braided pigtails, and a withering stare, this Wednesday Addams costume is the look for you. 

Rosie the Riveter

A denim shirt with jeans or overalls, a red bandana or polka-dot scarf, some red lipstick, and a nice flex and you're ready to win the war as everyone's favorite riveter. (Bonus points if you can sing the song.)

Palm Tree

Pair any kind of tan or brown outfit with this palm tree hat made from green posterboard or stiff felt and a cardboard chip or coffee can hot glued to a plastic headband (complete directions here) for a delightful tropical look. 

Vampire

Black pants, white dress shirt, and black dress or sweater vest, a little eyeliner smudged under your eyes, and a simple black cape (purchased or cut out of inexpensive fabric), and a terrifying glare are all you need to be a vampire. Fangs entirely optional, but be sure to brush after you eat your candy. 

Bubble Bath

Start with a white or light blue base (t-shirt and shorts if you're in a warm climate or sweatshirt and light-wash jeans if you're somewhere cooler), then blow up a bunch of white and pink balloons and safety pin them to the shirt, and tape on a rubber ducky or two just for fun. (Bonus points for singing the song with this one, too.)

Cavity Sam

Remember the game "Operation"? The guy with all the organs was named "Cavity Sam," and you can become him by cutting out the various organs from red and white felt and pinning them to a base costume - and don't forget Sam's red clown nose. Make it into a couples' costume with a set of scrubs and a pair of tongs. 

Bob Ross

Add an afro wig and an artist's palette with some paint splotches to jeans or dark pants and a denim or plaid flannel shirt and you'll be "happy little trees"-ing with the best of them. 

Jake from State Farm

Start with, uh, khakis and a red polo, then pin on a State Farm logo made from posterboard (or a stick-on nametag) and red sharpie. I promise you won't be hideous. 

Canoe

Cut a canoe shape and oar blades out of posterboard or an empty box, attach the blades to a pool noodle, and add some suspender-type straps and you're ready to win the Halloween regatta.

Happy Halloween and happy crafting!