Winter Soups

Hearty Winter Soups Recipes

for the 8th day of blogmas!

Just when I thought that maybe we would be lucky enough to sustain the nice 50 F weather throughout December, I was proven wrong. Today the temperatures dropped to 36 F and it snowed. It started out as harmless flurries that melted instantly. But as the day went on the temperature dropped and it began to stick. By time I went to work at 3 PM the roads already had a light dusting. As the minutes went by, the layers piled up (not too high) and we had a nice coating of snow (maybe about an inch or two).

So naturally, what did I want to do when the weather was so inclement? Curl in a ball with soup, hot chocolate, and cookies while watching a movie. Well, I watched the movie this morning pre-snow and I drank the hot chocolate as I got ready for work during the beginning of snow. So all that were left were cookies and soup. Unfortunately, cookies were unattainable but I did have soup.

Which brings me to the wonderful idea of making a list of delicious soup recipes that I want to make this season. I've also gone through and labeled them as Vegetarian and Vegan (you simply have to substitute chicken broth for vegetable broth; obviously if the recipe calls for meat, just don't put it in)

1. Chicken Noodle

What kind of soup list would it be if it didn't have the most traditional soup there is? I'll let you know now that I have an unhealthy (or maybe it's actually healthy) obsession with the way cooked celery tasted. I think it's delicious and therefore will put it in any soup that it makes sense in.

I've never made this from scratch before (as is the case for the majority of the soups on this list) so I'm just going to link to recipes that I think look good as a jumping off point for my cooking adventures.

Recipe I want to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-chicken-noodle-soup/

2. Black Bean 

One of my more recent discoveries is my love of beans. I don't know why it took so long for me to realize that I like their taste, but it didn't hit me until last year. Now I love any soup, salad, or food really that has them in it.

I made my own version of black bean soup, which I will link to here when I put the recipe up (i.e. when I figure out what I did the first time and can replicate it). I can tell you that I definitely appreciated the paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper when I made it. 

VEG & Vegan

3. Broccoli Cheddar

I used to make this while I was at university, bread bowl and all. (Well I bought bread and carved it into a bread bowl) Lack of a Panera Bread in Switzerland caused me to get creative and to make soups at home, for which I am eternally grateful. 

VEG

This is the recipe I used: http://www.kitchentreaty.com/cheesy-broccoli-soup-in-sourdough-bread-bowls-with-optional-ham-2/

4. Tomato

So I have never liked tomato soup no matter how hard or how much I've tried to like it. The ONE time I have ever found a tomato soup that I loved was in Ireland. My friend and I decided to take shelter from the passing storm and get some lunch at a place called Ryan's in Dublin. (Because I am a totally foodie, I took a picture of my lunch. Yes the above picture is an actual event in my life haha)

I ordered hot chocolate and tomato soup served with brown bread and it was wonderful. 

VEG & Vegan

This is the recipe I want to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/rich-and-creamy-tomato-basil-soup/

5. White Bean & Chicken

I had never seen or heard of this soup until tonight. I ordered it from the specials menu and I loved it. It really hit the spot and was filling. Served with toasted garlic bread, this was possibly the best food decision I made all week.

This is the recipe I want to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/creamy-italian-white-bean-soup/

6. Pasta e  Fagioli

Once again, my love for beans and spice are uncovered. I call this pasta e fagioli (unlike most Americans who pronounce it pasta fasul. Funnily enough, when I went to a restaurant with people I worked with, I read the menu and chose pasta e fagioli and didn't realize that it was the same as pasta fasul until my coworker and I had the same dish with two different pronunciations.

VEG

Recipe I want to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/andreas-pasta-fagioli/

7. Chicken Tortilla

This just sounds hearty and filling and delicious. I've had chicken enchilada soup before and if this is anything like that then it is definitely worth trying.

Recipe I want to try: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rescue-chef/chicken-tortilla-soup-recipe/index.html

8. Corn Chowder

So while I have never actually had corn chowder, I really want to try it. I love corn and I love soup so I don't see why I shouldn't try it. I think I would add chicken instead of bacon though (just my personal preference).

VEG

Recipe I want to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grandmas-corn-chowder/

I will definitely be trying some of these out seeing as it is getting cold and I am starting to feel poorly. What soups do you make during the winter and / or when you're feeling poorly? I think I'm getting a cold and I literally just split my lip because I sneezed. Off to bed I go.

love always,

xo