Bean and Pasta Soup

 

Bean and Pasta Soup

Bean and Pasta Soup

Recipe provided courtesy of Taste of Home magazine.  Find more great recipes at www.tasteofhome.com

 

We’re always on the lookout for great, low-fat recipes and this soup fits the bill.  Loaded with veggies and pasta, it’s fast, filling and delicious.  I make it every week.

          Maria Gooding                                                                                Union, Ontario

 

Bean and Pasta Soup Recipe

Bean and Pasta Soup

1 cup uncooked small pasta

2 celery ribs, thinly sliced

2 medium carrots, thinly sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups water

1 can (14 ½ oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 ¼ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

1 tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 can (15 oz.) white kidney or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups shredded fresh spinach

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, optional

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large nonstick saucepan, sauté the celery, carrots and onion in oil for 5 minutes.  Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.  Stir in the water, tomatoes, broth, basil, rosemary, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Drain pasta; stir into vegetable mixture.  Add beans; heat through.  Stir in spinach; cook until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.            5 servings

 

(Recipe for Bean and Pasta Soup was on www.tasteofhome.com, 2014)

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Individual Turkey Potpies

Individual Turkey Potpies

Individual Turkey Potpies

 

Savory, creamy potpies are a great way to make those old leftovers new again.  These are not your grandma’s pot pies…they are made with fresh herbs, a silky homemade Dijon sauce and a puff pastry top.

           Victoria Bond                                                            Tempe, Arizona

 

Individual Turkey Potpies Recipe

Individual Turkey Potpies

2 ½ cups cubed peeled potatoes

1 cup chopped onions

¾ cup sliced fresh carrots

½ cup chopped celery

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups cubed cooked turkey

½ cup fresh peas

½ tsp. minced fresh thyme or 1/8 tsp. dried thyme

½ tsp. minced fresh rosemary or 1/8 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Sauce:   ¼ cup butter. cubed

6 Tbsp. flour

2 cups 2% milk

1 cup chicken broth

½ cup heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbsp. capers, drained

1 tsp. minced fresh tarragon or ¼ tsp. dried tarragon

1 tsp. minced fresh thyme or dried thyme

1 tsp. minced fresh rosemary or ¼ tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

½ tsp. rubbed sage

½ tsp. dried marjoram

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Crust:   1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg

1 Tbsp. water

2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, sauté the potatoes, onions, carrots and celery in oil for 8 minutes.  Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.  Stir in the turkey, peas, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; heat through.

In a large saucepan, melt butter.  Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk, broth and cream.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thicken.  Stir in the mustard, capers, herbs, nutmeg, salt, pepper and potato mixture.  Divide among six greased 10 oz. ramekins.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into 13 x 9 inch rectangle.  Cut into six squares.  Place one pastry over each ramekin; pressing to seal edges.  Beat egg and water; brush over pastry.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Place ramekins on a baking sheet.  Bake, uncovered, at 400 F. for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

6 servings

 

(Recipe for Individual Turkey Potpies came from Taste of Home, 2013)

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Pasta Fagioli

Pasta Fagioli

Pasta Fagioli

This is a healthier version of Pasta Fagioli.  I found this recipe in Newsday, earlier this year 2013.

Pasta Fagioli Recipe

Pasta Fagioli

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup chopped red onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ tsp. dried crushed rosemary

2 carrots, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

4 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomato with basil, garlic and oregano

1 cup (5 ½ oz.) Orzo or Ditalini

2 (15 oz.) cans lower-sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup grated or shaved Parmesan

 

Heat the oil in a soup pot set over medium high.  Add the onion, garlic and rosemary; cook, stirring often, 1 minute or until garlic is slightly softened.

Add carrots and celery; cook until somewhat softened, about 4 minutes.

Add the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil.  Stir in the pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 9 minutes.  Stir in the beans, cook 1 minute to heat through, and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Top each bowl with grated or shaved Parmesan.           6 servings

(Recipe for Pasta Fagioli was in Newsday, Thursday, January 3, 2013)

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