Lemon Rice Soup

This is my version of a diner classic.

This is perfect for a Michigan May, where the weather can't make up its mind what it wants to be.

1 - 2 lemons juiced

2 eggs beaten

8 c. low sodium chicken broth

Nonstick cooking spray

2 - 3 each: carrots, celery chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed, chopped

2 - 3 c. cooked chicken chopped

2 c. rice

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. each: oregano, dried parsley.

Rinse, cut ends from, chop celery and carrot, set aside.

Peel, rinse chop onion, set aside.

Peel, chop garlic, set aside.

Chop cooked chicken into a clean bowl, set aside.

 Cut lemon in half, set aside.

Preheat stove to medium high heat.

Lower heat to medium, spray nonstick spray in pan. 

Add onion, carrots, celery, salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried oregano, garlic to pan and saute for a few minutes.

Add chicken broth to pot and cook for 15 -  20 min.

Add uncooked rice and cook for 10 minures more.

While soup is cooking, squeeze lemon juice into beaten eggs.

Ladle some of the broth into egg mixture.

Lower heat to medium low.

While adding eggs slowly to broth, stir and cook soup for a few minutes more.

Serves 4.

Odds And Ends, Thrown Together Soup™

Did you ever have one of those days where you're not up to cooking. Today it happened to me.

This is an easy recipe that can be done quickly.

I've used canned chicken but this is also great with leftover chicken and turkey too.

2 - 3 cans (5 oz each) cooked chicken
1 small onion chopped
3/4 c fresh mushrooms
1 - 2 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
8 c. low sodium chicken broth
2 - 3 each: celery stalks, carrots chopped
Pinch each: salt, pepper, dried parsley
1 medium - large potato diced
1 - 1 1/4 c egg noodles (adjust amount)

Open cans of chicken and drain. Set aside.

Rinse and chop potato, celery, mushrooms and carrots.

Peel, rinse and chop onions, garlic.

In a soup pot combine: broth,  chicken, vegetables, salt, pepper,  herbs. Bring to a boil for 5 - 10 min. Lower heat to medium low and let simmer for 30 - 40 min. 

Add noodles about 10 - 15 min before serving. Continue cooking until noodles are done.

Serves 8.

Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a vegetable soup that is made with tomato juice and chicken broth. 

Here I used vegetable juice instead.

Gazpacho is often served cold.

 It's refreshing on a warm day and is excellent as a light lunch. 

I've even enjoyed it in cooler weather as well. 

Enjoy!

2 c. each: tomato or vegetable juice (regular or low sodium), chicken broth (low sodium)
1 clove garlic (crushed and chopped)
1/4 tsp. each: pepper, salt, diced jalapeno 
1/3 c. cucumber chopped
1/4 c. green onion chopped
1/3 c. each: tomato chopped, onion chopped, bell pepper chopped


Rinse, cut cucumbers in half lengthwise and chop. 

Rinse, seed, chop peppers.

Peel, rinse, chop onion. 

Rinse, seed chop tomato

In a sauce pan, heat chicken broth for a couple of mins.  

You can also do this in a microwave safe cup for a minute, let cool.

To serve:

Pour chicken broth into a bowl.

Add vegetable juice to the chicken broth.

 Add desired vegetables to the bowl.

Sprinkle salt, pepper over soup to taste.

 Mix, chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.