Cabbage and Pork Soup

Another soup recipe. This time I needed to get rid of the cabbage that I got from my bountiful basket. So after some searching I found this recipe at Betty Crocker. If you want the exact recipe and not my modified version go here.
1 pound boneless country-style pork ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
About 2 cups sliced carrots
About 1 cup chopped celery
1 medium potato, peeled and cut
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cups chopped cabbage (about 1 medium head)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 cups water
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained

Mix all ingredients in 3 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours (or high heat setting 4 to 5 hours) or until pork and vegetables are tender.

It might look a little weird but it is delicious. Don't judge something by what it looks like. ;)

Chayote Soup

So this week I got something that I had never heard of before. I was told when I went and picked up my basket that this pear shaped vegetable was a sweet squash. I'm glad that he had told me that much because I probably would have thought that it was some kind of pear. No it is actually called Chayote, and it is a type of squash. I had to Google it to find out the name of it so that I could find recipes for it.

Chayote Squash

After much research I found a couple of recipes that I could use my Chayote squash and that actually sounded good.

Here are all the recipes for Chayote Soup

So the recipe I decided to make is called Chayote Soup:

The link where I got the recipe is here. 

Ingredients:

2 cubes chicken bouillon, crumbled

2 cups hot water

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 small yellow onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 chayote squashes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

This is what the soup looks like when you have all of the ingredients added. 

Instructions:

Dissolve the bouillon in the hot water. 

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion, garlic, and red pepper in the butter until the onion is soft. Add the squash, 2 tablespoons cilantro, salt, and pepper and stir continually for 5 minutes. Stir in the bouillon mixture and 1 tablespoon cilantro; cover. Simmer about 20 minutes. 

Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into bowls and garnish with a sprig of cilantro to serve.

The final masterpiece.

This was really delicious, a bit spicy, but I think I put in too many red pepper flakes. My roommates enjoyed it and it is already gone. So if anyone ever wants to try something with Chayote I would definitely recommend this. Bon Appetit!

Minestrone Soup

Last week I was craving something healthyish and yummy, so I decided to make me some Minestrone Soup.

Doesn't it look colorful and delicious?!

I originally got this recipe from a Foods class that I took in high school but I tweaked it a little bit. I don't really follow recipes very well but what I make usually turns out to be delicious.
My recipe:
- About 2 cups water
- Sliced carrots
- Sliced celery
- 1 diced small yellow onion
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 2 cloves of garlic
- basil, oregano, thyme, black pepper, and salt
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 sliced Zucchini
- 1 can red kidney beans, drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- Dry Pasta (as much as you desire)
Instructions:
In a skillet brown the sausage and cook thoroughly. In saucepan combine sausage, water, carrots, celery, onion, bouillon, garlic, and spices. Cook until the vegetables are tender. Once vegetables are tender add the last four ingredients and cook until the pasta is tender.
Serve in pretty soup bowl and enjoy.

This recipe is actually very easy, it's just a bit time consuming because of the vegetables, but I find the slicing and cooking very relaxing, plus the finished soup is delicious.
Just as a side note I've been considering going to a Culinary Arts School after I graduate from SUU. I still have a year to go before I really have to make a decision, but for now I'm just considering it as an option later on. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks.