Recipe Wednesday

Soup Du Jour..."it's the soup of the day", ha, ha - that line never gets old right!

Quick Tortilla Soup
Ingredients:
28 oz. prepared fresh salsa
32 oz. chicken broth
24 oz. frozen corn
1 cup frozen sliced carrots
1 4 oz. cooked shredded chicken breast

Toppings (optional):
light sour cream
limes
tortilla strips

Put prepared salsa in a saucepan. Add chicken broth; bring to a boil. Add frozen corn, carrots and chicken and simmer for 8 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and a few tortilla strips on top and add a twist of lime.
Nutritional Info: 150 calories, 1 gr. fat, 3 grams fiber
I serve with a side of cheese quesedillas made with whole wheat tortillas (at least 5 grams fiber) and shredded cheese.

Minestrone, just like Olive Garden's

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup zucchini

1/2 cup frozen green beans, Italian-cut

1/4 cup celery, minced

4 teaspoons garlic, minced

4 cups vegetable broth

30 ounces canned red kidney beans, drained

30 ounces canned white beans, drained

14 ounces diced tomatoes, canned

1/2 cup carrots, julienned or shredded

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

3 cups hot water

4 cups fresh spinach, small leaves

1/2 cup shell pasta

Directions:
1. Heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.

2. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. 3. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices. 4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. 5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency. Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup servings.
Nutritional Info: 164 calories, 1 gram fat, 5 grams fiber