hello winter.

So, winter finally showed up here in Utah. oh joy.

but no worries,
we had the BEST tomato bisque soup today for lunch.
thanks to our "produce in the pantry."
(aka. THRIVE)
Tomato Bisque

by Chef Todd Leonard

1/2 c. THRIVE chopped onions
2/3 c. THRIVE carrot dices
1/2 c. THRIVE celery
2 qts. water
1/2 c. THRIVE tomato powder
1/2 c. THRIVE tomato dices
1/2 tbsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tbsp seasoned salt
3/4 tbsp THRIVE iodized salt
1/2 tbsp Cholula hot sauce (the secret ingredient :)
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. parmesan cheese

directions: in a 6-quart stock pot, combine the onions, carrots, celery, water, tomato powder, diced tomatoes, italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and spice blend and bring to a simmer, stirring to blend well. Let soup simmer for about 20 minutes covered, until all items become tender. Add the hot sauce, vinegar, cream, and parmesan and stir well to blend. (for thicker soup, reduce more before cream is added). Place soup in a blender or use a handleld blender and puree soup to a silky smooth consistency. Pour soup back into pot, taste, and adjust seasoning as needed.

top with some THRIVE sour cream.
chopped herbs or balsamic reduction are also nice accompaniments.

bon appetit!

you're gonna LOVE this soup!

My friend shared this recipe with me, and our family fell in LOVE with it.

so when we were craving some good ol fashioned comfort food,

{yet, there were very little veggies in the fridge}

we made it with THRIVE!

and the best part....

i didn't have to do all the chopping this time.

2 Tablespoons butter (THRIVE powder butter reconstituted)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped onion (THRIVE chopped onions)
3 carrots chopped (THRIVE chopped carrots)
2 stalks of celery (THRIVE chopped celery)
1 1/2 tablespoons of flour(THRIVE flour)
1-2 minced cloves of garlic
2 cups chicken stock (stock adds such a richer flavor, I use Swanson brand for both stock and broth)

2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped cauliflower (THRIVE cauliflower)
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped (THRIVE potato chunks)
2/3 cup of milk (THRIVE instant milk reconstituted)
2 cups chopped broccoli (THRIVE broccoli)
2 heaping cups of shredded cheddar cheese (THRIVE shredded cheese)

Melt butter with salt in large soup pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender (about 10 min) Add garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes {garlic burns easy} Then add 1 1/2 tablespoons of flour, mixing well until veggies are coated. Add chicken broth and stock, potatoes and cauliflower, cook on med heat until potatoes are 1/2 tender {about 25 minutes}, add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.

(using THRIVE will decrease the cooking time as well....best way to make this...taste test often)

If you like a bit thicker soup, I take a ladle of just broth at the end and mix with -2 tablespoons of cornstarch, whisk it together and then add back to the soup, let it heat up and soup will thicken.

Happy Cooking!!

This is REAL.

I don't know about you, but i certainly wouldn't eat that "other" stuff!

i like when my green vegetable are actually GREEN!

That's what i LOVE about THRIVE.

it's not "emergency food"...it's everyDAY food!

*pictures from Kirsten Browning

Chicken Noodle Soup

Happy Halloween!!

I started a tradition way back when. chicken noodle soup before trick-or-treating! it was always something we looked forward too, but it took a long time!

now that the kids are older and the day is crazy busy, i was about to opt for a frozen pizza for dinner. but the hubby gave me the ol' "you're going to break tradition?" with the saddest looking face.

so i caved.

but i'm a lot smarter this time around.

Thrive cooked chopped chicken

Thrive celery

Thrive onions

Thrive carrots

Thrive potato chunks

and some frozen grandma noodles.

oh baby!

it was SO good.

took me a total of 18 minutes

(instead of the usual hour, and mostly cause we were waiting on the rolls to warm up!)

saved some time, filled some bellies, had a fabulous night!

Enjoy your halloween candy tonight!