Alright, pals. Here is a good one AND…
YOU CAN MAKE IT IN THE MICROWAVE!
I admit that after JJ came home from the office one day last year with this recipe from one of his assistants, I thought it sounded just plain strange.
But oh. I was being judgmental. It was phenom and I’ve had many a people ask for it.
Also, don’t let the title confuse you – it’s a great soup to eat on a cold February night.
It’s best with whole wheat crackers and/or a warm, crusty baguette. My kids won’t eat it but you have probably gathered by now that my kids don’t eat anything (the exceptions being chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fries, macaroni and cheese, and…salmon. Yes. They will eat salmon. I can’t figure it out, either. I’ve tried to expand this repertoire, people. Really. I have.)
The best thing is that I use Laura’s Lean 4% ground beef thus making it quite low in fat and the taste is still wonderful. I don’t know about you but I could certainly use some low-fat and lean in my life. I made Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls (click here for recipe) yesterday for JJ’s birthday breakfast. Basically, I need to live on the elliptical for about a week straight.
AUTUMN SOUP
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
4 c. hot water
2 c. 1/2″ potato cubes
1 c. thinly sliced carrots
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 bay leaf
3 tomatoes, cut into 8ths & sliced in half (or one can of diced tomatoes)
Mix ground beef, onion and celery in 5 quart casserole. Microwave on high (100%) until ground beef loses its pink color, 5-7 minutes, stirring after half the cooking time. Add hot water, potatoes, carrots, salt, basil, pepper and bay leaf cover. Microwave on high (100%) until potatoes are tender, 18-20 minutes. Add tomatoes. Microwave on high until tomatoes are tender, 8-10 minutes.
Since I mentioned JJ’s birthday, I also must share what a huge hit his cake was last night. Oddly enough, it too was a low-fat, healthy birthday cake and it. was. amazing. Everyone (except me since I had consumed one too many cinnamon rolls) ate two pieces. It was that good.
I have two dear friends who are fantastically wonderful bakers. In other words, I wouldn’t question a thing they say about the chemistry of baking. Both of them, on separate occasions because they don’t know each other, told me that they have made their own cakes from scratch in the past. They both felt that the cake mixes were just as good if not better than what they whipped up from scratch.
I would use a mix regardless. But it makes me feel better knowing that these two chicas who are smarty bakers would do so as well.
So I bought a Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake Mix and followed the low-fat recipe on the back of the box. (Basically, this includes adding 1/3 cup applesauce, 1 cup water and three eggs to the mix – no oil!) In between the two round layers, I spread low-fat Cool Whip and simply dusted the top with powdered sugar (I heart my powdered sugar sprinkler from Pampered Chef – I use it a TON).
They couldn’t get enough and my super health nut hubby was pleased.
So maybe it was not the most BEAUTIFUL cake on the planet but it was oh so good and heck, it was healthy.
Super Sweet-Tooth Girl was in heaven (I have no idea where this comes from…)
Have I ever mentioned that it is almost impossible for Sawyer to ever sit down for too long?
He had to stand and eat his cake. Oh well.
Pu-pu (the stuffed dog with no nose to the left) is always close by…
Solomon. Well. He’s never really met a food he doesn’t like. But still.
I had to add this shot because, oh, the face of my husband.
Is that not the most telling look you have ever seen?
I must wear this expression more than ten times a day.
(Yes, mother. He loved his fleece. See above.)
My kids LOVE fish/seafood of any kind. Especially my 6 yr old. If it’s some shrimp or salmon or crab meat or whatever, he LOVES it. I don’t really get it, either.
Mmmmm… birthday cake….
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Toothless =-.
Just plain odd. I can’t get anyone to eat ground beef or even noodles, which all kids seem to like, but they WILL eat salmon? I will never get this parenting gig figured out.
Glad to see you, C!:)
I kid you not, my two year old is on the same diet, including the salmon.
I’m a soup freak, but totally against the microwave. However, I like you, so I will give this a whirl. I’ll let you know how it goes! It sounds yummy, and I’m all for fast and easy!
.-= Kelly Jo @ Typing One Handed´s last blog ..The Perfect Weekend =-.
I know, Kelly Jo! I am not a big fan of the microwave (love it for re-heating but cooking a whole meal? Uck. Doesn’t sound so good) which is why I decided to try it and not be so judgmental about a radioactive cooking device. I was pleasantly surprised!
Thanks for checking in!!! Great to see you!
My hubby wears that same look most of the time!!! Love it! You guys look like you had such a wonderful evening….and I love my powdered sugar shaker too. Just the excuse I needed to make french toast more often!!!
.-= Lily´s last blog ..I knew it would happen someday, but am still shocked…. =-.
OK, I love anything I can just whip up in the microwave! lol Sounds yummy!
I’ve never tried the healthy cake recipe with the applesauce…I’m going to have to try it. I’ve heard that it is very moist. LOVE the photos! SO adorable!!
Found ya via Kelly Jo! Love it here!
~melody~
SO funny…I’ll have to share that photo of your hubby with mine. That is the “I’m going to explode in 10 seconds” look that I wear multiple times a day too. =) Love it!
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..The "T" Word (Taxes) =-.
Thanks, Mandy! Yep, I wear it far too often, too. Sadly enough. :)
Looks like the birthday cake (ice cream) was a huge messy hit with everyone. What a great day!
Kristin
.-= kristin´s last blog ..To all my friends & family . . . =-.
We’ve actually substituted apple sauce for oil in boxed cake mixes a couple of times and it’s always come out pretty good!
The soup sounds delicious – I’m always up for that kind of meal in the winter!
.-= Creative Junkie´s last blog ..Twitter: Where I prove I have no point in 140 characters or less =-.
Yes, I always use apple sauce instead of oil. The cakes are a little more moist and dense and my family loves them that way. Kids and seafood is a mystery to me too but if they like it… :)