Sunday, December 18, 2011

Taco Soup

Courtesy of Our Best Bites
(http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/01/taco-soup/)

Rating: 4 starts
Difficulty Level: Easy

I think I took a mini vacation from everything - BUT not cooking!! I've been baking and cooking a lot, so I'll try to update some of the yummy recipes I've been trying. Here is a perfect recipe for the cold winter time. It is SO delicious!!  Oh, and I always cook my soups in the crockpot - makes this a lot easier.



Taco Soup
Recipe from Our Best Bites
1 lb. extra lean ground beef (93% lean or or leaner)
1 onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1.25-oz. packet taco seasoning (about 1/4 c.)
3 c. water, divided
2 28-oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
2 15-oz. cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
Toppings: Pico de Gallo, light sour cream, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, tortilla strips, guacamole, etc.
Heat a large soup pot over medium. When ready, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic. When almost brown, add the taco seasoning and 1 c. water. Add the remaining ingredients, including the remaining 2 c. water, bring to a medium boil, then, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for at least 15 minutes. Serve with desired toppings. Makes 10 12-oz. servings.
Slow Cooker Instructions: After browning the meat, place all the ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for about 6-8 hours.
Freezer Instructions: Because of all the canned goods, you’ll just take up a lot of space in your freezer if you freeze the whole recipe. However, after it’s been cooked, the leftovers freeze extremely well. You can even try freezing individual portions in 12-oz. freezer-safe containers and then reheating them for a quick lunch.