Soups on!: Tomato Basil Orzo Soup

How comforting does that photo look!

Wow, talk about a great pair - Tomato Basil Orzo Soup and Asiago Bread. I posted the recipe for the bread a few posts back, but this time I made it with the cheese in chunks instead of shredded. The main difference is that when you cut the bread, there were little pockets of cheese throughout (very fancy looking), I did think though that the bread with the shredded cheese seemed fresher the 2nd day than the chunk bread. Otherwise, great either way!

Tomato Basil Orzo Soup

1 cup each chopped carrot, celery and onion
1/4 teaspoon each dried basil, oregano and thyme
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cans (19 ounces) ready-to-serve tomato basil or hearty tomato soup
2 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup uncooked orzo pasta

Saute chopped veggies and herbs in oil for 8-10 minutes. Add soup and broth, bring to boil and stir in orzo. Reduce heat, simmer until orzo is cooked and veggies are tender - about 10 minutes.

Note: Stir while simmering the orzo, otherwise it will sink to the bottom and stick. I used the hearty tomato soup and used fresh basil and oregano from my garden.

October 13 - 19, 2009

13 T – Spaghetti, Salad, Mary Poppins Rolls
14 W – Honey Lemon Chicken, Salad, Baked Beans
15 R – Ham, Vegetable Oven Pancake
16 F – Chicken and Rice Dinner, Carrots, Crescent Rolls
17 S – Ham & Bean Soup, Corn Bread
18 U – Spaghetti Casserole, Rolls, Corn
19 M – Roast Chicken, Rhubarb Cornbread Stuffing, Peas, Carrots

Lest it seem that we eat Spaghetti all the time...this is a meal that always seems to get pushed off to the next week. I also have the spaghetti casserole already prepared and frozen from a double recipe I made a couple of weeks ago. I sort of overspent on last week's meal plan and really have to be frugal to keep this week in check. Let's just say my freezer is going to be breathing easier by next Monday!

October 6 - 12, 2009

T 6 – Parmesan Chicken, Baked Beans, Peas & Carrots, Biscuits
W 7 – Beef Stew
R 8 – Pork Chops with Cumin Rice, Honey Glazed Carrots
F 9 – Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
S 10 – Chicken Tacos, Tomato Avocado Salad
U 11 – Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Rolls
M 12 – Roast Chicken, Cornbread Stuffing, Carrots, Green Peas