Chicken Queso Soup

This is a very tasty and spicy soup recipe I got from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures.  With the cumin and ground red pepper it is pretty spicy but I like spice so it was perfect for me.  I didn't give this to the kids because of the spice and this isn't really something they would eat anyway. 

Chicken Queso Soup

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 can rotel tomatoes ( tomatoes with green chilies)
• 1 – 14ounce can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into chunks, and room temperature
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese
• 3-4 cups cooked chicken

1. In a larger pan saute onion in oil until tender and lightly browned.
2. Add tomatoes, broth, cumin, and red pepper.
3. Cook on low for 10-15 minutes. Then add cream cheese, milk, and chicken. And cook until heated through.
4. Stir in shredded cheese and serve.

Debdoozie's Blue Ribbon Chili

This is our favorite chili recipe. Or I should say our favorite beef chili recipe because we also have a favorite chicken chili recipe. The original recipe can be found here. It's easy to make, doesn't take a lot of ingredients and tasts so good! I've also made this in the crock pot and let it cook on low for a few hours. Sometimes I also make some noodles, either spagetti noodles or elbow macaroni, on the side to add to the chili if desired.

Debdoozie's Blue Ribbon Chili

2 lbs ground beef (sometimes I only use 1 lb)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 (8 oz) jar salsa
4 tablespoons chili seasoning mix ( I use one chili seasoning packet)
1 (15 oz) can light red kidney beans
1 (15 oz) can dark red kidney beans

In a large saaucepan over medium heat, combine the ground beef and the onion and saute for 10 minutes or until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain grease.

Add the ground black pepper, garlic salt, tomato sauce, salsa, chili seasoning mix, and kidney beans. Mix well, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour.

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

1 lb ground beef
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
2 (1 ounce) packages dry onion soup mix
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
3/4 cup elbow macaroni*

In a saute pan, brown ground beef over medium heat

Meanwhile, in a large stock pot, combine broth, water, onion soup mix, tomato sauce, celery, onion, frozen vegetables and macaroni. Bring to a boil and then simmer until macaroni is done.

Add browned ground beef, mix, and serve.

*Lacey's note-I used 1 1/4 cup macaroni. It turned out fine with that amount, but could have had a little more broth. Maybe add a little more water or chicken broth if you are going to add more macaroni.