Easy "Homemade" Tomato Soup

When you're in need of a delicious creamy cure all ~

In honor of flu season (and the first Sunday scaries of 2023!), I decided to share this delicious tomato soup I came up with one day when I had the sniffles.

My favorite thing about this recipe is that it is almost impossible to mess up and you most likely have all the ingredients in your fridge or pantry right now.

Ingredients:

The main thing that makes this recipe work is the blend of herbs and spices. I added about a teaspoon of each spice listed below (You can use dried or fresh).

• sage

• basil

• thyme

• salt (just measure this with your heart)

• freshly cracked pepper

• garlic powder - I use the black ultra garlic powder by "Soul to Belly" (https://www.soultobelly.com/)

• half of a tomato - or a full tomato if you are using a smaller kind (like Roma)

• half an onion

• 5 cloves of garlic. (yes, really five)

• some kind of pepper - I used four mini sweet peppers, but you can also use half of a whole bell pepper too

• 2/3 cup of your favorite jar pasta sauce - I highly recommend the truffle porcini & cream sauce by Mezzetta, which you can buy at most local grocery stores (https://www.mezzetta.com/products/truffle-porcini-cream-artisan-ingredients)

• 1 to 2 cups of chicken stock (depending on how thick or thin you like your soup)

• 1/4 cup of half and half (or whole milk or heavy cream - add a little extra if you just have regular milk)

Directions:

Start by chopping the tomato, onion, pepper, and garlic into a rough dice. No need to worry too much about the precision here, since we will be blending it all up anyway.

Heat about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil over low to medium heat and add your vegetables and garlic. Let this begin to simmer.

While this is simmering, measure out your spices and add to the pot. Continue simmering for about 5 - 10 minutes. (everything should look a little mushy and you should be able to smell the herbs)

Then, add your favorite pasta sauce from a jar. :)

Stir the sauce in for a minute.

Add the chicken broth and simmer for another 10 minutes or so. This step is where you determine how much soup you want to have leftover - add more chicken broth or even just some water for more volume.

Turn off the heat.

Now, it's time to blend. You can use an emersion blender or add the ingredients (carefully) to a real blender.

Blend until you get a smooth consistency.

If you used an emersion blender, turn the heat back on low and add the half and half. Stir this in and let the soup warm back up for a minute or two.

If you used a real blender add your soup back into the same pot, add the half and half, and then stir it in. Go ahead and clean your blender while the soup heats back up on low heat.

Voila! I top mine with nonfat plain greek yogurt (or sour cream), extra sharp cheddar, and fresh-cut scallions (of course).

• Note: I highly recommend Old Croc Extra Sharp Cheddar for this recipe, which you can find at most local grocery stores (https://oldcroccheese.com/product/extra-sharp-cheddar/).

5 Healthy Breakfast Recipes Made in 10 Minutes or Less

~for the corporate baddie~

Are you someone who rolls out of bed 5 minutes before they have to leave for work more than you would like to admit? Do you grab a store-bought muffin and throw a K cup on while you brush your teeth and put on your shoes at the same time? If so, these breakfast recipes are made for you. I should know because this is me too.

My goal when I invented these recipes was to improve my morning routine. I wanted to wake up feeling less stressed and constantly on a time crunch.

I wanted something healthy to kickstart my energy for the day.

But, I also wanted to eat something that didn’t leave me hungry one hour later.

Eventually, I discovered the beauty that is a simple, balanced breakfast.

1. The classic overnight oats – with a protein-packed twist

I know what you’re thinking, overnight oats? That’s all you could come up with, seriously?

Don’t worry. I too fell into the tik tok overnight oats craze and I soon became very sick of them.

However, I liked the idea of meal prepping breakfast the night before. It really makes me feel like I have my life together.

YIELDS 1 SERVING

Ingredients:

1 scoop of protein powder.

I use the vanilla-flavored protein and greens blend from the brand “Tone it up.” I highly recommend the vanilla flavor because it sweetens this recipe perfectly. I bought mine at target (I assure you, this is not a sponsored message. In fact, I wish someone would pay me to sponsor them).

Half a cup of regular 1-minute Quaker rolled oats

Half a cup of almond milk (you can also use regular or oat milk)

Tip: I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk to compliment the vanilla flavor in the protein powder

Half of a medium-sized banana (or large or small – it really doesn’t matter)

Half a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter (or almond butter)

1/8th a cup of granola of your choice – this is an optional topping to throw in right before you eat.

½ teaspoon of pumpkin spice seasoning (or you can use any mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and some kind of sugar or sweetener)

Tip: you can switch out the banana for another fruit of your choice, I just prefer banana alongside the peanut butter in this recipe.

Directions:

First, add the dry oats to a coffee mug, mason jar, or another oat container of your choice.

Then, add the pumpkin spice seasoning and milk.

Stir the mixture until it resembles oatmeal (should look a little mushy, don’t worry it will set up in the fridge overnight).

Then, add the banana and peanut butter and fold this into the mixture.

Pro Tip – melt the peanut butter for 10 or so seconds to make it easier to stir in.

Seal with plastic wrap and store overnight in the fridge. Serve with the remaining banana, granola, and another scoop of peanut butter if you wish.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 412

Protein: 25 g

Carbohydrates: 52 g

Fat: 14 g

Sodium: 156 mg

Calcium: 23 g

Iron: 33 g

2. More of a savory breakfast gal? Try this Lazy Huevos Rancheros

Tired of avocado toast? Ran out of bread and for some reason you have a package of corn tortillas? Me too. That’s how I came up with this.

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized corn tortilla – not the small street taco size, but not the largest size either.

Half an avocado

A few quartered cherry tomatoes (2 or 3)

Some chopped scallions (or red onion if you’re feeling especially zesty)

1 egg

Cholula hot sauce or your preferred hot sauce

Lemon juice

Directions:

Put a small nonstick pan over medium-high heat

Throw your tortilla in the DRY pan, no need to wait for it to heat up.

I repeat – DRY. PAN. Do not under any circumstances whatsoever oil the pan before the tortilla. Please.

Give it about a minute and flip the tortilla. It should have some slightly toasted brown circles and maybe one side is peeling. This is supposed to happen, don’t worry.

Brown the other side of the tortilla for about 20 - 30 seconds.

While the tortilla is toasting, mash avocado on a plate and season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. (Bonus points if your pepper is freshly ground)

Then, take your pan off the heat.

Add avocado to the tortilla.

Now, we OIL the pan. Put it back on low heat. Crack your egg into the pan and let it fry.

Chop your cherry tomatoes and scallions (or a small amount of red onion).

Place these on top of your avocado.

Top with the fried egg and hot sauce. Add extra salt and pepper to the egg if you wish.

Voila! Eat with a knife and fork or fold it like a taco. Delicious.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 245

Protein: 9 g

Carbohydrates: 18 g

Fat: 16 g

Sodium: 83 mg

Calcium: 5 g

Iron: 9 g

3. Not your mother's French toast – but make it healthy so we can eat it every day for a whole week. (full disclosure, this is a variation of MY mother's french toast)

Ingredients:

Grab one slice of sourdough or your preferred bread of choice. I use farmhouse sourdough, so I only make one slice. If your bread is smaller, feel free to use two or three!

P.S. - this is a great recipe if you want to use up the unwanted heel of the bread without noticing you’re eating the heel of the bread.

One egg (you can add an extra egg white if you want more protein)

A dash of your preferred milk – about two tablespoons. Add more if you feel it is needed to cover the bread you’re using. I personally use unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

¼ teaspoon of pumpkin spice seasoning or some cinnamon sugar

Half a tablespoon of zero-sugar vanilla syrup. I use the brand “Torani” which you can find in the coffee aisle at your local grocery store.

One tablespoon of peanut butter

One teaspoon of honey

Directions:

Put a pan on medium heat and grease it with the end of a stick of butter.

Beat the egg, milk, vanilla syrup, and spices in a bowl big enough to dip your whole bread slice in.

Dip the bread slice in, and let it soak for 2-3 seconds. Then flip it and soak the other side.

Tip: this is where we decide if we want to pour the extra mixture in the pan with our bread slice or make a whole nother slice if you wish.

Put the bread in the pan and let it cook for about one minute. Continuously checking to make sure it’s not getting too cooked.

Do this for both sides of the bread.

Melt the peanut butter (for about 15 seconds in the microwave)

Combine melted peanut butter with the honey.

Drizzle over the French toast.

Enjoy!

Optional: add some granola on top if you want a crunch every now and then.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 315

Protein: 14 g

Carbohydrates: 32 g

Fat: 15 g

Sodium: 406 mg

Calcium: 16 g

Iron: 14 g

4. “Toad in a hole” or “egg in a basket” but when you also want to eat a vegetable :)

Ingredients:

2 slices of a bell pepper – any color is fine

These should be two-quarter-inch ring-shaped slices cut from a whole bell pepper.

1/4th cup of Mexican shredded cheese (or any cheese you prefer really). I use Sargento shredded three-cheese Mexican blend.

Two eggs

Lemon juice

Scallions

Optional: fresh cilantro

Directions:

Take a whole bell pepper – chop off the top.

Deseed.

Cut two slices from the top of the whole bell pepper. You should be left with two-quarter-inch ring-shaped slices.

Add these two slices into a pan over medium heat.

Put a small splash of oil in the center of each ring (or use spray pam if you’re lazy like me)

Add one egg to each “ring”.

Let these cook until the whites have set up firmly.

Then, flip the eggs (and the rings of bell pepper around them)

Add the cheese on top.

Turn off the heat.

Put a lid on top of the pan and cover it for about 30 seconds to melt the cheese (or cover it with a baking sheet if some of your pans have lost their lids, like mine)

Top with scallions, lemon juice, and fresh cilantro (if you're fancy and have that on a whim).

Optional: if you’re only feeling the one egg, half this recipe and add half an avocado on top to make it more substantial on its own.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 268

Protein: 19 g

Carbohydrates: 4 g

Fat: 21 g

Sodium: 354 mg

Calcium: 6 g

Iron: 11 g

5. Avocado toast – but make it ~zesty~

A twist on the famous millennial classic.

Ingredients:

1 piece of quality sourdough bread (sourdough is the key here)

1 soft-boiled egg

Half of an avocado

Half a tablespoon of nonfat plain Greek yogurt

A little less than a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (adjust accordingly to your own preference for the taste of vinegar. I personally love salt and vinegar chips so I use a full teaspoon for one serving of this recipe)

Salt and freshly ground pepper

A small pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions:

Boil a small pot of salted water. Add enough water to cover the egg once you put it in.

Pro tip: you can soft boil 5 or 6 eggs, peel them, and store them in a container for the whole week. Then, set one out to warm up while you prepare the avocado toast.

Toast the sourdough slice (I use farmhouse sourdough bread)

Mash the avocado with Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Pro tip: mash on the plate you’ll be eating on. Less dirty dishes = more happiness

Once the water is boiling – add the egg gently. I recommend using a slotted spoon to drop the egg in as carefully as possible.

Boil for 5-6 minutes. If you like a runnier egg, boil for 5 minutes. Although, be very careful when peeling.

Add the avocado mixture on top of the toasted bread.

Once the egg is done, drop it into a bowl of ice water immediately to make it easier to peel.

Place the peeled egg on top of the toast and slice it in half or quarter it.

Top with more salt and pepper.

Ta-da! Avocado toast with a delicious savory firey tang.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 322

Protein: 14 g

Carbohydrates: 29 g

Fat: 17 g

Sodium: 306 mg

Calcium: 8 g

Iron: 13 g

The Top 3 Best Meal Kit Services for the Busy 20-something

I tried 3 different meal kit services, so you don’t have to.

1. HomeChef

Ranked number one we have HomeChef. I stumbled upon this service amidst my many google searches for the best meal kit out there. I believe I found it in HomeChef.

HomeChef is similar to other meal kits but it offers more flexibility in the type of meals you can select. For instance, I loved my other traditional meal kit services, and I thought all the meals were delicious. But sometimes, I just don’t have the time or the energy to cook an entire meal with a longer prep time.

PROS:

Offers express meals that are ready in 15 minutes or less. These are great for busy weeknights or even a quick fresh lunch if you work remotely a few days during the week.

Offers “oven-ready family meals” which are four servings each. I use family-style meals for my lunch meal prep each week. I swear I eat the same meal Tuesday through Friday and I don’t get tired of it because they are that good! (Mondays I eat leftovers from the weekend, if you were wondering)

They give you the cooking trays in the meal kit, so the clean-up is a breeze. This is especially great if you have a roommate and share kitchen space and dishes with someone else on a regular basis.

Way less prep time. They often pre-slice veggies and send pasta already boiled. At first, this took some getting used to, but I soon realized how much time I spend chopping vegetables and waiting for water to boil. HomeChef offers meals that have little to no preparation steps and that is something I consider a pro.

Health Conscious. It’s one of the healthier meal service options I have seen. Most meals in every meal kit service taste good, but HomeChef offers the most health-conscious options with no compromise in taste.

They also offer traditional meal kit meals, which means the protein comes raw and the veggies are whole. I think this is great to order for one meal of my week when I am feeling like pouring a glass of wine and pretending to be a professional chef.

CONS:

The occasional missing ingredient. There has been one time they have forgotten an oven-ready tray in one of my shipments, but I just used one of my own casserole dishes. Although this left me with an extra dish to clean, this con does not outweigh the benefits, in my opinion.

It is more expensive than other meal kits I have reviewed.

Side Note - Although, if splurging a little means I can actually enjoy my trips to the grocery store without having to constantly check my list and figure out what I want to eat for the whole week, then I will do just that.

Does not offer as many discounts and rewards as other meal kits.

2. EveryPlate

Coming in at number two we have EveryPlate. In one sentence, I would describe EveryPlate as a cheaper version of HelloFresh. That’s why I ranked it number two.

HelloFresh, like many other 20-somethings, was the first meal kit I ever tried. I switched to EveryPlate after my boss recommended it to me because it was cheaper.

PROS:

Again, it’s cheaper than hello fresh, pretty much free at first with the discounts they give you.

The food is delicious. Personally, I thought the quality of food and tastiness was equal to other meal kits, especially Hello Fresh.

Offers significant discounts for first-time customers and rewards.

CONS:

They only offer traditional meal kit meals, there are no express or quick and easy meal options like HomeChef. However, If you like to cook everything from scratch and you don’t want to spend a lot, then this is the meal kit service for you.

I did experience more missing ingredients with this meal service than any other. They also left out the recipe papers on more than one occasion, but I just used the app on my phone.

The packaging is cheap. EveryPlate sends all ingredients in one giant cardboard box and then leaves you to sift through all the ingredients and pick the right ones for the meal you’re making. I found this to be annoying at first, but eventually, I got used to it.

Side Note - If you’re someone who likes organizing you’re fridge according to the different food groups, you may like how easy it is to unload the ingredients.

Not ideal for a single person. The smallest plan you can choose is three meals for two people. This left me with six servings each week, which is a lot for one person who occasionally eats out (or enjoys a ridiculous amount of Chinese takeout once in a while)

Not many meatless meals are offered if you are searching for vegetarian options

3. HelloFresh

And lastly, we have the infamous Hello Fresh. I know, it’s surprising I ranked them in last place. But I have based all of this purely on my personal experience and self-proclaimed meal kit expertise.

PROS:

Delicious food. I will admit, I was never disappointed with the tastiness of every meal.

They do offer great discounts for first-time customers, and they have rewards.

Neatly packaged ingredients make for an easy unloading process.

Do offer vegetarian meals and Mediterranean-style meals now

CONS:

Without discounts, it can get pricey for the amount of food you are receiving.

Not overtly health conscious. Some of the meals branded with the healthy symbol did not seem outstanding to me, once I actually checked the nutrition facts.

Side Note - If you’re not really looking for an overly health-conscious service, then this may be a good meal kit option for you!