Taco Soup for Canning

Taco Soup for Canning

Yield 7 quarts, plus a little for lunch

1 dry cup each of pinto beans, red beans, Peruano beans, and black beans, soaked overnight and rinsed, or boiled and soaked for one hour,, and drained and rinsed. 

3 pounds ground beef, cooked and rinsed

Mix together:

2 green bell peppers, diced
1 yellow onion, diced small
6 Tbsp taco seasoning
32 oz tomato sauce
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp salt

32 oz frozen corn

2 cups water or broth

In each jar, layer meat, tomato/spice/veggie mixture, corn until almost 3/4 full.  Add broth until 1.5” headspace.  Clean rims, add lids and rings. Pressure can at 10# pressure for 90 minutes.  

Tomato Soup

This tomato soup is so rich and has layers of flavor. Try it! It’s so much better than opening a can. 

Tomato Soup

2 Tbsp oil

1 cup chopped onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

56 oz. canned tomatoes (or 8 fresh tomatoes diced and seeded)

7 cups chicken broth

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 

2 tsp salt

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp pepper

8 drop Tabasco

Sauté garlic and onion in the oil u til tender. Add carrot and celery and cook 7-9 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cook and bring nearly to a boil.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently.  Use immersion blender to make a smooth soup, or leave chunky, if desired. 

Beef Bacon and Barley Stew

I made a very good stew from leftovers last night.  I didn't use a recipe, but created as I went. Here's the rundown. You can always use freshly cooked meat if you don't have any in the fridge. 

Beef Bacon and Barley Stew

1 1/2 pounds leftover smoked tritip (if using other beef, add a few drops of liquid smoke to the liquid portion of the recipe)
1 cup crumbled leftover bacon
1 pound bag of mixed vegetables
4 quarts water 
1 1/2 Tbsp beef broth powder
1 cup pearled barley
salt and pepper to taste
spices of your choice (I use an MSG-free rub we buy from a small local supplier.  They do not sell online.)

For roux:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup flour

Since my meat was already cooked, I simply threw everything into the pot (except the roux) and just brought it to a boil, then simmered for about an hour.  If you are using fresh meat, I would add lard to the empty pot and brown the meat (cut into chunks and seasoned with spices of your choice) before adding anything else. 

After simmering, bring the stew back to a boil.  Mix milk and flour together to make a roux.  Don't let it be clumpy!  Whisk into boiling stew and cook until thickened. Adjust the seasonings, adding more salt, pepper and seasonings until you like the taste. Now it's ready to serve! 

I love how the house smells when I am simmering soup and making bread.  I paired this meal with 40 Minute Rolls, and it was SO satisfying! 

Fat Flush Soup

This came unattributed though my Facebook feed. Sounds like a good recipe to keep on hand, ready for the random "I'm hungry!!" cries from my Lambies! 

"Fat Flush Soup" 

2 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1" cubes
6 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalk celery, diced
2 small yellow onion, diced
2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt, more or less to taste
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoon paprika
2 bay leaves
4 (15 ounce) cans kidney or navy beans, drained and rinsed (optional, leave out for Primal option)
8 cups vegetable broth, low-sodium
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes 
8 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, optional, for serving (1 1/2 teaspoon per serving)

Add all ingredients, except spinach and olive oil, to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours, or until the vegetables are tender. Add spinach, stir and continue cooking just until wilted, approximately 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Tip: If you prefer a thicker soup, after 5 hours of cooking, simply remove 2 cups of soup, along with ingredients, mash ingredients with a fork, return to the slow cooker, stir and continue cooking 1 to 3 hours. When serving, drizzle a little (optional) olive oil over each bowl of soup.

Note: Olive oil helps the body absorb nutrients more efficiently and supports a healthy digestive system.

Navy Bean and Ham Soup

This is adapted from a recipe found at Farm Girl Tails. 

Navy Bean and Ham Soup

Add the following to each quart jar: 

3/4 cup dry navy beans, rinsed
1 Tbsp onion, diced (I use 1 tsp dried onion, instead)
3 Tbsp chopped ham
1 Tbsp carrot, diced
1 Tbsp celery, diced
1/4 tsp hickory smoked salt or plain salt 
2 cups ham broth

Fill jars with water to 1" headspace. Prepare and add lids and rings. Pressure can at 10# for 90 minutes. 

Zuppa Toscana

• This is a Zuppa Toscana recipe adapted from Tuscan Recipes.  
• 
  
• Zuppa Toscana
• 
  
• 2 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 Tbsp crushed red peppers
• 1 large diced white onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled bacon 
• 4 tsp garlic puree
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 8 cups water
• 2 cup heavy cream
• 6 peeled and diced white potatoes or sweet potatoes
• 1/2 of a bunch kale
• 
  
• Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat.
• 
  
• In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft. 
• 
  
• Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.
• 
  
• Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft.
• 
  
• Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.
• 
  
• Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve. 

Sweet Potato Minestrone

I found this recipe at an online group.

Sweet Potato Minestrone

10 cups chopped, cored peeled tomatoes (I use ones that I have frozen from the garden)

6   cups cubed, peeled sweet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs)

4   cups diced carrots (about 1 lb)

4   cups green beans (2lbs frozen)

3   cups diced celery (6 ribs)

4   cups diced onion (3 medium / large)

1   pint tomato juice (Ok to replace with canned tomato sauce)

4   cups water

1   Tbsp. dry minced garlic

2   Tbsp. Italian seasoning

2   Tbsp. canning salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Combine all in a large stock pot. Bring up to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Skim foam if necessary. Ladle into hot, sterilized jars leaving 1" headspace. Process at 10/11# pressure (or as adjusted for your altitude) for 90 minutes.

Makes 7 quarts

Leftover Roast Chicken Soup with Roasted Vegetables

This gem is from Against All Grain. 

Leftover Roast Chicken Soup with Roasted Vegetables

4 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, peeled and cubed
2 cup butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 yellow onion, quartered
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
8 cups chicken stock, store-bought or homemade
4-6 cups leftover shredded chicken or 1 pound uncooked chicken breasts
1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
2 cup water
4 cups baby spinach

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the vegetables in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a large stockpot. Add the chicken, herbs, and salt and pepper. Cover and cook while the vegetables are roasting, about 15 minutes. For raw chicken breasts, cook for about 45 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and tender enough to shred with a fork.

Add half the vegetables to the soup, and place the other half in a blender. Make sure to put all of the onions quarters into the blender.  Puree the vegetables with the 1 cup of water.

Add the vegetable puree and baby spinach to the soup. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until the spinach is wilted and the soup is hot. Adjust seasonings to your taste.

Home Canned Squash Soup

This great recipe is from Savouring a Blessed Life.

Home-Canned Summer Squash Soup 

3 onions, chopped (I'll use much less)
5 cup chicken broth (you could use vegetable broth)
5 cups water
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 medium carrots, sliced
4 pounds yellow squash (you could use zucchini  or combo of both) about 16 cups
salt and pepper to taste

Saute' the onions with some of the water until translucent. Add remaining water, broth, potatoes, and carrots. Bring to a boil, then cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Add squash, salt and pepper. Simmer covered for another 10 to 15 minutes, until all vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and let cool until able to handle. Puree small batches in either food processor or blender until smooth. Fill hot sterile jars with soup, leaving 1 inch head space. Process in pressure canner at 11 pounds pressure for 35 minutes (pints) and 40 minutes (quarts), adjusting time and pressure for altitude. Makes approximately 4 quarts.

Serving:
Bring to a boil. Heating through well before serving. May want to add a little liquid: water, broth, milk or cream, depending on preference and thickness of soup. Also, you can add fresh parsley or basil for more intense herb flavor. Or possibly add a dollop of sour cream. Use your imagination and flavor preferences. 

Sausage Zucchini Soup

I found this recipe while looking for recipes to use with my homegrown veggies.  I really like this blog, so go over and see all the great stuff there! 


Sausage Zucchini Soup


1 ½ lbs sausage
¼ cup olive oil
3 onions, chopped
3 peppers, chopped
24 cups cubed zucchini, do not peel
3 cans (14oz) diced tomatoes
3 cups sliced carrots
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups water
1T salt
1T seasoning salt
1T. pepper
1T Italian seasonings

In a large stockpot, heat up olive oil and add sausage, onions and peppers. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink and the veggies are soft. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and let simmer a few minutes.

Fill the first 7 hot quart jars with the hot soup. Process in a pressure canner at 10lbs of pressure for 90 minutes. Repeat for the next batch.

Split Pea Soup for Canning

Split Pea Soup For Canning

2 pounds split peas
1 gallon filtered water
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots
2 cups diced, cooked ham
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp allspice
4 cloves garlic
4 tsp celery seed
2 tsp salt.
1/4 tsp pepper

Makes about 12 pints or 6 quarts. 

Sort and wash peas. Add water and peas to a pot and begin simmering. Chop the onion and carrots finely. You may blend them with a bit of water if you prefer the veggies to be invisible. Add the onion and carrots to the peas. Chop the garlic, dice the ham and add the spices to the pot. Add a pat of butter to keep the foam down. Simmer for 40 minutes. Stir frequently.

Fill jars, leaving an inch of head space. Put about 2 inches of water in the canner. Fill cooker with jars, set lid and seal top of cooker. Apply heat until steam comes out the vent in a steady stream. At that point put the weighted cap on. When the pressure reaches 10 pounds reduce heat to keep it at 10 pounds. Timing starts when the pressure reaches 10 pounds. If your altitude exceeds 1,000 feet you must adjust for that. For peas, onions and carrots quarts need 90 minutes, pints need 75 minutes.

Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard and Lemon

I've been so busy with the Mulligan Stew giveaway that this blog has really been neglected!  However, my garden greens are going CRAZY so I am searching out new recipes.  I found this one on a forum, uncredited, so if anyone know where it originally came from, let me know!  I am going to make this for lunches this week.

Lentil Soup with Swiss Chard and Lemon

1 1/2 cups lentils
2 1/2 lbs fresh Swiss Chard
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
3 to 4 garlic cloves
Salt
1 Stalk celery, chopped
3/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon flour
Chopped chives for garnish

Wash and pick over the lentils. Cover them with fresh cold water, and cook, covered, until tender. Wash the Swiss Chard leaves and chop them. Add these and a cup of water to the lentils. Continue cooking until the Swiss chard is done, adding more water if necessary. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the chopped onion. Crush the garlic cloves with salt, and add these and the chopped celery to the onion. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender and blended. Add to the lentil mixture. Mix the lemon juice with the flour and stir it into the soup. Cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the soup is rather thick. Taste for seasoning.

Sweet Potato Chowder

This great soup idea is from Growing Up Paleo. I'll be making this as written to see the yield, then adjusting measurements to make it the size I need.

Sweet Potato Chowder

2-3 large sweet potatoes

2 cups of cut up chicken

2 cans of chicken stock or broth

1/2 cup of coconut milk or heavy cream

1 small onion chopped

2 celery stalks chopped

2 jalapenos chopped

2 TBS butter or olive oil

Bake sweet potatoes at 350 till soft. Remove the skin and place sweet potato in a food processor or blender and puree. Add chicken broth during the puree process to help smooth it out. Saute onion and celery in the butter or olive oil until tender. Add pureed sweet potatoes, remaining chicken broth and bring to a slow boil. Add the 1/2 cup of coconut milk, jalapenos, chicken, and a little salt. Reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes.

Slow Carb Tomato Soup

I found this recipe on Slow Carb Foodie and adapted it to my tastes and needs. It's excellent!

Slow Carb Tomato Soup

1. 2 Tbs red palm or olive oil

1. 1 onion, peeled and chopped OR 1 tsp dried minced onion

1. 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

1. 1-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1. 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1. 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes OR 1 quart home canned tomatoes

1. 3 cups homemade chicken or veggie stock

1. 1 bay leaf

1. 1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1. 1 tsp salt

1. 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1. Put oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, broth, bay leaf and red pepper flakes.
3. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
4. Remove the bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can puree the soup in a blender in batches, but be careful – it will be hot and messy!
5. Return the soup to a soup pot and keep warm over low heat. Add a splash or two or heavy cream if desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or this will keep for a few days in the fridge.

Primal Cream of Vegetable Soup Master Recipe

I found this recipe at This Primal Life. It will make good make ahead lunches, if frozen.

Primal Cream of Vegetable Soup Master Recipe
Yield: 8 servings

3 lbs vegetables, chopped – mix and match, if you like, or stick to a single vegetable. Some ideas are: broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, carrot, squash, peas, mushrooms, kohlrabi, turnips, beets.
1 onion (or 1/2 tsp onion powder)
2 tsp coconut or any other kind of oil
2-5 cloves of minced garlic
6 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup cream or coconut milk
salt, pepper, nutmeg to taste

Saute the onion with the oil in a large pot on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, covered, until softened. Add garlic and stir until fragrant. Add vegetables and broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and cook 10 minutes more, until vegetables are tender. Puree with immersion blender until smooth. Add cream or coconut milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Heat until warm but not boiling and serve. Alternatively, allow to cool, transfer to containers and freeze.

To reheat the soup, run hot water over the container to loosen the soup from the sides of the container. Heat the soup in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it becomes mostly liquid. Then increase the heat until hot, but not boiling.

Ham and Navy Bean Soup

Perfect for cold, rainy days.

Ham and Navy Bean Soup

2 pounds dried navy beans
4 quarts chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh minced parsley
4 bay leaves
1 tsp pepper
1/4 of an onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 ham steak, cubed

Prepare beans by placing in a large pot, covering with water and bringing it to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then turn off heat. Cover and let stand for one hour. Drain and rinse beans. Do not reserve liquid.

Return beans to the pot. Add broth, parsley, bay leaves and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until beans and veggies are tender. Discard bay leaves before serving.

Zucchini Beef Soup

This is a lunch recipe. If I were making it for dinner, I would double or triple it.

Zucchini Beef Soup

1 pound stew meat
1 Tbsp oil
6 cups water
1 can tomato sauce
chopped onion (to taste)
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups zucchini

Brown meat in oil. Add next six ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Add zucchini. Cook for 15-18 minutes.

Canned Beef Stew With Vegetables

This is the classic recipe from the Ball Blue Book.

Yield is 7 quarts or 14 pints

Canned Beef Stew With Vegetables

4-5 pounds beef stew meat, cubed into 1 1/2" cubes
1 Tbsp oil
3 quarts cubed and peeled potatoes (about 12 medium)
2 quarts sliced carrots (about 16)
3 cups chopped celery (about 5 stalks)
3 cups chopped onions (about 4 small)
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp pepper

Sear meat in oil. Combine meat, veggies and seasonings in pot. Cover with boiling water. Bring stew to a boil. Ladle into hot jars, leaving 1" headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust two-piece caps. Process pints for 75 minutes and quarts 90 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.

Jackie Clay's Canned Beef or Venison Stew

This is from Jackie Clay's blog. She's the very best source of canning wisdom.
Beef (or venison) Stew

5 pounds stew meat
1 Tbsp cooking oil
3 quarts cubed potatoes
2 quarts sliced or cut carrots
3 cups chopped celery
3 cups chopped onions
1 quart or more tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes (optional; may use water)
1½ Tbsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
Cut meat into 1-inch cubes; brown in oil. Combine meat, vegetables, and seasonings in large stockpot and cover with tomato sauce, tomatoes, or water and bring to a boil. Do not cook. Ladle hot stew into hot jars, leaving 1 inch of headroom. Remove any air bubbles. Wipe jar rim clean, put hot, previously simmered lid on jar and screw down ring firmly tight. Process pints for 75 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.

*Note to self, thicken this after opening and reheating. Use arrowroot, flour or cornstarch.

The Best Browned Beef Stew

This is a Recipezaar (now called Food.com) recipe. We adapted it for our family and have it at least monthly through the fall and winter. It is SO good!

The Best Browned Beef Stew EVER!

3 -4 1/2 lbs cubed beef stew meat
1 1/2 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pepper
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped fine
3 carrots, chopped fine
3/4 cup finely chopped celery with a few minced leaves
3 tablespoons dried parsley
3 pinches thyme
10 1/2 cups beef broth (chicken broth works, too)
6 medium potatoes, diced
6 carrots, diced

1. Put flour, salt and pepper in a large zippy bag.
2. Heat oil over medium heat in a large dutch oven.
3. Place meat in bag with the flour and shake until well coated.
4. Shake off meat pieces and add them to the oil and stir until slightly browned, Add remaining flour from the bag and the finely chopped onion.
5. Stir until well browned.
6. Add finely chopped carrot and next 4 ingredients.
7. Cover and cook over low heat for 1 1/2 hours (stirring every 15 minutes).
8. Add diced potatoes, carrots and cook for another 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

I always cook this in my large cast iron Dutch Oven. It imparts a flavor that is missing when it's cooked in a stainless steel pot. I pair this with French Bread, either in roll or loaf form.