Katherine's Black Bean Chili Meal in a Jar

Layer in a quart jar in this order:

½ cup Thrive freeze dried ground beef

½ cup Thrive freeze dried sausage

¼ cup Thrive dehydrated mixed bell peppers

¼ cup dehydrated onion

2 Tbsp. tomato powder

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. garlic

½ tsp. Chef’s Choice

½ tsp. cumin

½ cup Thrive freeze dried corn

1 cup Thrive Instant Black Beans

½ cup Thrive freeze dried diced tomatoes

Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly boiling water. Stir well. Simmer 15-20 minutes

Goes good with Yummy Cornbread!

Featuring: THRIVE Life Tomato Powder

THRIVE tomato powder is one of my favorite THRIVE Life products.  It's very versatile!  Use it for paste, sauce, juice, soup thickener, flavor enhancer--you won't know how you ever lived without it.  I use a couple tablespoons in vegetable beef soup and to make pizza sauce.  I also use it in these recipes:

Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Lasagna in a Pot
Shepherd's Pie
Taco Soup
Tamale Pie in a Skillet
Lasagna Soup in a Jar
Homemade Pizza

Prep:  Add water to Tomato Powder to reach desired consistency for paste, sauce, or juice.

1 c. powder + 2 c. water = 3 c. paste
1 c. powder + 4 c. water = 5 c. sauce
1 c. powder + 6 c. water = 6 c. juice

Tips & More:
*Sprinkle tomato powder into tortillas with some tomato dices for a sun-dried tomato flavor.
*It's easy to sprinkle into soup to add flavor, or mix it with your favorite herbs and use it as a rub for meats!

Lasagna Soup in a Jar

Layer in a quart jar in this order:
¼ cup dehydrated Onion

1-2 tsp garlic powder

1-2 Tbsp chicken bouillon

½ cup Thrive tomato powder

1 Tbsp Thrive Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Thrive Chef’s Choice seasoning
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
¾ cup Thrive Freeze Dried Sausage
¼ cup Thrive dehydrated mixed bell peppers
2 cups Thrive farfalle (bowtie) noodles.

Add contents of jar to 8 cup of rapidly boiling water. Stir well. Add 2 teaspoons olive oil. Simmer 10 -12 minutes until noodles are soft. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese. 

Katherine's Zuppa Toscana in a Jar

Put in a quart jar in this order:
2 1/4 tbsp. powdered milk
4 tbsp. powdered butter
2 tbsp. chicken bouillon
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. dehydrated garlic or garlic powder
1/2 cup freeze dried spinach
1/4 cup dehydrated onion
1 cup freeze dried sausage
1 1/2 cup dehydrated potato chunks

Dump all ingredients into a pot and add 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then turn down to medium heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

How To Use Chicken Bouillon

Here are a few ways I use chicken bouillon... and it's on sale this month at Thrive Life!  Let me know if I can order you some!

Stuffed Pepper Casserole
Lasagna in a Pot
Creamy Chicken Soup With Dumplings
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken and Salsa Soup
White Chili
Creamed Tuna
Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Featuring: THRIVE LIFE cauliflower

Prep: Add 1/3 cup water to 1 cup cauliflower; let oak for 5-10 minutes or until tender.

Fresh Equivalent: 1 cup dry = about 1/3 head.

Tips and More:

• These come in small florets similar to our broccoli, perfect for tossing in soups.
• Make your mashed potatoes a little healthier without compromising taste--just add a cup of cauliflower for every pound of potatoes.

Try this delicious Cauliflower Cheese Soup.

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

2 cups THRIVE cauliflower
1/4 cup THRIVE chopped onions
1/4 cup THRIVE carrot dices
1/4 cup THRIVE celery
4 cups chicken broth (or 4 cups water & 4 tsp. chicken bouillon)
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese

1.  Combine the cauliflower, onions, carrots, celery, & broth in a pot and boil until vegetables are soft and cooked through, about 15 minutes.  Fresh vegetables can be substituted for THRIVE.  Just reduce the water/broth to 3 to 3 1/2 cups.

2.  Puree the vegetables.  I used a wand blender.  Worked great.

3.  Add cream, Worcestershire sauce, cheese, & desired salt & pepper

*From the THRIVE LIFE cookbook

Featuring: THRIVE LIFE Tomato Dices

Tomato dices are easy to use.  Add 1/3 cup water to 1 cup tomato dices; let sit covered 3-5 minutes or until tender. 

1 cup dry = about 1 large tomato.

Tips and More:

• The dices are peeled and seeded, ready for use in soups, stews, pastas, and rice dishes.
• Because tomatoes are so delicate, it's best to wait to rehydrate the tomatoes right before you plan to use them, and to add them at the end of a recipe so they don't get too soft.
• Rehydrate and oven dry them for tasty sun-dried tomatoes.

Here is a link to one of my favorite casseroles using tomatoes, Tamale Pie in a Skillet. 

Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad

2 c penne or bowtie pasta (or any kind you like)

1⁄2 T garlic
2 T olive oil, divided
2 T thrive chopped onions
1 3⁄4 c thrive seasoned chicken slices
1⁄2 c thrive broccoli 

1⁄4 c thrive green peas
1⁄4 c thrive red bell peppers 

1⁄4 c thrive mushroom pieces 

2 1/4 c water

4 t thrive chicken bouillon
1/2 tbsp. oregano

1/2 tbsp. basil

1⁄2 lemon, juiced
1⁄2 c thrive tomato dices
1 c parmesan cheese, shredded

1.  Cook and cool pasta (drizzle with additional oil to keep from sticking).
2.  Saute' garlic and onions with half of olive oil. Add water, bouillon, and chicken.  Cook for a few minutes.
3.  Add all remaining vegetables except tomatoes for 5-10 minutes, until water is almost gone.
4.  Add pasta and cook another 1–2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, lemon juice, and parmesan,  and toss together.

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

1 lb ground beef
3 green peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 tomatoes, diced
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups of water
4 bouillon cubes
1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 cup of rice
2 cups shredded cheese

Using THRIVE LIFE:
1 1/2 cups ground beef
3 cups green and/or red peppers, freeze-dried or dehydrated.
1/2 cup onion
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 cups of tomatoes
1/2 cup of tomato powder
4-5 cups of water
4 tsp. chicken bouillon
1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 cup of rice
2 cups shredded cheese



1.  Brown the ground beef.  Add peppers, onion, & garlic and cook until soft.

2.  Add tomatoes, water, bouillon, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, & rice.  Cover & bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-25 minutes. 

3.  Remove from heat.  Top with grated cheese and cover for 5-10 minutes.

Thrive Life Garden Fresh Salsa

3 cups diced tomatoes
1/2 cup green chili peppers
1/2 cup sweet corn
1/4 cup onions
1/4 cup red bell peppers
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 1/4 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon Cholula hot sauce
1 1/4 teaspoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cilantro

Mix well for 30 seconds.  Let sit in fridge for 2-3 hours before serving.

Creamy Chicken Soup With Dumplings

Soup:
1 cup diced carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 cups water
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1 - 1 1/2 lbs chopped chicken, cooked (or one can)
1 tbp. Italian seasoning

Dumplings:
1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk

Roux:
2 tbsp butter (I use olive oil)
3 tbsp flour
2 cups of water

1.  Prepare the soup by combining all the ingredients.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until vegetables are soft.

2.  Mix all the ingredients for the dumplings and drop by tablespoon into the boiling water.  Cover while boiling for three minutes.

3.  For roux, melt butter (or oil) and whisk flour into it.  Cook over medium until lightly browned.  Add 2 cups of water, whisking until blended and thickened .  Stir mixture into soup and simmer for another 2 minutes.