Creamy Chicken Vegetable Soup

Total Servings: 8
Serving Size: 1 1/2 Cups
WW SP per serving: 4

Ingredients
3 tbsp. butter
1/2 lb sliced mushrooms
5 medium chopped carrots
3 sliced celery ribs
1 large chopped onion
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/4 tsp. pepper
10 cups water
5 tsp chicken bouillon (add more if needed)
1 cup brown rice
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 cup fat-free half-and-half

Instructions
1.  In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat butter over medium-high heat.
2.  Add the mushrooms, carrots, celery, and onion.
3.  Cook and stir 8-10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
4.  Stir in flour, parsley, and pepper until blended.
5.  Stir in water and chicken bouillon.  Bring to a boil.
6.  Reduce heat.  Stir in rice and simmer uncovered 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
7.  Turn off heat.  Stir in the chicken and the half-and-half.
8.  Serve warm.

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

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.

Hamburger Stew

1.  Brown 2 lbs of hamburger, seasoned with salt and pepper.  Add diced 1 onion and cook until done.

2.  Transfer to a pot.  Add 8 cups of water.

3.  Add the following:

• 2 tsp beef bouillon
• 1 cup celery
• 1 cup carrots
• 1 lb potatoes
• 1 qt stewed tomatoes
• 1 can green beans
• 1 Tbsp. steak seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. basil
• 1 tsp. garlic powder

4.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.

5.  About 20 minutes before serving, make a roux in a pan using 1 tbsp. butter and 2 tbsp. flour.  Cook for a few minutes, then add 1 cup milk.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  After it thickens, add to the stew.

Marinara Sauce

In a food processor, puree the following and place in a large pot to simmer:

40-50 tomatoes
1 package of mushrooms
1 bunch of celery
1 1/2 lbs carrots
3 onions
3 cloves of garlic
any other vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, etc.
4 cans tomato paste
1/3 cup salt
1 Tbsp pepper
2 Tbsp sugar
5 Tbsp oregano

Simmer for about 5 hours, stirring every now and then.  Makes about 5 quarts. 

Lasagna in a Pot

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14 oz) chicken broth or two tsp. chicken bouillon and 2 cups of water
2 cans (14.5 oz) tomatoes (I used a quart that I had bottled from our garden)
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce (or 1/2 cup THRIVE tomato powder & 2 cups water)
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. rosemary
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
12 oz. Italian trio noodles or corkscrew noodles or any kind you like
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups Mozzarella cheese

1. Brown ground beef. Add onion, bell pepper & garlic.

2. In a pot, add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, seasoning, salt & brown sugar. Add beef mixture.

3. Bring to a boil. Add noodles; cook to your liking.

4. Add Parmesan cheese.

5. Garnish with Mozzarella cheese.