Soup's On: Taco Soup

This is the essential soup in my household. I make a large pot every week to keep in the fridge. It's a tasty, filling, low calorie, high fiber meal. It's portable to be taken on picnics and hikes. It's even good cold. I've served this to satisfied friends when they've come over for lunch; my middle child asks for it along with a veggie burger almost daily. When we go on playdates and pack lunches, Thing Two does not want a sandwich; he want's this soup. And it's super simple and fast to make from pantry items. The recipe has been modified from a version of Taco Soup my Weight Watchers leader gave me several years ago. One cup of soup has approximately 100 calories, less than 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. If you're a Weight Watcher member like myself, that's only 1 point per cup.

Booturtle's Spicy Taco Soup
Ingredients

• 2 cans petite cut diced tomatoes with jalapeños
• 1 can lime and cilantro RoTel tomatoes
• 1 can corn, drained
• 3 cans beans, drained and rinsed (pinto, black, white, pink, canary, garbanzo; any bean you prefer)
• 1 pkg Sazon Goya seasoning
• 1 envelope Spicy Ranch Dressing
• 1 C water
• 1/2 pkg frozen vegetarian meat crumbles (Boca or Morning Star Farms)

Directions

1. In large pot, put in all cans of tomatoes (do not drain), spices, ranch packet, water and frozen veggie crumbles.
2. Drain and rinse beans and corn in colander. 
3. Add beans and corn to other ingredients in pot.
4. Stir.
5. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. 
6. Reduce heat, cover and simmer at least 20 minutes. 
7. Eat immediately or refrigerate and reheat in microwave or freeze. Enjoy.

Variations: Puree the tomatoes until smooth before adding beans and corn • Omit the vegetarian meat crumbles, this is the way I made it for months but my man really likes the texture the faux meat brings to the party • Use plain ranch dressing mix and diced tomatoes to cut back on heat • Omit the sazon goya and use your own mix of mexican spices: cumin, chili powder, fresh cilantro, etc. • *sigh* Add in real meat, if you must.

Heat a cup and pack it in a thermos for a tasty lunch on the go.

Thing Two enjoying his soup in the park.

This soup is great year round but I'm really looking forward to enjoying a large wam mug while sitting in the cool fall air watching my kids run through the leaves in the yard.