Simplify Your Soup Making This Winter

The air is getting cooler, the kids are going back to school.  Fall has arrived and not too long after that, it will be cold and snowy winter. Or at least it will be here where I live.

Some of my favorite foods to eat in the winter are soups, stews and chili.  There is an easy thing that you can do now that will make cooking all these dishes quicker and easier this winter:  Make a big stock of soup, stew and chili base.  Doing so will make cooking these items a breeze all winter long.

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A base is a dry mix that includes all the spices and dry ingredients that go into making a dish.   Bases can be made in large batches and stored in jars to hasten the process of cooking these dishes in the cold winter months.  It's easy to do, and you will love it this winter when making a hot pot of chicken noodle soup simply means filling a pot with water, dumping in the base mix, noodles and chopped chicken and simmering about 20 minutes.  Delicious homemade soup faster and easier than canned. 

Clear Soup Base

• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon chicken seasoning (optional but I really think it improves it)
• 1 tablespoons turmeric
• 2 teaspoons marjoram
• 2 teaspoon celery salt
• 2 teaspoon savory or sage
• 2 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Stew Base

• 2 cups powdered milk
• 3/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup chicken or beef bouillon granules
• 2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons salt

Chili Base

• 5 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon pulverized red pepper (I use a mortar and pedestal)
• 2 tablespoon dried onion
• 1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Cajun spices (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  

Directions

Just put the ingredients in a jar with a screw on lid, label it and place it in your pantry.
As far as I know, it stays good forever.

Jars Image Credit:  http://tinyurl.com/nmb5fyb

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Makes a Great Homemade Gift!

5 Ounce Canning Jar, Set of 12

1.  Get a cute little jar and fill it with whatever base you choose.

2.  Get some pretty ribbon to tie around it

Red Bandana Ribbon

100 Blank Hang Tags with Cut Strings for Gifts.

3.  Tie a gift tag on it, identifying what it is and who you made it for.

I gave some of these out last Christmas with the Chili Seasonings in them and everyone loved them.  People always love a thoughtful and useful homemade gift, especially if it is something that makes their life easier.

Cheers,

Jade  :)

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