Yes, it's that wonderful time of year where high pressure traps frigid air in the Salt Lake valley, along with all the pollution. So not only is it bone-chillingly cold, but the air is so thick that you can chew it. And it looks like we have at least another week of this crap, so what can make you feel slightly better? Soup. Homemade, hearty, delicious soup. And it doesn't have to take hours for a great soup, you can let it cook on the stovetop in around 30 minutes or just let it simmer in the crock pot all day.
Here are seven recipes guaranteed to warm your insides after a few hours spent in a Hoth-like frozen wasteland.
Chicken... or Turkey Noodle Soup with Fresh Noodles
OK, you can always fall back on the tried and true classic. If you have the time, you can take the carcass of the leftover bird of your choice and create your own chicken broth. I have a recipe for that here... but trust me, I rarely have time for this and it's not a necessity. Buy some quality broth (low-sodium if available, your heart and blood pressure will thank you). Then use all the customary veggies. Once again, if you have an extra 15-20 minutes, you can make your own noodles. They're better than anything you'll find in the noodle aisle. But if you don't have that time either (I do not judge you, I have three kids, I know what that's like), you can use store-bought. I recommend the Kluski type noodles, but because they're thick, chewy, and eons better than the standard egg noodles.
No-Bean Chili to warm you up as it cools down
Look, the classic chili didn't have beans. Beans were added in later recipes to stretch the recipe and to add a few more calories for the hungry masses. Trust me, leave the beans out of the recipe and allow the tomatoes and different meats shine through. All sorts of spices are added and when you read it, you'll think that it's WAY too much, but remember that we're spicing up quarts of liquid and trying to build a thick and flavorful base. It'll all work out in the end. And this freezes well, so you can portion out the leftovers into small plastic containers and have a very filling and tasty lunch any day of the week
French Onion Soup
Here's the soup I could be fed interveniously. The sweet and savory taste of the onions in a deep warm stock just makes my stomach happy. And the little bit of wine just punches up the flavor like you wouldn't believe. The key to great onion soup is a long, slow, low cooking of the onions. It gives them the chance to caramelize and all that dark, deep flavor dissolves into the broth, making it absolutely delicious. And don't forget the bread and your favorite meltable cheese on top.
New England Clam Chowder
Good clam chowder is achievable even in land-locked, arid Utah. The key is good ingredients and lots of fatty liquids. Yes, this one is not diet conscious at all. There's lots of cream in the sauce. If you like the taste, there are the options bacon pieces as well. One thing I would recommend is obtaining fresh clam meat from your local fishmonger or butcher shop. Utah has Market Street that occasionally has fresh clam meat. But if not, you can use canned and it will still taste great.
If you're looking for a crock pot soup that can cook for hours while you do your normal daily chores, this is your huckleberry. Dump the beef, veggies and broth in a crock pot, let it cook for most of the day and serve it up whenever you'd like. If you are going to be around the house, you can half of the veggies just a few hours before you intend to serve. That way, they are a little firmer. But if that doesn't matter, toss them in whenever and consume in mass quantities at the end of a long, cold day.
Chicken Tortilla Soup - Stovetop and Crock Pot versions
This particular soup has become much more popular over the past few years and I can see why. Creamy and spicy, meaty and warm, perfect for after a long commute over snow-covered roads. You can make in on the stove top in around 40 minutes, but you could also add all of the ingredients into a slow cooker and let it simmer all day long so it's ready when you walk in the door. Make sure to have some sour cream, tortilla strips and a little bit of freshly diced onions for garnish.
Hot and Sour Soup
Not only is this soup delicious, but it's a great cure for the common cold. I fall back on this whenever I'm sick and I can still eat some solid foods. The normal level of heat in the soup is enough to tingle the tongue slightly, but if you add a few more peppers and heat to it, it'll clear out sinuses better than any decongestant out there. I'll be able to breathe about 10 minutes after consuming a bowl. Besides that, it's a great first course to any Chinese main course or just a perfect dinner to warm every fiber of your being.
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