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Tomato Basil Soup

Homemade with fresh tomatoes roasted in the oven, this tomato basil soup recipe adds a healthy and deliciously creamy flavor you won’t find in any old can.

bowl of tomato basil soup garnished with Parmesan and fresh basil

The Best Tomato Soup Recipe

If I think back to my childhood, tomato soup is at the top of the list of my all-time favorite comfort foods. But unlike my ultra creamy macaroni and cheese or my mom’s spaghetti recipe, tomato basil soup is on the lighter side of the comfort food scale.

Even better, when you have a stash of roasted tomatoes in the fridge, it’s an easy recipe to whip up for an easy dinner with leftovers for lunch the next day.

I’ve seen some recipes for this soup that call for canned tomatoes, but I use fresh tomatoes roasted with garlic and herbs in my tomato soup. Earlier this week I shared my recipe for roasting the tomatoes here, and since I had a jar left over, I decided to update the photos and post for this recipe too.

Soup at our house is a regular menu item, in fact, my husband has gone on an all-soup diet more than once. It’s also likely that our early marriage was built on tomato soup with grilled cheese. Because can one even eat tomato soup without a grilled cheese sandwich for dunking?continue to the recipe… about Tomato Basil Soup

Lemon Chicken Stew

A one-pot dinner is a must-make meal for any new mom and dad. And with a lemony twist on the classic chicken and rice soup—this time with orzo pasta that helps thicken this flavor-filled cooking bonanza—my Lemon Chicken Stew, is a spunked up contribution to a virtual baby shower for my fellow food blogger Liz at The Lemon Bowl.

three bowls of Lemon Chicken Stew on wood cutting board

Every mom needs to catch a break, especially in the kitchen. While I’m a lover of the cookin’, I’m not much of a fan of the washin’.

That’s why this lemon chicken stew is the perfect one-pot dinner—with leftovers for the next day—for any new mom and dad ready to pucker up and kiss those newborn baby toes.

One pot, that’s all. Dinner is served.

I met Liz of The Lemon Bowl when we were visiting the farmers who put Dole Salads onto dinner tables across America, and I was immediately drawn to her wit and punchy personality. This girl has charisma to spare.

So when a group of food bloggers invited me to join in her virtual baby shower party I was more than happy to join the party.

In my opinion, baby butt wipe warmers and all of the other needless baby junk can easily be bypassed at the typical baby registry. What really counts as a present is keeping mom and dad out of the kitchen so they can grab some zzz’s and spend their time where they should and shouldn’t be: away from the dish soap, and instead, snuggling with their baby love.

Liz already has a toddler to keep her busy, so with a new babe on the way, I had a feeling a dish that is a minimizer in the kitchen but is full of comfort is a sure winner in these new parentals’ cookbook.

Did I mention it’s her birthday this week too? This is a serious double header.continue to the recipe… about Lemon Chicken Stew

One-Pot Mexican Shrimp with Orzo and Zucchini

This easy shrimp, zucchini, and orzo pasta recipe straddles the line between a one-pot pasta a 30-minute meal dinner. But with a healthy dose of zucchini and a bit of heat from Mexican flavors, it should actually fall into the wonder-pot category, because it’s all the healthy flavor bites all in one.

One-Pot Mexican Shrimp with Orzo and Zucchini | foodiecrush.com

When readers share their biggest challenge with cooking and eating more healthily, 98% of them have exactly the same problem. (btw, email me yours!)

It isn’t lack of desire.

It isn’t lack of recipe ideas or inspiration.

And it isn’t a lack of skill.

The number one challenge is always the same: Finding the time to shop, prep, and cook homemade meals with real good real food. 

That’s why having a stocked pantry, along with a couple of long-lasting fresh ingredients plus a few freezer staples is my way to successfully challenge that challenge.

One-Pot Mexican Shrimp with Orzo and Zucchini | foodiecrush.comcontinue to the recipe… about One-Pot Mexican Shrimp with Orzo and Zucchini

Easy Lemon Orzo Faux Risotto

Easy Lemon Orzo Faux Risotto is less fussy than the traditional version #recipe on foodiecrush.com

Say it ain’t faux! Yes it is! Faux ri-soh-tto to be exact.

I’m a big believer in real stuff. Real butter. Check. Real friends. They’re the only kind. Real flowers instead of fake? Always.

So why go faux with risotto?

1.  In my humble cooking opinion, using orzo makes this recipe a whole lot less temperamental to cook. Traditional risotto takes a lot of hand holding—and constant stirring—to ensure success. Orzo is a bit more forgiving.

2. This orzo is organic AND whole wheat — healthy carbs rejoice!

3. I make it often because it cooks up in just 30 minutes and can be served as a main dish, or served as a side. It’s flexible like that. And one of my pantry staples.

Here’s why… 

Easy Lemon Orzo Faux Risotto is less fussy than the traditional version #recipe on foodiecrush.com

continue to the recipe… about Easy Lemon Orzo Faux Risotto

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  • It’s a proven fact that everyone at the party loves a cheese board. It’s the centerpiece of nibbles and bites and small talk to break the party ice. But when you add a little heat to make a bubbly, oozey brie cheese dip, the party vibe definitely ratchets up a notch. This one's topped with cranberries, pecans, fig jam and thyme and IT'S SO DANG EASY! Recipe link in my profile https://www.foodiecrush.com/easy-baked-brie-recipe/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #cheese #briecheese #bakedbrie #appetizer #partyfood #partydip #thefeedfeed #huffposttaste #rslove #foodblogfeed #foodblogger #recipe #bareaders #allclad #holidayeats #christmaspartyfood #feedfeed #instayum #eatingfortheinsta #bhgfood
  • This chicken cacciatore is literally fall off the bone tender. It's a humble chicken in an amazing sauce from @skinnytaste ‘s Fast & Slow cookbook that somehow doesn't call for any special ingredients to get it's amazing taste. And since t's cooked in the slow cooker, you can prep it then pop it in the cooker and go about your day, or make and serve for Christmas Eve. Get the recipe link In my profile https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-chicken-cacciatore/ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #skinnytaste #fastandslow #recipe #slowcooker #crockpot #chicken #chickenrecipes #chickencacciatore #huffposttaste #thefeedfeed #feedfeed #bareaders #bhgfood #rslove #food52 #f52grams
  • Each and every Christmas morning of of my 29+ years 😂, I’ve had this cheesy ham, egg and bread casserole we assemble the night before and then bake on Christmas morn. It's so special that it only appears on Christmas morning, and not any other time of year because it is in all it's glory, just that special. Get the recipe link in my profile https://www.foodiecrush.com/craving-5-make-ahead-breakfasts/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #overnightbreakfast #breakfastcasserole #hamandcheese #strata #souffle #christmasmorning #christmasbreakfast #recipes #thefeedfeed #huffposttaste #feedfeed #bareaders #bhgfood #f52grams #breakfast #instayum #foodblogger #foodblogfeed
  • Creamy, full of vegetables and lush with clams, this creamy homemade clam chowder recipe is delicious in every respect, and I’m saying it loud and proud that it’s the best clam chowder recipe from #slc ‘s @market_street_grill and the best outside of New England. Yep, I should know after serving thousands of bowls of it when I worked there oh so many moons ago and never even got close to tired of it! Recipe link in my profile https://www.foodiecrush.com/market-street-clam-chowder-recipe/ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #clamchowder #soup #soupseason #soupson #soupoftheday #recipes #foodblogger #foodblogfeed #thefeedfeed #bareaders #huffposttaste #relive #bhgfood #feedme #slurp #clams #chowder #f52grams #dinnertonight #slceats
  • #ad Easy gatherings start with easy apps like these 3-ingredient toasts that give guests their choice of everyone's favorite flavor combos. Start by toasting @therustikoven 's long lasting, 14-hour fermented Sourdough, Hearty Grains & Seeds, or Artisan White breads, then top with one or all three of these flavor combo ideas: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1. goat cheese + pepper jelly + pistachios 2. blue cheese + apple + toasted pecans 3. mascarpone + sliced figs + honey ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Raise your glass, take a bite, and toast! What's your favorite toast combo? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #therustikoven #simplemeetsreal #appetizer #toastboard #toasts #figs #3ingredients #easy #easyapps #thefeedfeed #huffposttaste #bareaders #instayum #beautifulcuisines #eatingfortheinsta #holidayrecipe #partyfood #easydoesit #eeeeeeats #feedfeed #bhgfood #foodblogger #foodblogeats #partytime #newyearsevefood #food52 #f52grams
  • Toast to the toasts! Thinly sliced onions and chunky mushrooms caramelize with @vermontcreamery cultured butter and Marsala wine to make the perfect jammy topping for this easy crostini appetizer for a silky sweet taste at any party or get together. #ad #talkbuttertome #cheesebutterlove recipe link in profile https://www.foodiecrush.com/caramelized-onion-and-mushroom-crostini/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #foodiecrush #foodiecrusheats #mushroom #onion #crostini #appetizer #thefeedfeed #feedfeed #huffposttaste #eatme #partyfood #bhgfood #butterrecipe #culturedbutter #foodblogfeed #foodblogger #rslove #eeeeeeats #toastsforall

5 Quick and Healthy No-Sweat Simple Meals

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