Green Chili & Pumpkin Soup

Everybody gets to that point once every few weeks where you're down to the bare bones of your pantry, right? Don't lie....I know you do. No no, not to worry--me too. Tonight was one of those nights in our household, so I wanted to use just what we had, but at the same time, have something comforting. Something that made us feel like it wasn't just thrown together--even though this took about 15 min to make.
So, I researched a couple of soup recipes (because what's more comforting than soup?) and compiled the things from each that I liked best...and concocted this yummieness! Please feel free to make this recipe or create your own variation, and let me know how it turns out!!


Ingredients
1 cup Fat Free, low sodium Chicken Broth
2 small zucchini-chopped, skin on
1/2 cup Chopped yellow Onion
3 cup Green Enchilada Sauce
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1-15oz can Pure Pumpkin
2 Cooked and chopped Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 can Corn, drained
Salt, Pepper, Garlic powder to taste-I did about 1/4 tsp of each.

Optional toppings-
Chopped green onion
Chopped cilantro


Directions
Makes 9 one cup servings

Directions:
In a large pot, bring broth to a boil, add the chopped onion and simmer for about 5 minutes, just until the onions get a little tender.

At this point you can add the taco seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, enchilada sauce and pumpkin. Once soup heats back to a low boil, add the chopped chicken, corn, and zucchini and mix well. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, until soup is heated throughout.....I topped it with chopped scallions and cilantro. You could add tortillas and cheese if you want too..

Fresh Corn Salad

You know...in the grand scheme of things, there are few things that make me crawl out of my skin in excitement and sheer joy. Though they affect me on different levels, they all give me that ooey-gooey-warm-and-fuzzy feeling. Anyone who knows me knows these things are: Jesus, Family, Love, and a good "from scratch" recipe. No no, none of that "semi-homemade" business...I mean cooking from your soul, and tasting it in the dish. I am a self proclaimed foodie, and I would love nothing more than to share some of my favorite recipes on here. And I would be tickled all shades pink if you guys tried them out for yourselves, and let me know what you think! Post your photos too in the comments! Oooo! This is going to be fun.
Here's a little ditty I whipped up tonight to go alongside our "steak ala bruno". I've made this before and everytime I think about it, I have to admit; I salivate a little bit. It's a fresh corn salad; and you are absolutely going to fall in love with it.

Ingredients:

5 ears of corn, shucked
1/2 cup small diced red onion (1 small red onion)
3tbsp GOOD olive oil
3tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2tsp salt
1/2tsp pepper
1/2 cup basil

Directions: Place corn in a large pot of boiling salted water for about 3 minutes, until the starchy-ness is JUST gone. Transfer to a bowl of iced water to stop cooking and to set the color. Once the corn is cooled, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob. In a medium sized bowl, mix the kernels, red onion, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss in basil just before serving, taste for seasonings. This salad is best served cold. I also like to add about a 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, although you could leave this out of the recipe and it would still be delicious.


Let me know what you think guys! This is GREAT for summer bbq's and cook outs so I hope you put it to good use!