We, like many of you, enjoy Black-eyed peas or beans, collard greens cooked with ham, and golden cornbread on New Year’s Day. These are after-all good luck foods and lord knows we need all the luck we can get these days.

When I peered into my refrigerator this morning, various bins & containers stared back at me, as if to say “pick me, pick me.” This is a classic eat out of the fridge/pantry recipe. It’s intended to be adapted to ingredients already on hand.

Soup Ingredients & Variations

• Veggies & aromatics – as with most of my soups, I began with diced onion, carrot and garlic. If I had celery I would have added that as well.
• Greens – next came leftover collard greens from New Year’s Day. I also included fresh spinach. Kale or cabbage would have been great additions as well.
• Beans – I chose a can of white beans, but black eyed peas, pintos or your favorite bean works!
• Ham (optional) – our collards had small chunks of ham. You could use ham or bacon or omit for a vegetarian version.
• Broth – I had homemade veggie stock in the freezer. You could use vegetable or chicken broth.
• Seasoning – a little soy sauce (or coconut aminos for GF version) and apple cider vinegar gave this broth a nice umami finish.
• Rustic croutons – I had a nice hunk of Fire Roasted Cheddar Golden Cornbread begging to be included, so I cubed it up and toasted in the oven for about 10 minutes.

Building the Soup

• If serving with rustic cornbread croutons, lay cornbread cubes on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F. for 10 minutes, turning over midway through cooking.
• In a heavy pot or dutch oven, sauté diced onion and carrots in a little olive oil until just tender.
• Stir in a clove or two of garlic and cook an additional minute.
• Add in chopped collard greens (or kale or cabbage), cubed ham (if using), and veggie broth.
• Simmer until collards are tender.
• Add beans and heat through.
• Season with apple cider vinegar and soy sauce (or coconut aminos).
• Finish with a couple handfuls of fresh spinach.
• Serve in big bowls topped with cornbread croutons

Beneficial Heart Healthy Ingredients

• This soup is packed with heart healthy leafy greens which provide our bodies with minerals and vitamins. They’re also high in nitrates which are shown to open blood vessels, encouraging healthy blood flow.
• Beans are also a heart healthy choice, as studies show they can help to reduce cholesterol. If using canned beans look for low sodium or at minimum rinse before adding to your soups.
• Lastly, when making soup from scratch you are able to control the amount of sodium. Homemade Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth are not only economical, but they are a great alternative to boxed or canned broths which tend to have high sodium levels and often contain msg.

As for this incredibly flavorful and satisfying Rustic White Bean & Greens Heart Healthy Soup, I’m serving up big bowls full for lunch! But it also makes a delicious Meatless Monday Meal (omit ham).

And for January, also known as National Soup Month – I hope delicious soups grace your tables all month long. Wishing you heart health and happiness in the New Year!

Looking for soup recipe inspiration? Check out our 50+ Homemade Soup Recipes Roundup!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Rustic White Bean & Greens Heart Healthy Soup

As for this incredibly flavorful and satisfying Rustic White Bean & Greens Heart Healthy Soup, I'm serving up big bowls full for lunch!

Course Soup

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the White Bean & Greens Soup

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 carrots diced
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 cups collard greens, kale and/or cabbage chopped
• 1/2 cup cooked ham (optional) diced
• 1 can white beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas, or favorite beans rinsed and drained
• 4 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos (or soy sauce) or to taste
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar or to taste
• 2 cups fresh spinach leaves optional

For the Cornbread Croutons

• 1 cup cubed cornbread

Instructions

For the Soup

• In a 2 or 3 quart heavy pot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced carrot and onion and sauté until just tender, about 7-10 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute.
• Add collard greens (or kale or cabbage) and saute another 10 minutes or until just tender. Add ham (if using), rinsed beans and broth. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add coconut aminos (or soy) and apple cider vinegar, adjust to taste. Finish by adding fresh spinach just before serving.
• Serve in big bowls topped with cornbread croutons (optional).

For the Cornbread Croutons

• Preheat oven to 400° F. Cut cornbread into 1-inch cubes. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, turning halfway through cooking time.

The post Rustic White Bean & Greens Heart Healthy Soup appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

As we head squarely into soup season this creamy delicious pot of love deserves to be on rotation.

Yes this soup is loaded with tender chicken and rice.

Making the Soup

However it is the signature ingredients (Avgo-lemono = egg + lemon) that give this comforting soup it’s fresh bright flavor and soothing creamy finish.

When time permits, begin by making a big batch of Homemade Chicken Broth. I even do this a day or two in advance. Then I have some for the soup pot and some for the freezer.

To make this classic Greek Chicken & Rice Soup, begin with a mirepoix sautéed in olive oil. Then add garlic and fresh parsley, followed by good quality chicken stock.

When the broth comes to a gently boil, add rice and simmer until just tender. Then juicy chicken meat is added along with fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Tempering the Eggs

The one important step in making this soup is tempering the eggs before adding them to the hot broth. We don’t want our eggs to scramble in the hot liquid.

To do this, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add a ladle full of the hot soup to the egg and whisk quickly. Then return this mixture to the soup pot, whisking continuously until well combined.

The result is a silky broth loaded with tender chicken and rice, with a kiss of lemon.

There’s no reason not to bring the Greek Islands into your kitchen with this delightfully fresh and beautiful soup.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Pin It For Later

Print

Agolemono (Greek Chicken & Rice Soup)

Greek Chicken & Rice Soup, also known as Avgolemono, is a wonderfully hearty soup with fresh bursts of lemon throughout.

Course Soup

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, about 1 cup fine diced
• 3 carrots, about 1 cup fine diced
• 2 celery stalks, about 1 cup fine diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley fine chopped
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup rice triple rinsed
• 2 lemons, juiced about 1/2 cup
• 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded 2 breasts or a rotisserie chicken
• 3 eggs
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• Over medium heat, heat olive oil in large dutch oven or soup pot. Add onion, carrot and celery and saute until just tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and parsley and cook an additional minute. Add chicken broth and bring mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, add in rice and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in lemon juice and cooked chicken and heat through.
• To temper the eggs, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add one ladle of hot soup broth to eggs and whisk quickly. Return egg/broth mixture to soup pot and whisk to combine. Remove from heat. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

The post Avgolemono {Greek Chicken & Rice Soup} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

You know the kind even your manly man will eat. But packed full of nutrients without extra calories. 

Because let’s face it, most of us don’t need empty calories and are perfectly happy as long as we’re satisfied.  This chili is definitely satisfying.

Building the Chili Flavor

The sweet potato is the star ingredient as it balances the chili seasonings so well. 

Because I was making this chili to share the love with one my work family members, I kept the heat out of it and instead focused on flavor.  Chili powder, ground oregano, garlic powder, and cumin will never let you down.

I also fire roasted the corn and poblano peppers, adding a little smoky flavor to the chili.

If you want to stretch this Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili a little farther, double the quantity of veggies & diced tomatoes and season accordingly.  In addition to the sweet potatoes, I added carrots, onions, red bell & poblano peppers, zucchini, corn, diced tomatoes and black beans.

I hope you’ll give this dish a try and as always I welcome and enjoy your feedback.

Recipe inspiration.  My Healthy Choices lunch buddy shared a new favorite dish, which was baked sweet potato topped with taco seasoned ground turkey and salsa.  It was delicious and has been lingering in my mind ever since.

We are so ready for chili season and have a collection of recipes for your enjoyment.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili

My motivation for this Heart Healthy Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili was to deliver a flavor packed hearty chili.

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey cooked and drained
• 2 small sweet potatoes peeled & cubed (about 2 cups)
• 2 Tbl. olive oil divided
• 1 carrot peeled and sliced
• 1 med. onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper optional
• 1 poblano pepper fire roasted, skins removed
• 1 zucchini diced
• 2 ears corn on the cob or 1 cup frozen
• 1 28- ounce diced tomatoes
• 1 4.5- ounce can diced mild green chiles
• 1 14- ounce can black beans drained & rinsed
• 2 Tbl. chili powder
• 1 Tbl. dried oregano
• 1 Tbl. garlic powder
• 1 Tbl. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread diced sweet potatoes on a cooking spray coated baking sheet. Bake for 15 -20 minutes or until just tender.
• Meanwhile in a Dutch oven, add 1 Tbl. olive oil and brown ground turkey. Remove from pan and reserve. Add additional 1 Tbl. of olive oil and diced onion and carrot to pot. Saute until onion is tender. Add in remaining veggies and tomatoes, chiles, black beans and seasoning and bring to a gentle simmer; cook for 10 minutes.
• Add cooked sweet potatoes and ground turkey to the pot; heat through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
• Serve with favorite toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, cilantro.

Notes

Seasoning chili should be done according to taste. Adding gradually as the dish builds is how we arrive at the right balance.

The post Heart Healthy Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I think if I were going to have a Food Truck (and you know we’ve all secretly wanted to own a food truck), I’d make it all about the meatballs ~ Mobile Meatballs (ooo or maybe Meatball Madness). 

The possibilities are endless. 

Of course we’d serve traditional Italian Meatballs. The the kind I dream of…soft and bursting with garlic and herb flavors…bathed in a tomato sauce.

Turkey Meatballs would be delicious served bowl style with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.

I have a hunch that our Meatball Beef & Broccoli will be a Food Truck top seller!!

Kefta Mkaouara with Moroccan Spicy Meatballs would bring an international flair to our offering.

We’ll serve Maryland Crab Cake Balls too! Everything we love about a Crab Cake rolled into bite-sized nuggets. 

We would certainly offer Swedish Meatballs in a warm gravy served over egg noodles with a hint of nutmeg smiling through.

Kalua Pork Meatball Sliders are addicting bites of juicy flavor!

My Mobile Meatball Food Truck would offer multiple serving options.  You could pile your meatballs of choice on a salad, load them in a pita pocket, stack them on a stick, ladle over hearty grains, or serve them slider style like these Chicken Parmesan Meatball Sliders.

Thanksgiving Dinner Party Meatballs would be a hit all year round.  Who doesn’t love the comfort of a holiday meal delivered in tasty bite-sized meatballs?!!

Looking for fresh bright flavors? Chicken Piccata Meatballs are loaded with aromatics. Comfort food without the guilt!

Our signature Turkey Burger Meatballs, oh so moist with a subtle sweet BBQ flavor, would be a featured item.

We could have an entire food truck menu built around Philly Cheesesteak Meatballs. We could serve them on a hoagie roll or as a rice bowl or just piled high smothered in Provolone Cheese Sauce.

Greek Chicken Meatballs bursting with Mediterranean flavors would be on regular rotation!

Mini Vietnamese Banh Mi Bites, loaded with aromatics, have definitely earned a spot on the food truck fantasy!!

Our Salisbury Steak Meatballs served on a bed of rice with Mushroom Gravy would be a stick to your ribs favorite for certain.

We’d serve our Chicken Satay Meatballs as lettuce wraps or rice bowls with a side of Peanut Dipping Sauce. The flavors in this one will keep them coming back for more.

Let’s not forget Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with hot wing sauce and North African Lamb Meatballs with a cilantro mint sauce.

Jamaican Jerk Meatballs are packed with so much flavor and pair perfectly with a nice bowl of Red Beans & Rice!

Let me tell you, these Chicken Marsala Meatballs will have them lining up around the block. So tender and savory.

You betcha we’ll be serving French Toast Breakfast Meatballs from our Food Truck!

When our Fantasy Food Truck pulls up to the county fair, Spaghetti & Meatballs on a Stick are going to draw a crowd!!

In the cooler months, our meatballs would find their way into big bowls of soup.  We’d have Lemon, Tortellini & Meatball Soup.

Italian Bean Soup with Mini-Meatballs would be a lunchtime favorite.

These rice and herb packed meatballs will find their way into steamy bowls of Albóndigas Soup {Mexican Meatball Soup}.

It’s the meatballs after all that completely make Italian Wedding Soup.

And rounding out our offerings would be these amazing Asian Salmon Meatballs with just the right balance of fresh cilantro and ginger served with a sesame soy honey ginger dipping sauce.  Now who’s with me on this one?!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post Our Favorite Meatball Recipes {and a Food Truck Fantasy} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

It has to be the flavor packed tiny meatballs.

No…no, actually it’s the fresh spinach leaves and miniature pasta all bathing in wonderful homemade chicken broth.

Oh wait, I’m certain it’s the final swirl of egg and salty Parmesan cheese that makes this soup near the top of my comfort food list. 

The Process

This soup, like many we make, starts with a classic mirepoix of diced celery, onion, and carrots sautéed in a little butter and olive oil with a nice fresh thyme sprig. 

We add good rich chicken stock and a handful of tiny pasta.

The meatballs are baked then added to the broth to finish cooking. As a result, Italian Wedding Soup is know for its soft tiny meatballs.

To finish the soup, I add a couple handfuls of fresh spinach leaves, followed by what might be my favorite part….swirled egg.  If you prefer to leave that step out, it’s still an amazing bowl of love!

Top with shaved Parmesan….serve with crusty bread. 

What’s not to love?! 

I will Share the Love today with my sister Sarah and my wonderful over-the-fence neighbor Ms. Pat. 

Italian Wedding Soup makes everyone happy.

Italian Wedding Soup is definitely near the top of my comfort food list! There’s something about tiny meatballs bathing in a wonderful broth!

There is no question! This hearty soup is made with love!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Italian Wedding Soup

It has to be the flavor packed tiny meatballs….no actually it's the fresh spinach leaves and miniature pasta all bathing in wonderful homemade chicken broth…oh wait I'm certain it's the final swirl of egg and salty Parmesan cheese that makes this soup near the top of my comfort food list. 

Course Soup

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For meatballs…

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• pinch nutmeg

For soup…

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1 cup onion diced
• 1 cup celery fine diced
• 1 cup carrot fine diced
• 1 thyme sprig
• salt & pepper
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup uncooked small pasta like Stars or Orzo
• 3 cups fresh baby spinach
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese grated
• Shaved Parmesan cheese for topping

Instructions

For meatballs…

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine all meatball ingredients, except turkey, until just blended. Add in turkey and mix to combine (do not overwork or they be hard meatballs instead of soft meatballs) and shape into small quarter-sized meatballs, about 50.
• Bake for 8 minutes on parchment lined shallow baking pan. They will be almost done, but will finish cooking in soup broth.

For soup…

• Saute onion, celery, carrot and thyme sprig in olive oil and butter until tender, season with salt & pepper. Add chicken broth, bring to a boil. Add uncooked small pasta – cook for about 5 minutes (gentle boil). Then add meatballs and fresh spinach, cook for 2-3 more minutes until pasta is tender.
• Beat eggs with Parmesan cheese. Swirl soup with a fork as you slowly pour in the egg/cheese. It will form strands of cooked egg – cook for 1 min. more. Serve in big bowls with shaved Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

The post Italian Wedding Soup {Share the Love} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

When I looked into the eyes of my beautiful new fridge I saw shelves and drawers overflowing with ingredients that begged for a chance to play nicely together.

The result of nonstop cooking for a week straight.

Have you seen our March Meatball Madness posts??!

When I studied the contents it became blatantly obvious that my fridge and my well-being needed a big pot of soup!

I’m going to make this a relatively wordless Wednesday post. After all we are just making soup! Even if this Spring Thyme Green Minestrone soup is extra special in my humble opinion. The recipe below is more of a guide, there is plenty of room for making this your own between the fresh veggie choices, the type of herbs and seasonings, the beans and pasta, even what you swirl into your bowl.

Fresh Basil Pesto and/or grated parmesan cheese swirled into this veggie packed soup is delicious and boosts the green factor.

This Spring Thyme Green Minestrone soup is packed with nutrients making this a healthy choice for any meal. It also makes a giant batch so it’s the perfect way to Share the Love with your friends and neighbors.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Spring Thyme Green Minestrone

This Spring Thyme Minestrone Soup is packed with nutrients making this a healthy choice for any meal. It also makes a giant batch so it's the perfect way to Share the Love with your friends and neighbors.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

Veggies

• 8-10 cups fresh veggies, diced or sliced such as: carrot, onion, celery, leek, fennel, shallot, jalapeno, spinach, kale, asparagus, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli
• 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cans white beans, drained & rinsed such as: butter beans, great nothern beans, cannellini beans
• 1/2 cup fresh herbs, fine chopped such as: parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro
• 2 Tablespoons freshly grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound ditalini pasta cooked al dente and reserved
• 1/2 cup basil pesto optional, to swirl in soup for serving
• freshly grated parmesan cheese optional, to grate onto soup for serving

Instructions

• In a large stock pot or dutch oven, heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in your 'hard' vegetables, like carrots, onion, celery, garlic, fennel, leeks, shallot, jalapeno. Saute until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Then add in your 'soft' vegetables, like spinach, kale, asparagus, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli. Continue to saute for another 5-7 minutes.
• Add vegetable broth, beans, and fresh herbs. Bring to a light simmer then add the ginger, lemon juice and seasonings. Adjust to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to mingle.
• Meanwhile prepare ditalini (or other favorite small pasta) al dente. Reserve.
• To serve. Place some cooked pasta in bowls. Ladle in hot soup. Swirl with basil pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy! Don't forget to Share the Love!

The post Spring Thyme Green Minestrone appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Right smack in the middle of Winter, just when cabin fever is getting real and we’re all longing for spring.

It’s the perfect chance to break out a new Chili recipe to excite your taste buds.

The Chili Police could have great fun with this recipe roundup and argue that none of these recipes are indeed Chili. For the purpose of conveying a collection of soups/stews that are seasoned with aromatics and spices most akin to Chili – we’re going to roll with it.

Here’s a link to a great article from Serious Eats. Divided States of Chili: A guide to America’s Most Contentious Stew

For the recipes below, simply click on the Bold Titles under each image, then scroll to the bottom of the next page.

National Chili Day Recipe Roundup

Beefy Chili

Our Best Chili Yet

How do you know it’s the best chili if you haven’t tried all chilis?

When you’ve never experienced Chili even close to this unctuous vat of love….

…a compromise was met. This is Our Best Chili Yet!

27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne

Speaking of food that’s to die for, this crazy good 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne recipe was born on the pages of a murder mystery.  IF the term Layers of Flavor applied to any single recipe….this might just be the ONE….27 of them to be exact.

Skyline Chili

The main differences between Cincinnati Chili and a traditional Tex-Mex chili is that the meat and onions are very finely chopped (similar to hot dog chili) and the seasonings are certainly unique with unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, allspice, and clove shining through.  Oh and let’s not forget the ‘Skyline’ Chili Ordering Code:

1-Way:  just the chili

2-Way:  chili served over spaghetti

3-Way:  chili, spaghetti, and grated cheddar cheese

4-Way:  chili, spaghetti, cheese, and diced onion

5-Way:  chili, spaghetti, cheese, onion, and red kidney beans

All “ways” are served with oyster crackers

Beef & Bean Chili

If you’re looking for a very basic, but very tasty Beef & Bean Chili recipe, look no further.

Black Bean Chili

Black Bean Chili begins like many of our soup and chili recipes….with a medley of carrots, onions and celery. But that’s just the beginning of this flavor journey.

Hot Dog Chili

Hot Dog Chili is quite different from traditional chili…if there is a traditionalchili.  The main difference is the texture.  Hot Dog Chili has a fine texture which works oh so nicely as a topping for your favorite hot dog.

Christmas Leftovers Chili

Christmas Leftovers Chili began by assessing the leftovers in the fridge. This recipe could easily have been adapted to what you might find after any holiday weekend or big family event.

Chili Change Up

Chicken & Chorizo Chili

Ground chorizo sausage and chicken breasts added to sautéed onion is the base for this chili. What a fantastic way to infuse the broth with the slightly spicy chorizo flavor. 

Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili

Hearty chili but with less calories.  Let’s face it. Most of us don’t need the extra calories and are perfectly happy as long as we’re satisfied.  This chili is definitely satisfying. And pretty :)

White Chicken Chili

This White Chicken Chili {with Fire Roasted Poblano Peppers} fits all the week-night meal requirements.  Quick & easy, figure friendly, and most importantly a dish the whole family with enjoy!

Chili Gumbo

Is it chili? Is it gumbo? Does it matter? It’s delicious!!

Add Chili on Top

Baked Potato with Chili & Cheese

If a baked potato is going to be served as a meal, I say serve it up loaded with this Beef & Bean Chili.  Then go ahead and load it some more with your favorite toppings like Sour Cream & Bacon.

Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Fries

These Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Fries are addicting. The are a hearty fill you up meal that eat like nachos. They also happen to be a fantastic way to use up your favorite chili.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this National Chili Day Recipe Roundup. I’ve got a few more recipes to add to this page before spring thyme blooms – a Nomato version (that’s packed full of veggies – just no tomatoes) and a Texas Red Chili inspired by our recent trip to West Texas and Big Bend National Park.

West Texas and Big Bend National Park

Back in December, after being cooped up for several months 9 months we planned a getaway to West Texas to include two National Parks and a 1000 mile road trip through rural towns and mountain ranges. It was spectacular. On Day 8 – our last full day in Texas, we started bright and early with a gorgeous sunrise followed by skeet shooting. Because Texas.

We made one last unplanned side trip to Terlingua Ranch on our way out of town. We had only learned about the colorful history of this 200,000 acre piece of property the previous night.

Back in the 1960s Carroll Shelby aka Shelby Mustang Cobra designer played by Matt Damon in Ford vs. Ferrari purchased this track of land as an investment, planning to sell off parcels. When sales slowed dramatically he and a few friends decided to host a chili cook off in the tiny town of Terlingua Ghost Town to draw crowds of potential land buyers. What started as a bit of a publicity stunt in 1967, turned into an annual event, spanning 50+ years and drawing crowds of over 10,000 people annually.

Terlingua Ghost Town

Every year since 1967 thousands of chili enthusiasts embark on the town on the first Saturday in November for a two week long chili festival, that’s now known as The Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cookoff.

2020 was the first year in its history that the event wasn’t held due to covid.

We’re talking about a town with a population of about 100 people. Terlingua, Texas is a gateway to Big Bend National Park and therefore tourists like us pay a visit to the Ghost Town and it’s famed Starlight Theatre on our way through to the park.

On our last day, we drove the extra 30 miles out to Terlingua Ranch where we were warmly greeted and given a brief history lesson. Carroll Shelby later sold off the property and we were told that the original logo will be reclaimed by the Shelby family and no longer associated with the ranch at the end of this year. We then got to play 9 holes of disc golf on their desert course 😍 It was spectacular and cactus challenging! It was a great day and the perfect ending to another fabulous bucket list adventure!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

The post National Chili Day Recipe Roundup appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

With winter ragging across most of the country, I posed this question on Facebook:

What is your favorite soup?

I received a nice variety of responses, which included some of my favorite soups like Broccoli Cheddar and Italian Wedding and others that I had yet to recreate at home.

Nick described his beloved Steak & Potato Soup as “meaty and full of potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. The broth is rich but not too thick.” I’m fairly certain what he described was available in a can and included the word Chunky on the label :) I can work with that and so chunky this soup would be. A fine balance between a soup and a stew.

Soup will generally contain meat or vegetables that are typically brought to a boil in water or broth and served with a generous ratio of broth to meat/vegetables. Whereas a Stew has less liquid, is typically simmered for a longer period and is served with more meat/vegetables and less broth.

For the ‘steak’ you can use your favorite cut. I prefer beginning with tender beef that has some nice marbling. This is the star of the show so why scrimp and use a tough cut of meat?! I used Yukon Gold for the potatoes because I like how they hold together yet are nice and creamy. Fresh thyme is a must and caramelized mushrooms go perfectly in this hearty soup.

I pan brown the steak and mushrooms in batches because a nice sear really helps to build flavor. Remove the beef and mushrooms and reserve them until nearer the end of cooking.

Add onions, carrots and fresh thyme to the same pan and sauté until almost tender. Dust the veggies with flour or arrowroot (for GF), then deglaze the pan with red wine and tomato paste to incorporate all those yummy brown bits from the seared steak, all the while building layers of flavor.

Next comes the cubed potatoes, bay leaves and a nice rich beef stock or bone broth. Simmer soup until potatoes are just fork tender, then return the seared steak and mushrooms to the pot and heat through. Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves before serving.

Homemade Steak & Potato Soup got two thumbs up from my favorite taste-tester. This soup will satisfy your best eaters and is the perfect cold-weather blues buster!!

Making homemade soup reminds me of one of my favorite cooking quotes.

“Cooking is a caring and nurturing act. It’s kind of the ultimate gift for someone, to cook for them. It creates all this beautiful stuff, conversation, appreciation, romance. All the most important things in life you do around a dinner table.” ~ Curtis Stone.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

Wishing you a happy table. All my best, Libby

The post Steak & Potato Soup appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

But that’s just the beginning of this flavor journey.

Fire roasted tomatoes, fresh lime juice, chili powder, cumin and oregano elevate the creamy black beans, making this hearty chili a super flavorful vegetarian meal.

When serving this chili, don’t skimp on the toppings. Sour cream, sliced avocado, radish and jalapeño, fresh cilantro and lime all bring nice bright flavors.

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili is a delicious and satisfying meal. It’s perfect for when the weather starts to turn towards fall and the leaves remind us that Winter is coming.

I love all kinds of soups, stews and chilis. I rounded them up HERE for your viewing pleasure. Are you a black bean fan? Our Black Bean Puree is amazing, if I might say so myself!

Have you got a favorite cool weather go-to comfort food? I’d love for you to comment below.

Enjoy!!

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

Print

Black Bean Chili

Black Bean Chili begins like many of our soup and chili recipes….with a medley of carrots, onions and celery. But that's just the beginning of this flavor journey.

Course Main Course

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the Chili

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 carrots peeled and diced
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder
• 2 Tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 3 15-ounce cans black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 15-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• juice of 1 lime
• salt & pepper to taste

For Serving

• 1 lime cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 avocado diced
• 1 handful fresh cilantro
• radish & jalapenos sliced

Instructions

For the Chili

• In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the diced carrots, celery and onion and saute until just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 1 minutes then add the spices and stir to coat vegetables. Add the broth, black beans and tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove 3 cups of soup mixture to a blender and puree, then return to soup pot. Season with salt, pepper and lime juice to taste.

For Serving

• Serve in bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sliced radish and jalapeno and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

The post Vegetarian Black Bean Chili appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I thought it would be fun to compile a few of our favorite Game Day & Tailgate Party Recipes in one nice recipe round-up.  Seems I have quite a ‘few’ favorites.  Just click the bold recipe titles below, then scroll to the bottom of the following page for printable recipes.  Enjoy!!

Every great tailgating party has their signature Chicken Wings presented front and center.  For us, those wings are our copycat version of Mardi Gras Chicken Wings, made even tastier at home.

Our starting lineup always includes thick juicy burgers, loaded to perfection.  Our favorite is the Isle of Palms Burger with Homemade Pimento Cheese Dip, another Game Day favorite.

Pimento Cheese Dip with Jalapenos is FAN-tastic Dip.  Make up a big batch the day before and check one recipe off your list.

Sweet Tea and Lemonade are Southern staples, just like College Football.  We give this refreshing beverage an adult twist.  Check out our signature Lemony Thyme Sweet Tea Cocktails.

Three cheers for these No Bake Chocolate & Peanut Butter Pretzel Squares!

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp are a game changer.  Mouthwatering goodness.

Whether you’ve set up a tailgate party outside the stadium or on your back deck, fire up the grill and get the dogs on.  Serve them with a big pot of make-ahead Hot Dog Chili.

Buffalo Chicken anything is always welcome at a Tailgate Party.  Buffalo Chicken Dip, Baked Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Buffalo Shrimp, and this yummy Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup with Orzo are all standouts.

One of the easiest dishes you can serve your Game Day guests is BBQ Pulled Pork.  Set up a slider bar and let your friends build them their favorite way.

Chicken Parmesan Meatball Sliders are the real deal!

Try one of these favorite BBQ Sauces:  Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce, Homemade BBQ Sauce, or White BBQ Sauce.

Every tailgate party needs a tray of Chili Cheese Dog Tailgate Sliders. Two bites of perfection!

And don’t forget to put together a simple batch of Classic Coleslaw.  Great on hot dogs and pulled pork sliders.  I’m here to tell you that these Cheez-It Crusted Buffalo Chicken Fingers won’t last long.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned from tailgate partying…don’t get caught between a man and his chicken fingers.

Friday Night Sliders and High School Football go hand in hand.  Easy to make the patties ahead, then throw them on the grill for your pre-game party.

You can never go wrong with a giant tray of nachos.  Our favorites include Beef, Bean & Cheese Nachos, Fresh Veggie Nachos, Monterey Loaded Nacho Fries, and these Jalapeno Pulled Pork Loaded Nachos.

Fresh Tomato Salsa and Fire Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole team up nicely with nachos or served with a side of Homemade Flour Tortillas. If your tailgate party starts bright and early, you’ll love starting the day with an Easy Cheesy Breakfast Casserole.  Make it up the night before and you’ll be good to go.

Or if you need to pack up and take the game on the road, Breakfast Taquitos are a fantastic portable tailgate party food.

And don’t forget to wake up the taste buds with a batch of Homemade Veggie Juice Bloody Marys, Green Bloody Marys, or Bloody Caesar Spicy Shrimp Shooters.

Don’t underestimate the popularity of a good deli sandwich.  Our favorite is Roast Beef & Horseradish Cheddar.  Wrap them up the night before, just leave all the ‘fixins’ on the side and let your guests dress their own.  And don’t forget the Horsey Sauce.

Our most popular recipe on the blog and on Pinterest is this Crab Rangoon Dip with Wonton Chips, for that reason alone it makes this Game Day lineup.

Kick up your burger recipe and try these Grilled Chicken Tequila Burgers with Cilantro Lime Mayo or our check out our BBQ Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Chips.

Cheesy Garlic & Herb Pull Apart Bread with Maryland Crab Dip… TOUCHDOWN!!

According to Peyton Manning there’s “Nothing like Tapenade … and football … together!”  That’s good enough for us.

Prepare for a crowd to gather around when you put out a tray of Chocolate Chip & Oreo Caramel Brownies.

When the weather cools down, warm up the fans with a batch of 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne.  This recipe makes enough to feed the entire team.

Crispy Baked Potato Wedges with Homemade Fry Sauce {Three Ways} are a must serve.  Get ready for some happy dunking fans!!

Other than Chicken Wings, Guacamole competes each year for the most popular Super Bowl Snack.

Food on a stick ROCKS!!  Antipasto Skewers are no exception.

You can feed a crowd with a Low Country Boil and you can take it on the road with Low Country Boil Skewers.

When it comes to the Big Game and Super Bowl Sunday, it’s not just the food we’ll be talking about.  Every year the commercials make headlines.  Doritos has some great ones and for that we’re including them in our round-up.  Taco Salad with Doritos beats out the competition!

Put a Pepperoncini Pot Roast in the crockpot the day before and prepare to score with these Pepperoncini Beef Sliders with Pepper Jack Cheese on Game Day.

Sweeten up your celebration with these super easy Homemade Blondies.  Ready for prime time in just 30 minutes.

The Classic Cuban Sandwich will get the fans on their feed.  These can be made the night before your Tailgate Party.  Just pack and go team go.

Don’t want to fire up the grill but still want to serve up that same great grill flavor? Load the soup pot with this Bacon Jalapeno Cheeseburger Soup.

There are Pigs in a Blanket and then there are BIG Pigs in a Blanket (aka Italian Sausage Wrapped in Bread Dough).

We’ve included some classic snack food favorites in our Game Day Recipe Round-up.  Fritos Casserole is too fun and tasty not to share.

Tacos & Tailgating!! Give our Fish Taco Bowls a try or set up a make-your-own taco bar featuring Shredded Pork Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce or Southwest Vegetarian Tacos.

Looking for an easy cocktail that can be made in a big batch, this Azalea Cocktail might just be the ticket.

Want to lightened up on the calories without sacrificing flavor?  Turkey & Sweet Potato Southwest Chili is all about flavor WIN!

Who doesn’t love a good Reuben?!! Give this Hot Reuben Dip a try.  You’ll be hooked!

Need one last easy dip recipe to add to your Game Day or Tailgate Party spread? Look no further and make it Cowboy Caviar.

This just in, the newest recruit to the Team Lemony Thyme Game Day spread is our Southwest Corn & Jalapeno Fritters.

Over the past several months I’ve added some HOT dip recipes to our Appetizers collection.  Hot Cuban Dip has all the flavors of one of our most popular posts… Classic Cuban Sandwich.

Nothing screams party food more than Homemade Queso Dip {with Tater Tots}.

7-Layer Hot Italian Dip will tame even the rowdiest of fans.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Game Day & Tailgate Party Recipe Round-up.  I’ve pinned 400+ additional WINNING recipes on my Game Day Favorites Pinterest Board.  I’d love for you to follow us there as well. All my best, Libby

The post Game Day & Tailgate Party Recipes {over 50 recipes} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.