hayrideSupermarkets are filled with ghostly visitors, pilgrims and pumpkins. The weather is turning colder and the streets are beginning to be covered with a blanket of multicolored leaves. It is my favorite season, autumn. For the past 3 years that I was living in the tropical paradise of Hawaii I have missed this season most of all. It may sound crazy that after enjoying the amazing warm weather and breath taking landscape of Hawaii that I would be happy to be in the cold of the northeast but it is a welcome experience to me. It is nice to walk in the crisp, fresh air and actually see the changing seasons. It’s nice to go on a Hayride and actually need a jacket. And it is especially nice to make a big pot of stew and not need to turn up the air conditioning to keep from feeling as if I was crazy.
This season is perfect for soups and stews. To me there is nothing better than coming in from a walk to a big bowl of beef stew or chicken soup to warm me up. Soups and stews can be an excellent way to give your family all of the most nutritious foods. It can even be a fun creative way to get picky eaters to have their veggies. For those who are watching their waistlines it is possible to take you favorite and sometimes most fattening soups and make them more healthy. Believe it or not it doesn’t really take much to take a favorite family recipe for a soup or stew or even chili and recreate it to either make to be bit healthier.
Two things that my family look forward to me making once weather turns colder are chili and potato soup. Neither of these are the healthiest choice for us but they sure do taste good and are great at warming you up and filling stomachs. But after spending some time with our doctors my husband and I decided that it is time for these artery clogging, sodium filled favorites to be updated. So the chili that once took two pounds of beef now takes a pound of ground turkey and a pound of ground chicken. The potato soup that once had a pound of bacon, heavy cream and 2 or 3 salt licks, I mean bouillon cubes now takes 3 slices of bacon, low fat milk and low sodium chicken stock. It is simple substitutions like that, that make a big impact on fat and calories in our favorites.
Making soup at home is a quick, easy and healthy way to feed your family and this time of year it is a welcome warm up. Yes some of our favorites may need a few changes to make them a little healthier but it is well worth it.
Here’s a video of a really great Beef Stew recipe from Tyler Florence
Beef Stew

And if you are a fan of Potato Soup, enjoy.

Potato Soup

3 slices of bacon (pork or turkey) chopped
2-3 medium sized onions, diced
2-3 cups filtered water
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
2-3 pounds russet or yukon gold potatoes, diced
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot brown bacon until crispy over medium heat. Add onion and sautee until clear. Add water, chicken stock and potatoes and boil until potatoes are fork tender. Reduce heat and add milk and butter, mash majority of potatoes with masher or stick blender to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.