Another Lite Night

Another Lite Night


Soup and salad are a perfect combo when you aren’t sure what you want, but don’t want to get into a heavy casserole or worry about getting a roast in the oven. They also usually guarantee leftovers as you are doing two decent sized recipes.


Fiesta Pork Soup


Ingredients:
1 lb. ground pork     1 14.5 oz. can chicken broth     1 8 oz. jar picante sauce
1/8 tsp. cumin     1/8 tsp. ground pepper    1 c. tortilla chips, broken
1 11 oz. condensed fiesta nacho cheese soup     1/4 c. sour cream


Directions:
1. In medium saucepan, cook and stir pork until browned. Drain.
2. Add chicken broth, picante sauce, cumin and pepper. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
4. Stir in cheese soup and simmer until heated through. Do not boil.
5. Pour in serving bowls – garnish with tortilla chips and sour cream.


Summer Corn Salad


Ingredients:
5 tbsp. olive oil, divided     1 tbsp. lime juice        1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen corn, thawed     1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 c. finely chopped cucumber     1/4 c. red onion
2 tbsp. minced fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried basil     1/4 c. feta cheese


Directions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk 4 tsp. oil, lime juice and pepper sauce. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet, cook and stir corn in remaining oil over medium high heat until tender.
3. Transfer to salad bowl and cool slightly.
4. Add tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil.
5. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.
6. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving or refrigerate until chilled.
7. Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.


I had a fairly difficult time picking the “right combo” of recipes for this one. Soup and salad is almost cliche as a pair. What immediately comes to mind for me is your regular garden variety salad and either a tomato soup or a french onion soup. I’m not sure why this is the image in my head, but I just feel like there are far more possibilities. It’s yet another chance for you to get creative. What are your favorite veggies? Do you have a salad dressing you can’t live without? How about your soup? Does it need meat? Is it chock full of ingredients or is it simple bisque?


As always, have fun.