Hi folks. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. It's wicked cold and nasty here in Ontario. So I did what any wussy Canuck would do, I stayed inside all day with a warm blankie. Luckily I had nothing pressing to do today so I was able to just putz around the house in a ponytail, pajamas and puppy teasers, also known as slippers. After a week of running around like a crazy mama it was incredibly nice to chill out and be a bit lazy today. Or a lot. Don't judge!
I have to say the last month has been trying on my blogging. Those of you who blog may have noticed I am not my usual visitaholic self. Life has been crazy busy so my blogging has taken a bit of a hit. I think we've adjusted into our new routines now so life should ease up a bit. Which means I'll have more time for things like blogging, housework, the horse, and cooking up a storm. I was able to get in tons of visiting today so I am finally starting to feel back to normal. Routine for me equals more recipes for you. Win-win if you ask me.
Soup is not my fave thing to eat. I have to admit I am not much of a fan of most soups. If you were to ask me if I like soup I would tell you no. Yet a friend was telling me about a recipe like this and then by chance I happened upon a similar one in a new crock pot recipe tin I received for Christmas. I set it aside and forgot all about it. Then today I made up tacos for lunch and had some hamburger left. I was trying to think of what I could make for Slow Cooker Saturday with hamburger and this popped into my head. I needed a couple of ingredients but luckily that's the bonus of having older kids. I sent my son out into the cold to pick up the things I needed while I stayed warm and cozy in the house. Hey man if you wanna eat here at the Bee household sometimes you gotta pull up your bootstraps and go out in the cold. The price you pay for a scrumpious  meal. Seems like a fair trade to me. But then again I am the one sitting in the warm house, with a blankie, in a ponytail, pajamas and puppy teasers right.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 1 package of dry onion soup mix
- 1 package of Italian salad dressing mix
- Salt to taste
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 cups farfalle noodles cooked
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- Fresh parmesan for garnish optional
- Fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Brown your ground beef in a large skillet or pan. Make sure you break up the meat well. Drain fat.
- Place your carrots in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Place your celery on top of the carrots.
- Now top with the cooked beef, soup mix, salad dressing mix, and salt.
- Now add your water, tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Mix well.
- Turn your slow cooker on low and let cook for about 6 to 8 hours.
- Now stir in your cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Cook for another 15 to 30 minutes on high.
- Sprinkle with fresh parmesan and/or parsley if desired.
- Serve with a smile.
Tips and hints:
If you are pressed for time don't bother cooking your pasta ahead, just toss it in the slow cooker for about an hour/ hour and a half. Just saves you crucial time if you would rather hang with your kids or watch the real housewives of wherever.
The recipe calls for 2 cups of pasta but I used three, if you like soup you may want to stick to 2. I do not like overly liquidy things so 3 to 4 cups works better for me.
I added sugar but you don't have to. I just like things like this to have a bit of sweetness to them. Feel free to omit it. Maybe you are sweet enough without help, me not so much.
Make sure you remember all slow cookers cook differently. So I would always check your food at the lower recommended time on any slow cooker recipe. Also if you tweak things in recipes it can affect your cook time as well. Better safe than sorry and all that jazz.
After making this my thoughts are it would be really good with beans in it. Some nice black beans would be lovely in this.
Recipe adapted from Crock Pot Recipe Card Collection
The verdict is it was pretty good. For soup. I mean it's no chocolate souffle or anything. Sometimes we all need to put on our big girl panties and eat like adults. Except on days where the Lunatic declares it an unofficial snow day. Then you can eat turtles, after eights, rockets, potato chips, pistachios, gum drops and drink pepsi all day long. Not that I did that or anything. *rubs her tummy*
Toodles and smoochies.xx
Ann
Kim, I LOVE soups and this looks amazing! Your pictures are fantastic and I think this would be a hit at our house! I'm glad you had a relaxing day and are starting to catch up! You already know I'm a lover of routines!
S.V.
I love this.... I totally have been in a crock pot sorta mood lol. I picked out 2 new recipes to make this week in my crock pot and I am pretty excited to see if it saves me a great deal of time lol. I will have to add this to my list of things to make it looks delicious and perfect for cold nights. 🙂
momdecuisine.net
Well, I do like soup and I know I would like this one too. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to run my errands 🙂
Tina
I have made cheeseburger soup, but this recipe is much healthier! I will need to try your version, it looks delicious. The crock pot method does have its bonuses also. Have a great day Kim!
Cassie/Bake Your Day
YUM! Love this, so would my hubby!
Lolly
I made this and its delicious..the sugar helps cut down the acid of the tomatoes and I omitted pasta I have a gluten-free kid. Gluten-free pasta at times doesnt hold up as good. It is very delicious and we all cleaned our bowls. Thanks for a great recipe !~
Kristen
For a non-souper, you make a mean bowl of the stuff. Keep warm!
Dara
This looks so yummy and filling! Now that its icy and cold I find myself craving soup every day.
Kim Bee
Thanks. Hope you try it out.
Kim Bee
Thanks. My dad was a huge clam chowder fan. Slow cookers rock.
Kim Bee
Thanks Ann. I definitely need a better routine. Working on it.
Kim Bee
I find some of the recipes don't save a ton of time. It depends on the recipe. But I like the idea of a slow simmer for taste. I also like that I don't have to babysit it like with the oven. That way we can go to the barn and still eat. Lol!
Kim Bee
Thanks. Lol, it is nice when they hit that age. especially when you realize you are missing an ingredient at the last minute. lol
Kim Bee
Thanks Tina. It's super good. I was sort of surprised I liked it.
Kim Bee
Thanks Cassie. My hubs really liked this one. Guys definitely like meat in their dishes.
Kim Bee
Lolly I just tried quinoa pasta and hated it. It just doesn't cook right like you said. I am blogging about it soon. This recipe really surprised me. I really enjoyed it. I am so glad you liked it. I love when people make things and give feedback.
Kim Bee
Aw, thanks Kristen. You are so sweet. It was not only cold today but wet. Ick!
Kim Bee
Thanks Dara. I feel the same, I just want stew or soup, hearty meals that will warm the belly.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Hi Kim! Ohhh what a comforting winter dish! It's finally freaking cold in SF and I'm so ready for dishes like this. I'm putting my chicken back to the freezer and make this instead tonight! I don't have carrot and 2 of the mixes...Hope I can adapt...or else I'll have to cook again with the complete ingredients next time.
Kim Bee
Hi Nami, did you end up making this? Wondering how you adapted it. I bet it could easily be done without the carrot and just some spice in lieu of the packages.