Wet weather? Serve some soup!

Completely bored with cooking? Tired of looking through old magazines for something that sounds interesting? A new unofficial club has formed - the Bored with Cooking Club. Share your recipe SOS and help out the other cooks in town who want some proven fast and easy meal ideas.

Life can be fast-paced, but it's great to slow down for some food and fellowship - without the fuss! Share your recipes with all of us by sending your favorite standby to vici@gulfbreezenews. com. Family favorites are great to share, or a quickie that prepares without a lot of fuss, but is deceptively delightful to the palate...

With all the wet weather we've been having lately, several moms sent in their favorite recipes -- and each other's! We received one Taco soup recipe three times, all credited back to Jennie Barrow (who did not send it in!) I love to see that networking ... Maureen says Jennie's soup is "Very easy and very good! I skip the onions because my hubby doesn't like onions...it is still yummy!" She admits to stealing it but Terri says Jennie shared it with her freely so it must have been okay! Enjoy!
Taco Soup
1 lb ground beef, browned
(can use ground turkey for
healthier option)
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cans black beans
1 can ranch style Texas
beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can corn
1 can tomatoes
1 can Rotel
1 can hominy (optional)
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing
mix
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix

Mix together in large pot and cook for 30 minutes. Add water, if needed. Serve w/taco chips, crackers, or French bread and a tossed salad.

Karen Tonti shares the following "not so diet friendly" soup. "My kids LOVE it and ask for it often," Karen promises, "I'll send out more as I think of them....."
Macaroni Soup
1 small onion chopped
5 slices bacon, sliced crossways
into 1/2 inch strips
1 15 oz. plus 1 8 oz. can
tomato sauce
2/3 box mostaccioli rigate
(or penne) pasta
water
Tabasco to taste
pepper to taste
1/2 medium sized block of
Velveeta Cheese, sliced into
1/4 inch slices

In a large dutch oven, saute onion and bacon, stirring frequently so that the bacon doesn't burn. Cook about 5-7 minutes (bacon will curl up and start to brown, but you don't want it real crispy). Add tomato sauce. Bring to a boil. Add pasta and stir to coat. Add water to cover pasta (about 1 inch of liquid should be covering the pasta). Add tabasco and pepper. When pasta is cooked, add cheese and stir until it has melted. Serve with garlic bread.