Homemade tomato soup recipes

Judging from each week's most popular resources here on about.com, lots of people like vegetarian soups! Whether it's raw food soups, or bean soups, there's plenty of options if you're looking for something soothing to slurp.

Last week, I added a new option to the list - tomato soup, collecting all of my favorite tomato soup recipes in one place right here. When fresh and homemade, tomato soup is a great way to make sure you're getting your 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

Tomato Soup, 7 Healthy Ways

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Cinco de Mayo Party Recipes

What's a Cinco de Mayo party without some fabulous food? Being vegetarian doesn't mean giving up on some great appetizers, drinks and dishes to celebrate this Mexican holiday. Read on for some great dips, and even a Mexican-inspired dessert!

Make vegetarian fajitas with just a few simple ingredients and a few Mexican spices. Serve wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with a spoonful of sour cream. Try making vegetarian fajtias with seitan (pictured) or try these easy mushroom fajitas.

No Cinco de Mayo party would be complete without some homemade guacamole. Try a black bean guacamole or a fiery guacamole with jalapeno peppers (pictured). Whichever guacamole recipe you try, be sure you are using a good quality avocado, because guacamole is all about the flavor of the avocado. Serve in a bowl next to your chili "cheese" dip and chips!

Fried plantains are a popular snack or breakfast treat in many parts of the world, but especially in Mexico and Latin America, so add them to your Cinco de Mayo party menu! Or, try this recipe for plantain chips from About.com's Guide to Mexican Food, Chelsie. These light and crispy chips can be used much like tortilla chips and are a sweet and slightly salty alternative to regular chips. Make sure to plan a dip for your plantain chips!

With just two pre-made ingredients, this recipe is super easy and super yummy, which are two of my favorite qualities in a recipe! Serve with in bowl with a plateful of corn tortilla chips for a quick, though not exactly authentic, appetizer. See also: Easy Cheesy Crock Pot Bean Dip

With just a few store-bought ingredients, you can whip up tehse little homemade vegetarian green chile and cheese flautas in no time at all. Perfect for a Cinco de Mayo appetizer or even as an entree. This recipe and photo comes from About.com's resident Mexican food expert, Chelsie.

What's a Cinco de Mayo party without margartias? Here's a few twists to the traditional mixes, which vegans in particular might enjoy:

• Coconut mango margaritas
• Avocado Margaritas (pictured)
• Low-carb, sugar-free margaritas
• Pomeganite passion fruit margaritas

Inspired by Mexican Hot Chocolate, made famous by the movie "Chocolat", this vegan recipe uses both cinnamon and cayenne to get a spicy chocolate flavor. Yum!

What's a party without drinks? This non-alcoholic agua fresca (fruuit water) recipe is light and refreshing - perfect for an afternoon spritzer or for the kids and teens at your party.

Not finding exactly what you're looking for? Check out lots more vegetarian and vegan Mexican food recipes here.

If your party needs a little something extra that you're not finding here on this list of vegetarian Cinco de Mayo foods, try scrolling through this collection of dozens of vegetarian and vegan appetizers, hors d' oeuvres and party food ideas, from a greasy vegetarian hot wings recipe to a more elegant balsamic and basil bruschetta and everything in between.

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Mark Bittman's vegan Today Show recipes

Cookbook author and NYTimes food journalist Mark Bittman "wowed" Matt Lauer and the audience on the Today show today with a few simple vegan dishes that he prepared right there on the show. They look amazing! He cooked up a barley mushroom risotto, bean and burgers, and a tantalizing sweet potato and coconut stew. Missed it? Not to worry, the recipes are online here:

Mark Bittman's vegan recipes

Even though he's not vegetarian, Bittman has been a big advocate of reducing meat consumption, and eating what he calls a "less meatarian" or "semi-vegan" diet, and people, including the Today Show, seem to be listening in droves. He's also the author of one of my favorite vegetarian cookbooks, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. Super cool!

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Top Vegetarian Recipes of 2011

Here they are! This year's top ten vegetarian recipes on About.com, according to youare the top 10 most popular recipes of 2010, according to you and according to web traffic from all over the world. If you've been wondering what everyone else has searching for, cooking up and eating this year, here it is! Missed last year's picks? Check out the Top Ten Vegetarian Recipes of 2010, or the Top 10 Vegetarian Recipes of 2009, or go way back to the Top Ten of 2008!

1. Homemade Lentil Soup

Here it is, the most popular recipe of the year, according to you: lentil soup! Incidentally, this lentil soup recipe is also one of the highest rated vegetarian recipes, with over 20 five-star reviews. Everyone really seems to love lentil soup, and this recipe is one of the best. It's a simple recipe - lentils, onions, carrots, and a few spices, and perhaps that's why everyone loves it so much. It's not pretentious, it just get's the job done, and you can vary the ingredients without worry. This lentil soup was #10 last year, and it's #1 this year.

2. Chana Masala

Holding still in the second spot, this recipe has long been a favorite. It's a great one-dish meal, when served alongside rice or another grain, and it's one of my regular vegetarian dinner stand-bys, since it's so quick and easy. If you think it won't be filling enough, just toss in a handful of diced tofu to fry up in the mix.

3. Tofu scramble

Tofu scramble means so many things, to so many vegans. It's at once a muse, hangover cure, greasy spoon stand-by, and, for many, it's the first vegan meal or tofu dish new vegans make on their own. No wonder the global internet population finds it so helpful. Heck, even Oprah has a tofu scramble recipe! And you know, if it's good enough for Oprah...

4. Chocolate Fudge Brownies

I'm not quite sure why these brownies made it this far in the top ten best vegetarian recipes this year, but they did! Perhaps it's because there's nothing particularly striking about them that they're so popular. When you just want some nice chewy homemade brownies, nothing fancy, this is a good, reliable place to start.

5. Crispy Fried Tofu

In the picture, I paired my tofu with broccoli, and, if I recall correctly, I slurped up some wide Asian noodles in sauce along with the broccoli and tofu, but this standard crispy tofu can go in just about anything from stir-fries to salads, to curries. You can serve it as an appetizer with a dipping sauce - perhaps a plum sauce or a sweet chili sauce. One guest reviewer said, "They remind me of chicken fingers, but better!" I couldn't agree more. These are savory, addicting and deliciously crunchy.

6. Whole Wheat Spinach Lasagna

Whole wheat lasagna noodles, plenty of spinach and cottage cheese instead of lasagna keep this recipe nutritious, yet still gooey, moist and dense, like lasagna should be - particularly vegetarian lasagna. A guest reviewer named Belinda gave this recipe five out of five stars and wrote: "I have served this lasagne many times - to my meat eating friends as well - and everyone (including me) LOVES it!". Thanks, Belinda! Apparently the rest of the world agrees with you, too! See also: Vegetable lasagna for kids

7. Greek Quinoa Salad Recipe

It was number five last year, and this year, this Greek-inspired quinoa salad is holding strong at number seven. Just like a Greek salad, this quinoa pilaf has kalamata olives, fresh herbs and a balsamic dressing, but with quinoa instead of lettuce or cucumber, it makes for a filling yet still light vegetarian entree. One of the best of the year!

8. Portabella Mushroom Burger

What's a top ten vegetarian recipe list without at least one veggie burger? This portabella burger has been getting more and more popular over the years. The mushrooms are brushed with olive oil and then lightly grilled and topped with grilled onions and an avocado sauce.

9. Quick and Easy Cake Mix Cookies

I love cake mix cookies, and judging from how well this recipe does, so does everyone else! With all the options and flexibility this recipe offers, I wouldn't be surprised to see it climbing even higher on the list next year. A friend of mine always likes to frost her cake mix cookies, since they're soft, and fluffy, almost more like cupcakes, and not hard and crunchy, but I love them soft just like they are. Use any kind of cake mix to vary the flavor - vanilla, lemon, strawberry, they're all fantastic! Add in a handful of chocolate chips or peanut butter chips to make them even more special.

10. Vegetarian Bean and Barley Vegetable Soup

A newcomer to the top ten best vegetarian recipes this year is this hearty kitchen sink barley and bean soup. With seven five-star reviews, this recipe is certainly a keeper, and once you taste it, you'll know why. This soup is a full meal in itself, and, you can add just about any veggies you happen to have in the fridge - green beans, peas or corn would all work well. This recipe makes a lot, so plan on having some leftovers! See also: Low-fat mushroom barley soup

11. More vegetarian recipes

Still salivating? Browse through thousands of vegetarian and vegan meal ideas, including gluten-free recipes, healthy recipes, recipes for vegetarian kids and of course, plenty of tempting desserts, too.

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The Best Pumpkin Recipes Ever

Ah, the mighty pumpkin! It's the inspiration of fairy tales (Cinderella) and cartoon classics (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown) cult films (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and, perhaps most importantly, pumpkin goes well with so many foods. While we all love it in pies, pumpkin also makes tasty appearances in cookies, muffins, breads, cakes, soups, and even puddings, as in this pumpkin pudding recipe, pictured, above left. In Thailand, it's cooked with sugar syrup and stuffed with an egg custard for a sweet dessert or snack. And what's that? You've never heard and never tried a pumpkin pizza (pictured, right)? No time like the present!

So, without further adieu, in celebration of everyone's favorite squash (and, well, Halloween), here are the best pumpkin recipes ever.

Link: 15 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes

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Vegetarian Soup Recipes

Of all the dozens of healthy vegetarian soup recipes I've posted, here are the most popular recipes, according to you! All of these soup recipes are vegetarian, and most are vegan as well. Can't find the perfect vegetarian soup recipe? Don't worry, there are plenty more vegetarian and vegan soup recipes to choose from here.

1. Creamy Carrot Coconut Soup

When it comes to vegetarian soups, this one is a keeper. Users have unanimously given this creamy carrot and coconut milk soup recipe five out of five stars, so you can be sure that you'll enjoy this easy blended carrot soup too.
See also: Carrot, Ginger and Coriander Soup

2. Quick Vegetarian Black Bean Soup

This quick and easy vegetarian black bean soup is a quick, healthy, low fat vegetarian soup recipe that will warm up your family in less than 15 minutes flat. A healthy high-fiber and high-protein black bean soup is a popular soup for vegetarians. Make it vegan by simply omitting the cheese and sour cream.
See also: Mexican Black Bean Soup

3. Easy Cabbage and Cilantro Soup

Inspired by the flavors of India and spiced with plenty of fresh ciland a dash of hot-sauce, this is a fat-free vegan and vegetarian soup recipe that is also low in calories. Cabbage soup is incredibly healthy and very nutritious. It's made from just a few simple and familiar ingredients, so it's easy enough for even those who are new to vegetarian cooking.

4. Crockpot Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Soup is always an easy choice to make in a crockpot. Just add the ingredients in the morning, and forget about it until you are ready to eat it hours later. Although many split pea soup recipes use ham for added flavor, this vegetarian and vegan split pea soup version packs in the spices, including thyme, sage and bay leaves for a lower fat and cholesterol version of classic split pea soup.
See also: Fat-free Split Pea Soup

5. Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Vegetarian Lentil Soup with corn and carrots

Even people who aren't vegetarian love a lentil soup! There's just something comforting and familiar about a home-cooked bowl of vegetarian soup with lentils. Lentil soup should be a staple of every cook's repetoire. Lentils are available in most grocery stores and very high in fiber and protein and are very inexpensive as well. This vegetarian lentil soup recipe uses plenty of spices, including thyme and bay leaves to add lots of flavor. You may also want to watch this quick video which will show you how to make lentil soup step by step.
See also: Crockpot Lentil Soup

6. Basic Vegetarian Miso Soup

Vegetarian miso soup

Miso soup is so quick and easy to prepare that I've recently started having it for breakfast. I find it very warming and soothing in the morning, and because its so versatile, it's easy to make it different every day by adding various veggies or extra spices. This basic vegetarian miso soup recipe is a simple version of the classic miso soup you'll find served in Japanese restaurants. Miso soup is my most popular vegetarian soup recipe!
See also: More vegetarian miso soup recipes

7. Vegetarian Bean and Barley Soup

Vegetarian bean and barley soup

Who needs the beef? This is a very hearty barley soup that is a full meal in itself, so you won't miss the beef, I promise! With this very versatile basic recipe, can add just about any veggies you want - green beans, peas or corn would all work well. This bean and barley soup recipe makes a more than generous amount, so plan on having some leftovers!
See also: Barley and Vegetable Soup

8. Thai Coconut and Vegetable Soup

Vegetarian Thai coconut soup

Traditionally, Thai coconut soup, or tom kha is made with chicken and lots of spices such as galangal and lemongrass and also with chicken. This easy vegetarian Thai coconut soup is made with fresh cilantro, lime and cayenne to duplicate the Thai flavors with some more commonly found ingredients. A reviewer said of this coconut soup recipe, "This soup is awesome. My husband and I both loved it." I also like to add some diced and sauteed tofu to coconut soup.
See also: More Thai Coconut Soup Recipes

9. Chinese Hot and Sour Soup

Chinese hot and sour soup is a light meal or accompaniment eaten any time of day. My Taiwanese roommate in college used to prepare this for breakfast on occasion, and I heartily ate it up! The original recipe, he said, came from his grandfather's time in the Taiwanese army, though this version has been westernized quite a bit to use more common ingredients. This hot and sour soup recipe is both vegetarian and vegan. It is somewhat light, however, so feel free to add in some tofu or seitan.
See also: Hot and Sour Soup with Tofu and Peanuts

10. Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup

Vegetarian pumpkin soup is warming and filling. Perfect for the holidays or any time. This light pumpkin soup recipe is spiced with nutmeg and made with pureed instead of fresh pumpkin.
See also: Pumpkin Coconut Soup

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Raw food soup recipes

If you didn't already love soup, you certainly will learn to love it when eating a raw food diet. They're a quick and versatile staple of most raw foodists' kitchen repertoire. Browse through these simple homemade raw food soup recipes, and tailor them to your liking. Be sure to use the best, freshest and all-raw ingredients you can find. All of these soups are also vegetarian and vegan too, of course. Even if you're not eating a 100% raw diet, adding in some raw soups is a great way to get a refreshing burst of nutrition now and then.

1. Thai coconut soup

Thom kha, or Thai coconut soup, is bursting with exotic flavors and has long been a favorite amongst vegetarians and vegans. This raw food version just kicks the freshness up a notch. This living soup is made with fresh coconut water, and works well with any veggies you like. Don't skimp on the fresh spices, but do feel free to add extra chilies if you like to feel your tongue on fire! I like mushrooms, baby corn and tomatoes in my coconut soup with lots of cilantro and just a touch of spicy chilies.

2. Raw corn chowder recipe

Of all the raw food soup recipes, this one is probably the simplest and quickest to make, if you have the almond milk or cashew milk on hand already. With just three easy ingredients, this delicious raw food soup is ready to go in just a couple minutes. I quite like sipping it cold, and I find it very satisfying just the way it is, but you might prefer a touch of sea salt or perhaps even warming it up a bit on a coffee heating pad.

3. Red pepper gazpacho soup

This easy raw food gazpacho soup is best made in advance, to really allow to flavors to develop and meld togethers. But of course, it's just so beautiful, you might not be able to wait that long before slurping it down! Gazpacho makes an excellent starter soup, and it's particularly well suited to a raw foods menu, since it's traditionally served cold.

4. Raw carrot coriander carrot soup

This gourmet raw soup recipe is made with fresh carrot juice, ginger, and plenty of fresh herbs and spices including cilantro, parsley, and coriander seed. Yum! It comes from Renee Loux, author of Living Cuisine. If you're in a hurry, or just don't have a juicer, you can grab a fresh carrot juice from a juice bar, or even use a bottled carrot juice, as long as it's fresh. Isn't it a lovely color? It just looks so nutritious!

5. Watermelon gazpacho

This recipe uses watermelon instead of tomato for an unusual twist to traditional gazpacho. Served chilled, watermelon gazpacho is refreshing as an appetizer or on a hot day. If you're looking for a simple yet gourmet cold soup recipe to try to really wow your friends, this is a good one to try.

6. Raw cream of mushroom soup

The cream in this simple homemade raw food soup isn't real milk, of course, but rather cashew cream. It's got many of the other traditional soup ingredients though, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and a bit of nama shoyu (raw soy sauce) to add a a salty flavor. I used regular cremini mushrooms in this recipe, but almost any kind of mushroom would probably work. Ever tried lion's mane mushrooms?

7. Spicy Mango Ginger Soup

Eating raw foods is all about trying new things, so why not try this unusual mango ginger soup recipe? Spicy chilies pair well fresh mangoes, and it has a bit of ginger for an extra kick. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

8. More easy raw food recipes

Soups are great, but the raw food diet has so? much more to offer! Browse through this collection of healthy, low-fat and low-calorie nourishing raw food recipes.

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Vegetarian Lasagna Recipes

Looking for an easy and healthy vegetarian lasagna recipe? Check out some of my favorite vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipes here. Whether you're looking for a traditional Italian main dish or want to experiment with something new, there's a vegetarian lasagna recipe here that will surely do the trick.

1. Whole Wheat Vegetarian Spinach Lasagna

Whole wheat vegetarian lasagna photo courtesy the Wheat Foods Council

Make your vegetarian lasagna just a bit healthier by using this recipe, which calls for whole wheat lasagna noodles and spinach. Even though it uses whole wheat noodles, this lasagna is incredibly rich and creamy as it uses plenty of ricotta, Parmesan, and low-fat cottage cheese.

2. Vegan Lasagna with Tofu and Spinach

Layered with crumbled tofu and plenty of spinach, this recipe for a vegan, cheeseless tofu lasagna is hearty and flavorful. No cheese means this recipe is much lower in fat than other traditional lasagna recipes.

3. Engine 2 Diet's "Raise the Roof" Sweet Potato Lasagna

If you've heard about the Engine 2 Diet here's a sample recipe to try. This is Rip Esselstyn's "Raise the Roof" sweet potato vegetarian lasagna with tofu and plenty of healthy veggies. It's so good, diet creator Rip says, that he served it at his own wedding! It's also low in fat and cholesterol-free. This is a vegetable lasagna recipe packed full of broccoli, corn, mushrooms, carrots and more vegetable goodness.

4. Crockpot Vegetarian Lasagna

Yes, you can make a vegetarian lasagna in your crockpot! This vegetarian and vegan lasagna recipe can be prepared and assembled in the morning, then slow-cooked all day for a healthy vegetarian meal whenever you're ready to eat it!

5. Low Fat Eggplant Vegetarian Lasagana

This is a very simple and easy vegetarian lasagna recipe full of healthy spinach and eggplant. It's a cheeseless lasagna recipe, so it is much lower in fat than a traditional lasagna.

6. Tofu and Artichoke Lasagna

Using tofu instead of ricotta cheese, this vegetarian lasagna recipe adds plenty of flavor with artichokes, black olives and Italian spices.

7. Low Fat Vegetarian Lasagna with Ricotta Cheese

Low-fat lasagna photo courtesy of Fiona, About.com's Guide to Low Fat Cooking

You can use a fat-free ricotta cheese to make a very low-fat vegetarian lasagna. It's also got plenty of fresh vegetables so it's healthier than many other lasagna recipes and is a good source of fiber and nutrients. This is a good vegetarian lasagna recipe if you're cooking for kids.

8. Easy Vegetable Lasagna for Kids

Vegetable lasagna just for kids, from About.com's Guide to Cooking for Kids

Cooking for kids? Try this easy vegetarian lasagna that's packed full of healthy vegetables, including zucchini, bell peppers and mushrooms. It's got plenty of cheese, so kids will love eating their vegetables in this vegetarian lasagna just for them! About.com's Guide for Cooking for Kids says of this recipe, "It is super simple, because you just sautee the vegetables, then stir in jarred or spaghetti sauce." Enjoy!

9. Kosher Matzo Lasagna Recipe

Vegetarian matzo lasagna is kosher for Passover.

If you'd like to try a matzo lasagna recipe that is vegetarian as well, this matzo lasagna recipe is Kosher for Passover! Watch this quick video to learn how to make an easy vegetarian matzo lasagna for Passover or anytime. Matzo lasagna uses matzo instead of lasagna noodles, but it still includes all the traditional Italian ingredients and flavors, so it tastes great!

10. Traditional Italian Vegetarian Lasagna

About.com's Guide to Italian Food shares this recipe for a more traditional vegetarian lasagna with fresh Parmesan as well as Italian ribiola cheese and fresh tomatoes.

11. Oprah's Two-Cheese Lasagna Recipe

Everybody loves Oprah, and I think just about everyone will love this super-cheesy vegetarian lasagna recipe. Oprah's vegetarian lasagna recipe uses fresh basil and plenty of fresh vegetables for a delicious home-cooked vegetarian meal.

12. More Vegetarian and Vegan Lasagna Recipes

If you still haven't found the perfect vegetarian, vegan, low-fat or cheeseless lasagna here, try searching through these vegetarian and meatless lasgana recipes to find the perfect Italian lasagna to feed your family.

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