Seven ways to make vegetable soup

A healthy and hearty vegetable soup. Sounds like a bland medicine to some, but for others, it's nourishing and comforting. No matter how you feel about vegetable soup though, it absolutely doesn't have to be boring. Vegetable soup can take on the flavors of the tropics, as in a coconut-based Thai vegetable soup, or the flavors of exotic north Africa. A layer of legumes or even meat substitutes can take a basic vegetable soup and turn it into a full meal. Lentils, chickpeas, lima beans or even a grain such as barley can add texture and flavor to make a soup more hearty. Interested? Here's seven non-boring vegetable soup recipes to try.

Link: Vegetable soup, seven ways
Pictured: Five-star Moroccan vegetable stew

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Seven Summer Salsas

Is summer over already? Can't be! I refuse to believe it! Well, the weather is still lovely where I am, and I'm still enjoying a bounty of summer fruits and vegetables, so I'm quite happy to live in my denial that it's still late summer, and not early fall!

Fresh summer fruit is a sweet addition to a homemade salsa recipe, so take advantage of the season and make some homemade salsa, while you still can! Try this pictured apricot salsa recipe to start with, get tropical with a sweet mango and peach salsa or get creative with a unique pineapple salsa or even a mouth-watering strawberry orange salsa. Here's seven homemade salsa recipes to enjoy. Summer or not.

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Vegetarian Seven Layer Dip

Use a vegetarian mock ground beef to make a delicious Mexican seven layer dip with a meaty texture that everyone will enjoy. For a vegan version, you could use a non-dairy cheese and a sour cream substitute. Recipe and image courtesy of Lightlife Foods.

Ingredients:

• 1 package SmartGround Original vegetarian beef substitute
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 16 ounce can fat-free refried beans
• 1 4 ounce can chopped green chilies
• 3/4 cup taco sauce
• 2 cups reduced-fat shredded cheese
• 1 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1/3 cup chopped green onions
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• tortilla chips for dipping

Preparation:

Crumble the SmartGround beef substitute into a large bowl. Add chili powder and onion powder. Set aside.

In a 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish coated with olive oil, layer the beans, SmartGround mixture, green chilies, taco sauce, and 1 1/2 cup cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese melts and bubbles around the edges. Cool for five minutes.

Spread sour cream on top; sprinkle with green onions and remaining cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy your vegetarian seven layer dip!

Nutrition Facts:
Amount per Serving:
Calories: 217, Fat: 5g, Protein: 10g, Carbohydrates: 33g, Sodium: 540mg, Fiber: 4g

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