I know everything is picking up right now with holiday parties, shopping, shipping, cards to mail and cookies to bake but I didn’t want to skip a week of shelf stocking. As you pick up foods for parties and family gathering add 10 cans of vegetables per family member to your General Store. This is a great time of the year to make a big pot of soup to have ready for those brief minutes when you can gather the family together for a real meal.

In that spirit here are a couple of my favorites:

Hamburger soup

Blend together

1 Large can tomatoes

2 cans beef stock

1 carrot

1 onion (or 3 T dehydrated)

Place in large pot.

Add

2 large potatoes diced

2 stalks celery diced

1 small can tomato sauce

3 tsp. Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

1 lb. Browned hamburger

cover and simmer 1 hour.

Add

1 C rice or barley

Simmer ½ hour

Add additional water if soup becomes too thick

Minestrone soup

1 28oz. Can tomatoes

1 qt. Water

2 large carrots

2 8oz. Cans tomato sauce

2 C beef broth

1 T parsley

1 tsp. Basil

½ chopped onion

1 tsp. Oregano

1 tsp. Garlic

1 lb. Browned hamburger

Combine all ingredients and simmer covered 1 hour

Add:

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can green beans

1 can kidney beans

1 1/4 C macaroni or any pasta

Simmer ½ hour-adjust seasonings if needed and serve.