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With Paul gone at a chemistry conference in New Hampshire, and my trip to BlogHer imminent, I’ve cooked up a batch of one of my kids favorite dishes, Taco Soup, for Nana and the kids to eat while we’re gone. Those of you familiar with Weight Watchers may have come across this recipe before (1 cup = 4 points). But my kids love this and tend to eat it for dinner, lunch and even breakfast.

Taco Soup

Brown 1 lb. very lean chopped meat (I used ground venison, but you could use turkey or beef) with one large diced onion in a large stew pot.

Add:

• 16 oz canned tomato sauce
• 16 oz canned kidney beans (rinsed)
• 16 oz canned pinto beans (rinsed)
• 16 oz garbanzo beans (rinsed)
• 16 oz canned yellow corn (undrained)
• 16 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 1 3 oz. can of diced green chilies
• one packet of dry ranch dressing
• 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
• 1 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1. Heat to boiling. Immediately lower heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Garnish with cilantro or shredded cheddar, jack or Mexican style cheese.

This recipe works great in a crock pot. After browning the meat and onion, put everything (except the cilantro and cheese) it in your crock pot to slow cook the rest of the day.

Since this recipe has so many ingredients already, adding a few leftover veggies, sausage or lunch meat could only enhance its flavor, it reminds of the fable of stone soup, or the Scandinavian nail soup story.

Here are some books that feature this classic tale:

• Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup - by folksinger Pete Seeger, the tale comes in story-song and packaged with a CD. For kindergartner through second graders.
• Stone Soup (Aladdin Picture Books) - Marcia Brown’s 1947 Caldecott winner is based on the French version. For ages 4 to 8.
• Stone Soup - For kindergartners through second graders, author Jon Muth takes the tale to to China where the tricksters are no longer hungry travelers or soldiers but Buddhist monks.
• Stone Soup - Heather Forest’s version is also for ages 4 to 8. However, Susan Gaber’s illustrations feature a culturally mixed village population while giving a nod to the classic French and Swedish tales. An added bonus is that a stone soup recipe is included in the book.

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