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10 Soothing Soup Recipes To Stock Your Freezer

In the hustle and bustle of daily modern life, the concept of a healthy homemade meal often seems like a distant luxury. Enter the unsung hero of the culinary world: soup. Not only is soup a comforting and nutritious option, but it also emerges as a time-saving champion when prepared ahead and stashed in the freezer.

Soup often gets a bad reputation as being a high-sodium food, and while data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proves that canned soup can be incredibly high in sodium (more than 800 milligrams per cup), homemade soup can be significantly lower in sodium than its canned counterpart. None of the following recipes, for instance, have more than 500 milligrams of sodium per serving. At the same time, adding fresh or frozen veggies and legumes bumps up the fiber, vitamins, and minerals you'll get.

The beauty of soup lies in its versatility and the ease with which it can be prepared in large batches. Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon concocting a pot of your favorite soup, and you'll be rewarded with multiple meals throughout the week (or even longer if you freeze some!). Whether it's a hearty minestrone, a soul-soothing chicken noodle, or a robust lentil stew, soups are forgiving and often taste even better after a day or two, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. If storing your soup in the refrigerator, Michigan State University recommends enjoying it within three to four days.

Freezing soup is a great way to plan ahead for a quick and easy meal at a later date. A few key steps can ensure that the flavor of your soups remain as appetizing as the day they were made. Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to freezer-friendly containers. Opt for airtight containers or resealable plastic bags, leaving some space for expansion. Consider portioning the soup into individual servings for even more convenience.

The longevity of frozen soup depends on the ingredients and preparation methods. Most soups can last in the freezer up to three months without a significant loss in quality, notes the Kitchn. If a soup calls for dairy or pasta, however, it is best to leave those ingredients out until defrosting and serving the soup. Labeling containers with the date helps keep track of freshness and ensures you enjoy older batches first. Once thawed, reheating the soup is a breeze. Simmer it on the stovetop, allowing flavors to meld once again. Take this opportunity to adjust seasonings, adding fresh herbs or a squeeze of citrus to invigorate the taste.

Having a freezer stocked with homemade soup is like having a nutrition safety net. With a bit of planning and a ladle in hand, you can ensure that a nourishing and flavorful meal is just a thaw away. The following 10 soup recipes are the perfect way to start stocking your freezer, so you're ready anytime a dinnertime pinch arises.

Tuscan Bean Soup Is Good For The Heart And The Soul

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the onion, celery, and garlic for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the onion and celery are soft.

Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes with liquid, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes so the flavors blend.

Stir in the spinach. Simmer, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.

Just before serving, sprinkle the soup with the Parmesan.

Lower Cholesterol Naturally: Top 7 Heart-Friendly Vegetables To Keep Arteries Clean And Prevent Stroke

Lower Cholesterol Naturally: Top 7 Heart-Friendly Vegetables To Keep Arteries Clean And Prevent Stroke Suffering from high cholesterol? Try to add these 7 heart-healthy vegetables to your diet to prevent a stroke and stay safe.

With busy lifestyles taking over modern life, it's more important than ever to keep a check on our health. A worrying concern for many is high cholesterol, which brings with it a plethora of heart diseases, including stroke. However, adopting a natural approach to keep cholesterol levels low and our arteries unclogged can be beneficial. An effective tactic is to add vegetables beneficial for the heart to our meals. Not only are these veggies rich in vital nutrients, but they also help reduce cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol Lowering Green Vegetables

High levels of cholesterol can put you at risk of suffering a heart attack. Here are the top 7 green vegetables that can keep your heart safe and cholesterol levels at bay.

Spinach: An Overload of Goodness

Spinach, the leafy green delight, is overloaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Complementing that with low calorie and high fiber content makes it an outstanding choice for heart health. Moreover, the fiber in spinach restricts cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream, thereby lowering cholesterol levels.

Broccoli: The Beneficial Bunch

Broccoli is a vegetable from the cruciferous family, recognized and lauded for its health benefits. It includes a compound, sulforaphane, known to lower cholesterol levels. Besides, broccoli comes packed with fiber and antioxidants, both contributing to heart health.

Kale: Loaded Green Leaves

Kale, a green vegetable rich in nutrients, is abundant with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also a good source of fiber, it helps lower cholesterol levels. Regular consumption of kale can keep your arteries free from blockages, thus preventing stroke.

Brussels Sprouts: The Loveable Green Globes

Brussels sprouts play a key role in reducing cholesterol levels. With a combination of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, these miniature cabbage-like veggies contain compounds essential for heart health. Adding them to daily meals can improve your cholesterol profile.

Avocado: The Good Fat Source

Avocado, a distinctive fruit, is known for its high content of healthy fats. These monounsaturated fats are scientifically proven to lower harmful cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels. Thus, having avocados can help maintain a healthy cholesterol balance.

Garlic: The Cholesterol Buster

Garlic, also known as lehsun in India is known for its legendary medicinal qualities. This spice is loaded with compounds that help to reduce cholesterol levels and can lower the odds of heart disease. You can add garlic to your regular salads and soup.

Tomatoes: The Heart's Shield

Tomatoes are packed with a potent antioxidant called lycopene. They are the most common heart-friendly vegetables that work wonders in reducing LDL cholesterol levels and cutting down the risk of heart disease. You can add chopped tomatoes to your salad or blend it and add to your heart-healthy soup.

Disclaimer: Adding heart-friendly vegetables to our meals can make notable strides in reducing cholesterol levels and unclogging our arteries. With veggies like spinach, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, avocado, garlic, and tomatoes, you can not only prevent strokes but also foster overall heart health. However, make sure to consult a doctor or a dietician before making any changes to your diet or daily routine.

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