I don't think you have to retrain your tastebuds, nor do I think you don't like beans, just certain beans. Here are some of my favorite soups. When I left my parents house and went from Campbells soups to my own soups I thought I was in heaven. It just takes learning which soups you like. Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder (From Woodie) 1 -1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1 to 2 garlic cloves minced 3 Tbl butter 1 Cup Good Chicken Broth 1 Tsp ground cumin 2 Cup half-and-half cream 2 Cup (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese 1 Can (16 oz.) cream-style corn 1 Can (16 oz.) regular corn 1 Can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies undrained 1 Tsp hot pepper sauce (I use more) 2 medium tomatoes chopped Fresh cilantro or parsley optional Cut chicken into small, bite-sized pieces. In a Dutch oven, brown chicken, onion and garlic in butter until chicken is no longer pink.Add to pan along with cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.Add next 5 ingredients. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese is melted. Stir in tomato.Serve immediately; garnish with cilantro if desired.~ NOTE: original recipe called for 2 bouillon cubes disolved in 1 cup hot water ----------------------------------------------------------- Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana ½ lb. Hot Italian lean turkey sausage (2 lg links) 3 cups fat-free chicken broth 3 cups fat-free chicken broth 3 cups fat-free milk 2 Tbsp minced onion 1 Tbsp Hormel Real Bacon Pieces ¼ tsp. Salt dash of crushed red pepper flakes 1 medium russet potato 2 cups chopped kale Parmesan Cheese, shredded Saute the sausage until cooked. Combine the chicken broth, milk, onion, bacon pieces, salt, and pepper flakes and pour over the cooked sausage, over medium high heat. Quarter the potato lengthwise, then cut into ¼ inch slices. Add to the saucepan. When mixture begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add Kale to the soup and simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes. Add parmesan cheese to soup when serving. Serves 3 Posted by Marie26 ----------------------------------------------------------- In the soup below I omit the garbonzo's and kidney beans because I don't like them and also do not use the cream. In place of the omitted beans I add navy beans. Best Darn Minestrone Around Allrecipes 8 tablespoons butter 1 1/2 cups chopped onions 4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth 4 (15 ounce) cans mixed vegetables, with liquid 2 (16 ounce) cans kidney beans, with liquid 2 (14.5 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, with liquid 1 (16 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder 4 teaspoons dried parsley 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup canned garbanzo beans, drained 4 cups heavy cream 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping Directions 1.In a large stock pot over medium heat, stir and cook onions in butter until soft. Add broth, mixed vegetables, kidney beans, tomatoes, spinach, and tomato paste; simmer gently for 1 1/2 hours. 2.Using a slotted spoon, remove about half of the vegetables to a blender or food processor, reserving liquid in stock pot. Puree the vegetables until smooth and return them to stock pot. 3.Stir in garlic powder, parsley, salt, pepper, basil, macaroni, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, garbanzo beans, and heavy cream; cook for 1/2 hour, stirring frequently. Pour into bowls and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese. Nutritional Information Amount Per Serving Calories: 558 : Total Fat: 38.7g : Cholesterol: 132mg ------------------------------------------------------- Ginger Won-ton Soup 4 oz lean ground pork ½ cup reduced fat ricotta cheese ½ tablespoon minced fresh cilantro ½ teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder 20 Wonton wrappers 1 teaspoon oil 2/3 cup chopped red bell pepper 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 4 cans fat free chicken broth (or homemade is best) 4 teaspoons soy sauce 4 oz fresh sugar snap peas (optional) 1 or 2 cans baby corn (rinsed and drained) (optional) 4 green onions sliced Cook pork over medium high heat until no longer pink, cool slightly; stir in ricotta, cilantro, black pepper and 5 spice powder. Place 1 teaspoon in the center of each wonton wrapper. Fold and seal edges with water. Drop into slightly simmering water and cook until they come to the top; about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and keep warm. Heat oil in large saucepan. Add bell pepper and ginger, cook 1 minute. Add chicken broth and soy sauce. Bring to a boil and add peas and corn. Simmer 4 or 5 minutes and add warm wontons. Pour into soup bowls and sprinkle with onions. Serves 4 -------------------------------------------------------- Malaysian Noodle Soup with Chicken 4 oz uncooked wide rice stick noodles 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut in ¼ inch strips 2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger 1 teaspoon ground cumin ¾ teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 star anise1-1/2 cups thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce 2 14 oz cans fat free, low sodium chicken broth ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper ¼ cup chopped green onions 1. Cook noodles according to package directions omitting salt and fat. Do not overcook because they will become mushy. 2. Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add chicken and stirring constantly cook eight minutes or until browned. Remove ginger from the pan. Add ginger, cumin, fennel, cinnamon, garlic and star anise; cook 30 seconds stirring constantly. Stir in chicken, mushrooms, fish sauce, and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer 12 minutes. Discard star anise. Stir in pepper. Place ¾ cup noodles into each of 4 bowls. Ladle 1 cup of soup into each bowl. Sprinkle each bowl with 1 tablespoon onions. Yield: 4 servings Cooking Light Magazine Poblano Chicken Chowder 12 servings 1/4 cup olive oil 1 large carrot, finely minced 2 large onions, finely minced 1/2 cup chopped celery 6 cloves minced garlic 3 small poblano peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice salt to taste 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 2 teaspoons ground cumin 3/4 teaspoon fresh thyme 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules 3 quarts chicken broth 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, minced 3 cups diced shredded or chopped chicken 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup heavy cream Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onions, celery, garlic, poblano peppers, salt, white pepper, cumin, and thyme. Saute and sweat until the vegetables soften. Stir in the chicken bouillon. Add the chicken broth and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. Stir in the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chowder is thick and the chicken is heated through. Shortly before the chowder is done, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes to cook the flour. Do not allow the mixture to brown! Ladle 1 cup of the hot liquid from the stockpot into the skillet, whisking constantly. When the first cup of liquid is incorporated, add another 2 cups of liquid, 1 at a time. Pour the mixture in the skillet into the stockpot, whisking to blend. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the cream, then the cilantro and serve.

Man...I can't imagine a pot of potato soup with 10 pounds of potatoes...was that a mistake? One of the best potato soups I've ever had was made with a bag of the square cut frozen hash browns. But I can't remember the recipe. If I can find it I add it here. patti

Here's the recipe I use for Minestrone soup, which does call for a small amount of pasta, but the amount is so small that I do not notice it getting mushy: Minestrone Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup minced white onion (about 1/2 small onion) 1/3 cup minced celery (about 1 stalk) 2 chopped zucchinis, chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 cloves) 2 cups water or vegetable broth 2 tsp vegetable soup base (if broth is not used � dissolve in the 2 cups water) 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or whole tomatoes pur�ed in can) 1/4 cup carrots, shredded 2-4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 to 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable soup base 1 to 1-1/2 tsp vegetable soup base (dissolved in the water, if broth not used) 2/3 cup small shell pasta (orzo, or similar) 1-3/4 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained* 1-3/4 cups cooked small white beans or great northern beans, drained* 2 cups fresh or frozen baby spinach (optional) 2 tbsp tomato paste or 1 tbsp tomato powder salt, to taste, if soup base is not used Directions: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Saut� onion and celery in the oil for 4-5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent. Add the zucchini and garlic and saut� a couple of minutes more. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus tomatoes, carrot, and spices. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Add additional 1 cup hot water/vegetable broth (more, if needed), pasta, beans, spinach leaves (if desired), and tomato paste, and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency. Less water will be needed if the spinach is used. Add salt to taste, if you are not using soup base. I use Better Than Bouillon brand vegetable soup base or one that I get from a restaurant supply store. Use more parsley if you are not adding spinach. *Note: I use 7/8 cup of each dried bean to yield the amount needed and cook the beans earlier in the day or the day before in plain water with a couple of bay leaves. I simmer them in the same pan. Alternatively, canned beans can be used (14 oz can each), drained and rinsed. ------------- This soup freezes extremely well, but I have found that most bean based soups are best for freezing. If I am making an Indian style garbanzo soup that I want to freeze, I will use rice instead of potato. Lars

I've used this "recipe" for vegetable soup for years and the ingredients are never exactly the same. Depends a lot on what I have in my "soup bag" in the freezer. It's always the same through the addition of garlic powder, before you cook for 15 minutes, and then it just varies from one time to the next. Easy to cut in half by using one envelope of the onion soup mix. Freezes well, too. Hearty Vegetable Soup Combine: 3 qts. boiling water 2 pkgs. Dried onion soup mix Leftover roast beef, steak etc. Let boil 25-30 min. then add: 1 16 oz. can tomato sauce 1 16 oz. can tomatoes, cut up 1 teas. ea. dried marjoram, basil, pepper and parsley flakes 1 T. salt, 1 T celery flakes or 2 or more large stalks celery (cut up) the more the better. 2 bay leaves and 1/2 teas. garlic powder Let this cook 15 min. then add: 1 lg. bag frozen mixed veg. 1 box frozen cut okra This is where you can get creative with whatever you may have in your freezer. Let all cook, covered, 2 -3 hrs. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Note: I keep bits of leftover veg., roast beef, etc. in a zip-loc bag in the freezer so what I add depends on my "soup bag' and is never quite the same but always good.