I love summer! The days are longer. I get to play in my garden, and the farmer’s markets fill up with the most beautiful vegetables and fruits! However, cooking is not on my priority list during the long, hot, dog days of a Florida summer. Who wants to heat up the kitchen?
Not only is a Florida summer way too hot to stand over a hot stove, but summer activities frequently occupy more of my time. I don’t have a lot of time to cook. In the past, I ate out more to accommodate my busier schedule. Now, I’ve lost over 50 pounds and set new goals for myself; I don’t want to let a little thing like summer busyness derail my hard-earned success!
Vegetarian Quick & Easy – Under 15 Minutes by Jonathan Vine
Well, other than one recipe (Cilantro Tofu Fillets) having chicken stock (and therefore, not vegetarian), this book is exactly what it says it is – a collection of vegetarian recipes that get you out of the kitchen in 15 minutes or less. For that one single recipe, I just substituted my homemade vegetable broth for the chicken stock.
Additionally, most of the recipes are more or less healthy, low-calorie, and easily fit into my summer eating plan. Yay! That means that I don’t bust my calorie budget (or my wallet) zipping through restaurants when I’m in a hurry.
This book is exactly what I needed to get me out of the kitchen this summer. These recipes do not require much chopping or slicing and are ready to go in just a few minutes.
While the recipes aren’t fancy, they are quick, easy meals that practically make themselves. If you are looking for a gourmet meal, this isn’t your book. If you’re exhausted and need dinner on the table so you can collapse on the sofa and relax, this is your go-to!
The author added sections for busy moms, dinners for two, kid-friendly recipes, and party recipes.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup Recipe
This past Sunday, David enjoyed time with his dad. My youngest son had to work. And, My oldest son is going through a tough patch, so I invited him over for dinner and a chat. While Daniel did help me prepare our meal, I didn’t want us tied in the kitchen. I wanted to spend some time with him while we had that ever-elusive one-on-one opportunity. When your kids leave the nest, you learn to covet those moments.
We made the Roasted Red Pepper soup. It was the perfect size for two, and he’s already asking for it again. The only thing I would change: I wish the author had stated measurements for some of the ingredients. I shop at warehouse clubs, so our packages tend to be large. The recipe called for one jar of roasted red peppers. Our jar is a 1/4 gallon size, so I had to look up the size for grocery store roasted red peppers.
Modifications I made:
Since I don’t saute in tablespoons of oil, and typically just spritz the pan with olive oil. The original recipe calls for sour cream. However, I felt the recipe lacked protein, so I substituted plain non-fat greek yogurt.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Yields: 2 servings |
Dinner in 15 minutes? Sure, it’s possible! This delicious Roasted Red Pepper soup for two gets you out of the kitchen and at the table.
- 1 12-oz jar of roasted red bell peppers
- 2 chopped garlic cloves
- 1 chopped shallot
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 5.3 oz container plain, unflavored greek yogurt
- crackers (optional)
Spray a soup pan with olive oil.
Saute garlic and shallots until softened and fragrant (about 2 minutes)
Add bell peppers, cumin, and broth.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
Puree with a stick blender.
Ladle into bowls. Season with salt and pepper.
Stir half the greek yogurt into each bowl.
Serve with crackers.
Nutrition
- Calories: 125
- Carbs: 20 grams
- Protein: 8 grams
I received a promotional copy of this book to facilitate a fair and unbiased review.
Alicia Taylor
We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.
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13 Comments
SavvyMomNYC - Ker (@SavvyMomNYC)
July 21, 2016 - 6:00 pmI never tried this soup but I bet my daughter would love it. She loves the flavor of red pepper. I’m going to show it to her.
LauraFunk
July 20, 2016 - 11:08 amOh! I am putting this on our meal plan this week! love the flavor combos in this and it looks easy to make
Alicia Taylor
July 21, 2016 - 12:53 pmLet me know if you like it!
countrylovingmom
July 20, 2016 - 9:12 amI am going to check this book out. I have been wanting to incorporate some vegan dishes in our menu. Not sure the kids will like the pepper soup.
Alicia Taylor
July 25, 2016 - 1:10 pmIf they like tomato soup, they will probably like this one. It’s got a similar texture with a slightly sweet and smoky flavor. It also goes well with grilled cheese. Of course, that’s not vegan.
Jennifer
July 19, 2016 - 9:58 pmI am so impressed by people’s ability to make and modify recipes. This one looks so delicious! I would expect it to be spicy but I’m happy to hear it’s not!
Alicia Taylor
July 21, 2016 - 12:52 pmNope – it uses bell peppers – so it’s not spicy at all. You could definitely kick up the heat and throw in a chili or a habanero, though. This is actually mildly sweet.
And thanks for the compliment!
tamaralikecamera
July 19, 2016 - 4:00 pmAhh… the Greek yogurt seems like an awesome ingredient. I was wondering what the white was in the delicious photo.
I love soups year round.
Alicia Taylor
July 21, 2016 - 12:53 pmIt’s a nice protein boost. You could definitely use sour cream, but plain greek yogurt has a similar tang – and more nutrition.
Lisa Jones
July 19, 2016 - 10:45 amLooks delicious i’ll have to make this for the guys they love anything hot, the hotter the better. i bet they will love this.
Alicia Taylor
July 19, 2016 - 11:40 amActually, since it’s made with roasted red bell peppers, it’s not spicy at all. You could definitely add some sriracha sauce to it, though.
Brianne
July 19, 2016 - 10:41 amI’ve never tried a red pepper soup before, these photos are making me want some right now. Yum!
Alicia Taylor
July 19, 2016 - 11:40 amI like this one because it’s so easy to make!