Taco Soup --- 5 Smart Points

Now that the weather is cooling off, it's soup time!  This super simple recipe is one that I really enjoy.  It's very filling and goes great with some corn bread or even tortilla chips.

The Smart Points I calculated are based on the ingredients I used.  Check your labels and calculate the points based on the brands you use.

Some taco soup recipes call for a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix.  I've made it using it as well as omitting it and found I prefer to leave it out.

You can add a can of Rotel tomatoes if you like it spicy or a can of green chilies if you prefer it to be mild.

You can have this ready and on the table in under 30 minutes.

TACO SOUP

Makes 9 cups

5 Smart Points per cup

10 oz. 85/15 ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1 can Ranch Style beans

1 can Bush yellow hominy

1 can Bush pinto beans

1- 14.5 oz. can Hunt’s diced tomatoes

1-15 oz. can Hunt’s tomato sauce

2 T. Tone’s taco seasoning

1 T. Williams chili seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef with onions.  Add remaining ingredients and

heat thoroughly.

Smart Points

Ground beef                 20

Hominy                        7

Pinto beans                   7

Ranch beans                 12

If you use 90/10% ground beef = 13.3 Smart Points

If you use 95/5% ground beef = 10 Smart Points

If you use 93/7% ground beef = 13.3 Smart Points

If you use 80/20% ground beef = 20 Smart Points

If you use 92/8% Harvestland Ground chicken = 10 Smart Points

Mini Ham and Cheese Frittatas -- 1 Smart Point

I tweaked an online recipe to make these.  Based on the ingredients I used, regular full fat cheddar cheese and Great Value deli sliced ham, the Smart Point total for the entire recipe is only 8!

Two mini-fritatas are only 1 Smart Point.  Four of them would make a really hearty filling breakfast and would have the same number of points as a single egg.



MINI HAM AND CHEESE FRITTATAS -- 8 Smart Points

Makes 16 mini frittatas
2 mini frittatas are 1 Smart Point

½ cup diced onion
5 slices of thin sliced deli ham ( 2 oz.)
4 large egg whites +  1 large whole egg
1 oz. grated cheddar cheese
2 T. chopped green onion or chives
Ground pepper

Sweat diced onion in a non-stick skillet with a tiny amount of water until tender.
Finely chop the ham slices and add to the onion.  Set aside to cool.
Beat the egg whites and egg until frothy.  Add to cooled ham and onion mixture.  Stir in grated cheese and green onion or chives.  Sprinkle in black pepper. 

I found that no salt needed to be added, the ham and cheese provides enough.

Spoon into 18 mini-muffin cups.

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes.  Just until the eggs set.  Frittatas will continue cooking after removing them from the oven.

Smart Points
egg                                 2
Great Value deli ham     1
cheddar cheese              5