Homemade Cream Of...Soup Mixes

Sarah asked, "Say, have you ever seen or come up with a good recipe to mimic condensed soups, but a much healthier version?" I was going to look for my recipe that I had, but my sweet friend Cranky Grandma beat me to it. She knew the exact thing I was looking for and sent it to me. Isn't she a sweetheart! So Sarah, thanks to Cranky Grandma you get your answer sooner than you might have thought. *grin*

Homemade Cream of… Soup Mix

2 cups powdered milk
3/4 cups cornstarch
1/4 cups chicken, beef, vegetable bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes or 1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon dried basil or marjoram, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black or white pepper

Combine all ingredients and blend until mixed. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 year. This recipe makes 3 cups and is enough for 9 cans of soup.

To substitute for one can of condensed cream soup:
In a 1-quart saucepan or microwave safe bowl, combine 1/3 cup of soup mix
and 1 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil or microwave on high for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, stirring
occasionally.

This can also be used as a quick fat free gravy, thin to the consistency you prefer.

The variations are endless, use your imagination and experiment with different ingredients. For example, instead of thyme and basil, substitute 1-teaspoon dry mustard and 1 teaspoon dill weed.

You might like to add up to 1/4-teaspoon garlic powder to the dry soup mix.

For another option: add a couple of tablespoons of any dried vegetable flakes to the dry soup mix.

Asparagus Soup--add 1 cup cooked chopped asparagus

Broccoli Soup--add 1 cup of cooked, chopped broccoli

Carrot Soup--add 1 cup of cooked, chopped carrots

Celery Soup--add 1/2 cup sauteed, minced celery

Chicken Soup--add 1/2 to 1 cup cooked, finely diced chicken

Chicken Herb Soup--add 1/2 to 1-cup finely diced chicken plus additional herbs to your taste, parsley, oregano or marjoram

Creamier Cream Soup--add 1 tablespoon of butter to any of the variations

Low Sodium--substitute equivalent amount of low sodium instant bouillon

Mushroom Soup--add 1/2 cup sauteed, finely chopped mushrooms

Mushroom and Roasted Garlic Soup--add 1/2-cup finely chopped mushrooms plus 1 or 2 roasted garlic cloves

Onion Soup--add 1/2 cup of sauteed, chopped onions

Roasted Garlic Soup--add 2 or 3 roasted garlic cloves

Tomato Potato Soup--add 1/2 cup diced cooked potato plus 1/2 cup finely diced and seeded tomato

Tomato Soup--add 1/2 to 1 cup finely chopped and seeded tomato

Potato Soup--add 1 or two tablespoons instant mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup mashed potatoes or cooked diced potatoes

Click HERE for printable recipe