Turkey and Vegetable Soup with Grilled Colby Jack Cheese, Basil and Tomato Sandwiches

I always love a good soup and turkey and vegetable is a hard to soup mess up. Also most people like it and it is satisfying enough on its own, however, with soup I can also never resist a really good grilled cheese. All you need to add is a quiet, cool evening and this meal is sure to make everyone happy.

Shopping List:

1) 1 lb of ground turkey, beef or even chicken (all are good, but if you get ground chicken get chicken broth instead of beef broth)

2) 1 can of peas (all vegetables can be frozen ones if wanted)

3) 1 can of corn

4) 1 can of diced tomatoes

5) 1 can of potatoes or three red potatoes diced

6) 1 can of beef broth

7) 1 can of carrots

8) 2 cans tomato sauce (or paste if you want it VERY tomato-ish)

9) 1 onion

10) 2 bay leaves

11) 2 teaspoons Cumin

12) 2 teaspoons Paprika

13) 2 tablespoons of olive oil

14) Salt, Pepper, Garlic to taste


For Sandwiches:

1) Colby Jack Cheese

2) Fresh roma tomato (you will need about two slices per sandwich and each tomato will probably yield 4-5 slices, I am only making two so I only need 1 tomato)

3) Fresh basil

4) Butter

5) Your choice of bread

*************************************************************************************

To get started get out a high walled pot, pour the 2 tablespoons of oil into the pan. Dice the onion. Once the oil is warm, place onion pieces into the pan. Let them brown and caramelize on a medium high heat.

While onions are caramelizing, open cans and drain liquids from the vegetables (you can use fresh or frozen also, there was just a canned food special at my grocery store so that is the reason for my picking them. You can also add some sort of bean if you like).

After onions are translucent place in the ground beef and seasoning. Let meat completely brown.

Once meat is browned add beef broth (if you do not have broth you can use a bullion cube, just place it in a cup of water and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds to let it break apart) and then fill the can up with water and pour into the soup as well. Pour in vegetables.

Let the soup come to a boil, once it is boiling place a lid on the pot and then turn the stove to simmer (let simmer for about 20 min).

While the soup is simmering, get a flat pan to grill the sandwiches on, butter one side of each piece of bread, slice cheese and tomatoes. Also make sure to clean the basil in cold water and then completely pat dry with a paper towel.

For sandwiches on the unbuttered side place desired about of colby jack and tomatoes. On top of tomatoes place two to three leaves of basil (you can used dried, but it won't taste the same). Place other piece of bread on top (butter side facing up) and put on the pan. Cook at medium heat. About 4 to 5 minutes should do it on each side or until desired brownness is reached.

At this point the soup should have simmered for the twenty minutes needed, remove bay leaves and enjoy!