Homemade Beer Bread & Cream of Something Soup

The only good thing about cool summer days? Making homemade soup and beer bread is completely acceptable! I’ll admit I used to be afraid of making soup because I was worried it wouldn't turn out, silly right? Now it's one of my favorite things to make because it's easy, cheap and uses up leftovers brilliantly! Which is why I want to share my simple way to start out any pot or crockpot full of warm, homemade goodness with you. I was first introduced to this recipe last fall at my local moms group and it’s called “cream of something soup.” In addition to a soup base I have also used the mix in place of canned soup for certain recipes like casserole or roast in the crockpot. It’s always been delicious and definitely a cheaper, healthier, lower sodium option than chicken stock or canned soup!

Cream of Something Soup Recipe

¾ cup flour (I use whole wheat)
2 tablespoons chicken boullion (look for a low sodium, natural version)
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon each of thyme, parsley, basil and black pepper

*To use combine 1 cup milk, 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons dry mix.

This recipe makes approximately two pint size mason jars so it lasts forever unless of course you make soup daily! Keep in mind this is just the soup base and you’ll have to add whatever vegetables, noodles and meat you like. *Dependent on what I’m making I’ll either use water or milk as my base liquid but always REAL butter! Also you’ll have to double or triple the amount of liquid and mix depending on how big of a pot of soup you're making.

Ps - Mason jars filled with this soup mix, wrapped in raffia and a cute label make an awesome holiday gift! If you want to get extra crafty make a whole basket of soup necessities like noodles, fun bowls, big spoons, etc.

You can’t have soup without fresh bread and beer bread is a favorite at our house! We love the Tastefully Simple version but at $6 a loaf it doesn’t fit in the budget and is now reserved for special occasions. Luckily, I stumbled across this homemade beer bread recipe a couple years ago in a local magazine and have been hooked ever since.

Homemade Beer Bread Recipe

3 cups flour (I use whole wheat)
¼ cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt (I use sea salt)
12 ounce bottle or can of room temperature beer
2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions: Set oven to 375 degrees and grease loaf pan. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Gently stir in the beer and melted butter (batter will be lumpy). Spread in pan and bake 40-50 minutes. Brush top of loaf with additional melted butter. Let cool and enjoy!