Good Press

This soup was relatively quick to make, hearty without seeming heavy and passed muster with my sometimes-picky family. My husband liked that the spinach didn't seem slimy. I think I will chop the spinach next time before adding it to the pot. I also think I will add one more can of chicken broth. I liked that it packed in a lot of vegetables and low-fat meats -- that's turkey in the meatballs. WEDDING SOUP Taste of Home's Simple & Delicious magazine Sept./Oct. 2008 1 egg, beaten 3/4 cup chopped onion, divided 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs 1/2 pound ground turkey 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil 2 cups sliced fresh carrots 1 1/2 cups chopped celery 1 tablespoon butter 4 cups fresh baby spinach (coarsely chopped) 3 (plus 1) 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth 1 cup cubed cooked chicken breast 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspooon pepper 1 1/4 cups acini di pepe pasta In a large bowl, combine the egg, 1/4 cup onion and bread crumbs...

It's cooler now in north-central West Virginia than this time last week when record-setting heat made my clothes feel like they were plastic shrink-wrapped to my body. This summer we discovered some low-calorie fruit slushes I make to keep cool. It's also a good and easy way to get in an extra serving of fruit. I'll be honest -- I use real sugar, cane sugar specifically, instead of Splenda. A little bit of natural sugar beats anything artificial, modified or engineered any day. Our favorites are the cherry limeade, peach and watermelon lemonade. I love that they're all made with frozen fruits so I don't have to buy and keep fresh fruit onhand worrying if it's going to spoil before we use it up. The most labor-intensive part is de-seeding the watermelon -- don't be fooled, there ARE seeds in seedless watermelon. But one watermelon, once de-seeded and chunked, has lasted me all summer in the freezer. Whipping up the drinks is so easy I can even let 4-year-old...