Taco Chowder

Nothing is better than a hearty bowl of soup on a cold day.  It's close to 60 degrees in Massachusetts today, but sadly it is not going to last.  Put this on your list to try when the temps dip again in a few days!

Ingredients:

• lb ground beef
• half of a yellow onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp low sodium taco seasoning
• italian seasoning, montreal steak seasoning (optional)
• 2 cans of Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
• 3c milk
• 2c thawed frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
• 6oz diced green chiles
• optional garnish: tortilla chips, diced green onion

1. In a medium soup pot, cook the beef, yellow onion and green pepper until the beef is browned.  Add the taco seasoning, and the italian seasoning & montreal seasoning if you're using it.
2. Drain off the fat and add the soup, milk, potatoes and chiles.  Cook on low heat for 25 minutes, stirring on occasion.  The soup should thicken nicely.
3. Serve with green onion and/or tortilla chips. 

This is a very decadent soup, so we don't have it all the often.  But it is a nice treat on a busy weeknight when you don't want to spend much time in the kitchen.