Soup’s On

I love to cook. I especially love to cook for a crowd — brunch, dinner, bake sales — I’m not picky. And I love to cook with people. My fantasy is to one day have a big, wonderful-to-cook-in kitchen filled with friends cooking and laughing and eating (sort of like The Big Chill, without the suicide first).

Much as I love all of that, though, the reality of being a self-employed mom of many hobbies is that I don’t always have the time or energy to cook. Thus, I (like most of my kind) have favorite go-to recipes, sometimes considered “cheats” because they are thrown together with ingredients that are often ready-made themselves. Sort of like a recipe hack. 

This is my favorite cheat of late. Minimal prep work for maximum impact. This delicious soup is made by combining a couple different frozen seafood packages from Trader Joe’s with some canned, diced, organic tomatoes, and hot pepper flakes. That’s it! But it tastes so good when you want a hearty dish with a little kick. Paired with some homemade bread (5 minutes, people!) and a glass of wine and you’re set. 

I’ve served this many times and it’s always well received. Try it! Tell me what you think.

• 1 package Trader Joe’s frozen Cioppino Seafood Stew
  
• 1 package Trader Joe’s frozen Seafood Blend
  
• 3 cans diced tomatoes
  
• red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper 

Heat the cioppino sauce in a pan until it begins to simmer. Add the tomatoes and heat to a low boil. Add in all the seafood and cook through (about 12 minutes). Add pepper as desired.

Bon appetit.