Chili-rice Soup Gift Mix

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup dried split peas (i used green)
• 1/4 cup red lentil (can use yellow or brown ones)
• 1/4 cup orzo pasta (i used multi-colored orzo)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium beef bouillon powder
• 2 tablespoons pearl barley
• 2 tablespoons dried chopped onions
• 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar or 1/2 teaspoon splenda granular (not packets)
• 8 ounces lean ground beef or 8 ounces venison or 8 ounces bulk sausage
• 1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes with green chilies (i used rotel brand) or 1 (10 ounce) can canned tomatoes
• 2 quarts water
• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans (i used bush's) (optional)

Recipe

• 1 note: ingredients do not contain salt, which allows recipient to salt to taste.
• 2 mix all dry ingredients together and pour into a sealable jar or plastic bag.
• 3 enclose cooking instructions (see below).
• 4 slip into a decorative celophane bag and attach a bow.
• 5 give as a hostess gift or add to a gift basket.
• 6 cooking instructions: bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
• 7 add dry package mix and tomatoes with green chilis.
• 8 stir and cook for 35-45 minutes, or until lentils and barley are tender.
• 9 while soup is cooking, brown ground beef in a hot skillet until no longer pink, breaking up beef as you brown it.
• 10 pour beef into a colander and rinse under hot water.
• 11 drain well.
• 12 add to soup mixture.
• 13 add chili beans and continue to cook until beans are hot.
• 14 taste for seasonings, adding a little salt if needed.
• 15 to serve: ladle into large bowls and serve with crackers, cornbread, or toasted sourdough bread.
• 16 optional garnishes: top each serving with any or all of the following: grated cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, chopped pickled jalapenos.
• 17 variations: (1) you can add or substitute (for the chili beans), any of the following: canned black beans, great northern beans, navy beans, kidney beans, or corn.
• 18 you may need to add an additional cup or 2 of water.
• 19 (2) bulk sausage (beef or venison) can be substituted for the lean ground beef.
• 20 note: if you use plain canned tomatoes instead of tomatoes with green chilis, you will need to add a can chopped green chilies, or about 1/8-1/4 tsp.
• 21 crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to compensate for the heat nd flavor or the tomato/green chili mixture.