Yummy Soup Sides!

The wealth of knowledge that USU Dietetics students have is amazing. We decided it was time to have their share some of their knowledge with you!  We gave the junior dietetic students  an assignment to write a post for the blog. They had free rein in their topic…but it had to relate to Soup of course! This is a wonderful post written by USU Dietetic student Alyssa Reidhead with delicious soup additions! 

If you aren't quite satisfied after indulging in a hot bowl of soup,
here are some good ideas to help you feel full after your meal!

• A grilled cheese sandwich is a great way to round out your soup, and try adding veggies and white cheeses to make it lower calorie, higher in fiber, and delicious. Personally I love to add spinach and artichoke hearts to my grilled cheese since this adds a great flavor as well as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and iron. What’s not to love about that?! (Recipe below)
• Homemade croutons are an amazing way to give your soup a little extra crunch and flavor. Try adding these and let us know what you think. Try changing up the spices based on the flavor of the soup. For example, with a tomato based soup such as the spicy black bean soup you may want to add basil, oregano, and garlic. Vegetable chowder may go well with rosemary, thyme, and sage. Take some time to experiment and see what you like best. Don’t be afraid to share your results with us!(Recipe below)

Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese

 Recipe by Alyssa Reidhead
Makes 2 sandwiches

What you need: 
1 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup canned artichoke hearts
4 slices provolone cheese
2 T. feta cheese
4 pieces bread
Butter 

What to do:

1. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place slice, butter side down, on a griddle. 
2. Add sliced cheese, artichoke hearts, spinach leaves, and feta on bread. 
3. Place 2nd slice of bread on top and brown each side until golden and cheese is melted. 
4. ENJOY!  

Homemade Croutons

Recipe from Food Network

What you need:
Day old french bread
Olive oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
Spices of Choice

What to do: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  
2. Cut bread into cubes and place in a large bowl. Drizzle cubes with olive oil, salt, pepper and spices. Mix well. 
3. Spread seasoned bread onto a sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes. 

 Nutrition for Spinach Artichoke Grilled Sandwiches