How to make a Condensed Cream Soup Mix:

For each batch, you’ll need one quart jar and one pint jar to store. It’ll store on the pantry shelf up to a year.

4 cups instant non-fat dry milk
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
1/2 cup chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/3 cup dry minced onions
2 teaspoons mixed Italian herbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Hot Shot (red and black pepper blend)

This equals 18 cans of condensed cream of chicken or cream of beef soup! Stored in two jars!
To reconstitute (equal to one 10.5-ounce can of condensed cream soup), combine 1/3 cup mix and 1 1/4 cups water, either using a small saucepan on the stove or a microwave-safe bowl; heat and stir.

I  found this at one of my favorite blogs -- Chickens in the Road.

Taco Soup

1 lb. diced and cooked chicken
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 bag frozen corn
6 cups chicken broth
2 cans beans, rinsed and drained.   Use pinto, black or kidney. 
1 package taco seasoning (or make your own and use 1 1/2 T.)
1/4 t. baking soda

2 cups cooked rice or orzo pasta

Toppings
tortilla chips
shredded cheese
sour cream

Place first 7 ingredients in large pot.  Simmer 15 minutes.   Add 1/2 cup rice or pasta to bowls and ladle soup over.   Add your choice of toppings.

Super easy and somewhat healthy meal.   We use organic beans because of their high pesticide ratings and organicTortilla Chips.   Everyone likes this in our house and if you have the chicken pre-cooked and ready in the freezer, this makes a great rush night meal.  You can also place ingredients in the crockpot in morning with some frozen chicken, and it will be ready when you get home.  I'd leave the corn out until about 15 minutes before serving, and dice chicken before serving. 

Baby Steps to Better Health -- you can read it online here.

I've started to follow much of this philosophy -- taking baby steps will get us there.  My husband even stated we needed to start doing things differently.  He doesn't want to turn into a health freak, but we realize there are changed that we need to make.

I also realize its A LOT more work to cook from scratch, instead of opening a box, but in the end I think we will be healthier for it.  That's why I love the baby steps -- we're getting there, I'm not sure I'll ever do the #18, but ...

Small changes/steps we are making NOW are:

1. 
   
   Drink more water, and we have a filter at our house so filtered water is easily available. 
   
2. Eat more raw foods and whole foods.
   
3. 
   
   Eat more fruits and veggies. 
   
4. 
   
   Eat no refined white sugar.  Especially me with having had cancer!!   No sense in feeding my enemy.
   
5. 
   
   Eat more whole grains and wheat instead of white flour.   I have a bucket of wheat berries and I also have a way to grind it, so I just need to get with the program.
   
6. 
   
   Find a good sandwich bread recipe and make our own bread/rolls.
   
7. 
   
   Go for organic whenever possible.  ($$$)  Have you heard of the  "The Dirty Dozen"?   Start there.
   
8. 
   
   Make homemade yogurt.  It is definitely easy using this -- probably less expensive too.
   
9. 
   
   Take supplements.  
   
10. 
    
    Keep making better choices -- one baby step at a time.