NoOodle Soup: For a quick, easy guilt-free meal

NoOodle Chicken Noodle Soup.Photo by Vicki Arsenault

How would you like a soup that is all natural and gluten-free, with an ingredient that offers no calories, no net carbs, no soy and no preservatives?
Self-taught Chef Terri Rogers, founder of the NoOodle ™ Company has created a variety of recipes centered on this ingredient.
I recently had the opportunity to try a couple soups made with the NoOodle noodle. I have to say, I was excited to give them a try. After reading what the key ingredient in NoOodle soups has to offer - including health benefits - I was curious about the taste.
I tried two different soups from the NoOodle™ Company, Chicken Noodle and Tomato Risotto. They each came packaged in 16.9 oz. boxes. A full list of the all-natural ingredients includes the key ingredient, the Yam Noodle. The yam-based noodle is what Chef Terri Rogers and her company is all about. Consumed in Japan for centuries, where Rogers first discovered it and brought it to America, led to the creation of her company.

NoOodle Chicken Noodle Soup.Photo by Vicki Arsenault

The NoOodle consists of a dietary fiber called glucomannan. Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber derived from the root of an Asian yam plant. It is designed to slow digestion and trap cholesterol and fat from being absorbed by the body.
First I tried the Chicken Noodle. Even though the soup can be heated in the microwave, I decided to heat it on the stove top so that I could see the ingredients and smell the aroma as it heated.
Following the directions - I went from the box to the bowl in less than 5 minutes and sit down to a delightful bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup.
The noodles were not at all like I thought. After reading about the NoOodle, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get past the texture. I had an image of a slick, mushy noodle, which couldn't have been further from it. The texture of the noodle was firm and gentle and not at all mushy. The soup is not shy on noodles, it's packed with plenty of noodles in a very flavorful chicken broth, diced carrots, celery and generous chunks of chicken. It was very enjoyable.

NoOodle Tomato & Risotto Soup

The Tomato Risotto Soup was equally flavorful. The noodle was a lot lighter than that in the chicken noodle soup. It didn't have a lot of texture to it but went great with the tomato based broth. The soup also has diced tomatoes, pieces of spinach and basil that give it a very flamboyant flavor.
Whether your diabetic, on a gluten-free diet, watching your calories and carbs or just prefer to eat healthy - you'll enjoy the NoOodles Soup.


The NoOodle line of soup retails for $5.99 each and can be purchased online at www.NoOodle.com along with their entire line of products.

You can reach me at Vicki.Arsenault@oakpress.com or 248-745-4621. Follow me on Twitter: @OCKidsKorner. Find more reviews, recipes on the Web: www.theoaklandpress.com

Bring boldness to the table with McCormick Gourmet Blends and Recipe Mixes

Photos courtesy of McCormick

McCormick Gourmet offers all natural, coarsely-ground herbs and spices to create exciting dishes.
Each Gourmet Recipe mixes and blends are packed full of herbs and spices, especially selected for preparing your favorite recipes.

One of my favorites, is the Tuscan Seasoning. With a blend of garlic, Italian herbs and sun-dried tomatoes, I can create a whole meal.

I can toss an exquisite salad with a Tuscan Vinaigrette dressing, create a mouth-watering chicken entree and add a side of spinach and mushroom Risotto - all starting with this special Gourmet Blend.

Another favorite is the Creamy Parmesan & Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Penne from the Gourmet Recipe Mixes. A combo of marjoram, thyme and oregano makes this mix the perfect start to a grand 20-minute gourmet dinner any day of the week.

Here are three recipes from McCormickGourmet.com that can be easily prepared and will give you that great gourmet taste right at home.

Tuscan Vinaigrette

Serve this versatile Tuscan-inspired vinaigrette over salad greens, pasta salad, vegetable salad or panzanella.

Makes 3/4 cup or 6 (2-tablespoon) servings.
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection Tuscan Seasoning
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection Sicilian Sea Salt
1/2 cup olive oil
Directions

1. Mix vinegar, Seasoning and sea salt in small bowl with wire whisk. Gradually add oil, whisking until well blended. Cover.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Whisk dressing before drizzling over salad greens.

 

Creamy Parmesan & Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Penne

Dinner can be ready in less than 30 minutes with this great-tasting chicken and pasta recipe.
Makes 8 servings.
Prep Time: 5 minutes

Photos courtesy of McCormick

Cook Time: 15 minutes
 

 Ingredients
2 cups penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
1 package McCormick® Gourmet Creamy Parmesan & Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Penne Recipe & Seasoning Mix
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

 Watch Step-by-Step Video

Directions

1. Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add Seasoning Mix, tomatoes, cream and cheese. Bring to boil, stirring constantly with wire whisk until well blended. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes.
3. Stir in pasta; toss gently to coat. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Shrimp Variation: Use 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, in place of the chicken. Cook and stir shrimp in melted butter 2 minutes. Continue as directed.

Spinach and Mushroom Risotto

Makes 4 servings.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
8 ounces assorted mushrooms, sliced
1 tablespoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection Tuscan Seasoning
1 cup Arborio rice
1/4 cup dry white wine
4 cups Kitchen Basics® Chicken Stock, heated
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions

1. Heat oil in large saucepan on medium heat. Add sausage; cook until browned, stirring to break into small chunks. Add onion, mushrooms and Seasoning; cook and stir 5 minutes or until onion and mushrooms are tender.
2. Stir in rice. Cook and stir 1 minute to toast rice. Add wine; cook and stir 1 minute or until absorbed.
3. Stirring constantly, add warm stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until liquid is absorbed by rice after each addition. (It takes about 25 minutes for all of the stock mixture to be absorbed and the risotto to become thick and creamy.) Remove from heat. Stir in spinach and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Serve immediately.

For more recipes using McCormick Gourmet Recipe Mixes and Blends visit www.mccormickgourmet.com

Photo by Vicki Arsenault

McCormick Gourmet offers a variety of Gourmet Recipe Mixes and Blends.
McCormick Gourmet Blends come in 1.25-1.87 oz. bottles and retail for $2.74.
McCormick Gourmet Recipe Mixes retail at $1.99 per package.

Recipes printed with permission of McCormick & Company