Today I’ll be sharing three soup mixes that are easy, delicious, and inexpensive to make. If you missed my post about the benefits of making a mix, click here to catch up.

Before the recipes, here’s how you’ll make the mixes. You’ll put the mix ingredients into a ziplock bag. Then, choose one of these options to write the rest of the directions or ingredients:

• Write on the Ziplock bag. However, that could be a serious nuisance if you decide to reuse the Ziplock bag, and say, decide to put brown gravy mix in there next time around. I have to admit, I have been doing this lately, but I have also come up with some other ideas for you to try.
• Print off labels with the “wet” ingredients and baking instructions listed, and stick them to the bag and hope that they stay stuck in the freezer.
• Print off a paper with multiple directions per sheet of paper, and cut the paper apart. Place one little directions sheet either inside the mix or tape it to the outside. {Did that make sense?}
• Make a “master directions cheat sheet” for ALL your mixes on some cute paper, print it off, and tape it to the inside of the door of, say, your spices cupboard. The cupboard should be close to wherever you would assemble the mix. And SHHH! don’t tell anyone it’s there. They’ll think you have a magnificent memory, and it’ll be our little secret.

Now, here are the recipes.

Lentil Soup Mix

• 2 cups dry lentils
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. basil
• 1 tbsp. dry parsley
• 1/4 c. dry minced onions
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp McKay’s chicken style seasoning

Place all those goodies above in the ziplock bag. On the label or ziplock bag, write (or type) the following directions:

Place in a crockpot (slow cooker) with 1 quart water, 2 carrots (peeled and sliced), and 2 diced potatoes. Simmer on high for 6-8 hours. Add 1 quart stewed tomatoes just before serving, and serve with cornbread (why not use the cornbread mix!)

Split Pea Soup Mix

• 2 cups split pea soup
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup dry onion
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. McKay’s chicken seasoning

On the label or Ziplock bag, write (or type) the following directions:

Place mix in crockpot (or slow cooker) and add the following: 2 quarts water, 1 carrot (chopped and peeled), 1 rib celery (chopped and peeled). Cook in crockpot on high for about 6-8 hours. Serve with cornbread (made from your own mix, of course).

Middle Eastern Red Lentil Soup

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1/2 cup dry minced onion
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. coriander
• 2 tbsp. white rice
• 1 tsp. salt

On the label or bag, write (or type):

Add to a crockpot (slow cooker). Add 8 cups of water. Cook on high for about 4-6 hours.

Happy soup making!

In addition to making my own family happy, I have made these as gifts for coworkers. Especially around Christmastime, people love receiving the gift of an easy, delicious comfort food meal that is homemade!

This post is linked up at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Kitchen Tip Tuesdays.