5 Warm Midwestern Soups My Grandmother Makes All Winter on a Budget`

Easy winter soups for seniors living alone, made for one with almost no chopping and no endless leftovers. When it's cold outside and you're too tired to stand at the stove, these 5 cozy Midwestern soups use simple store-bought shortcuts to make a warm, filling meal on a fixed income. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Why winter cooking feels so hard 1:15 Soup 1: Lazy Potato & Cheddar Chowder 2:30 Soup 2: Old-Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings 3:45 Soup 3: Creamy Tomato & Wild Rice Soup 5:00 Soup 4: The Forgotten Classic – Beef & Barley Stew 6:15 Soup 5: Sweet Corn & Smoked Sausage Chowder 7:15 Final thoughts 🥣 ALL 5 RECIPES (each makes 1 bowl) 1️⃣ LAZY POTATO & CHEDDAR CHOWDER 1 tbsp butter 2 cups frozen diced hashbrowns (with onions & peppers) 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth ½ cup milk ½ cup shredded mild cheddar 1 spoonful sour cream Melt butter in a saucepan. Add hashbrowns, broth and milk. Simmer 8 minutes until tender. Turn OFF the heat, then stir in cheddar and sour cream until smooth. Tip: Never add cheese while the soup is boiling, or it turns grainy. 2️⃣ OLD-FASHIONED CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth ½ can cream of chicken soup 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken 1 handful frozen peas & carrots 2 refrigerated raw biscuits Bring broth and soup to a gentle simmer. Add chicken and vegetables. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and drop into the broth. Cover and steam 10 minutes. Tip: Don't lift the lid while the dumplings cook. 3️⃣ CREAMY TOMATO & WILD RICE SOUP 1 can condensed tomato soup 1 can milk or heavy cream ½ cup pre-cooked wild rice 1 pinch Italian seasoning Parmesan for topping Combine soup and milk in a pot. Stir in wild rice and seasoning. Simmer gently 5 minutes. Top with parmesan. Tip: Use pre-cooked wild rice; uncooked takes about 45 minutes. 4️⃣ BEEF & BARLEY STEW (The Forgotten Classic) 2 cups beef broth ½ cup frozen mixed stew vegetables 1 cup canned roast beef, broken into pieces 3 tbsp quick-cooking pearl barley Combine everything in a pot. Simmer 12 minutes until the barley is plump and soft. Tip: Stick to 3 tbsp of barley per bowl, or it soaks up all the broth. 5️⃣ SWEET CORN & SMOKED SAUSAGE CHOWDER 3 inches pre-cooked smoked turkey sausage, sliced into coins 1 can creamed corn ½ cup milk 1 dash black pepper Brown sausage coins in a pot for 2 minutes. Add creamed corn, milk and pepper. Stir until piping hot. Tip: Use creamed corn, not whole kernel corn; it thickens the soup naturally. 🧂 If you're watching your blood pressure, choose low-sodium broths and soups. 💬 Which soup did your mother or grandmother make for you on cold days? Tell me in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe for more easy, cozy dinners for one. #WinterSoups #CookingForOne #SeniorRecipes