The Modest Calorie Mushroom Soup and Goat Cheese Stuffed Buns

What good hobbit doesn’t love things done with mushrooms? This hobbit though refuses to be as wide as she is tall. Although she is a very hungry hobbit. What is a hobbit to do? Why, have some modest calorie mushroom soup ofcourse! Hurray! I have tried a number of low calorie recipes for mushroom soups but they all seemed to lack the flavour I was looking for. After tweeking, taking ideas from some and pitching others I came up with a combo that worked for me. Want to go vegetarian? Just skip the bacon this recipe is still tasty just not as decadent.

• 2 lbs of mushrooms (I typically use crimini, or a blend of wild mushrooms)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 onion chopped
• 3 cups skim milk
• 1 can beef broth or 1 cup beef broth homemade
• 1 cup water
• 3 tsp flour
• 2 tbl light butter
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 3 slices of bacon
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed

1. Saute the bacon until it is beginning to get crispy. Add the onions, garlic and olive oil and saute until they are slightly browned.
2. Add the mushrooms. If you preblend them like I do mix them with a cup of water, if not just saute until they are slightly cooked.
3. Add milk, broth, flour and water (if you did not with the mushrooms). Stir, use immulsifier to thicken if you did not preblend your mushrooms. If you did you can skim the immulsifier.
4. Add the butter and allow it to melt. Stir in the oregano, cayenne and rosemary. Simmer for 30 minutes on low.
5. Add the white wine, stir in and give the soup a taste. Salt and Pepper as needed and serve.

4 generous dinner servings. 220 calories.

I served these with some goat cheese stuffed buns. These are so easy to pop in while you are in the final stages of the soup. Just grab a can of the reduced fat pilsbury crescent rolls and some herb and garlic goat cheese. Add a half tsp of the goat cheese to each triagle and then proceed to roll them up, making sure you pinch closed the side and give them that crescent shape. Cook as directed. Each roll came to 107 calories each using a goat cheese that was just 70 calories per 2 tablespoons. What a tasty side to a delicious dish!

Edit: I just had some of the leftovers from this reheated…OMG! I didn’t think it was possible but it tasted even better. I would definitely reccommend packing leftovers of this soup up for lunch the next day. I know it brightened my day!