Simple Soup #2: Corn & Red Pepper

This is #2 in my series of Simple Soups.
The first Simple Soup post was my Carrot Peanut. Ok, no one has emailed me that they've tried it yet, but I will give it time........

Soupie #2 is by far the BEST of the series (there will be 6 soups total).
It is Red Pepper Corn Soup. It is not a chowder. There is no milk, no cream, no butter, so it is actually low in calories and fat.
I also want to mention that my father in law, Hank, loves this soup. If I bring it to their house (which isn't often), he raves about it with each sip (or slurp).

Stacey Snacks Red Pepper & Corn Soup:

~ 1 onion, chopped
~ 1 red bell pepper, diced
~ 2 cloves garlic, chopped
~ 1 16 oz. bag of frozen corn (in the summer, I use 2 cups of fresh shucked corn)
~ 4 cups of chicken stock (Swanson's boxed broth is decent if you don't have homemade broth)
~ dash of cayenne pepper
~ fresh chopped cilantro or chopped basil for garnish

In a heavy stock pot, saute your onion, garlic and red pepper (and cayenne pepper if you like) in olive oil until soft, about 10 minutes on medium heat.



After you have sauteed your veggies, add your corn and 4 cups of chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then partially cover and simmer 20 minutes until vegetables are soft.

Remove half of the solids to a bowl or blender.



*(I use a hand immersion blender, which is a god send! The best kitchen tool I own).

Puree half the solids and then add them back into the soup pot and mix with the vegetables and stock. Garnish with fresh cilantro!




*Speaking of kitchen tools. The other day on my baked apples post, I mentioned that I did not have an apple corer, so coring the apples was a bit of a pain.
Well, today in the mail I received a padded envelope addressed to BLOGGER, and in it was a beautiful Calphalon apple corer from a secret admirer! What a nice surprise! I guess I will just have to mention what I would like for my birthday in this forum, and maybe it will magically appear! (Thank you MIL!).