This recipe is a favorite of mine for group gatherings this time of year. 

When the weather turns cool or is absolutely cold outside, this recipe for taco soup is just one of the nourishing recipes I pull out and make.

My Sunday School class in another state always had a “Soup and Cornbread” social this time of year, and there always were one or two pots of taco soup. I enjoyed it then, and I still do now — a delicious, healthy meal that is so easy to make.

A friend in Georgia gave me the original recipe. After several changes, this is now my favorite taco soup recipe.

Taco Soup

Ingredients

• 3 16-ounce cans chili beans, un-drained
• 1 15 ¼ ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
• 3 16-ounce cans diced tomatoes
• 1 4.5-ounce can chopped green chiles
• 1 0.4-ounce package buttermilk ranch dressing mix
• 1 0.1-ounce package taco seasoning
• 1 medium-sized onion, diced
• 1 ½ pounds ground beef

Preparation

Brown ground beef and onion together; drain and set aside.

Combine all ingredients in a large 6-quart pot and mix well. Cook over medium heat until heated through. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Or, for an easy way to cook for most busy cooks, put all ingredients in a Crock-Pot, cook on high for 2 hours or cook on low for 4 hours.

Suggested toppings are shredded cheese, chopped green onions and sour cream. Toppings make it your own. Serve hot with tortilla chips, and enjoy with friends.

From the scriptures

Almost all books in the Bible contain references to foods. Luke 4:4 says, “It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Reading the Bible will supply you with spiritual food the same way that cooking and consuming food supplies your body with physical food.

My pastor, Dr. Billy Nale at First Baptist Church of Foley, has given his congregation a Bible challenge for 2013.  This challenge is to memorize 36 Scripture verses in 2013. Each Sunday morning, he will suggest a weekly Bible verse for us to learn. On the fourth week, we will review these three verses daily. At the end of the year, we will have memorized 36 verses, committing them to memory and being able to readily recall each verse as needed.

Our Memory Verse for this week is: Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I encourage you to memorize verses, too. It’s fabulous spiritual food!