Chili-Rice Soup Gift Mix - cooking recipe

Ingredients

DRY SOUP MIX
1/4 cup dried split peas (I used green)
1/4 cup red lentil (can use yellow or brown ones)
1/4 cup orzo pasta (I used multi-colored orzo)
2 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium beef bouillon powder
2 tablespoons pearl barley
2 tablespoons dried chopped onions
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar or 1/2 teaspoon Splenda granular (not packets)
LAST-MINUTE INGREDIENTS
8 8 ounces venison or 8 ounces bulk sausage
1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes with green chilies (I used Rotel brand) or (10 ounce) can canned tomatoes
2 quarts water
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans (I used Bush's) (optional)

Preparation

NOTE: Ingredients do not contain salt, which allows recipient to salt to taste.
Mix all dry ingredients together and pour into a sealable jar or plastic bag.
Enclose Cooking Instructions (see below).
Slip into a decorative celophane bag and attach a bow.
Give as a hostess gift or add to a gift basket.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
Add Dry Package Mix and tomatoes with green chilis.
Stir and cook for 35-45 minutes, or until lentils and barley are tender.
While soup is cooking, brown ground beef in a hot skillet until no longer pink, breaking up beef as you brown it.
Pour beef into a colander and rinse under hot water.
Drain well.
Add to soup mixture.
Add chili beans and continue to cook until beans are hot.
Taste for seasonings, adding a little salt if needed.
TO SERVE: Ladle into large bowls and serve with crackers, cornbread, or toasted sourdough bread.
OPTIONAL GARNISHES: Top each serving with any or all of the following: grated cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, chopped pickled jalapenos.
VARIATIONS: (1) You can add or substitute (for the chili beans), any of the following: canned black beans, great northern beans, navy beans, kidney beans, or corn.
You may need to add an additional cup or 2 of water.
(2) Bulk sausage (beef or venison) can be substituted for the lean ground beef.
NOTE: If you use plain canned tomatoes instead of tomatoes with green chilis, you will need to add a can chopped green chilies, or about 1/8-1/4 tsp.
crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to compensate for the heat nd flavor or the tomato/green chili mixture.