Do you feel like you are always rushing around, leaving little time for kitchen duties? If you follow my blog, you know I believe in cutting back on trips to the drive thru and encourage more home-cooked meals and family dinners. I know it isn't always easy, so here are three quick and easy soup recipes.

A bowl of soup, a roll, cornbread or crackers and you have a quick meal. You can add a salad and/or dessert if you like, but it isn't necessary every time. So get out the soup pot and put it to good use. Soups are also a good way to use leftovers; remember, we are learning to be more economical in these days of high grocery prices.

Quick and Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

4 cans ready-to-serve reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 cup frozen green peas
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup uncooked 'no yolks' egg noodles

Put all ingredients, except noodles, in a 3-qt saucepan and bring to boiling. Stir in noodles and reheat to boiling while stirring noodles. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer, uncovered about 15 minutes, until noodles are soft and vegetables are tender.

Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 14 g carbs and 23 g protein making this a good diabetic option.