Great idea, and really tasty recipe. I like to save time when I can, so I simply spiced the bean mixture with our store brand's Mexican Seasoning blend and the jalapeno. I used a Mexican blend of shredded cheeses instead of cheddar, and the dish turned out delish!

Reviewed On: Sep. 16, 2008

Great fast and easy recipe! To cut more corners and add more flavor I substituted our store brand's Italian Blend of cheeses for the Parm and Mozz cheeses, just combined the amounts!

Reviewed On: Sep. 16, 2008

I absolutely adore this soup. I usually double or even triple the recipe. In the winter, I usually add a little shredded cheese. I also make it without chicken and use vegetable stock for lunches in the summer, so we can have a healthy dose of our veggies. It's an unexpected combination (the almonds with the veggies and barley) that is delicious and leaves you very satisfied.

Reviewed On: Jul. 23, 2006