Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Now that fall is here it's time to start making soups to warm us up!

This soup is so yummy and healthy.  If your kids love soup like mine THIS is a great way to get them to eat veggies without even realizing! And around 100 calories a bowl you can't beat it..

1 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 small onion (minced)
1 large can of crushed tomatoes with juices
1 can of spinach
1 can of kidney beans
1 package of frozen (or canned) green beans
1 cup of uncooked pasta (I used whole wheat penne, you can use penne, small shells, elbows, whatever you have)
1 32 OZ container of chicken broth (you can use vegetable instead)
1 tbsp italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf

In a large pot pour in the olive oil, add the minced garlic and onions (I mince using a zester right over the pot), let them cook for a short bit while you open everything else.  Add in everything else.  Mix together, bring to boil, simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Remove Bay leaf and Enjoy.

Use What you have:
Use frozen veggies instead of canned, use whatever green veggies you have
Use fresh veggies, just cook a smidgen longer.
Use Vegetable broth instead of chicken to make in 100% vegetarian
Use fresh tomatoes (I would boil and remove skins first this is what I do for my pasta sauces)
use fresh seasonings instead of canned, canned is usually easier to come by in the colder months
use garlic powder or onion powder instead of fresh (I prefer fresh but if you don't have it use 1 tsp of each to taste)
Use white beans instead of kidney beans, any kind will work, I prefer canned beans since dry ones take too long to cook

This soup is really good in a bread bowl or with a baguette or by itself.

ENJOY.

~Angela

Menu Plan Monday

I haven't done this in a while.  I've just been cooking whatever we have, whenever..  But this week I will need to go to the grocery store for a big trip.. so I am going to plan some meals to help me with that :)
I am not planning weekend meals.  I never stick to them, often we go out for a big late lunch and don't eat a big dinner or we will go buy some fresh seafood, or hubby raids the freezer and grills a ton of meat :)

Monday: Baked Chicken Ziti   I was planning on making Ziti tonight and saw this today.. I am going to freeze the 2nd one :)

Tuesday: Leftovers from Monday

Wednesday: taco's

Thursday: cheeseburgers and homemade french fries

Friday: Homemade Pizza or leftover

I am craving a big pot of chili as well, now that the weather has turned a bit cooler.  I may replace on of my nights with chili.  :)  Probably Thursday or Friday.

more menu plan ideas HERE and HERE

have a great week all :)

~Angela

Mexican Dirty Rice Recipe

I couldn't figure out what I wanted for dinner.. K picked out the meat today and picked ground turkey.. she didn't want meat loaf, I don't have any buns for hamburgers or tomatoes left for marinara sauce or tortilla's for tacos.. sooo I go through my cabinets and came up with this.. it was awesome!!! Hubs had 3 helpings and we have NO leftovers!! I think he would of had more if there was more.. K liked it but said it was spicy.. she doesn't do spicy..

I call it Mexican Dirty Rice... (and super cheap too!)

Ingredients:

1 pd ground turkey (or beef whatever you have)

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp creole seasoning (like Tony Satcheres or Zattarans)

1 package of taco seasoning

1-1.5 cups of rice

2 cups water

I ground the turkey with the garlic powder and creole seasoning... (in a sauce pan)

after it's browned add rice and taco seasoning mix together

add water stir, bring to boil, cover put temp on low and cook until rice is cooked (20-30 min)

YUMMM...

Low-Fat Pasta Carbonara Recipe

*DISCLAIMER* I am not sure if it's legal to post a recipe like this but since I bought the books I think it's ok*

Hey, you know me when I try something new I HAVE to share if it was a 10!  K had 2nds she NEVER goes back for 2nds!!

Yesterday K and I went to the book store and I bought "The Skinnygirl Dish" by Bethanny Frankel (Real Housewives of New York but she is actually a chef) this is the book the Pasta Carbonara came out of. 

I also bought "Skinny Italian" by Teresa Giudice (Real Housewives of New Jersey-I'll admit these shows are a guilty pleasure of mine!)- I made a garlic sauce for the bread out of this book tonight another 10!  I recommend this book it has a ton of helpful information in it.  I read it cover to cover already. 

Low-Fat Pasta Carbonara

16 oz whole-wheat spaghetti- I just used 13 oz and you can use regular pasta if it's made with real semolina flour, it's just as good for you.

3/4 cup unflavored soy milk- I just used regular low-fat lactose because that's what I had, you can use any low-fat milk that is unflavored

2 whole eggs

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan -this is k's job.. she's great at it.

1 tsp of garlic salt, divided - I used a clove of garlic minced, I think garlic salt is too salty.

1 tsp of black pepper, divided

2 tbsp butter- i used unsalted

8 slices organic turkey bacon cooked until crispy, and crumbled or chopped- I used regular turkey bacon but you can use regular bacon too, it's not much more on calories

1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes - I just put the container on the table so hubby and I could add, K won't eat spicy.

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, Parmesan, half the garlic salt (or the whole clove minced) and half the pepper.

2. When the pasta is done, drain it and quickly put it directly into the bowl with the egg mixture.  Toss to coat.  The hot pasta will cook the eggs. When the pasta is coated with the egg mixture, mix in the butter, bacon, red pepper flakes (unless you are adding them later) and the remaining garlic salt (I skipped this one) salt (skipped this one too) and pepper.  Serve Immediately

*** It's so easy and quick to make it takes less than 15 min start to finish including boiling the water and cooking bacon (I put in microwave for 5 min to make it crispy.)

to go along side of it.  I made garlic bread.  I used the ends of the bread cut in half and put directly on the oven rack and toasted on 425 for about 10 min.  The recipe is for the "sauce" I used on it.. It was soo good and not garlicy at all!

Balsamic Garlic Bites - from Skinny Italian

6-8 plump, firm garlic cloves, peeled so they remain intact- recipe calls for 24 but that is for a bigger batch than I needed, 8 was perfect for us.

1 cup balsamic vinegar, as needed- you probably wont need that much if you only use 6-8 cloves

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - fyi ONLY ever buy Extra Virgin Olive oil, if you get the book you will see why :)

1. Place the garlic in a small saucepan, and add enough vinegar to cover.  

Bring to a boil, and reduce the heat to low.  Cover and simmer until the garlic is tender, about 15 min.

2. Drain the garlic cloves (they will have dark purple spots on them from the vinegar), and let cool.  Transfer them to a small serving bowl, (I kept them in the pan) Drizzle the olive oil over the top and serve.--- I actually mashed it up with the oil and spooned it on the bread and spread it out.  IT was sooo good!!!

Like I said K had 2nds... I should have made more bread as well.. I will know for next time... :)

Enjoy...

Random Recipe Monday

I am making spaghetti tonight. I make my own meat sauce. I've decided to post the recipe for my homemade sausage meat sauce. (SUPER EASY)

1 can of regular tomato sauce (I use hunts it's either a 12 or 14 oz can)
1 can of flavored diced tomatoes. any flavor you want
1-1 1/2 pds of ground meat (I use ground turkey)
1 tsp of fennel seed
1-2 tsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup of chopped onions (use more if you like more)
salt and pepper to taste

I use the same pan for it all so the flavors from the meat all fuse in with the sauce.

heat the oil in a medium size pan
when the oil is hot, add the ground meat and the fennel seed, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. (FYI the fennel seed turns the meat into sausage)
when meat is browned drain if needed (if you use a fatty meat or too much olive oil)
add the tomatoes (drained) and mix with the meat
add the can of sauce and mix together
heat through until it bubbles, then lower heat to a simmer and simmer covered for at least 30 minutes.

I put the sauce on top of whole wheat pasta and freshly ground some parmesan or regiano (spelling?) cheese on top.

tonight I am going to make some garlic bread and salads to with it. my quick garlic bread isn't fancy it's whole wheat bread with butter and some garlic powder on it, then I put in in the oven to toast. Then you can grind some fresh cheese over it when it comes out of the oven. Or do bread like you like it.. this is my go to bread when I don't have any crusty bread made.

ENJOY :) one of my favorite meals :)

Delicious inside out cheeseburger recipe

I haven't posted any recipe's yet. I figured it's something I want to start from time to time.

I cook low fat and healthy stuff so I am going to post how I make it. You can substitute for what you like.

I have to say HANDS DOWN these are the BEST cheeseburgers EVER.

1-2 pds ground turkey
1/2 onion chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves of garlic minced (I run them across a grater so they are minced)

5-8 wedges of LIGHT garlic and herb Laughing Cow Cheese. (if you don't use this stuff you should start it's the best.. the consistency of cream cheese and all the yummy taste with a TON less calories and fat!)
a few slices of regular cheese (optional)
1 pkg of hamburger buns

Mix all ingredients, Except the laughing cow cheese, together and start to form your burgers. Once you have one in a ball put 1/2 to 1 whole wedge of laughing cow cheese in the center and cover up with meat and flatten into a burger. Do this until the meat mixture is done.

I grill mine of the George Forman grill when it's too cold to grill outside, but you can use a pan, or a griddle if you want.

Toast the hamburger buns-I put them in the oven right on the rack for about 10 min at 200 degrees.

When the burgers come off the grill place on a plate and top with sliced cheese of choice if you want. I don't for mine, but K and hubby like the extra cheese.

YUMM These are HANDS DOWN the best Cheeseburgers EVER....

Enjoy.

If you have any questions I'll be happy to clear anything up. I am not a chef, nor do I write recipe's well. I am the type of cook that just eyeball's everything :)

Happy Saturday
~Angela