Italian vegetable soup

I love crock-pot recipes and this is one I have made several times!  

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Slower Cooker Cooking Time: 4 to 41/2 hours on high or 8 to 9 hours in low
Last-Minutes Cooking Time: 10 to 15 minutes on high

3 small carrots, thinly sliced
1 small onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, sliced
2 small potatoes, diced
2 T. chopped parsley
1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tsp. beef bouillon granules
1 1/4 tsp. dried basil leaves, crunched
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can (15oz.) red kidney beans
3 c. water
1 can (8oz.) stewed tomatoes, cut up and juice reserved
1 c. diced cooked ham


1. Layer in a slow cooker, in order, carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, parsley, garlic, bouillon granules, basil, salt, pepper, and kidney beans with liquid. Add water. DO NOT STIR.

2. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 4 1/2 hours or on low for 8 to 9 hours or until vegetables are tender. 
         
3. Stir in stewed tomatoes with juice and ham. Immediatly cover and cook on high for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through.

Serve with graded Parmesan cheese. If desired, serve over cooked pasta in bottom of soup bowls.

Hearty Black Bean Soup

1 cup tomato salsa
2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream

Instructions

1.  Heat the salsa in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, for about 5 minutes. Stir in the beans and broth.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the soup, covered, for 15 minutes.

2.  Let the soup cool slightly, then ladle half of it into a food processor or blender and puree it.  Return pureed soup to the pot.  Stir in the lime juice and chopped cilantro and heat the mixture through.  Serve the soup warm, topped with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.  Makes 4 servings.

This is my favorite quick, easy, healthy lunch.  I just put all of the ingredients in my Vita-mix blender, put it on the hot soups setting and we have lunch hot and ready in about 5 minutes!

Spring Cleaning: Body Clutter

It is that time of year when we welcome the happy signs of springtime life.  Along with freshening up our houses I always find motivation to loose those extra pounds that I always seem to gain between Halloween and New Years.

Yes, I realize that this year I am gaining weight very quickly (I am pregnant) but I know that eating healthy now will help me to feel good and have a better recovery after pregnancy.  

I wanted to get a visual picture of what  I eat so I have been taking pictures of each meal with the ipad.

I know it is a little silly to take a picture of what you eat, but it has helped me to be more aware of what  I am eating.  I also take time to put everything on my plate and then sit down to eat instead of just snacking while I prepare the kid's meals.  

Breakfast

 orange, cheerios, skim milk, almonds, dried cranberries

 oatmeal, pecans, natural applesause, skim milk

 cottage cheese, natural applesauce, applesauce muffin

 orange, granola, banana, almonds

 pecans, greek yogurt, skim milk, fresh rasberries

 apple, greek yogurt, pecans, flax seed

12 grain bread, scrambled egg, grapefruit

Lunch

left over lasagna, carrots, apple, whole wheat toast

green smoothie, peanut butter balls, carrots, and sandwich 

(I am sure I ate more than a quarter of a sandwich :)

green smoothie, tuna cheese melt, pickle, and oranges

turkey sandwich with lettuce, cheese, avocado, yellow peppers, and an apple

whole grain breadsticks, greek yogurt, grapes, turkey, light string cheese

left over salmon, rice, mixed vegetables, crackers, cheese, and natural applesauce.

sandwich with tons of vegetables and greek yogurt with fresh raspberries.

bean burritos (cheese, beans, and corn) and a strawberry smoothie

Dinner

 garden vegetable wraps, fruit with veggies with ranch

 Southwest stroganoff with lettuce wraps

 asparagus, rice, and broccoli beef 

 homemade cornbread with honey and butter and winter vegetable chowder

Snacks