Easy and Inexpensive Vegetable Soup (Meat Optional)

This soup has kind of been a trial and error dish developed over the last few months. Growing up my mom never used recipes, so every time I ask her how to make something I get the same answer "I don't know I use whatever I have," which for a long time I replied, "Mom, I keep trying but everything I make tastes like crap." Well I am starting to get the hang of it. I started out with just veggies, but decided to add some ground turkey for a heartier meal. Here's my basic vegetable soup recipe.

Vegetable Soup

• Browned Ground Turkey (Optional)
• 1 Can Corn
• 1 Can Green Beens
• 1/2 head of Cabbage Chopped up
• 1 Large Can of Tomatoes
• 1 Container Vegetable Stock
• 3-6 chopped carrots
• 1/2 onion chopped
• Oregano to Taste (I use a LOT so I can cut down on salt)
• Garlic (optional)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• I rinse out all of the above cans with a little water and throw that in too.

• Let it simmer for 45 min- 2 hours. Stir Occasionally.

This soup tastes amazing it is sweet and savory, and perfect on a warm winter night. Feel Free to experiment with other vegetables. I throw in whatever is in my fridge and needs eaten. One day I will try with all fresh vegetables, right now on a budget these are things I generally have at home. This is a very healthy and hearty soup this recipe as listed could feed a good sized family for under $10.00.

Please let me know what additions you make and how they turn out!

25 Things that are Keeping you Overweight

I know most of these but this article is a really helpful reason for why you may not be losing weight. You've started working out and eating healthy but you still aren't loosing weight find out why!

25 Things that are Keeping you Overweight

Why I love Apples (and you should too)

Besides from the fact that apples are absolutely delicious, they also have a ton of amazing health and weight loss benefits! Because of how many benefits apples have (and the fact that they are easier/quicker to read any way) I/m just going to use bullets, so here we go:

1. Eating one apples gives you the same hydration as one 8oz. glass of water. For athletes this means no water sloshing around in your belly while you are performing. Everyone else- water is good for you, keeps you energized, aids in digestion, and helps with weight loss!
2. Apples are low in calories 100g of fresh apple slices equals about 50 calories! (www.nutrition-and-you.com)
3. Apples help fight heart disease by lowering blood fats (www.whfoods.com).
4. Apples help curb your appetite, studies show eating an apple 15 minutes before a meal lowers the caloric intake by 15% - people who ate apples also felt more satisfied with their meals - apple juice/applesauce or processed apple products did not show the same results as whole apples (www.whfoods.com). 
5.  Apples help maintain good two forms of good bacteria in the large intestine, this helps with stomach discomfort, regularity, and weight loss! (www.whfoods.com)
6.  Full of anti-oxidants (www.nutrition-and-you.com)
7.  "Apple fruit contains good quantities of vitamin-C and beta-carotene. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body." (www.nutrition-and-you.com).
8. Apples are a great source of B-Complex vitamins which help with the immune system, metabolism, and other bodily functions.  (www.nutrition-and-you.com)

 

If you aren't convinced - go buy a yummy Honey Crisp apple take a big bite and you will be! Apples rock - they are a great snack and meal for kids too. Imagine the health benefits an apple a day can give you and your family!  

Yummy Healthy Knock off "Chewy Bars"

So I am in love with this granola bar recipe I found (and changed significantly) on another blog! Though I have not quite found an exact mixture that sticks together, for now my Chewy bars are more like Chewy Bites. So here's the basic recipe feel free to add different yummy ingredients to flavor or enhance your bars!!

Chewy Granola "Bars"

• 4.5 cups of Rolled Oats
• 1 cup Flour
• 1 tsp. Vanilla 
• 2/3 cup Melted Butter (can also substitute coconut oil, bars come out crunchier)
• 1/2 cup Honey 
• 1/3 cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Shredded Coconut (I use the sweetened kind, next time I'm going to try the unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup - Cup of mini chocolate chips or other fresh fruit spices etc. (I think I'm going to try apple cinnamon next!)
• I also add a few healthy pinches of ground flaxseed, it's good for you and you can't even tell it's there! 

Bake at 325 degrees for 18-22min. and there you go, cheap and easy granola your family will love! I have to make a batch every few days for two of us! We just love it! It's amazing warm too, would make a great dessert!!

More than just a "Burger"

50/50 Burger - Muddy Waters Cafe - Wooster, Ohio

The world burger doesn't do the 50/50 burger at Muddy Waters Cafe in Downtown Wooster, Ohio justice. This burger is the burger you will crave for years after you've had it that you will compare all other burgers to. This burger is 50% ground beef and 50% bacon. Then they go ahead and add on some more bacon and cheddar cheese! I added guacamole (which was perfectly tangy and delicious) and mushrooms, it was on perfectly grilled brioche that had an almost crunchy grilled inside layer, it was to die for! I am thinking about getting it tomorrow night again for dinner! Plus the burger is only $7.75!

Muddy Waters Cafe - Wooster, Ohio

Sidetrack Grill - Yipsilanti, MI

 While visiting Michigan this weekend my boyfriend and I stopped at the Sidetrack Grill in Yipsilanti, Mi. Sidetrack is famous for their burgers and has been on Opra (generally good food advice) and several news shows so we had to stop! I got their 1/3 lb burger with, bacon, avacado, queso, and marinated portabella.

I had high expectations, and I was sadly let down. I was amazed to find that I found a far better burger in Wooster, Ohio my home town earlier last week at Muddy Waters grill the 50/50 burger was inspired and beyond amazing read post on that for more. My burger at Sidetrack was just normal ground beef, barely seasoned, cooked perfectly, with decent ingredients. My fries, tasted like I was drinking a pint of strong beer, if you like that the fries were amazing if not, not so much.

Plus note the last line for two of us burger and fries, I had a pop it was $34.00, my delicious 50/50 burger was $23.00 for the two of us!

Here were my quick notes right after we ate:
Meat- ok
Bacon- amazing
Fries- beer!
Avacado- fresh slices
Queso- American
Portabella- big good
Bun- good nothing special ok toasted
2 for $34 plus tip

I hate the taste of Coconut.

I cannot state the taste of fruity coconut. I have tried to mix it in with my smoothies, drinks, tea, food. I just can't do it. Toasted coconut, that's another story, I will destroy a box of Samoas mmm love Girl Scout cookie time (part of my problem!)! That being said I know the amazing benefits coconut oil has for your digestive health, weight loss, skin, bones, hair, etc. and really on your overall health. So here's what I have been doing. I just take a lesson from my freshman in college self, if I don't like the taste just close my eyes and take a shot! Let me tell you that shot of coconut oil is a lot easier to wash down AND it sure helps my tummy (cleans me right out really!) it would be great if you are constipated! If you haven't seen my post on Coconut Oil Check it Out!

So take a lesson from my freshman self, if you can't stand coconut oil (or acai, pom, grapefruit, etc.) just take a shot of it! For your health! 

Couldn't help it...

Shots (LMFAO ft. Lil Jon)

Italian Chicken Lasagna

So this is a dish I just made up, and I think it's pretty good! Note again I make all my original recipes for two, feel free to add, adapt and tweak to your liking, please please, leave comments on how you made recipes better so I can too!!

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1/2- 3/4 can of Spaghetti Sauce (pick a good one. Good ingredients= Good dishes)
• Spinach (I hide a little in a lot of my food, feel free to omit it!)
• Lasagna Noodles
• Parmesan & Mozzarella Cheese
• One small container of Plain Greek Yogurt
• Italian Seasoning

First I marinated my chicken over night, in Italian dressing. I pan seared the chicken (threw a few garlic cloves in the olive oil for flavor), and cooked the noodles. Then I simply layered the sauce, noodles, greek yogurt, cheese and seasoning (two or three layers) then added the chicken more sauce, and cheese. I threw these all into a (glass/Pyrex) bread pan, it's the perfect size for two! It was delicious! I cooked it in my Toaster oven (too hot for the real oven!) at 375 for about a half an hour! Enjoy! I just ate mine with a glass of White Wine <3

My Daily Smoothie

So I posted my Peanutbutter Banana Green Monster Smoothie the other day, but pretty much every day I've been drinking some modification of a Banana Green Monster Smoothie so here's my basic recipe and a few optional ingredients you can play with, feel free to experiment, and let me know how it goes!

Banana Green Monster Smoothie

•  1 c. Vanilla Non-Fat Yogurt
•  1 c. Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk
•  2 Scoops Vanilla Soy Protein
•  1 Peeled, Cut, Frozen Banana (See Frozen bananas here)
•  Big Pinch of Flaxseed (can't taste it at all)
•  Two small handfuls of Baby Spinach (can't taste it AT ALL!)
•  Benefiber (The no taste kind)
• Cap full of vanilla (tsp.)

      Optional Ingredients:

•  Pinch of cinnamon - Inspired by a Mexican Agua Fresca (delicious drink) all you need is a pinch and it gives your shake a yummy surprising twist!
•  Chocolate Powder, Syrup, or Chips
•  Peanutbutter
•  Chocolate & Peanutbutter (The Monkey Business Green Monster)
•  Coconut Oil - So good for you!
•  Other fruits
•  Other herbs

Peanut Butter Banana Green Monster Smoothie

So I just couldn't wait to post! I wrote last night about the Smoothie I was going to make today well, I just made it, and am currently drinking it. It is AMAZING! So here's what I made. It is amazing you can't even taste the spinach! Feel free to adapt and add whatever you think may be yummy!

My Yummy Peanut Butter Banana Green Monster Smoothie

Important to note: I don't measure when I make my smoothies just guess!

• 1 1/2 c. vanilla yogurt
• 1 c. vanilla almond milk (add more if the mixture is too thick for your blender)
• 2 scoops vanilla soy protein
• 1 frozen banana (Peel and cut them before freezing!)
• 2 cups (or more) spinach
• 1 tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed

Day 4!

Hello!
  I am LOVING this diet right now! Sorry I forgot to post yesterday at the end of the day! But yesterday I weighed myself and I weighed 182!! Yay!! Today I am at 180!! So excited!

So last night i had fresh green beans and watermelon for dinner!

So...

Day 4: Weight 180 lbs.
     Day Four Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.

    Two days ago I froze some bananas to get ready for today! In another version of this recipe it says yogurt and bananas and I wanted smoothies so I went ahead and added some yogurt to my day! So here's the smoothie I've been drinking:

Delicious Banana Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana (I peeled and cut these before I froze them MUCH easier!)
• About a cup of yogurt 
• About 1.5-2 cups almond milk
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
• Blend it all up and enjoy!

The first time i made my smoothie this morning I didn't use cinnamon it was a nice addition the second time around! This is all I've been having today, it's so hot out and with the frozen bananas this is a delicious cool treat, I feel like I'm drinking a milkshake!!

Getting Food Ready!

So tonight I tried to make a variation of "The Miracle Soup" in the 7 Day Detox. Since it's all veggies I figured since tomorrow is fruit and veggie day (Day 3) I would make some soup! I also froze some bananas so I can make some smoothies on milk and banana day, plus my bananas were getting a little old!


Here's the 7 Day Detox G.M.’S Wonder Soup Recipe
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavouring as desired.

Here's what I made:

• 1/2 head of cabbage (I couldn't fit more in my crockpot or I would have)
• 2 ears of corn cut off the cob
• 1 can creamed corn
• 1 container of vegetable stock 
• 2 whole tomatoes
• 2 1/2 onions
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 package onion soup mix

I would have put more onions and cabbage in but my crock pot was already about to over flow.

Day 2- Veggie Day!

Hello!
  So today is Day 2 of my 7 Day Detox and it's veggie day! Last night before bed I made some fresh green beans and potatoes in my crock pot. I started off and ate my two delicious potatoes and then ate some green beans (I have plenty left for later!). I am glad they turned out if you look at last night's post you can see the recipe I used/made up for my green beans! The onion soup packets taste good I did alter the recipe a little to this:

Green Beans and Potatoes

• 2 lbs Fresh Green beans ends snapped off and snapped in half
• 2 packets Lipton Onion soup mix (feel free to mix it up and try new soups!)
• 1/2 a large onion
• water
• sea salt

1. After snapping the green beans I put the potatoes, green beans, and loosely diced onions into the crock pot. I barely covered the mixture with water and added the soup packets. I cooked on high for about 45 min then let sit on low over night, I may have slept in too late because they were a bit over done, but still delicious!

Getting ready

Getting ready for day 2! I have fresh green beans and two potatoes in the crock pot! My two potatoes for breakfast with some beans! Then beans for the day! I think I'll make some "miracle soup" tomorrow too I think since it's all veggies you can eat it every day! Yay! I think I'm going to add carrots to the soup! Yummy! Here's how I made my green beans (I'll tell you tomorrow if they taste good:

• 2 lbs. green beans (snapped the ends and snapped in half)
• 1/2 a large onion
• Onion soup package
• Two potatoes
• Some salt

I threw it all into the crock pot on high I'm going to turn it down to low right before bed! Hoping it tastes good, or at least edible!

Day 1: 7 Day Detox

Today I started my 7 Day Detox and have eaten nothing but melon! When I started I weighed 185 lbs. Can't wait to see what I weigh next Saturday and see how I feel!


Reminder of what day 1 is:
Day One All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Watermelon

So far this morning I have had about two cups of water melon. I feel full, but there is a rumbling starting in my tummy that is making me a little nervous. I knew fruit day would have its downsides, I mean c'mon think about what would happen to your body if you stopped smashing burgers and noming on fajitas every night and spent a solid day eating only fruit. Yuck! Well it's part of the "detox"... s*** has to get out somehow I guess. (sorry I couldn't resist the pun!). Wish me luck the rest of today could be tough. But hopefully totally worth it! They say you can drop 3 lbs. the first day if you only eat melon! We will see (I really should have weighed myself this morning)! Two days ago I was 185, I will weigh myself as soon as I get home from work! And take a "Before" picture, things I should have done last night (so good at procrastinating!)

For the Love of Food

If you couldn't guess by my diet page, or my Pintrest, I LOVE food! I'm a newly reformed picky eater! I love trying new foods! For years I was that girl that "didn't like anything." After my three months spent in Mexico I have been redifining my pallet, I'm even trying different dishes at my favorite restaurants (I've traditionally been very devoted to a favorite dish at local restaurants)! I am so pleasantly surprised by all the new foods I am enjoying! As I make my way around the country (hopefully, I have the travel itch bad!) I will blog about my favorite foods I've found in restaurants, yummy things I've made!