Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup

Let me set the scene....  

Once again, 5pm rolls around and I have no dinner plan.  It's Friday night {the night I usually like to go out to eat} but my oldest son now has b-ball practice and my husband coaches....there goes date night! To top it off, I haven't done a "real" grocery trip this week, but I did manage to pick up 4 cans of pumpkin puree while at Target the other day. I've been craving EVERYTHING PUMPKIN and can't seem to shake the chill that comes along with the damp Fall weather around here. Sounds like a recipe for pumpkin soup, doesn't it?

I had no game plan....just started throwing things together with cheese toast as my backup plan - then realized we were out of bread.  Figures.  When all else fails, cold cereal makes a good backup plan for the backup plan.  

Fortunately, my soup turned out pretty darn tasty.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup diced onion

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 15 oz. can chicken broth

1 15 oz. can lite coconut milk

1 15 oz. can pure pumpkin puree {not pie filling}

1 tsp salt

1 tsp curry powder

pepper 

fat free plain greek yogurt

*Measurements are an estimate - adjust as necessary.

Directions:

Saute onion in olive oil until tender.  Add other ingredients and heat through. Adjust seasonings as desired and top with a dollop of greek yogurt.

My "side" of broccoli may have ended up in my soup.  What can I say...I like to mix my foods!  =)

Okay, I'll admit it....that might be a bit of an exaggeration.  I haven't actually tasted ALL of the pumpkin bread out there....but I'd like to!  In my experience and in my own kitchen, this is the best recipe I've found.  It bakes up perfectly every time.  {Another keeper from the trusty 'ol church cookbook!} 

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 cup oil

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

2/3 cup water

15 oz. can pumpkin

2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Cream together eggs, oil and sugar.  Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.  Add and alternate dry mixture and water to the egg mixture.  Add pumpkin and vanilla.  Mix gently.  

Bake at 350.  

Small loaf - 35 min.  

Medium loaf - 43 min.

Large loaf - 52 min.

*Is also great with chocolate chips!*

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

I'm back!

I hope you'll excuse me for taking a little hiatus at the end of the summer....I just needed some chill time with the kiddos.  The boys started school last week, and tomorrow is the little lady's first day of preschool.  I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by!  Next year, my baby will be in kindergarten....where does the time go?!?!

In true "first week of school" fashion, we've been hit between the eyes with homework, piano lessons, music class, soccer and cross country practices, meets and games.  The relaxing days of summer seem only a distant memory now, so here we go again....FULL STEAM AHEAD!

When cooking for a family with a busy schedule, slow cooker meals are a must. Here's what was on our table tonight....

Ingredients:

3 frozen chicken breasts

3 cans of beans, rinsed and drained 

{any kind will do - I used great northern and black beans}

1/2 pkg. frozen corn

1 can petite diced tomatoes, with juice

1 packet dry ranch dressing mix

1 packet taco seasoning mix

1-2 cups chicken broth

Directions:

Put all ingredients except broth in a slow cooker {chicken on the bottom}.  Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.  Remove chicken and shred.  Place back in slow cooker and add chicken broth to desired consistency.  Heat through.  Top with, green onions, cilantro {the one thing I forgot at the store - I was so bummed!}, olives, tomatoes, avocados, etc. and enjoy!

....to help you fit into that little black dress!  =)  

This is just a basic green smoothie recipe.  Like every classic black dress, it's great on it's own, but can be easily accessorized to fit your mood.

Ingredients:

     1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

     1 scoop vanilla protein powder

     1/2 banana

     1 cup baby spinach

     ice

Directions:

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend.  {Doesn't get easier than that.}

***Would also be great with berries, flax seeds, chocolate protein powder, peanut or almond butter, other types of greens....the possibilities are endless!

{205 calories, 3g fat, 19g carbs, 4g fiber, 28g protein}

Gimme S'more!

There are few things in life better than a s'more....in my opinion, at least.  =)

When I was a kid, one of my favorite treats was s'mores bars.  My mom used to make them all the time, and now they've become a favorite of my kids as well. They're one of my go-to treats when I need a quick dessert to bring to picnics, barbecues, etc.  We're headed down to the lake with some friends this weekend, so I thought it would be the perfect thing to bring along.

First, I melt together light corn syrup, chocolate chips and butter....

{In case you were wondering, this is not a healthy recipe.}  Bring the chocolate mixture to a boil, remove from heat and add 1 tsp vanilla extract....

Stir into Golden Grahams and marshmallows and mix until evenly coated....

Spread into a greased 9x13 pan and let cool....

Cut into squares and enjoy!

Golden Grahams.  Marshmallows.  Chocolate....what's not to like?!  All the deliciousness of a s'more without sweating to death next to a campfire in 96 degree heat.  Gotta love it.

Ingredients:

     8 cups Golden Grahams cereal

     3 cups mini marshmallows

     2/3 cup light corn syrup

     12 oz bag chocolate chips {I use milk chocolate}

     2 Tbsp butter

     1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix cereal and marshmallows in a large bowl.  On the stovetop, bring corn syrup, chocolate chips and butter to a boil, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.  Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and marshmallows.  Mix until evenly coated.  Spread in a greased 9x13 pan.  Let cool then cut into squares.

Healthy Kettle Corn

There was a crazy lightning storm here last night, so I wanted to do something fun for the kids {and me!}.  I decided to dust off the 'ol air popper and try my hand at some guilt-free kettle corn.  I wasn't sure how it would go over with my guinea pigs kids, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I had to make three batches of this stuff!

Ingredients:

     1/2 cup popcorn kernels   

     cooking spray {I used canola}

     1 packet Truvia

     salt

Directions:

Pop popcorn with air popper.  Spray popcorn with cooking spray and sprinkle with Truvia and salt.  Mix.

"C" is for Cookie Dough

{144 calories, 2g fat, 15g carbs, 6g fiber, 15g protein}

It seems as though I'm still on a quest to find the perfect cookie dough snack.  I found this recipe here at Fitcupcaker.  Doesn't it look delicious?  That's what I thought!  I mixed up my little cookie dough treat and put it in the fridge....saving it for my post-workout/afternoon snack.  I thought about it all during my workout.  Is that bad?

It was pretty good, but I have to be honest and say that I was a little disappointed. It just looks so much like real cookie dough!  I thought it would taste a little more like it.  Oh, well.  It was good and sweet with a touch of cookie dough flare....just not quite the home run I was looking for.

Ingredients:

     2 Tbsp coconut flour

     1-2 Tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

     2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce

     pinch salt

     1/8 tsp baking powder

     1 packet Truvia

     1/2 tsp vanilla extract

     1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.  Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.