Cauliflower Soup with Bacon, Garlic & Goat Cheese is lunch time quick . Pair it with a crisp, green salad or crisp crusted rolls for a more filling meal. It also makes a nice, light appetizer when served in small portions and garnished with green onion slices. One of the great things about cauliflower is how well it takes on the flavors of other ingredients. In this case, the tangy goat cheese adds an interesting and delicious dimension to the finished result. If you want more robust flavors, roast the cauliflower and onion before blending. The flavor will be more complex, but be aware the soup will take on a darker brown color as a result. Goat cheese is a good source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. The fatty acids found in goat's milk have antibacterial ... [Read More]
Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Creamy Tortellini Soup is worth a regular spot in anyone’s lunch planning rotation. The flavor is so creamy and delicious it’s hard to believe that it goes together so quickly easily. Or that it has only 12 carbs! I often think of soup as a great place to use leftovers. A half cup of any kind of vegetable – in it goes. A bit of leftover meat – dice it up and toss it in. Half a baked potato – chunk it up and chuck it in. Not this soup! It’s already well balanced with great flavors. Don’t mess with this by adding something more! However, there are still some options. Use vegetable broth if you prefer. Broth a bit short? It’s okay to add up to half water to make up the difference. Out of fresh garlic? Use minced garlic from a jar. No cream or half and half? Use whatever ... [Read More]
Tex Mex Chicken Soup
What’s for lunch? A question frequently asked in these days of being at home a great deal more than any of us are used to being! Today the answer is Tex Mex Chicken Soup. My project is to have something different for lunch every day this week. And then to share ideas and recipes with anyone else who finds lunch a difficult meal. If it is just me for lunch, I am happy with a cup of cottage cheese and a handful of crackers. Or a meat, cheese and mayo sandwich on low carb bread. Lunch is not my favorite thing. I’m usually involved in a project and I don’t really want to stop, so I don’t want a time consuming affair. Preparing lunch at home, doesn’t have to be hard. Or the same old, same old. And, if we are limited in our choices otherwise – like under a stay home order - lunch ... [Read More]
Slow Cooker White chicken Chili
White Chicken Chili is so easy to prepare in the crockpot. It is a cold weather boost to come in the house after work to a fragrant ready to eat meal. Since it makes twelve one cup servings, you may have leftovers for a second meal – bonus! This recipe also works well for make ahead freezer cooking, too. Make it, freeze it and pull it out when needed. Versatile and delicious! Beans are a great source of protein, especially in a vegetarian diet. They are a rich source of fiber and B vitamin as well, as lesser known nutrients as magnesium, phosphorus and manganese. Beans also have health benefits such as reducing cholesterol, decreasing blood sugar and improving healthy gut bacteria. They are not low carb, however, so they need to be worked into a low carb diet intentionally. ... [Read More]
Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
This hearty Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup is like a warm hug by the fire on a cold day. Loaded with potatoes, veggies and ham -- pure comfort food. It’s also quick and easy to prepare and is ready to eat in about half an hour. I buy ham after major holidays at a reduced price just for delicious treats like this throughout the year. I slice, dice and cube chunks of the ham and freeze them in quart sized zipper bags in 2 cup portions. It only takes a quick trip to the freezer when the mood strikes for a super hearty – omlet, casserole or whatever. An unexpected early – early – fall snow was the inspiration for this wonderful soup. Thaw the ham before cooking, either by setting it in the refrigerator overnight, putting it in a pan of hot water for a couple of hours, or a 1-2 minutes in ... [Read More]
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is creamy delicious, richly satisfying and rumored to be a copycat of the wildly popular Panera version. (I personally haven’t gone that far down the Panera menu – just found my favorite and stopped there!) It is guest worthy – lunch or dinner, with a small salad and a light dessert. Serve it to the family one evening and take the leftover soup to work the next day for a yummy lunch. I prefer the original wild rice blend because I like the texture of the rice better. I used the basic chicken flavor and Uncle Ben’s brand, but choose the flavor variety of wild rice blend that matches your family’s taste. It takes about 20 minutes total to cook. You can use the quick cook version of the wild rice blend by turning off the burner under the soup pot, ... [Read More]
