Healthy Soup Recipes

I was cooking up a storm the other day and posted on facebook what I was making-- everyone started asking for recipes! So, here are 2 of the items I made and 3 more! I mostly save soup recipes for the fall. Then we always eat it with salad and crusty bread (which I either throw in the bread maker or buy a loaf at the store).

These are my healthy soup recipees. I am on a mission to try to convert all my favorites to a healthy version. You will see how I did that with the Sausage Bisque below. You will also notice we like chicken...

I have a few other non healthy soups I make which I will save for a later post. mwhahaha.

Happy 1st day of Autumn!

 

 

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup 

INGREDIENTS:

·      2 small trimmed chicken breasts
·      1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed

·      1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce

·      1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers

·      1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

·      2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons)

·      1 teaspoon of onion powder

·      1-teaspoon cumin

·      1-teaspoon chili powder

·      1-teaspoon salt

·      1/4-teaspoon black pepper

·      1 bay leaf

·      1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn

·      1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (use leaves only, no stems)

·      Tortilla chips

·      Mexican cheeses

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chiles, and chicken broth into a slow cooker. Add garlic, and season with onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
2. To serve, place chips in bowl, pour soup over chips and top with cheese.

Sausage Bisque Soup or Corn and Sausage chowder

1 lb sausage cut into small slices (flavored chicken all natural sausage is our fav)

1 qt whole milk

1 can cream of potato

1 can cream corn

1 small onion

1 or 2 potatoes (optional) cut into small pieces

 tabasco to taste

In a frying pan cook sausage and onion (to make soup thicker add a little flour)

In a pot, add milk, corn, potato soup and extra potato's - start cooking on low

When sausage is done add it to the pot. 

Now all you need to do is cook it until the extra potato pieces are cooked

You can cook on Med heat if you are going to watch it - it will burn if you don't keep an eye on it -stir frequently

Tabaso sauce can be added if you like it a little spicy

HEALTHIER VERSION:

when I recently made this, I nixed the cream of potato and creamed corn. Instead I threw in chopped potatoes with the sausage and onion, then I added fresh corn on the cob (cooked and cut), skim milk and then flour to thicken. I am trying to get away from canned soup. Going this route, make sure you season with salt and pepper to taste.

Healthy Minestrone Soup

1 c onion chopped

4-5 garlic cloves minced

1T Olive oil

1 c Celery minced

1 c carrots cubed

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil (dried)

1 c green peppers chopped

1 c zucchini cubed

1 c tomatoes chopped

1 c tomato puree

3 1/2 c chicken stock

1 1/2 c garbanzo beans

1 c whole wheat pasta (I use rotoni)

serve with Parmesan cheese on top

In non stick skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until softened. add celery, carrots, salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Cover and cook on low for 5-8 min. Add green pepper, zucchini, tomatoes. tomatoe puree, chicken stock and garbanzo beans. Cover and simmer for 30 min. Cook pasta seperatly and ad to soup before serving. Serve with parmesan cheese. Serve immediatly. Soup loses liquid if it sits to long, add more chicken stock to thin.

Crockpot Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 small chicken breasts trimmed
2 12 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 12 oz. cans of tomato sauce
1 12 oz. can of chili beans (mild, or hot)
1/2 red bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
1 whole yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (add more for more heat)
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt
Add all ingredients to crockpot with chicken, stir ingredients. Cook on low for 6 hours. Shred chicken (will fall right apart) Top with diced onion and shredded cheddar. Serve with tbsp sour cream.

This recipe can be made a variety of ways, and when I'm in the mood for something just a little different-I like to play with the ingredients just a bit. Add a southwestern touch with 12 oz. of frozen corn, or substitute 16 oz. of Boca ground crumbles instead of Chicken. You may wish to start with less chili powder and ground red pepper flakes, and sample chili during cooktime--you can always add a little more halfway through the cooking process if you like to turn up the heat!

CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

3 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
2 small trimmed chicken breasts
1 package (6 ounces) converted long grain and wild rice mix with seasoning packet  (not quick-cooking or instant rice)
2 cups water
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker; mix well. Cover; cook on low 4-6 hours (at most!!) it will dry up very easy!

losing goodness from heart perspective

So, Last week was rough.

I know. I know. We started school and a whole new schedule.

Well. I should have known but…

I just didn’t think that the transition should be rough… I mean come on! I had thought through everything.  This made it worse. I didn’t expect it...

You see, I am one who likes to figure it all out.  The problem with THAT, is when I plan the best I can and am thrown a curve ball… I tend to freak out first and then adjust.

You would think with 3 kids so close together I would get used to the curve balls. Because oh my goodness, we get LOTS of curve balls. Sometimes I do well until the 10^th curve ball comes. I freak out and then adjust. And then my kids follow suit. So last week we had some pretty high strung Daldo’s.

The peek was following the 3^rd afternoon of school. It had already been 2 rough days so I was tired and stressed.  This particular afternoon was turning into drama city. We had just got home from school, I was taking care of laundry and we were all upstairs…

I asked Ethan to change his clothes which turned into a full on melt down and tantrum, as he told me falling on his knees yelling like a crazed person “I am NOT going to do it!!”
Jace (who hadn’t napped and was crying about pretty much everything) couldn’t get his train to switch on and started screaming, threw it and then himself on the floor yelling “it’s not working, it’s not working!!”

Ava… feisty little girl decided that she didn’t like all this attention the boys were getting, so then proceeded to through herself  wrapped around my feet half yelling and crying “mama, mama, mama”.

I know it’s probably a hilarious picture. I told this story to friends last week and they were in hysterics laughing.

There are moments as a mom where I have no idea what on earth to do. This was one. I started to try to talk but they were all feeding off of each other’s craziness and no one could even hear me talk.

And so I took Ethan by the hand and said “YOU come with me”. (To which he kept saying “what are you going to do? What are you going to do?!!” I walked him to his room and closed the door.
I took Jace by the hand and did the same.

And then dear Ava, I picked her up legs kicking, placed her in her room and said “not fun!”

And then I sat in the hallway listening to them all scream and I cried.

I cried and I cried. There had/has been a lot going on with Brent at work and in our lives. Through my sobs I told God I can’t do this. I am raising crazy children. I am so tired. How on earth am I supposed to prepare these kids to be world changers? How on earth can I be who I am suppose to be as a wife, a mom, a neighbor, a friend who lives from heavens perspective?

I sat there (crying…) saying in my heart—NO. NO. NO. I refuse to give in to earth’s frustration and stresses only to lose out heavens realities becoming known in my life and all around me. I refuse to accept a negative perspective. This kingdom of God inside of me, I want it to be real. It has to be real in my life.

And somehow I pulled myself together, went into each other their rooms and talked and worked through each issue. Then we moved on.

Over the next few days, I problem solved and tried to work through some of the issues we were having (problem solving=one of the greatest things my husband has taught me). I talked to a few moms for support/help, Brent & I talked through many things and there remain oh, so many areas we are seeking the Lord about as well.

Someone sent me a text the other day and asked how things were going as I had reached out to a few people for prayer... I replied "I am feeling more centered and less chaotic". And I realized something like a lightbulb. It was as I recentered my heart and focus on goodness, things in my life followed suit.

Yesterday on the way to school Ethan & Jace were being grumpy and so I had this brilliant idea. “I want you to talk about all the good things about today until your heart changes”.

“I don’t want to.” Ethan replied.

He would say that.

"OK, I will start." I replied.

And I started. And soon they began to giggle. and started to join in. We prayed and God's presence filled the van. yes, the cool mini van that I love driving oh so much. hahaha

I cannot tell you how much I have been learning that “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is” (proverbs 23:7). Change your thoughts, change your life.

I said to the boys last night, Hey- are you being awesome? Because God made you to be awesome. Is that awesome?

“Nope.” They replied.

“Ok, well go be awesome Jace and awesome Ethan.”

positive parenting vs negative SOOO powerful. I will save that blog for later.

It’s so easy to lose heart. It’s so easy for circumstances to change our perspective and then we start being negative. Then everything around us becomes negative.

Perspective of the heart is key. It changes everything. Offer the pain, the frustration- whatever it is in your life. Offer it to God and ask him to change your perspective back to goodness, to greatness. Work on changing your heart perspective on the inside and then watch things unfold in your life.

Ps. 27….

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
         That I would see the goodness of the LORD
         In the land of the living.
         Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Dear Ava's Husband

Dear Ava’s husband,

I think about you from time to time and want you to know that I pray for you. I pray that you are a godly strong leader. This little girl is one feisty chic.

I am sorry I can’t do more to make her girly… I really do try. Well, in her defense, she IS somewhat girly and likes her princess stuff and jewelry. But quite honestly when she grows up I wouldn’t be surprised if she climbs mountains, surfs and scales rock walls.

I don’t think the girl will ever take dance… I might force her too but I have a feeling she will want to some sort of free style thing she makes up on her own. I really hope she doesn’t want to play on the football team in high school.

If you ever get into a fight with her, just prepare yourself now. You are going to have to learn how to gently hold your ground. Don’t get in her face. She definitely won’t like that. It kinda comes out in a high pitched scream...

Oh and I am really sorry if she ever hits you. I am trying to work with her on that, for your sake.

Basically she is a little fireball full of passion and love. Smart, determined, outgoing… everyone falls in love with her.

She is going to need someone to support that, protect that, guide that, and encourage that.

That someone will someday be you.

And I think of you from time to time, praying that you will be just as amazing as she is because she is gonna need you, just like I needed her Dad.

Love, Ava’s Mommy

PS. I know that’s a lot to get from an almost 2 year old but that’s my Ava.

less distracted

So, for about 2 weeks now I have been doing my new “schedule”.

I should explain though, it’s more like a grid.

I don’t really “do” schedules.  After I posted about the new schedule I had so many say “I could never stick to that…” which got me thinking… I don’t really stick to it… I never feel like a schedule binds me. I am not looking at the clock to see what’s next. Maybe that’s what scares moms about schedules. Because we all know there are too many invariables thrown in your path as a mom to be constantly looking at your watch.

My grid is more like… on this day I am going to do these things and that will probably work the best around these times. Then I keep my kids in the same general routine of meals, sleeping, etc and wala- I get a LOT more done. It keeps me focused. Organized.

So over the last 2 weeks I found out that I was the one who needed the schedule not my kids.

Now I know kids thrive on routine... but I have been able to respond to the kids much more centered since we have been in this new "schedule".

About 2 weeks before I created it I noticed that things were feeling a bit crazy. And though we always have a level of craziness that sometimes gets out of hand (3 little kids and 2 ambitious adults will do that to ya)… I knew something needed to be adjusted.

Organization ALWAYS lends more peace to my life. If I am feeling stressed, I know there is something in my life that I should adjust, organize better or cut out completely. Sometimes the answer is to do less but more times the answer for me is do more, more efficiently. It’s a gentle balance. The only way I figure it out is with the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.

A few weeks ago I looked over our life… everything we have going… the needs of our house… the needs of our family and I attempted to make some sort of grid. When does the house get cleaned? When does the laundry get done? When do we have quiet time? Etc.

And I created a schedule or my new term, grid.

After doing the new grid for 2 weeks, I have found that my kids are acting out less. And over the last few days I have realized it’s because I am less distracted and more focused. I know when I have time to touch on things… I do the best/most I can in that timeframe and I move on. I spend more quality time with them and on everything.

My lesson?? A less distracted/fulfilled mommy doesn’t mean doing less… it means doing what you are called to do more efficiently and focused.

oh and here is a link to my "grid"  :) : http://unorthodoxhousewife.blogspot.com/2011/08/schedule.html

The schedule

I haven’t blogged in forever… and its not that I don’t have things to blog about… I have a million things that I have wanted to say but the last month we have had a lot going on…

When we first moved, I kept trying to figure out a new routine for us in the new state. But things just didn’t seem to mesh… its hard when you are in a new town, 3 little kids, new house, new friends, new schedule. About the time that I finally figured things out again, Ethan finished school and it was summer time. The weeks of summer have been pretty relaxed with lots of fun times.

But over the last few weeks I started to notice we were all acting out. Haha. Me, Brent, the kids… things have been intense in Alcoa world, I started to be a consultant for Thirty One & do worship regularly at our new church. I knew it was time to move to a schedule and make sure everything was getting attention and stress was being relieved.

I have a friend who has helped me a lot as mom because she is SUPER organized... where I am a 6-7 she is a 10. She recently wrote a note on facebook about her families new schedule and trying to find balance in her life-- its really what spurred me on the make my own new schedule. You can read about hers here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=900710505#!/note.php?note_id=10150262556773683

It took me a week to try to figure out everything in our life and how to fit it all in. Now we have been doing the new schedule partially for a week and already things are MUCH more peaceful around here!! I had to make a daily and weekly to do list, I have started a project list where I just mark down things I need to do (example clean out kids closets and switch clothes, sell Ava's baby bedding on Ebay), I have made a staple food list so that I always check it on the day I run errands and am not making 3 trips to the store during the week. Sticking to the times in my schedule are a way for me to give quality attention to everyone and everything.

I should tell you that the main things that I stick to are my To Do list / work and house times. The rest is really an outline for the day but I am not rigid about it… I can't be. I am not wired that way. Although last night I said to Brent, we HAVE to be rigid about bedtime, he’s such a softy after he hasn’t seen the kids all day but he doesn’t get any quiet time if he lets the kids stay up later. Which = more stress for him in the long run.

		Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
		Vacuum/ clean upstairs	Play/ linens	Errands	Laundry/ Garbage	Clean downstairs/ vacuum	Fun	Church/ Family
6:15	wake/ dressed/ quiet time
6:15	Emails
6:45	Dressed/ Breakfast/ clean up
	Devotions
7:30	Leave for school
8:00	Room time/Daily to do		strip beds, wash			put away laundry
9:00	playroom/ mom play
10:00	outing/ learning time	Play	Library 10:30	Errands	Play	Play
11:00
12:00	lunch time
12:30	Book time
1:00	nap time	clean/ 30 min weekly to do	work/ to do- grocery, meal, errands list	work/ to do	Laundry/ 30 min long term to do	clean/ 15 min weekly to do
2:00
3:00	snack time
3:30	Art time		make beds		do garbage
4:00	Basement or outside
5:00	TV time
5:30	Dinner/ Clean up
6:00	Family Time
7:00
7:30	Bath/Clean up
8:00	PJs, books,  bed
8:15	In bed
9:00			Errand list	Sort Laundry		Date night in	Date night in	Weekly prep

So, there you have it. I do what I can in the time frame given and then I move on. Heres to a great year with all of us focused, balanced, at peace and in love with God/ each other. Hope it gets you thinking on how to make your life flow better!