Harvest Potato Soup...

It is definitely soup season,  we have been getting our fill this winter, and as I scanned my recipes, I noticed I never posted pictures of this delicious Harvest Soup. So if you are the visual kind, take a peek and give it a whirl!

Ingredients:

1 TBSP butter

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups potatoes, diced (any kind, red, yellow, finger, etc)

4 carrots, thinly sliced

2 cups zucchini, sliced

4 cups spinage, torn

s&p to taste

** optional: shreaded chicken (2 breasts in the crock pot; precooked) 

Directions:

In your big pot, melt your butter and then add both of your onions. Cook those over low heat for 5 minutes, covered. Then add your broth, carrots, and potatoes. Simmer those guys for 15 minutes, covered. Next add your zucchini and simmer for 5 more. Then add your spinach and s&P to taste. Let that simmer thoroughly. If you want to add the chicken (all ready cooked), throw that in right at the end with your spinach and let it soak up the flavors. **If you DO add the shredded chicken, you can cook it easily in the crock pot the morning of. I usually just throw 2 breasts in the crock pot, 1/2 cup water and let it cook on high for 4 hours. Then I shred it and throw it into the soup. I also recommend adding more broth to the soup if you use the chicken because the chicken soaks a lot of it up. Also, for the record, I don't measure all the vegetables out, I just eyeball it and it is yummy every time!

Serve with: warm FRENCH BREAD!! This is a great meal in it's self because it has all those hardy veggies, yummy broth, and the chicken for extra protein if you choose to throw it in. 

Spicy Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries....

Here's a fun twist to a good ol' classic, a winter staple in our house- Baked Sweet Potato Fries! Every winter we joyfully receive a 20 pound box of sweet potatoes from my brother-on-law, so we like to try out different variations to change it up and make the 20 pounds enjoyable all season long!

Just like the original recipe, wash and scrub your potatoes (leave the skins on, lots of good stuff for you there) and cut them into french fry sticks. (you could also cut them into cubes, chunks, or chips). Then toss them in a bowl with some expeller pressed coconut oil, sea salt, pepper, some cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. If you wanna turn it up a notch, add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Toss thoroughly and spread out  in a single layer onto a cookie sheet or roasting pan lined with parchment paper. Bake on 400 for 25- 35 minutes depending how your like your fries!

These were perfectly paired with a bowl of Vegetable Chili, a fun alternative to corn bread!

Vegetable Chili

I loved this recipe as a little change up to the traditional meaty chili. I was actually going to make this recipe without any meat and call it "Vegetarian Style Chili" but at the last minute, some good friends (a family of 6!) came through town and I needed to stretch it as far as I could, so in went a few more ingredients! Either way, it's super tasty and fun to see veggies sprinkled throughout! I served these with "Spicy Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries" which I will post next! Enjoy the goodness!!

Ingredients:
1 yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, diced or shredded
4 stalks celery, diced
2 squash, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen corn
1 can black beans, drained
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
28 oz. diced tomatoes
8 oz. tomato paste
water to taste or desired thickness
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp cumin
2 TBSP chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
* I package ground turkey, cooked & seasoned with S & P

Directions:
 Saute your veggies- your onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery, squash, and carrots in a drizzle of expeller pressed coconut oil for a few minutes until they get tender. Then add your diced tomatoes, tomato paste, drained beans and water until you reach your desired consitancy. Then add all your spices and cooked ground turkey (if desired). Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat, and let simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Enjoy!

Power-Boost Salad...

OK here it is, a new favorite- a great way to add those dark, nutrient packed veggies to your diet! When people talk about "eating the rainbow" to benefit from all the different vitamins and minerals found in the different colors of fruits and veggies, this salad would be on the top of the "rainbow list!" Aren't the colors beautiful?? This will be on my table ALL the time this winter. It is a great nutrient dense, powerhouse salad that will be sure to leave your insides, your taste buds, and your tummy all asking for more! Some of the veggies used in this salad, such as radicchio and kale, can have more of a bitter taste to them, but add the sweet carrots and mapley mild dressing and it's a beautiful combination! Give it a go!

Ingredients: (they are all approximations, use what you have on hand!)
1 crown broccoli, chopped
2-3 large carrots, chopped
2-3 handfuls chopped kale
1/4 wedge radicchio, chopped
1/4 wedge red cabbage, chopped
4-5 stalks celery, chopped
1 handful dried cranberries
1 handful dry roasted almonds

Dressing:
4 TBSP olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp real maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/8 tsp sea salt

Peppermint Paradise...

So... today is actually Thanksgiving and I DO hope you are having a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends and rejoicing over the MANY things we DO have to be thankful for. I am thankful for my hard-working (at work, at home, and with me!) husband, my sweet kids, my precious family both near and far, dear friends, good health, and the many basic needs that the Lord provides daily for us. And... I am thankful for this time of year. The Christmas Season where we have extra opportunities to love on others, teach our kids about the world near and far, bless those who have little or a lot with our words and actions, a chance to create memories with our Advent Calendar, and some time to relish in the deliciousness of "Peppermint Paradise!" 

 Thanks to my good friends at Trader Joe's (that's actually true, I DO have some really sweet friends there thanks to my frequent visits and their sweet hearts!) they supply me with plenty of peppermint to get my fill for the whole year. I DO love me some peppermint - and if there is chocolate involved, consider it a done deal!

 Here are some of my favorite Peppermint Treats I think you ought to take a peek at if you are a lover of the Christmas Flavor...

Introducing the new and scrumptious "Mini Peppermint Waffle Cookies"... they are bits of waffle cookie covered in a rich chocolate sprinkled with peppermint crumbs...oh, they are dangerous!

Don't forget about the ever-delicious Peppermint Joe-Joe's...

If you want to make your own home made version of peppermint cookies, try these!

Did you know that they make a Peppermint Joe-Joe ice cream now?? Don't buy it if you don't want to eat the whole thing in 5 minutes... it's beautiful!

Also, on a healthier (non-chocolate note!) Trader Joe's has refreshing Peppermint Candy Cane Tea that is fabulous- a flavorful peppermint followed by a hint of sweet vanilla. It's Green tea and it's decaf!

And just for fun... look at these darling treats from here and here...








Don't you just want to put it out for decoration?? The cake stand alone is to die for!!!

Kick off the Holidays...

Here's a little plug for the coolest gig ever.... Kick off your holiday season right by loving on others. This is a really practical, hands-on way to help, bless, love and care for those who don't have much. Check out this ministry called Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse. It's a great thing to do with your kids, it's a very tangible way for them to see and experience loving others in a real way. We get a (big) shoe box from the closet, then we head off to find treasures and trinkets we think these kids would like. Everything from dolls and cars, to toothpaste, brushes, hair ties, games, cards, and snacks. When the shoe box is full to the brim, we take it to a church drop off point, they include a bible and some stories about Jesus in the child's language, then they ship them all over the world- even the most remote parts!

 Gather your kids around the computer and show them some videos and pictures so they can really SEE where these goodies are going. They will love it. You will love it. And more importantly, the kids who receive the gift will be blessed beyond belief... with just a little shoe box of LOVE.

Samaritans Purse Videos: (Check out "Joy in the Farthest Reaches of the World")
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/

Samaritans Purse Photos:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/In_Pictures/

Harvest Morning Oatmeal

 I love that Fall is here! It's time to change up our morning oatmeal from fresh berries and peaches, to something with a little bit more crunch! How about pomegranate seeds???

We cook Steel Cut Oats at least 3 times a week around here, and while they are cooking we always add a little cinnamon... feeling like a little more Fall-ish flavors?? Add a dash of Nutmeg and top with Pomegranate Seeds. Don't be afraid of Pomegranates, they are so easy to prepare (see "Tip" below), I usually do 4-5 at a time in a cool bowl of water in the kitchen sink and then store them in a Ziplock bag, which makes them a perfect topping for this Harvest Morning Oatmeal! Enjoy!

Quick Tip to De-Seed your Pomegranates: Fill up a large bowl in your sink with cool water. Take your pomegranate and slice it in half with a sharp knife. Submerge one half of the pomegranate in the water and peel back the skin like you are turning it inside out. All the seeds will pop out and because it's under water there will be no spraying or staining of your clothes! Plus, all the seeds will sink to the bottom and all the excess stuff from the inside of the pomegranate will float to the top. Then you can skim off the top of the bowl with you hand and strain the seeds out for eating. I usually do a bunch at a time and store them in a ziplock bag in the fridge to snack on!

Do you have extra Pomegranates, try this delicious salad, one of my favorites for sure!!!