Tomato Basil Parmesan Bisque

I usually make meals that I know are super kid friendly, but unfortunately my son wasn't loving this one. That's ok, Momma's gotta have something special for herself once in awhile. As a foodie, this is one of my fave soups I've made because it has tons of flavor and texture, especially with a side of baguette bread! (Let's be honest, anything is better with bread!). I love that you can throw every ingredient in the crock pot and dinner is done!

 INGREDIENTS  
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery  
1 cup finely diced carrots  
1 cup finely diced onions  
1 tsp dried oregano 
1 Tsp fresh oregano  
1 Tsp dried basil 
1/4 cup fresh basil  
4 cups chicken broth  
½ bay leaf  
½ cup flour  
1 cup Parmesan cheese  
½ cup butter
11/2 C. Half &Half
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Add everything in Crock Pot and cook on high for 3-4 hrs or low 5-6hrs. 

*Serve with baguette 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Fudge

With a 3yr. old son that has Type 1 Diabetes and loves sweets, it's really tough to find a chocolate snack that is good for him without having to give him an extra shot of insulin. So, after searching all over for a high protein, low carb snack that actually taste good, I came across this. It's super yummy, REALLY taste like fudge (no chalky taste) and my son devours it! Yay, that makes a Mommy so happy!! Best part is that it's a great protein pick me up in the middle of the day....Enjoy!
-A

Ingredients

-2 Scoops Chocolate Whey Protein

-6 tbsp Peanut Butter (3 creamy/3 chunky)

-4 tbsp. Coconut Oil

-2 tbsp. Honey

-2 packets Stevia (2 tsp)

-1tsp. Vanilla Extract

-1/2 tsp. Light Maple Syrup

Put honey, peanut butter and coconut oil in bowl and heat in microwave for 30 seconds. Add in all the rest of the ingredients together in bowl until it's a pasty/crumbly texture, then press into mini muffin pan (don't spray). Place in freezer for about an hour until solid, then remove and place in freezer bag. Keep in freezer and take out each one 5 minutes prior to eating. Makes 12. 

1pc of fudge= 7g carbs/  6g protein 

Pesto & Goat Cheese Pizza

This is one of my favorite recipes and a lunch favorite! It's so light, with all fresh ingredients that will make you feel good and guilt free, even if you eat half the pizza! I love goat cheese and the taste blends great with these ingredients, but you can also use mozzarella or feta. You can also save the remaining pesto sauce for any of your favorite pasta dishes! This takes about 30-45min prep time and having a food processor definitely helps with the accurate consistency. This specific recipe makes enough dough for a small pizza for 2 people.  Get all your ingredients out and get ready for a delish slice!


Whole Wheat Pizza Dough
Prep this first. As it is rising, you can make the pesto. This is the best and easiest pizza dough recipe I have used!

-1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
-1 small single pkg Quick Rising Yeast
-3/4tsp Salt
-1/4 tsp Sugar
-1c. Hot Water (estimated)
-2tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In the food processor combine flour, yeast, salt & sugar on pulse. Add in oil and water as it is mixing. If it is too dry, add more water. If it's too wet, add a pinch more flour. Mix until it forms a sticky round ball inside the processor. Then process for and additional minute to knead the dough.
Next, transfer dough to floured surface. Coat a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place dough and wrap in plastic wrap with the oil side touching the dough. Let sit and rise for about 10-20min before rolling.

Now make pesto sauce.....
Preheat oven to 500- When dough is ready, unwrap and take a rolling pin and roll into pizza shape on pan. Roll until it's on the thinner side, because it will rise in the oven. Add a thick layer of pesto sauce, fresh sliced tomatoes and cheese. Put baking sheet on lowest rack and bake 8-10min... Enjoy!!!!!



Pesto Sauce
Makes about 3 Cups

-3C. Fresh Basil
-1C. Fresh Parsley (dried works too)
-3 Garlic cloves or 1tblsp chopped garlic
-3/4C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
-2/3C. Pine Nuts (toast lightly in sauce pan on low beforehand w/ no oil, careful they don't burn)
-2tblsp Lemon Juice
-2/3 C. Parmesan Cheese (grated works fine, but fresh is always better)

In the food processor, mix the basil, parsley, nuts, garlic, olive oil & lemon until pasty. Add a pinch of salt and more lemon to taste. Then pour into mixing bowl and fold in cheese.
(Add more lemon if needed, more salt shouldn't be needed as the cheese will be salty as well.)

Cranberry Lemon Yogurt Bread

If you're anything like me, you LOVE bread! I could eat bread and cheese all day/everyday if I could! I took a recipe I found off Pinterest and changed a few things and this dessert bread came out amazing! It reminds me of something you would get at a Cafe or Starbucks. What I personally changed for MY recipe was whole wheat flour, lemon juice out of the bottle, dried cran-cherries and Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt. It's came out really moist and lemony, but not too sweet. Click on the link below for the full directions I followed, but here our my personal pics from my kitchen today. My son was even super excited about this one, haha! Hope you enjoy!
-A

http://unsophisticook.com/lemon-bread-recipe/

God understands...

Hey Everyone!
Sorry I have been MIA on here for awhile, I have been going through some major family stuff from all angles and chose to not blog till the dust settled a little bit. I just wanted to share something I read this morning that I thought might help some of you out there.
  I find myself  letting my emotions take control and not thinking before I speak and act. I don't let God guide my heart and I'm guilty of being very quick to respond in frustration, anger and just plain being upset. We desire to follow God faithfully, but find ourselves wondering off the path fast. We don't seem to understand ourselves either. We have conflicted emotions of how we feel and act and how we know we SHOULD be. This dilemma is nothing new, as that's why God tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. (James 1:19). It's a refreshing feeling to know that God understands our feelings and motives, and our misunderstandings, even when we don't understand ourselves. He understands us completely, I mean HE MADE US! He is here to help us when we stop to ask and listen. And again, the lesson of being quiet and still...no wonder so many people love meditation, yoga and other things that make us take a "time out" in our crazy, hectic lives. God is always speaking to us in many ways, most obvious is in His word. Other ways are through prayer, through other believers and through our circumstances. As I write this, I know God knows where my heart is & knows what I'm needing, even though I may not communicate it directly or correctly. Today I pray that I can allow the healing in my heart to begin, so I can be a better Mom, friend, and woman. To find peace in myself and think before I speak and not respond negatively.
  God brings us through hardships for a reason, He has a plan for you. Trust and be still. He hears you.

A little help from my friends...

  We all go through seasons of change. That's just life. God brings us through struggles for a reason. Some we see right away and some we may never understand. What I've really understood though is that through those times of tragedy, despair or dramatic change of any kind, we always find out who our true friends are. Through the thick of it all when we can't see clearly and we feel lost, the ones that are supposed to be there will be there. Some may be newer friends, some old. The nice thing is when you have those friends that you don't talk to often, but they are always there when you need them. I feel like I'm writing about those "friends quotes" you find on Pinterest, but there is some definite truth to them. Haha!
 I feel so blessed to have some great Christian friends that will give me clarity even when I don't have it myself. To help me see through the fog and remind me that God is always there, even when I feel alone.

  Picking up my Bible this morning, I came across a story of Moses (Exodus 17:12). He was fighting so hard to defend the Israelites against the Amalekites. As long as he kept his staff of God raised up in the air, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands in fatigue, they would then be defeated. His hands grew tired and weak. So, his friends helped him by putting a stone under him to sit on and then held up his hands for him, so that they remained steady until sunset. ...Could you imagine seeing that?! The reason for their victory was because of the encouragement he had from those around him.
  In the same way, we need our friends to hold us up, to encourage us and guide us in in the right direction. It is easy to stray away in the wrong direction when we are troubled. We act out of anger and sadness. We try to "deal" with it alone. We don't see the damage we are doing till it is too late sometimes. Friends are placed in our lives to keep us hopeful and find strength to move forward in this life that God has chosen for us.

 In the same way, we can be just what someone else needs as well. Be a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, without judgment. Have an open heart and be the friend to others you need in your life as well. Show kindness to strangers as well, because you never know what other people's struggles are and we all need to give & receive love in our lives. <3

Coconut Caramel Cookies!!!

This is what happens when your kid wants cookies and you're craving Girl Scout Samoas!
After looking all over Pinterest for the perfect Coconut Caramel with Chocolate chip cookie recipe, I couldn't find anything easy. Soooo, I tweaked a recipe I already had and they came out amazing! Soft and chewy!!!  I have had 4 already!
 Easy for your kids to help too!
                                                                     Enjoy!  -A

 



Coconut Caramel Cookies

• 1c. Softened Butter
• 1c. Brown Sugar
• 1c. White Sugar
• 1tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs
• 2 1/2-3 cups Flour
• 1tsp. Baking Soda
• 1/2pkg Chocolate Chips (about 6oz.)
• 1/2- 3/4cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes
• 1/2c. Caramel- warmed ( I used the apple dipping caramel)

Preheat oven to 375. Mix first 5 ingredients together in large bowl, add flour and baking soda. Mix all together. Add in Chocolate chips, caramel and coconut until well blended. Drop round spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and cook 8-10min or until lightly browned. Makes about 24 cookies.