Lentil Soup (update included)

When I am home sick, I always make some warm and tasty comfort food. My fave when sick is soup. I wasn't all about the meat today so Lentil Soup was the choice. High protein, high fiber and oh so yummy!  My version is very good for you and great for keeping those new year resolutions.

Ingredients:
One pound bag if lentils, your choice of colors, I had green, washed and sorted
One stalk of celery, an inner stalk with leaves is best, diced
One peeled carrot or 6 baby carrots, diced
Half of a small red onion, diced
1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
1 carton of low sodium chicken broth
3 cups of water
1-2 teaspoons of Seasoned Salt
5 turns of fresh cracked pepper

In a large sauce pan or soup pot, melt the butter on medium to medium-high heat until bubbly. Add diced carrots.  Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add the diced celery, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the diced onion, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Watch that your veggies don't burn. 

Add chicken stock to deglaze the pan and get all if that yumminess off of the bottom and stir. Add your water. Cook the veggies in the stock for 5 minutes or so stirring occasionally. Add your washed lentils and stir. Add Seasoned Salt and pepper and stir. 

Cover with a tilted lid and cook for 25-30 minutes, stir occasionally.  I went for the 30 because I like my lentils a little sifter. If you like them a bit more Al dente, cook them 25. Serve hot with Bountiful Beer Bread if you like. Enjoy!!

Update:  oh my this is so good the next day!  I added a handful of kale to the portion I reheated and wow is that yummy!  A drizzle of Roasted Garlic Infised Oil (just a teaspoon or so) makes the flavor so much better. Try it!!

Yummy, Cheesy Herbed Grits

Ahhh breakfast.....not really my fave meal of the day but sometimes I love a good warm bowl of grits for breakfast. Today was one of those days. 

I like the 5-minute grits because I am lazy and I want to eat NOW!  I even cooked them in the microwave for a shorter wait to eat!  Mama was hungry bordering on hangry...not a good situation for the fam. 

Here's what I did:

Ingredients:

5-minute grits, brand of your choice

Garlic Garlic Seasoning

Spinach & Herb Seasoning

Shredded Cheese of your choice

Prepare the grits according to the package directions with the addition of a shake of Garlic Garlic Seasoning and two shakes of Spinach & Herb Seasoning. 

Cook in the microwave as directed. Once finished add 1/4 cup of shredded cheese. Stir and enjoy!

Wahoo Chili Day!

I have Wahoo Chili in the crockpot and I am sooo excited for Dinnertime. 

I did a couple of twists this time. I added some Fiesta Party Seasoning for a little heat, a can of sliced mushrooms because we discovered we really like them in there, and some frozen chopped red onion that I had in the freezer. I can't wait to see how my extra additions taste! I will let you know later. 

Photographer I am not!

Black Forest Cake

Oh my goodness!!  I made this for one of our family Christmas celebrations an oh my stars was it good!  It is a take on a cake that my husband's late mother used to make. Soooo good. It's not your typical Black Forest Cake. Sooo good!  

Let's bake!

Ingredients:

Classy Chocolate Pound Cake Mix

1 stick of unsalted butter

1 can of cherry pie filling (oh yes!)

1 tub of chocolate fudge frosting 

Butter a round baking pan. I used the Tastefully Simple Round Baker from a season or two ago. My fave baking dish for pound cake. I like it round instead of loaf. You could also use a square 8x8 pan. 

Melt the stick of butter in a glass mixing bowl. Your microwave is your friend!  

Add the pound cake mix and cherry pie filling. Mix until you don't see dry cake mix anymore but don't over mix!  It will be really thick and that is ok. The cherries will release some juice as they cook, so your cake will be so moist. 

Spread it in the baking pan and smooth it out as much as you can. 

Bake as directed in the box. 

Pull it out of the oven and cool on a wire rack until it is completely cool. Frost, decorate if desired and enjoy!  

I love feedback so let me know what you think!

Happy New Year!!

2015 is gone and 2016 is here!  This is going to be an awesome year!  I have a couple of recipes and a twist for you today so watch out!!  Get ready to cook!

Healthy Chicken Soup

Made this for lunch to take to work. Yummy!!  All things that I love and so simple!

Ingredients:

2 boxes of Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth

1 can of Organic Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas

1 bundle of Organic Kale, de-stemmed and chopped

Garlic Pepper Seasoning

Drain and rinse the beans. Add them and the chicken broth to a stockpot. Being to a boil. Season with Garlic Pepper Seasoning. Add kale and cook until it wilts some. 

Serve immediately with Bountiful Beer Bread or Chill and Reheat another day. Can also be made ahead and frozen for a quick weeknight meal or yummy lunch. 

Yummy Spinach & Herb Scramble

Oh my goodness this was sooo good this morning. 

Here's how I did it. 

Ingredients:

6 medium eggs

3/4 cup shredded cheese, your choice

1 tablespoon Spinach & Herb Seasoning

1 1/2 cups water

Dash of salt

1/2 cup quick grits

1 tablespoon butter

Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste

Start by beating your eggs in a bowl. 1/2 cup of the cheese and then the Spinach & Herb Seasoning. Let sit in the fridge while you cook the grits. 

Bring the water and salt to boil in a skillet. Slowly stir in the grits and cook until thick and bubbly (3 mins or so) stirring a few times. Add the utter and stir until melted. Then add the egg mixture and stir slightly. Don't over stir. Let cook on medium heat until eggs are soft set. Stir once or twice. Don't over stir. 

When the eggs are set, add the remaining cheese and cracked pepper to taste. Serve immediately. 

Makes 4-5 servings. Enjoy!!!