New Soup Recipe & 2 New Obsessions of Mine

I have posted my healthy broccoli and cheese soup before but last night I made a new version of it. I wanted to add some meat to it and boy I think I have a new favorite.

 

What you will need

2 cans of low sodium chicken broth

1 package of turkey sausage ( chopped)

8oz of reduced fat Velveeta

1 full bag of frozen broccoli

2 heaping spoonfuls of fat free cottage cheese (pictured later)

 

 

This soup is so easy it's crazy. Really all you do is put all ingredients in large pot and let cook on medium for about an hour. (covered)

 

After the Velveeta cheese is melted and it is looking like soup, go ahead and stir in your fat free cottage cheese.

 

Let cook for another 30 mins. (still on medium, I like my broccoli very soft, so cook it until your broccoli is how you like it)

 

After it was finished I poured the entire bowl into a large Tupperware so that I would have lunch for the next few days! ( I am actually eating it now while I am posting)

 

I also wanted to share 2 new things that I am basically obsessed with.

 

1st up...

Blue Diamond Almonds

Bold Wasabi and Soy Sauce

These things are just plain amazing. They are perfect for my morning or afternoon snack but I don't keep the entire container at my desk. Every night I count out 1 serving and put them in a baggy so I don't sit and eat the whole container in one sitting. They are so good I could easily do it.

 

Next is Ice water. Now that I have given up all soda I find that these help with my cravings. My favorite flavor and actually the only flavor I get is Black Raspberry. You have to try these! 

 

 



 

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. I look forward to the Clemson game tonight and hopefully going to see The Hobbit tomorrow! See ya Monday Bloggers!!xx

 

NEW WORKOUTS STARTING MONDAY!!

 

Day 4, Operation I'm getting marrrried!

Breakfast: 2 eggs mixed with salsa and fat free cottage cheese

Snack:25 almonds

Lunch: new broccoli, turkey sausage and cheese soup

Snack: broccoli with low fat yogurt french onion dip

Dinner: thai night with the Fiancee. I  get stir fried chicken with cabbage and broccoli VERY SPICY no rice.

That night we watched football with some friends so I had so trail mix and frozen yogurt to snack on.

 

( I just noticed I am eating broccoli a lotttt today, I love it)

Day 5 no soda

162 days till final goal and getting hitched

 

My Life Changing Year & My Year to Come

January 30th of last year I decided it was time to change. I wanted to start living a healthier, happier life and I did just that!

Many things happened this year that made this the best year of my life. I'll start with the most exciting thing.

I GOT ENGAGED! The big day is June 14th of this year and we couldn't be more excited.

The rest of the things that happened in my life this year are the things that have completely changed my life. I decided that I was going to change my entire lifestyle and stick with it. I had to dig down deep to really learn that weight loss and healthy living is not just a quick fix. I had to teach myself that to be the healthy person I wanted to be I not only had to eat better but also exercise. I started with small but big changes and I stuck with them. Healthy living has truly become a passion of mine and I can't believe how different I feel and think now that I have changed. This year I have become the happiest I can be. I have learned to love myself from the inside out. I believe in myself and know that with hard work I can accomplish anything. It might have taken 27 years to get where I am now but I thank God that I made it.

Here are some things that have changed my life.

 I began working out weekly and I made a goal to run my first 5k. I have never been a runner and never thought I would enjoy it. With every workout I learned to love it and loved how much better I felt. It is the best way to start my day.

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The next thing is really my passion. I have always enjoyed cooking but my recipes have never been very healthy. This year I have learned to enjoy the foods I love by just substituting ingredients to make healthier versions.

My favorite thing to make is soups. They are great for my weekly lunches and nothing beats a nice big bowl of soup, especially in the winter.

Now if you know me you know I love pizza but I had to find a healthier way to make it. The cauliflower crust pizza changed my life. IT IS AMAZING!! Every time I crave pizza I just make me a good ole cauliflower pizza and it hits the spot.

Another thing that I loved but had to give up to become a healthier person is french fries and hot dogs. I then introduced myself to sweet potato fries and turkey dogs. They are great for all those summer cookouts.

I also learned all the different ways you can cook a sweet potato. I love stuffed sweet potatoes.

Now to the sweets. I have always had a sweet tooth. As a little girl at Christmas I was more interested in all the candy then my presents. But lets face it sugar can lead to many health issues if you have too much of it. So I said goodbye to all the candy and started trying out healthy dessert recipes. My favorite thing I ever made were my pumpkin muffins. I couldn't believe how tasty and healthy they were.

I also was introduced to flaxseed. You can substitute this stuff for so many things. I put it in smoothies, used it for crust on casseroles and my favorite thing I used it for was mozzarella sticks and onion rings. So tasty!

With learning how to change some things with all my recipes I made before my lifestyle change I have managed to lose about 30 pounds this year. For the first time in my life I am so proud that I stuck with something that really has changed everything about me. I learned that happiness doesn't come from being skinny but eating healthy and getting exercise does create happiness.

Now that it is a new year I can't wait to see what my future holds. I have a new list of goals and I know that I can reach them. So here are the major goals that I will reach in 2014!!

1. Give up all soda for the entire year
2. Run my first half marathon
3. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week
4. Continue to make healthy recipes
5. Smile everyday!

So cheers to life because if you love yourself it is pretty grand! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!

Day 3, Operation I'm getting marrrried!

Lunch; grilled chicken salad

Dinner: crab meat

Day 4, Operation I'm getting marrrried!

Breakfast: Egg and spinach omlet with a little bit of cheese on top

Snack:2 tbsp of pb

Lunch: grilled chicken salad

Snack: frozeen yogurt

Dinner: crab meat and low cal taco soup. Tried a few of my new almonds

Day 4 no soda

163 days till final goal and getting hitched

I just wanted a hot dog.......

Last night I was craving some good ole cookout food. A hot dog and fries were calling my name. Buttttt I then remembered that tiny little wedding dress I had to fit into. I got to thinking how I could still have a hot dog and fries but without all the fat. So this is what I came up with.

A turkey hot dog with grilled onions and red peppers wrapped in a lettuce wrap and topped with skim mozz cheese and a tiny bit of ketchup. Then I baked some sweet potato fries.





Since the sweet potato fries take a while to cook I snacked on some red peppers and french onion yogurt dip. This dip is my new addiction. It's only 25 calories for 2 tbsps. Amazing!

Once everything was cooked, I sat back and enjoyed my healthy cookout food!

Hope everyone has a safe and fabulous New Year Eve!!



Day 2, Operation I'm getting marrrried!

Breakfast: 2 eggs with salsa and grilled veggies

Snack: mixed nuts

Lunch; homemade low cal taco soup

Snack: broccoli and yogurt dip

Dinner: turkey dog and sweet potato fries

 Day 2 no soda

 165 days till final goal and getting hitched

Christmas 2013

I will go ahead and warn you this is going to be pretty lengthy.

 

I will start with Christmas Eve Eve. After work I headed to the mountains for the annual Ford Christmas party. They have been having this party for years and let me tell you, you will never go hungry. It is so much fun to just catch up with everyone that you don't get to see often. But this year there was a new little guy at the party.....

 

 

 

This time last year this bundle of joy was still in his mommies belly. Now seriously isn't he adorable!

 

I see a future model :)

 

But now that he is walking he is a quick little one. This is the best way to keep up with him ha.

 

After the party all the ladies went to our normal spot to really catch up, like always.

 

Days like this, reminds me how fabulous my bias are.

 

The next day, Christmas Eve, mom and I went shopping for our own family tradition. Every Christmas Eve we all split into teams and have a pizza making contest.

 

This year I introduced the cauliflower pizza crust. Let's just say the only people that liked it were the healthy eaters.

 

Team 1

 

Team 2

 

Team 3 (my sister is normally with me but she wasn't coming in until Christmas day)

 

Team 3 is just plan awesome!

 

The pizzas turned out yummy, I have to say it was the best cauliflower crust I had ever made.

 

That night we got in our comfy pj's and watched, It's a Wonderful Life. I still can't believe I had never watched it. I loved it, obviously. Then we all went to bed so that Santa could come.

 

The next morning it was odd because I was the only kid home. Everyone else was coming after lunch so I got the parentals all to myself for a little while.

 

But thennnnn my favorite little man got to town.

 

I have to watch or his grandparents will steal him and not give him back.

 

But since I had to leave early to go spend the rest of Christmas with the fiances family I got to hold him for a while.

 

After everyone got home, it was my favorite time. PRESENT TIME!!!

 

Carter got to go first. Well because he is most important.

The fiancee picked out this shirt, of course it's Ralph Lauren.

 

He loved all his toys but most of all I think he loved the paper the presents came in. I think next year I will just get him a box of wrapping paper.

But all this present opening wore this little man out. So I gave him some kisses and he went off to nap.

 

We then finished up with all of our presents.

 

After we finished I hugged everyone and thanked them for my fabulous presents and headed off to spend the rest of Christmas with the fiance's family.

 

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Never forget the reason for the season!!

 

Day 1, Operation I'm getting marrrried!

Breakfast: 2 eggs

Snack: almonds

Lunch; homemade low cal taco soup

Snack: broccoli and yogurt dip

Dinner: turkey hotdog in lettuce wrap with ketchup and sweet potato fries (side of crab meat and red peppers with yogurt dip for app)

 

Day 1 no soda

 

166 days till final goal and getting hitched