Minestrone Soup

Are you on Pintrest??? The most addictive thing ever? I keep finding yummy recipes and ideas and I keep pinning them to my boards and don't look back…well this week I looked back. I made my entire breakfast and dinner menu from Pintrest recipes.  This is the first one and WOW it is amazing. 

This is not the original recipe I changed mine a bit you can get the original here  she has so many AMAZING recipes I am sure you will enjoy! 

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup 

(I made mine on the stove top not in the crock pot)

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 4 • Points+: 5
Calories: 215.7 • Fat: 0.7 g • Protein: 8.7 g • Carb: 42.0 g • Fiber: 6.7 g   

this info is for the original recipe….I didn't use the pasta but I added turkey meat balls

This is my version of the ingredient list

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes drained
• 2 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini & navy)
•  fat free chicken broth 
• 1 oz chunk of good Parmesan cheese rind
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt and fresh pepper
• 2 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium yellow squash chopped
• 1 bunch of swiss chard
• mini turkey meat balls
• cooked pasta (I did not use pasta)
• extra parmesan cheese to top (extra pts)

Rinse and drain beans and tomatoes

(I did not use the crock pot I just cooked it on the stove but you can do either way. Just save the meat balls and zucchini and squash until the end either way.) 

 On the stove top…. combine broth, tomatoes,  beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs, Parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper and let cook for about 45 minutes. Chop and stir in the swiss chard, about 10-15 minutes before you are ready to eat drop in the uncooked meat balls and let simmer (try not to stir to much it will break up the meat balls, then chop and stir in the zucchini and squash. Just push them down into the soup try not to stir.  The squash doesn't take long only about 5 min.  Then serve with shaved parm on top.

In a crock pot, combine broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs, Parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and swiss chard. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Add cooked pasta, cook 10 minutes more. Remove parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper.Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese.


This may be one of the best things I have ever made! Its so hearty yet low in fat and calories. Make ate a big bowl and asked for more!!!  Hope you enjoy!

This weeks Menu

Making a weekly menu on Sundays by whats on sale and coupons is saving us a TON of money! And is saving me a lot of headache and a ton of time! We have been putting in some long days and the last thing I want to think about is what's for dinner. This week I saved over $50 on Groceries and I bought everything I needed for the week!

Monday Lunch -Fruit salad, cheese and crackers, and greek yogurt.
               Dinner- our weekly visit to Sweet Tomatoes

Tuesday -Blacked fish tacos ( I love this recipe and it very healthy)

Wednesday- Chicken pot Stickers and cabbage salad (a lot of carry over ingredients from Tuesday)

Thursday- Chicken and mushroom Quiche! I have been craving this!

Friday- would normally be date night but this week we are going to save money since we went out with friends this past saturday and do an antipasti plate! Yumm

I only spent $120 at Publix and got all I need for these meals, and lunches for the week for Makayla and us.

I have a small head cold and have been wanting hot tea but shouldn't be drinking some of the herbs in natural loose leave teas so I made my own tonight! Orange and lemon peels, apples, peaches and honey let them seep in hot water and waalaa homemade all natural tea. I used the rest of the fruits in my fruit salad.  It's delish!

Hope you all have a great week!

A week in a day

I hate to admit it but I have been so bad about cooking lately. When I get home I am tired and not really up to cooking or figuring out what's for dinner. So we have been eating out or mix and matching from the freezer. I however am tired of eating out not to mention the cost. This morning I made a menu for the week all with meals I could "get started" today and just had to add little things on the day we were eating them. I also planned the meals so Steve could take it to work for lunch the next day. So today I made 4 dinner meals and enough for lunches.

Monday: Parmesan crusted chicken, Lime and Cilantro roasted corn, and bib lettuce with EVOO and parmesan cheese

Tuesday: we will be eating out for my Mom and Sisters birthday

Wednesday: Butternut squash soup (I made it today) with little sandwiches I will make that day

Thursday: Spicy shrimp sauce over gluten free pasta ( I made the sauce today but didn't add the shrimp when I reheat it I will add them then, and also cook the pasta that night)

Friday: we will eat left overs or have a date night since we have missed it the last 5 weeks.

I also made my sister a HUGE pot of chicken soup from scratch and all. (I make my own broth and everything) It's the best

I also got 6 loads of laundry done and cleaned the house. I feel so accomplished. GO ME!!!

Menu for this week

So this week I wanted to try shopping for 2 weeks instead of just 1. With the possibility of going to the produce market early next week to get our weekly fresh fruit and veggies the rest I wanted to only shop 1 time for the next 2 weeks. I looked at the Publix flyer online and saw what was Buy 1 Get 1 free and what was on sale and I planned my menus around that and the coupons I had. I did FANTASTIC! I only spent $218.57 and I saved $42.26! How awesome is that? I say $218.57 for 2 weeks of meals, a few lunches and some other goodies is not that bad!!!

So here is my menu for this week:

Monday: Oven roasted pork chops with crisp Potatoes and steamed

asparagus (real simple cookbook (rscb)

Tuesday: Light Shrimp Newburg served on brown rice (RR Mag)

Wednesday: Prosciutto and Brie sandwiches with Cantaloupe soup(rscb)

Thursday: Brown sugar and garlic chicken with Roasted Broccoli (me!)

Friday: Linguine with artichoke hearts and leeks(rscb)

Saturday: BLT's and Tomato soup(who needs a cookbook for that?)

MMMM I also bought the stuff to make yummy lemon bars!!!

Then next week I have planned:

Chicken Devine(me) You guys are going to love this recipe it will be TTYBT but next week!!!

Soy glazed Salmon with Whole Wheat noodles and green beans(rscb)

Blacked fish Tacos(its good for you PC)

Steaks and a veggie

and what ever might carry over from the week before if we decide to eat out or 1 night might be left overs.

I am not one to buy a lot of junk, or boxed products, or things with trans fats and high fructose corn syrup BUT this week I took a recommendation from my Dad and bought Golden Oreos. I tasted one today and he was right those things are pretty darn yummy. Once in a while it doesn't hurt right?

Do you have any money saving tips this week? Are you trying to spend less and save money??? Feel free to share your ideas with us all here in the comment section on my blog its fun and easy!!!! Happy shopping and check back tomorrow for Tickle you Taste Buds Tuesday...it's a good one!

Whats for dinner?

This weeks menu was hard. When I made it I was not hungry for anything or in the mood to cook but I powered through and got a little creative. Here is what is on the menu for this week!

(We went out to dinner twice last week so a few nights from last week got carried over to this week.)

Saturday: Steaks with mushrooms and green beans

Sunday: Ham and cheese in puff pastry with Tomato soup (food network)

Monday: Goat cheese stuffed Chicken breast wrapped in prosuitto with garlic butter rice and salad (my head)

Tuesday: Spicy Thai shrimp soup (PC Cookbook 29 min. to dinner)

Wednesday: Meat loaf with mashed potatoes and salad (my mom's head)

Thursday: Chicken noodle stir fry (PC cookbook It's good for you)

Friday: Breakfast for dinner with Eggs and biscuits and gravy (my head)

Ohh and as a side note I will NOT be eating the meat loaf just a salad that night but Steve loves meatloaf and I think Makayla will too, and since I work late on Wednesday my Mom offered to make it for them since she will be here anyway.

I have already gone to the store for the week and spent only $100 on our weekly grocery's. This menu planning really is saving us A LOT and is so much less stressful at night when it is time to decide "whats for dinner?"

What is on the menu this week in your house?

Happy Cooking!

I Love Planning...

Menu planning is going so well for me lately. I am saving more and more at the store by having a list and knowing just what I need. It is saving close to $100 a week and I don't have to stress about whats for dinner or even think about it.

Every Sunday I sit down with my cookbooks, cooking magazines, Rachel Ray Magazines and a few other sources and plan our menu for the week. Last week was such a good menu I wanted to share it will you.

Monday: Skinny Chicken Stroganoff (PC cookbook "It's good for you")

Tuesday: Beef and Broccoli with Brown rice (RR MAG.)

Wednesday: Corn and Poblano Chowder (PC cookbook "29 minutes to dinner")

Thursday: Chicken cutlets and asparagus with Soy Dressing (Real Simple cookbook)

Friday: 30 minute chicken with Green beans and Mashed Potatoes (My Head)

My favorite was the beef and Broccoli with Brown rice so that will be tomorrows Tickle your Taste buds Tuesday! Stay tuned for the recipe it is super easy and really yummy.

This week I want to do a pantry/freezer clean out so I am planning the menu with stuff we already have at the house. (I will have to go buy a few veggies and fruit but everything else will come from the pantry or freezer. This should be the cheapest week ever. LOL

Monday: Hotdogs and fruit (total slacker dinner I know I know)

Tuesday: Cheese quesadillas with White bean chili and lime and cilantro sour cream

Wednesday: Chicken veggie bake

Thursday: Steaks and mushrooms with butternut squash raviolis

Friday: Spicy Thai Shrimp soup (PC cookbook "it's good for you")

Hope you all have a good week and HAPPY COOKING!