{recipe}

I am a sucker for crock pot recipes...but since 99% of the time they aren't overly heatlhy I have stayed clear from my crock pot the last few weeks.  I stumbled across this Minestrone soup, hesitant to try because I an very picky when it comes to MY minestrone.  More often than not it fails with my taste.  After reading over the recipe and changing a few things I gave it a try, and it was DELICIOUS!!!!  My entire family loved it (which is awesome) Even better I had left overs for lunch two days in a row for me and I was able to send it to school with Gracie in her lunch!  It's a must try Easy meal.  Side with a Whole Wheat bread stick or slice of bread and it's perfect for this Idaho Chilly weather!


(Taken from skinny Taste)
Minestrone soup is a classic hearty Italian soup with tomatoes, white beans, pasta and vegetables. You can use Swiss chard or kale instead of spinach if you wish and you don't have to puree the beans, it's just my preference. I modified this for the crock pot but I prefer to make this soup on the stove and let it simmer for about 45 minutes before adding the zucchini and pasta. The crock pot however is so convenient when you are working all day and want to come home to a cooked meal. I highly recommend adding the Parmesan cheese rind. This is also great with mini turkey meatballs, or even some sauteed crumbled turkey sausage.

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)
• 3 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 1 oz chunk of good Parmesan cheese rind
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt and fresh pepper
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen (defrosted) spinach
• 2 cups cooked small pasta like ditalini or elbows (al dente)  I FOUND WHOLE WHEAT NOODLES IN THE BULK BINS AT WINDCO
• extra parmesan cheese to top (extra pts)

In a crock pot, combine broth, tomatoes,  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 spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Add cooked pasta, cook 10 minutes more. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper.Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese.

DO YOU SEE THIS BRIGHT RED FACE????  

That my friends is from the best work out ever...

ZUMBA.

Why in the world did I not jump on this fitness wagon years ago??  It's just about the best work out ever.

Last week was an incredibly hard week for me.  I just didn't have the drive to work out and stay on top of my game.  Due to and incredibly stressful week, any sort of sweet sounded delicious, and most the time I caved:(

THIS WEEK I'M A NEW WOMAN, AND ZUMBA WAS JUST THE THING I NEEDED!

WHOOP WHOOP...WATCH OUT, I'M WINNING THOSE CAR LITTER BAGS:)

{Skinny Taste}

I get asked daily how I plan my menu and what kind of meal plan I use.  My general "plan" is:  I make my list Sunday, Go shopping on Monday for a weeks worth of grocery's.  On my list I make sure I plan Breakfast Lunch and Dinner so I'm not wondering what to cook for every meal and I'm not making extra trips to the Grocery store                                          (I DESPISE THE GROCERY STORE UGH)  

Our lunches aren't too fancy, and alot of time they are left overs.  Gracie LOVES when I send her with left over dinner for her lunch...and I love it too because I KNOW it's healthy. {Fight on school lunch, will be another post} 

I have am at a point in my cooking that I feel comfortable making up my own recipes with the food I have, but I LOVE trying out new recipes and freshening things up.  My all time FAVORITE recipe blog is

 skinnytaste.com   

She has adapted her recipes for those doing weight watchers. I'm not the biggest fan of weight watchers...but obviously it works for some:)

 Any how back to SKINNY TASTE:  I have to say over all her recipe's are pretty darn good.  BUT WATCH OUT 99% of the time I have to use substitutions to make it suitable for this challenge and make them over all healthier.

FOR THIS WEEKS BONUS POINTS I NEED YOU TO EMAIL ME 2 HEALTHY RECIPES THAT I CAN POST ON HERE:)

THE WINNER OF THIS WEEKS CHALLENGE IS IN FOR A BIG TREAT!  MY SISTER HAS DONATED 2 CAR LITER BAGS, THAT ARE AWESOME!  I NEED TO GET PHOTO'S UP (TOMORROW) 

These are the most adorable portable garbage bags that hang in your car...but they hang in style!  YOU WANT TO WIN THESE!  IF YOU'RE LOCAL SHE'S ALSO DONATING A LOAF OF WHOLE WHEAT BREAD.  

UHHHHHHH I'M WINNING THIS ONE:)

{WINNER WINNER}

The winner of this week challenge is KIMRI MURPHY...again:)

I was tied with Kimri and seriously drew out of a hat who would win the cute headband.  I wanted to win dang it!!!  Congrats Kimri!

Does anyone want to do the prize for our next challenge?

Who all is doing this still??  Slowly but surely one by one people have started to ignore my points emails.  Just curious who is still in?

{FOOD FOOD FOOD}

I got the sweetest email from one of my dear friends who in spirit is doing this competition with us...she is 6 maybe 7 months pregnant and holy cow she is a machine!  Not only did she run our 180 mile relay through the Tetons at 5 months pregnant, but she just finished a 20K up in Driggs being 6 months pregnant!  She is amazing!  She sent me an email with some AWESOME ideas that I know you'll all love!

Breakfast:

*Eggs (scrambled with salsa, mix in spinach, avocado, tomatoes etc)(or with good ol cheese melted on top) boiled w salt, "dunky" eggs with whole wheat toast dunked into yellow part)
*Oatmeal-especially steel cut oats w/ honey or brn sugar, and a little cream(with huckleberries or blueberries)(Or top it with cinnamon, nuts, raisins) (We also buy a brand of hot wheat cereal called Red River that is amazing! Zoom is good too.)
*Fruit-endless possibilities( plain, smoothie, cut up on hot or cold cereal)The way I see fruit is carbs+sugars=ENERGY!
*Greek yogurt (pair with fruit and low sugar granola..so yummy, tons of protein!)
*10 grain waffles or pancakes (Im sure there is a delicious recipe out there...but I cheat and use Bob's Redmill package from Winco. Super fast, and really good and filling for my strong sexy husband! ;)
*We of course throw in meat- which we(by we I mean my hubby) usually hunt and then do our "own" meat, or go in half way on buying a beef cow or pig and then do it ourselves..this way we know what stuff goes in..and it is much cheaper!(and better!)

LUNCHES-
*Salads!! Mix in meat (fresh, or canned turkey, chicken, tuna, or salmon or diced grilled chicken(cook and freeze to have on hand) Also you can marinate the chicken in taco seasoning for taco salads, or you could season w cumin and garlic for a totally diff flavor)Salads fill you up(if you eat enough, and they are filled w fiber, and are low cal) Also use sprouts or olives to liven up a salad. Another good mix is salad topped with diced apple, walnuts, blue cheese crumbles, and chicken)
*Shrimp- (0% fat, 18 grams of protein per 5 oz.) You can dip them in "sugar-free ketchup", w some horseradish sauce mixed in.
*V8 juice(buy low sodium..although the regular kind is much more flavorful..but you get used to not as much salt after a bit)(These are good heated too, with some whole wheat crackers,(or Mela toast) and a cheese stick)
*I LOVe this idea from Jenna- Mission Whole wheat Wraps, carb balance, small size- slathered with a low fat laughing cow swiss cheese wedge, filled with fresh tomato, cucumber spears, lettuce, and whatever you want to pack in there produce-wise. I also put in a piece of turkey(they have preservative and nitrate free in the most meat sections, not in Deli tho) SO delish!
*I love steamed spinach, swiss chard or broccoli with a little butter and salt.

SNACKS:
*Nuts (Almonds,etc. but I love trail mix!)
*yogurt w honey, or fruit, or granola
*cottage cheese (I like to cut up tomato to top it)
*string cheese(skim mozz)
*Laughing cow cheese wedge
*carrot and celery sticks, and red and green pepper slices, cucumber spears,
*Grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cantalope slices, apricots, plums...etc
*Apple slices w peanut butter or almond butter
*Bannana with peanut or almond butter
*Applesauce(I do homeade w nothing added)
*Prunes (with a couple nuts)
*Pickles (I love them with a bite of sharp cheddar cheese)
*Fruit Leather (basically any blended(pureed) fruit, slathered out on heavy duty plastic wrap and baked in oven on lowest temp 8-10 hrs) (can mix fruits..I like apricot, plum, throw in a bannana ..just use what you have or what is in abundance!)
*Jerky
*Homeade pudding(usually suger free, but be careful with sugar free stuff)(Make it w skim milk..this helps curb suger attacks!) (You can also do a yummy dessert with suger free Key Lime pudding in a graham cracker crust w sugar free whip topping or just plain whipped cream)
*Choc Flavored Graham crackers with fat free whipped cream..make in an "ice cream" sandwich manner and freeze them. Everyone loves these and they really are way low cal)
*Pretzels
*Dark Chocolate(although milk is my fav hands down ;)
*Jenna's Black-Bean Salsa (which I love..thanks Jenna) Start with can or two of black beans, diced tomatoes, can add canned or frozen corn, diced cucumber, avocado, cilantro and squeeze lime over it...use as a dip..its pretty much a meal for me!)(Also Im sure there are a lot of variations, just like in any recipe ;)

DINNERS:
*Brown rice (this will keep expanding as its in your tummy and be very filling) Dice up green onion, carrots, ham, and scramble an egg in it when almost done for FRIED RICE! Use low sodium soy sauce)
*Fish fillets or chicken breasts, tuna...with any thing..salads, whole wheat pasta, rice, etc) You could do chicken with Terriaki sauce and rice with steamed veggies.
*Recipe idea- Acorn Squash cooked and diced up, with low cal marinara and grilled diced chicken over top. Season w salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic. Green salad on side.

There are so many possibilities and its fun to eat healthy! These were just some ideas I thought I'd share. Hope they helped someone! May the force be with you ladies(and myself!)

Love, Nashina

                                                                    (here she is running her first leg)

{That kind of day}

Cold Rainy windy...it's a TEA day!!! One of my favorite kind of days...now if only all my clients would cancel so I could lay in bed in my PJ's and watch movies all day!  

.....mmmmm I'm dreaming

  OH PS...NO sugar and NO cream were added:)

{BONUS POINTS}

Hey I'm LATE on bonus points!  This one I'll make easy for you:)  This week I encourage you to cook a MEAL that you've never made before.  This will help us get out of the rut making the same thing over and over.

REMEMBER how I told you to keep you're fridge stocked, so you always had options to eat?

I have been without a car for a week due to my husband "needing" to sell his car.  Lets just say I haven't been to the grocery store for 2 weeks! REALLY!

I have had to be incredibly creative with our meals, I can not say enough how excited I am to get my car back today so I'll be able to go grocery shopping!

By not having a stocked fridge, I just about fell off the wagon...fast food never sounded so good!

Stay tuned...I got the best email from a friend with idea's on meals!

Point System Recap

For those who don't want to scroll through past posts to tally up your points for this past week...here's the breakdown again.

(per day)

No sugar: 1 point (for a total of 7 points per week)

No fast food: 1 point (for a total of 7 points per week)

No processed food: 1 point (for a total of 7 points per week)

Exercise: 1 point (for a total of 5 points per week)

Extra: 2 Bonus points! (I will be adding in a creative activity for you to do each week for 2 extra bonus points)

Grand Total: 26 Points with the option of 2 Bonus Points!

Remember you get 2 cheat meals per week! (highly discouraged)

You are allowed 2 Free passes on exercise per ever 4 weeks!

You are allowed 3 sick days during this 12 week time...but remember you won't need them because you'll be feeling so awesome!