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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:)