White Chicken Chili

January 25, 2015 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Tender shreds of chicken, beans, corn, and spices, in a rich, flavorful broth. Load it up with cheddar cheese, sour cream and sliced green onions, and it’s a meal in itself. Healthy, hearty and easy to make, this White Chicken Chili will certainty be a hit for Super Bowl Sunday or any occasion.

I hope you’ve been doing well! We’ve been busy this week with projects, cooking (of course), a trip to Costco, and a check-up for Charlie. He’s tipping the scales at 17.1 pounds! He loves his toes, his brothers, and putting everything and anything in his mouth. He also loves laughing, and being the center of the action. 🙂

The big event for us this weekend was heading to the North American International Auto Show! Cars, lights, glitz and glam. The boys loved getting in all of the fun, new cars. What a great family outing!

Here are a few pictures from the auto show and our adventures this week:

In the freezing cold month of January, there’s nothing better than a hearty meal to warm you up. My inspiration for this recipe came from a sweet friend of mine. A few years ago, after I had surgery, she brought us a wonderful chicken chili for dinner. Is there any better gift than a home cooked meal that you didn’t have to cook, just after surgery? Definitely not! It’s just pure love. I liked it so much, I knew it was something that I wanted to recreate for us one night. With ideas from my friend, and from Betty Crocker, I present to you, my take on this new family favorite, White Chicken Chili.

This White Chicken Chili is the perfect mix between soup and chili. A delicious, and soupy broth, combined with all the flavors of a rich chili taste. When you’re craving that “lighter” chili fair, this is certainly the recipe for you. It’s easy to make, incredibly satisfying, and oh so tasty!

Guess what else? It’s even freezer friendly! I mean, let’s face it, there are just some days when you don’t feel like cooking. So while you’re making it, go ahead and double, or even triple your batch, and add it to your stash of freezer meals. That way, you’ll always have a great tasting, good for you meal, ready to go whenever you need one. Just pull it out of the freezer the night before, and pop it in the fridge. When dinner time rolls around, dump it in a pan and heat until hot. Grab the toppings, and sit down to enjoy your homemade feast, that you barely had to lift a finger for.

We love to serve this topped with all the fixings! Sour cream, lots of cheddar cheese, and scallions. Sometimes we’ll even add fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Covered, smothered, scattered, or plain, however you decide to serve this up, it is sure to be a winner. Whip up a batch of your favorite corn bread on the side, and you’ll have yourself the perfect Super Bowl meal!

White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 to 16 oz) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 to 16 oz) butter beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen yellow sweet corn
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound chicken breasts (about 2 large), cooked and shredded (about 4 cups)
Salt and pepper

Instructions

In a large dutch oven over medium heat, add oil and heat until shimmering. Add onions and salt, and cook for about 5-7 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans, corn, broth, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Stir together and over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes. Stir in chicken, and simmer for 5 more minutes or until hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve with sour cream, cheddar cheese, sliced green onions, and a garnish of fresh chopped cilantro and a slice of lime if desired.

Notes

To cook the chicken: pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then lightly season both sides with salt and pepper. Add one tablespoon oil to a grill pan or large skillet, and cook chicken over medium heat, turning occasionally, until cooked through. Move chicken to a clean plate, and when cool enough to handle, shred (pull apart) into thin pieces.

http://elizabethshome.com/white-chicken-chili/

Feel free to stop by my old blog and check out the first version of this White Chicken Chili.

Healthy and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

January 11, 2015 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Tender bites of chicken, with chunks of carrots, celery, and onions, surrounded by fluffy egg noodles, swimming in a rich and flavorful broth. Healthy and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup is hearty, filling and nutritious. It’s the perfect thing to fill your tummy, and warm you up on a freezing cold night.

A belated Happy New Year to you!!! What a crazy year 2014 was! I’m just glad that last year is behind us, and I’m looking forward to everything that 2015 has in store. I hope you’ve had an excellent start to the new year so far!

The last two weeks have sure been busy around here. Besides the normal day-to-day routine of work, errands, laundry, cooking, fun, etc., we’ve also had a few other adventures. We had a very fun (and quiet) New Year’s Eve celebration at home. William loved going to a friend’s bowling birthday party last Sunday. He’s starting to become quite the bowler, and is especially good at Wii bowling. (Today he bowled over 200!) Andrew and I had a wonderful and super relaxing date night out on Friday night. We went to Crispelli’s, and enjoyed amazing brick oven pizza. Sometimes I forget how nice it is to have a night just to focus on each other.

This week was also the one year anniversary of my first post on Elizabeth’s Home! It seems like yesterday that Andrew and I were hard at work trying to get Elizabeth’s Home up and running. I can’t believe we’ve been posting for a whole year! We celebrated last night by popping a special bottle of Santa Margarita wine.

We first tasted this wine when we were in Santa Margarita, Italy on our honeymoon. Ever since then this wine has become a very special and sentimental favorite for us. Here are two pictures of Santa Margarita from our honeymoon.

I’m so thankful for Andrew and all that he does for this blog! I am also thankful for you, my wonderful and loyal followers! I am honored that you keep coming back to read about our lives, and to share in the enjoyment of our favorite recipes. I’m so excited to share many more memories and fun recipes with you in 2015!

Here are a few pictures from the last two weeks:

After all of the delicious and filling holiday goodies, here’s a great recipe to help lighten up your new year’s resolutions. There is just something so wonderful about a nice warm bowl of soup. This soup is EASY to make and comes together pretty fast. I love the depth of the flavors, with the juicy chicken and tender veggies. It is just sooo yummy! Another plus is that it even freezes well, too! This was one of my many recipes that I made a triple batch of right before Charlie was born. It’s always nice to have a stash of homemade chicken soup on hand whenever you might need it!

Sometimes I use organic chicken broth or stock with this soup, but lately my favorite thing has been Better Than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base-Reduced Sodium. It’s super easy to keep around, and it basically lasts forever in the fridge. It’s especially great if your recipe only calls for a cup or two of chicken broth, but I’ve also been using it with this soup and we’ve been loving it!

As the temperature continues to drop, and you’re searching for that good-for-you comfort meal, this Healthy and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup is just what you need! This soup makes the perfect meal for many occasions. Comforting on a chilly night, nourishing during sickness, or just delicious anytime. I love to serve it with a green salad and crusty french bread or crackers.

Healthy and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
4 ribs celery, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 quarts all-natural chicken broth or stock (reduced-sodium)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
4 teaspoons dried parsley (or 1/4 cup fresh minced parsley added after cooking)
1 bay leaf
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cubed (1 1/2 pounds)
2 cups wide egg noodles
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery and salt. Stir together and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Then cover and cook until veggies are slightly softened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the broth, thyme, dried parsley (if using), and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken and stir in the noodles, and continue cooking over medium-high heat until pasta is cooked, about 8 to 10 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper to taste, and add fresh parsley if using.

Notes

To cook the chicken: Place raw chicken breasts in a medium sauce pan and add water to just cover. Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder to the water. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Carefully remove chicken from pan and set aside on a plate to cool. When cool enough to handle, shred or cube chicken.

To freeze: Cook soup as instructed and omit noodles. After freezing, reheat soup and add dry noodles when simmering, and cook until noodles are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.

http://elizabethshome.com/healthy-and-easy-chicken-noodle-soup/

Feel free to check out my first version of this Quick Chicken Noodle Soup on my old blog. 🙂

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

December 1, 2014 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Rich, velvety, and packed with flavor. Fresh cauliflower, onions, garlic and spices, pureed together and simmered to perfection. Creamy Cauliflower Soup is rich, healthy, and loaded with nutrients.

I hope you had a spectacular Thanksgiving! It has been a whirlwind of a weekend around here. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, and even a parade, oh my! 🙂 We cooked and relaxed on Thanksgiving morning, and then headed over to my in-laws for an early family dinner that evening. Friday morning we bundled up and headed to the Santa Claus Parade with my parents. The boys loved seeing the fire trucks and police cars. After a full hour of watching the parade, Santa finally made his appearance. We were all FROZEN, but the boys were so excited to see him, that it made it all worth it. (Note to self for next year, if it’s that cold again, go late! ;))

Another highlight of our weekend was William’s 5th birthday party. His actual birthday is on Tuesday, but we’re celebrating a bit early this year. I can’t believe that my first baby is (almost) FIVE! Where did the time go? William and his buddies had such a blast today! Dinosaurs, ornament making, cupcakes and friends, what could be better? William loved his party and we are all so thankful for wonderful friends and family. James was fascinated with the older kids and joined right in on the action, and Charlie was content just hanging out. What a perfect afternoon!

Here are a few pictures from our weekend, and William’s birthday party.

Who knew that rich and healthy could be found in the same bowl?! If you’re feeling like the Thanksgiving weekend has set you back a bit, replenish your system with a giant bowl of this nutritious Creamy Cauliflower Soup!

I created this soup right before having Charlie, as one of our many freezer meals to enjoy after his arrival. I remember looking at Andrew one night in the kitchen, probably around 9:00, and asking him if we had enough food for after the new baby. (Let’s be honest, with BOTH of our freezers packed with over 60 meals that I had already made, of course we had enough food ;)). However, as I looked at him, and remembered the two huge heads of cauliflower that were sitting in the fridge, I somehow talked us both into the idea that we could always use a few more meals.

It might have been late, but that didn’t stop me from whipping up a new kitchen creation. There was just something about cauliflower soup that sounded so yummy. Cauliflower, onions, garlic, broth, wine, and spices, how could you go wrong? Once I got the flavors just where I wanted them, I went to work on the texture. At first, I didn’t want to mess around with having to wash out our blender (I guess I was just being lazy), so I tried to mush up some of the veggies with a potato masher. After a few minutes of hardcore smashing, I just wasn’t loving the consistency that I was getting. Soooo…. ladle soup into blender, turn on for 20 seconds, and voila! Creamy, velvety goodness! I decided to reserve a bit of the cauliflower mixture, because as much as I wanted a pureed soup, it still needed to have some texture. This Creamy Cauliflower Soup comes together in no time, and is the perfect light addition to any meal. Serve it as a vegetarian entree with extra cheese and a side salad, or enjoy it before your meal as the perfect appetizer. This soup is tasty, filling, and super good for you! If you’re craving something a little more on the hearty side, you can always add a touch of cream. Otherwise, enjoy it without, for a little “post-Thanksgiving rejuvenation”. I love it both ways! However you cook it up, you will love diving into a huge bowl of this Creamy Cauliflower Soup goodness.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 large heads cauliflower, chopped
2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon dried parsley
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)

Instructions

In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add onion and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir. Cook for about 7-8 minutes until onions are tenders, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add cauliflower, broth, wine and parsley, and stir. Then cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is soft.
Reserve 2 cups of the cooked cauliflower mixture in a small bowl and set aside. Carefully ladle remaining cauliflower mixture into a blender or Vitamix, and puree until smooth. (Working in two batches if needed). Return soup to stock pot, add reserved 2 cups cauliflower mixture to the soup, and 1/2 cup cream (if using), and stir. Heat soup over medium heat until hot. Do not boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon into bowls and serve with parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

This soup is delicious with or without the cream. For a richer soup, add the heavy cream, and for a lighter soup, omit. If freezing this soup, make sure to add the cream after it has been frozen, when reheating.

http://elizabethshome.com/creamy-cauliflower-soup/

If you’re looking for another healthy creamy soup recipe, be sure to try my Cream of Mushroom Soup or my Low-Fat Cream of Broccoli Soup.

Turkey Taco Chili

November 10, 2014 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Loaded with fresh ground turkey, beans, and vegetables, and simmered in a rich, tomato broth. Turkey Taco Chili is healthy, hearty, flavorful and easy to make! Pile on the fixings and dive into a warm bowl of chili goodness.

Hi! Thanks for visiting again! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. It was actually quite a big week around here for us. My birthday was Wednesday and Andrew took the day off of work. I can’t even begin to say how much he did to make me feel more than loved for my special day. He kicked off the celebration by bringing me two dozen pink roses the night before. On my birthday, I woke up to the house decorated and picked up, a hot breakfast, and the sweetest card. I was even treated to a mid-morning nap while Andrew watched the boys so I could get a few extra birthday zzzzs. Birthday fest continued with Grandma and Grandpa Lovasz coming over at 11:00am to watch the big boys, while Andrew and I (and Charlie) headed out to lunch, a day of shopping, and a special celebration dinner. We all had such a great day! William and James had so much fun playing and being spoiled by their wonderful Grandparents. Andrew and I were thrilled to have an entire afternoon AND evening (almost) just the two of us. We had a delicious and very fun lunch at Crispelli’s, where we enjoyed margarita pizzas and salads.

Then we headed onward to Somerset Mall do ~~a little~~ a lot of birthday shopping. After a while, we decided to refuel with a little birthday Starbucks. Wow, I think we forgot how amazing it feels to sip a hot drink with each other on a weekday afternoon and talk, just us. After our snack break, we continued on with our shopping. Andrew planned out our entire shopping trip, complete with a map and everything! I was totally impressed! And definitely spoiled 😉 After all of our shopping fun, we headed to Ocean Prime for the most wonderful dinner. For dinner we enjoyed a crab and shrimp salad, ribeye steak with a giant twice baked potato, and a special chocolate peanut butter mousse pie for dessert. Deeeelicious!!! I am so thankful for such an incredible day! 🙂

When you don’t have the night off from cooking, grab this recipe and head to the kitchen. We just love this Turkey Taco Chili and I’m sure you will too! It’s delightfully delicious, incredibly nutritious, and super duper easy to make. Such a winning combination!

My inspiration for this recipe came from Skinny Taste’s Turkey Chili Taco Soup. I came across this chili a few months back, when I was scouring the internet for ideas of freezer friendly meals to make for after Charlie. I liked the look of it enough to add it to my list of “things to make for when baby comes”. Of course, before I even stepped foot in the kitchen to make it, I took my pen and made a bunch of changes to it. (I guess I view cooking as an art. My meals and recipes are like my canvas, and I am the artist creating a work of art.) As I’m sure I’ve told you many times, I just love to cook, but especially love CREATING new, wonderful recipes in my kitchen. This Turkey Taco Chili is so so yummy! I just love the flavors of the ground turkey, beans, corn, and tomatoes in every bite.

It’s super heathy, seriously easy to whip together, and even freezer friendly. Simmer on the stove for a short time, serve it up, load with toppings and DIG IN! This is such a great recipe to add to you winter meals this season.

Turkey Taco Chili

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
3 large onions, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, and juices
1 (4 ounce) cans diced, mild green chilies
1 1/2 cups frozen yellow corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
3/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons tomato paste
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper

To Double:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds ground turkey
6 large onions, diced
12 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
4 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, and juices
2 (4 ounce) cans diced, mild green chilies
3 cups frozen yellow corn
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 tablespoons tomato paste
10 cups (2 1/2 quarts) low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper

Instructions

In a large dutch oven or stock pot, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add turkey and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon while cooking.
When turkey is cooked, stir in onions and garlic, and cook until slightly softened, for about 5 minutes. Then add beans, tomatoes, green chilies, corn, spices, tomato paste, chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste, and stir. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Serve chili garnished with sour cream, shredded cheddar or colby-jack cheese, and sliced scallions on top, and a side of tortilla chips.

http://elizabethshome.com/turkey-taco-chili/

If you’re looking for another great ground turkey soup recipe, you’ll have to try my Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

October 6, 2014 by Elizabeth 1 Comment

Fresh mushrooms, tender shallots, garlic, spices, and a splash of cream, pureed together to create a warm bowl of velvety goodness. This Cream of Mushroom Soup is the perfect meal for a brisk fall day.

Happy Sunday! It sure has started to feel a lot like fall around here. Some of our big events this week included story time at the library, lunch at the zoo, Andrew heading off on another business trip, errands, and lots of family fun this weekend.

Oh, and I guess I should mention the biggest highlight of our week: Tuesday (September 30th) was our 8th anniversary! Wow! I can’t even believe it has been EIGHT years already! We have certainly had our share of adventures throughout the last eight years. Three kids, six jobs, five moves, two states, three trips to Europe, and tons of laughs and other fun in between. I couldn’t be more thankful and appreciate of my incredible husband, Andrew! What an amazing blessing it is to share my life with him! Eight years ago we got married at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan, had our reception at Atlas Global Bistro, and then the next night headed to Paris and Italy for our three week honeymoon. Here are a few of our pictures 🙂

As the weather gets colder, snuggle up with the ones you love, and dig into a warm bowl of Cream of Mushroom Soup. This is such a fantastic fall (or anytime) recipe. Comforting, filling, and loaded with tons of healthy, good for you mushrooms. I was just reading something the other day saying HOW great mushrooms are for us! An even better reason to LOVE this soup, right?!

My inspiration for this recipe came from America’s Test Kitchen‘s lighter version of Cream of Mushroom Soup. I tested and tweaked it enough times that I finally had to create my own recipe. I just love the complexity of the flavors that this soup has, yet how simple it seems. I love serving this soup for dinner, with hot, fresh bread and butter, and a side salad with protein. I just started adding fresh parmesan cheese and chives on top, and it is fantastic! I definitely recommend the parmesan 🙂 You could also serve this soup for a lovely fall luncheon, or just pour it in a mug, top with cheese, and dive in.

Another plus with this soup, is that it freezes well, too! This is one of the recipes that I made a huge batch of right before we had Charlie. It’s such a treat to have homemade creamy mushroom soup right after having a baby (or anytime during the fall or winter), without having to fuss in the kitchen. If you’re looking for a great recipe that’s super freezer friendly, this is it.

When you’re thinking about your menu for the week, don’t forget to add this Cream of Mushroom Soup to the top of your list!

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

7 large shallots, minced (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 1/4 pounds (36 ounces) white mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced 3/4 inch thick
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 cups (1 quart) hot water
1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1 cup half-and-half
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Fresh parmesan cheese and chives for serving

To Double:

14 large shallots, minced (about 5 cups)
4 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons salt
12 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 1/2 pounds (72 ounces) white mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced 3/4 inch thick
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
8 cups (2 quarts) hot water
1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
2 cups half-and-half
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry sherry
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Fresh parmesan cheese and chives for serving

Instructions

In a large stockpot over medium-low heat, add the oil, shallots and salt. Stir together, then cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Then stir in the garlic and nutmeg and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Then add the white mushrooms and stir. Turn the heat to medium and cook for about 7 more minutes, until the mushrooms are soft and start to release their juices, stirring occasionally. Then turn the heat to medium-low, and cook for about 20 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have released all of their liquid.
Add the broth, water, and porcini mushrooms, and stir. Over medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 20 minutes until mushrooms are tender. Remove soup from heat.
Working in two batches, carefully add half of the soup mixture to a blender or food processor, and puree until smooth. Then pour pureed soup into a clean sauce pan, and stir in half-and-half, and cook for about 3 minutes over low heat, until hot. (Do not boil) Remove from heat, and add the sherry and lemon juice and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese and a garnish of chives on top.

Notes

Heavy cream, or even whole milk can be substituted for the half-and-half, depending on the creaminess desired.

To freeze soup: make as directed, omitting half-and-half. Cool soup in refrigerator, then freeze in an airtight container. When ready to use, place soup in refrigerator the night before to thaw, then cook over low heat until warm. Stir in half-and-half and cook for about 3 minutes until hot. (Do not boil).

http://elizabethshome.com/cream-of-mushroom-soup/

Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup

September 28, 2014 by Elizabeth 1 Comment

Ground turkey, green peppers, onions and spices, swimming in a flavorful, tomato broth. Top it with rice or pasta, and a heaping spoonful of fresh parmesan cheese and dig into a little bowl of happiness. Perfectly rich, wonderfully healthy, and completely comforting, this Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup is a great way to welcome the fall weather.

Happy Sunday! I hope you had a great weekend. Life sure has been busy around here lately! It seems like the last two weeks have almost been a blur. Andrew has been traveling a bit more, (which makes for some longer days for this momma), but the boys and I have been enjoying our library mornings and many other activities. The highlight of our weekend was heading to the fall festival at our city park. Pony rides, hunting for candy in the hay, apples, donuts, and some good old-fashioned family time! Here are some of our favorite pictures from the event.

Speaking of fun events, guess what? Last summer, I had the opportunity to play the role of Ashley in the movie, She Lights Up Well, that was being filmed in our area. What an amazing experience! It was sure a treat to get all dolled up, and for one day, step out of my roll as Mommy, and step into the spotlight. I loved working with the cast and crew of the movie, they were all fantastic!

I am so impressed with Joyce Wu, the writer, director, and star of the movie. She is wonderful, and has worked so hard to achieve her dream with this movie. A little over one year later, I am so excited to say that the movie is complete and ready to be seen! Andrew and I watched it the other night and were definitely impressed! It’s such a sweet story, and a great movie. You should definitely check it out!

Here is the official trailer:
http://youtu.be/sKCo7u4tEQQ

You can watch the whole movie here:
http://www.seedandspark.com/cinema/she-lights-well

And here’s my scene in the movie:

I even have my own IMDb credit 🙂

If you’re looking for a superstar meal to add to your fall collection, here it is! I spent a long time researching and brainstormingideas for this recipe before even setting foot in the kitchen. Two of my favorite inspirations came from Gina’s Stuffed Pepper Soup at Skinny Taste, and Stuffed Pepper Soup, by Rachel Ray. I liked different parts of each of these recipes, but also had plenty of my own ideas, as well. For the all-around, best stuffed pepper soup, you won’t be disappointed when you serve up a heaping bowl of this Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup. Easy, healthy and delicious, what’s not to love?! Oh, and it also freezes well, too!

This is such a great soup for the fall and winter. It’s rich, comforting, filling, and good for you! I love how versatile it is, and how much you can customize each bowl. Serve it with rice, or short pasta, and shredded parmesan cheese. You can also add a side salad, and crispy bread and butter if you want, or keep it simple, and it can be a meal on its own. However you serve it, one thing is for sure, this Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup will soon be a hit!

Turkey Stuffed Pepper Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
2 large onions (5 small), diced
3 large green peppers, seeded and diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes (and juices)
1 1/2 quarts (6 cups) low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons (7 tablespoons) tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 teaspoons marjoram
1 bay leaf

To Double:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds ground turkey
4 large onions (10 small), diced
6 large green peppers, seeded and diced
12 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes (and juices)
3 quarts (12 cups) low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (14 tablespoons) tomato paste
4 teaspoons dried oregano
3 tablespoons dried basil
2 teaspoons marjoram
2 bay leaves

Instructions

In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium-high heat, add ground turkey and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Once turkey is cooked, add onions, peppers, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir together, then cover and cook until veggies are tender, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Then add the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, oregano, basil, marjoram, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Serve soup in bowls and stir in a scoop of rice (or short pasta) to each bowl, and top with fresh grated parmesan cheese.

http://elizabethshome.com/turkey-stuffed-pepper-soup/

Healthy Mini Banana Cream Pies

September 8, 2014 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Creamy, custardy, vanilla filling, sandwiched between a layer of fresh bananas, nestled on top of a lightly sweetened crust. Healthy Mini Banana Cream Pies are the perfect combination of fruit, protein, and a satisfying dessert. These little delights will leave you licking your fingers and fighting for seconds.

It was another busy week and a great weekend around here! Yesterday was a mellow day filled with family, fun, and even homemade sushi for a little date night in. Today, we went with our friends to the Selfridge Air Show, featuring the Blue Angels! The boys loved seeing all of their tricks in the sky. Check out a few of our favorite pictures 🙂

Speaking of favorites, if you ask Andrew his idea of the perfect dessert, he won’t hesitate to say, “banana cream pie”. When I first discovered this, I was shocked! When I think of dessert, I tend to think of MY favorite dessert, chocolate cake and ice cream. (I guess that’s two, but then again, how could you have chocolate cake without a massive scoop of vanilla ice cream? ;)) Ok, back to Andrew’s dessert. Let’s talk banana cream pie.

2014-09-02 Banana Cream Pie-611

It took me awhile to get over the fact that anyone would want to have bananas with their dessert. Over the years with Andrew, I have sampled a variety of banana cream pies from different restaurants and bakeries. A few years ago, I decided to take my own crack at it, and I made Andrew a banana cream pie for his birthday. I used a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen that was fairly involved, but well worth the effort. I couldn’t believe how much I liked it! All of the other banana cream pies that I had ever tasted didn’t even compare to this one. I loved the purity of the creamy, vanilla custard, with just a subtle layer of bananas. As much of a die hard chocolate lover that I am, I will confess that the whole banana cream pie idea has really grown on me. I’m still a chocolate lover at heart, but over time, I’ve started to develop my own special appreciation for this dessert.

There’s just one problem, though. When I hear the word “banana”, of course my mind first thinks, “fruit, healthy, good”, or something like that. But let’s be honest, that usually isn’t the case with your typical banana cream pie. Such a bummer! Especially, since I have such a new found appreciation for them. Well, let me introduce you to these Healthy Mini Banana Cream Pies! These little guys pack a big punch both nutritionally AND on the taste front.

I used the recipe from America’s Test Kitchen as my inspiration, and from there, created a whole new, and even better banana cream pie. It’s easier, it’s creamier, it’s healthier! Everything we love about banana cream pie, rolled into a cute, mini, delectable little square. (Incase you’re wondering which pan I used for these, it’s the Wilton Brownie Bar Pan. I just got it and have been having a lot of fun with it lately!)

This is one banana cream recipe that will live up to it’s name and add some fruit (and protein) to your day, without weighing you down! These Healthy Mini Banana Cream Pies are satisfying enough for a birthday celebration, yet healthy enough for breakfast!!! 2014-09-02 Banana Cream Pie-633

Healthy Mini Banana Cream Pies

Yield: 12 square pies

Ingredients

Crust:

10 dates
1/4 cup warm water
1 cup oat flour
1 cup almond meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

Filling:

8 dates
1 cup milk
4 egg whites (1/2 cup whites)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup (2 percent) evaporated milk
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons agave
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 bananas (not too ripe, just yellow, but still firm), sliced about 1/4" thick
Almond meal or Cookie Dough Crumble to garnish

Cookie Dough Crumble:

3/4 cup oat flour
3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/4 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the crust:

Combine dates and 1/4 cup water in a blender or food processor and blend until mostly smooth. Then add oat flour, almond meal, vanilla, salt, and milk (add an additional tablespoon of milk if necessary), and blend until completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Scrape crust batter into a small bowl, and scoop 2 tablespoons into each tin of a mini square brownie bar pan, coated generously with non-stick cooking spray. Once batter is evenly distributed, spray the top of each crust with cooking spray and using two fingers, gently press down, and spread batter into an even layer to cover the bottom of each tin. Wipe off excess spray from top of pan with a paper towel.(Use 1 tablespoon crust for a mini cake pan or a regular sized muffin tin.)
Bake crusts for 14-15 minutes (10 minutes for 1 tablespoon), until crust is set, and edges just begin to turn golden brown. Remove from oven, and place on stove top or wire rack to cool.

To make the filling:

Add dates and 1 cup milk to blender or food processor, and blend until completely smooth. Scraping down the sides as needed. Pour mixture into a large sauce pan, and add egg whites, remaining 1 cup milk, evaporated milk, cornstarch, agave, and salt to the sauce pan, and whisk together. Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring almost constantly until mixture comes to a boil, making sure to reach the edges of the pan- you don't want scrambled eggs. Allow mixture to continue boiling for 1 minute while stirring constantly- mixture will become very thick. Remove pan from heat and whisk in vanilla. Pour filling mixture into a heat-safe bowl, and lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding. Allow filling to cool slightly, until still warm but not hot, for about 30 minutes.
When filling has cooled, scoop a small layer over each crust, and use the back of a small spoon to spread evenly, then top with 3 to 4 banana slices layered over the filling. Then top the banana layer with an even amount of the remaining filling. (If desired, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of warm Cookie Dough Crumble on top of the last layer of filling, and gently press the crumble into the filling.) Place plastic wrap directly over mini pies, and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with additional crumble or a dusting of almond meal before serving.

For Cookie Dough Crumble topping:

In a medium microwave safe bowl, combine oat flour, almond flour and salt and whisk together. Then add the peanut and almond butter, milk, honey, agave, and vanilla, and mix together until thick and smooth. Microwave for 3 to 4 minutes until dough starts to puff up and look slightly cooked on top. Let cool, then break up slightly. (Remaining crumble can be placed in an airtight container in the freezer, and crumbled on top of pies immediately before serving.)

Notes

For healthy mini vanilla cream pies, omit sliced banana. This recipe works well with both skim and whole milk- whole milk will give it a slightly creamier consistency, but the difference is minimal.

http://elizabethshome.com/healthy-mini-banana-cream-pies/

Cookie Dough Crumble Recipe

Cookie Dough Crumble

September 8, 2014 by Elizabeth 1 Comment

Slightly sweet with a delightfully, nutty, oat taste. One recipe, two results. Enjoy it raw as a gooey hunk of cookie dough goodness, or cooked and cooled, as the perfect cookie crumble. Incredibly easy and super delicious, this Cookie Dough Crumble is sure to become a household favorite in no time!

We visited Blake’s Apple Orchard this weekend! Enjoy a few fun pictures from our adventures!

Serve it in chunks, balls or spoonfuls, for a true cookie dough experience. For the perfect crumble or pie crust topping, just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes, cool, freeze, and behold the goodness of this fantastic concoction. This is seriously one of our new favorite additions to our daily desserts!

Eat it plain, mix in the raw or cooked crumbles to your favorite ice cream, or add it to your yogurt to make the perfect parfait. When it comes to this Cookie Dough Crumble, the possibilities are endless!

Cookie Dough Crumble

Ingredients

3/4 cup oat flour
3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/4 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine oat flour, almond flour and salt and whisk together. Then add the peanut and almond butter, milk, honey, agave, and vanilla, and mix together until thick and smooth.

For Cookie Dough:

Shape raw dough into small balls, or roll into one large ball, flatten into a thick pancake, and wrap with plastic wrap, and place in freezer for at least two hours. Once firmed up, cut cookie dough into 1/2 inch chunks.

For Crumble:

Using a spatula, scoop raw dough into a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes until dough starts to puff up and look slightly cooked on top. Allow dough to cool, then break up slightly, and spoon into an airtight container and freeze for at least one hour or overnight (or up to one week). Serve over ice cream, fruit, or whatever needs a cookie crumble topping.

Notes

Cashew butter can be substituted for almond butter if desired.

http://elizabethshome.com/cookie-dough-crumble/

Honey Balsamic Chicken Tenders

August 24, 2014 by Elizabeth

Sweet, juicy, mouth-watering, glazed chicken. Honey Balsamic Chicken Tenders are super easy and incredibly delicious. These amazing little strips are great on a salad, with your favorite cheesy pasta, on a sandwich, or just eat them as is. The possibilities are endless!

It’s Sunday, and you know what that means… recipe time! But first, I decided to take the plunge for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. This afternoon we donated, and then dumped 🙂 See…. Ps. That water was cooooold!

Brrr! Let’s warm up and talk about these Honey Balsamic Chicken Tenders. This is one recipe you’ll want to keep close by. It’s so easy, and seriously my favorite new way to cook chicken. I just can’t get enough of them!!! (They even freeze well, too!) Just toss everything in a ziplock bag in the morning, (or if you’re short on time, just an hour before you want to eat), and at dinner time, grab your pan and cook them up in a flash.

I love how the honey and vinegar in the marinade come together to delicately cover each piece with a rich caramelized coating. My favorite white balsamic vinegar is the one from Trader Joe’s. It has a fantastic flavor at a great price! These tasty little morsels are out of this world! Make them once, and I can guarantee you’ll be hooked 🙂

Honey Balsamic Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders (or breasts- cut into 6 tenders)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

To Double:

3 to 3 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or tenders)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Place a gallon size ziplock bag over a small bowl (to prevent spilling), add chicken tenders to bag. Then add garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, oil, honey, salt and pepper. Remove most of the air from the bag, and close. Gently shake and rotate bag to combine ingredients, until marinade is mixed, and chicken is well coated.
Lay plastic bag on a paper towel lined plate, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 24. (Be sure to shake and rotate bag at least once while marinating.)
When ready to cook chicken, heat a large nonstick skillet, coated with cooking spray or 2 teaspoons oil, over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, use tongs to remove half of the chicken from bag, and add to pan. Cook chicken on one side for about 2 minutes, then turn, and continue cooking for about 4 to 6 more minutes. While cooking, rotate and flip chicken often, soaking up the sauce in pan with the tenders. Towards the end, be sure that the pan is hot enough so that the chicken starts to caramelize, but not too hot that it starts to burn. (You may need to adjust the heat accordingly.) Cook chicken until no longer pink in the middle.
Move cooked chicken to a clean plate, and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Wash out pan and repeat the same process with the remaining chicken tenders. Serve chicken immediately, or cool,and refrigerate for up to three days, or freeze up to 3 months.

http://elizabethshome.com/honey-balsamic-chicken-tenders/

For those of you who read the whole post – outtake #1!

Pan Seared Salmon Salad

August 17, 2014 by Elizabeth

Crispy, tender, flakey salmon, served on a heaping pile of fresh greens and veggies, topped off with toasted pine nuts and crumbled feta. Pan Seared Salmon Salad is the perfect combination of succulent flavors, summer freshness and heart-healthy fats and protein.I hope you had a great week! It was sure a fun, and busy one around here. The humongous rainstorm that happened Monday afternoon, left our entire area in a state of disaster on Tuesday. Most of the local freeways were shutdown and thousands of basements were flooded. What a mess! We stayed close to home that day, and enjoyed a great playdate with some very sweet friends from out-of-town. In the afternoon, we had another special visit with another wonderful friend that I haven’t seen in over 10 years! Tuesday was a great reminder for me to be thankful for all of the amazing people that are in our lives.

Speaking of blessings, I’m incredibly appreciative for another fantastic weekend with all of my cuties. The Woodward Dream Cruise, Andrew’s work party, and a visit to the park were a few of our highlighted events. Here’s a fun movie and a few pictures 🙂

Now that you’ve taken a look at our weekend, here’s a little background on what first inspired me to make this recipe.

On our recent San Diego Trip 2014, Andrew and I discovered a fabulous little restaurant, Harry’s Bar and American Grill, that was right around the corner from our hotel. We ate there for the first time on our date night. (Thanks to my wonderful Aunt Janie, for coming to our hotel to babysit while Andrew and I enjoyed a quiet, adult dinner out. WHAT A GIFT :)) We enjoyed our meal so much that we even went back later in the week. Call it a pregnancy craving, followed by our latest obsession, but ever since our venture out to the West Coast, salmon salads have been the latest craze in our house.

The picture on the left is the salmon salad at Harry’s, and the one on the right is from Pancho’s Restaurant in Los Angeles. Yum!

Here are a few candid pictures from our Pan Seared Salmon Salad nights at home.

This salad is best with this Creamy Balsamic Dressing.

It’s no wonder that this Pan Seared Salmon Salad has become an all-around crowd pleaser in our family. It’s easy, delicious, and loved by our whole family!

Pan Seared Salmon Salad

Serving Size: Serves 4

Ingredients

Pan Seared Salmon Salad:

4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets
Salt
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 heart romain lettuce, torn
8 ounces baby spinach
2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 avocado, sliced thin
1/3 cup red onion, sliced very thin
3/4 cup yellow sweet corn (if frozen, thawed)
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Creamy Balsamic Dressing

For Creamy Balsamic Dressing:

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar (or regular balsamic)
2 cloves garlic (sliced)
1/2 medium shallot (sliced)
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
3/4 cup good quality extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

To Make Dressing:

Add vinegar, garlic, shallot, mustard, honey, salt, pepper and dill to blender or Vitamix. Blend for about 30-60 seconds on low, then high speed. Reduce speed to medium and slowly drizzle in olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Blend for a few more seconds until fully emulsified. Stop blending when dressing looks thick and creamy. (Be careful not to over mix, or dressing will thin out.)
Cover and refrigerate dressing until ready to use.

To Make Salad:

Divide lettuce and spinach between plates. Then top with tomatoes, avocado, onion, corn, pine nuts, and feta. Set aside.
Pat salmon dry with paper towels, and season both sides with salt. Add 2 teaspoons oil to a large, nonstick skillet or grill pan, over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add salmon and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on one side. Carefully, flip salmon over and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, or until salmon is crispy on the outside and the interior is cooked through. Let salmon rest in pan for 1 to 2 minutes, then add salmon to plated salads, drizzle with Creamy Balsamic Dressing and serve.

Notes

Dressing will keep covered and refrigerated for one week.

http://elizabethshome.com/pan-seared-salmon-salad/