POPEYE'S POWER SOUP (pg. 104)
Stocks & Broths
This is a very green soup!  I think it's green enough to scare most of the people most of the time, except for Popeye and, let's face it, he's an animation!

Popeye's Power Soup

There are many plus sides to this soup.  It's spinach and if you like spinach you will love this recipe. It is a "Fuel Pull" (FP) soup with many the vitamins and minerals necessary to keep your energy high while still remaining low in fat and carbs.

If you like to be very purposeful about what you eat this soup can help you out.  For example, I am usually always seeking out iron, and if for some reason I feel like I need a major iron boost, I will very intentionally make this to encourage that boost to my system for it's iron-rich qualities.

Unlike the last two soups I blogged about, this one doesn't require a chicken broth or stock so it is a quick recipe.  Which leads me to the next subject I would like to divulge in a bit more.

Stocks & Broths
There are some additional things I would like to mention about stocks and broths for those of you who might be unfamiliar.

Broth
A good example of a broth is when you (or someone else) cooks a turkey for Thanksgiving.  After the turkey has been roasting and comes out of the oven there are lots of juices at the bottom of the pan.  If you drain those juices into a measuring cup, that is considered broth.  As the broth sets in the measuring cup you will see a slight surface building up that is darker in color.  That is fat separating from the juices and you can skim that off.  Broth is simply the juices from BOTH the meat and bones of the turkey (or meat, chicken, fish, etc.). In the case of turkey, I use those juices to make the best gravy ever! Or, you can save it and use it in soup recipes that call for stock/broth.

Stocks
After you remove most of the meat from the bones, the carcass (bones) is what remains.  Put the carcass in a crock pot or large pot with just enough water to cover the bones (and some vegetables and seasonings if you like) and about a 1/2 cup of vinegar.  Let it cook for up to 5 hours.  When it's done cooking you drain EVERYTHING from the juices using cheese cloth or a couple paper towels in a strainer.  Save the juices and that is considered stock because it's made with just the bones and not the meat.

If you put that stock/broth in the refrigerator you will find something interesting happens that doesn't happen to store-bought broths.  It starts to firm up in a similar way to which gelatin would firm up.  That is due to the collagen that is found in broth/stock that has been pulled from the cartilage in the bones (the vinegar helps with this process).  This is simply pure goodness and is highly desirable for it's health benefits and flavor.

"Liquid Gold"
As of today, I call my homemade stocks and broths "Liquid Gold." A term I borrowed from Bone Broth Diet book. It is a very interesting read if you want to know more about broth.  While I'm not personally endorsing any diet (including THM), I consider the information in both books very valuable.  Some of the benefits of bone broth according to Dr. Kellyann in the Bone Broth Diet book, is it's packed with collagen, detoxifies the body, is anti-inflammatory,  heals your gut and joints.

If you read "Serene Chats" for the "Purist Bone Stock" on pg. 495 of THMs' book, Serene says, "Hardly any work...cheap as dirt...better than any expensive health food supplement!"  If you like what she has to say about stock, be sure to turn to the next page (496) to read "Pearl Chats" and her perspective on stock.

After a little research, I did find you can purchase good-quality bone broth online with different seasoned flavors. Of course, anything you don't do yourself starts to come at a cost.  However, for those with the cash, but not the time, you may want to check out sites similar to Bare Bones Broth.  I personally will continue to make my own since it really doesn't take much effort, just planning.


CONCLUSIONS:
You do not need to make your own broth, I just wanted to make sure to emphasize the benefits in case you feel it's for you.  Some may consider broths and stocks a current trend, however, I would argue that if that's the case, it's the trend that Great Grandma started back when people still valued home-cooked meals.  If getting "back to basics" becomes trendy then it is one of those few trends that I hope has staying power for a very long time.

OOPSIES WORTH MENTIONING:
I am in denial and don't wear my reading glasses even when I probably should.  Instead of adding 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast, I accidentally added 3/4 cups (oooopsie).  It turned out to be a happy accident, but a bit more than the recipe asked for. :)

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

TRIM ZUPPA TUSCANA  (pg. 86)
OK, before I start this blog I just want to say:

SURVIVOR IS ON!  YAY!  DO I HAVE ANY SURVIVOR FRIENDS?

Now that we got that out of the way,

Olive Garden.  It's a phone number I have in my cell phone directory.  You just never know when you may need some soup and salad.  I LOVE THE ZUPPA!

I once posted on facebook that I knew I was spending too much time at Olive Garden when the employees started calling me by my first name and wanting to know, "What's up?"  After that post, a very kind friend shared the recipe with me.  Yes, I have made it plenty of times!  And, making your own food is a huge money saver.

.Trim Zuppa Tuscana

So, are the THMs going to do me right by this recipe?  THEY SURE ARE!  Love this and will be making it many times and over again!  Just go in knowing that you will be sacrificing the potatoes for cauliflower which, in my opinion, is not much of a sacrifice at all.

My friend has been helping me with reviewing the soups for this week and this was her response:

CONCLUSION:
I used my own broth and I believe it made a wonderful difference!  I used only half of the Kale required on the recipe.  This is a nice large serving to make for any party and everyone will love ya for it!  Tomorrow I will be talking more about broth. 

 I sense a Survivor party coming and this soup will be making an appearance!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

JUST LIKE CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP (pg. 112)

"NO ZOUP FOR YOU!"
If you are a fan of the comedy sitcom, "Seinfeld" you will quickly recognize that quote from the show.  One of my absolute favorite episodes is with the notorious "Soup Nazi."

Me and my hubby were fortunate enough to visit New York City, without kids for one of our anniversaries.  I don't know if it was because we didn't have the kids, or if it was because of the New York atmosphere, or a little bit of both, but we had a blast!  I don't think we've been able to top that year's celebration to date.


My hubby in the "Soup Nazi's" line.

Yes, we did all the "touristy" things.  We went to see the Statue of Liberty, the Charging Bull on Wall Street, 30 Rock building, and Times Square. We experienced the subways, Macy's, Rockefeller Center, and so on and so forth.  However, one of my favorite parts of the visit was getting a on-hands experience of the "Soup Nazi" soup.  If I remember correctly, the serving bowls, or cups, said something on the order of, "The soup that made Seinfeld famous."  Too, funny!

 I must say, after our visit, I truly do love New York!

This week will be all about SOUP and I have enlisted one of my friendly neighbors to help in the reviews by sharing her thoughts.

The first soup this week is called, "Just like Campbell's Tomato Soup."  As the name suggests, it's suppose to taste like the long-standing and popular "Campbell's Tomato Soup."  Probably one of America's favorite comfort foods, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Just Like Campbell's Tomato Soup & The Shrinker

I didn't want to come out and tell my friend it's suppose to taste like Campbell's Soup, but with a little prodding I asked, "Does it remind you of any other soup?"  Her response was, "I have really only had canned tomato soup before, so it definitely didn't taste like that. It was really good."  She also said her daughter enjoyed it with some Parmesan sprinkled on top.  I added chicken to mine.

When I did tell her it was suppose to taste like Campbell's Soup she said it tasted similar, but there was a spice or something that made it a little different.  I did alter the ingredients very slightly since the THMs always encourage "owning it" by adding seasoning to your own personal taste.  So, I suggested perhaps if I left it alone it would have tasted the same.  My friend said it was much better than Campbell's since that version is usually a little bland.  So, perhaps, this would be better named, "Very much like Campbell's Soup, but even better."

BROTHS
This soup was made with homemade broth that I prepared in advance when I cooked up the "Super Prepared Roasted Chicken" recipe (see my post from January 2016) which is quite possibly why it tasted so good!  I will be talking a little bit more about broth in the next couple posts so you will want to be sure to check those out.

CONCLUSION:
It takes all of two minutes to gather your ingredients.  All of one minute to measure and dump ingredients into pan. And, then about 5-10 minutes to warm.  The three extra minutes it takes compared to preparing Campbell's Soup is time well spent with healthier benefits of being fresher and having less salt.  I will definitely be making this soup again (and with homemade broth whenever possible).

Stay healthy and strong!
Chris :)

LAZY LASAGNA (pg. 140)
Today I had the pleasure of having a neighbor friend to share Lazy Lasagna and a chocolate fat-stripping frappa with (featured in my last post) .  Food is always just a little extra special when you have a friend(s) to share it with.

Lazy Lasagna & Chocolate fat-stripping Frappa

What makes this a "lazy" lasagna is, coincidentally, the very same thing that makes it a low-carb lasagna...no pasta to cook.  The substitute to the lasagna layer is a spinach layer.  Seasonings in this dish includes oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.  The cheesy flavor in this dish comes from cream cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan mixed with a couple eggs.  The combined flavors create a delicious and flavorful lasagna that will happily fill in as a healthy, low-carb version of lasagna that I can be happy with.

Lazy Lasagna

My friend and I enjoyed this version and were content in taking second helpings.  My friend's comments and my hubby's comments paralleled in that that both felt there was too much spinach and they would prefer a little less.  Since I fight an ongoing battle with anemia, I am happy to keep as much spinach on this as possible to increase my iron intake.

CONCLUSIONS:
I would make this dish again especially if I'm craving Italian.

If you decide to make this dish, just be sure that the spinach is fully defrosted and you squeeze as much water out of it as possible to avoid extra liquid in the dish.

I also would maintain my iron-rich spinach on one side of the pan and hold back some spinach for those who do not want too much spinach.

HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S WEEKEND!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

CHOCOLATE FAT-STRIPPING FRAPPA (pg. 418)
Calling all sweet-tooth comrades and all the "sweeties" of the blogging world. Here is another drink to help curb your sweet tooth in the most delightful way that takes the form of a "frappa."

This chocolate fat-stripping frappa is much more chocolaty than it appears in the photo.  The THMs have included three other variations of the already-done-right-the-first-time blend in case you want to switch it up a bit.

CONCLUSION:
If you happen to be in the neighborhood, I will be more than happy to make one up for you. Delicious!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

EGGS & AVS (pg. 245)
READING GROUP
Ideally I like to post 2-3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).  When I am ahead of schedule things run smoothly.  Since today is Tuesday, that should be an indicator of my life running slightly behind.

It's my fault.  I began a book club and I put off reading the book until last minute.  As a result, I spent most of my Super Bowl weekend reading a book from cover to cover.  Mission accomplished!  The book is called "Reading Lolita in Tehran," and it was worth the weekend crunch imposed on myself.  In just a few hours I am going to meet with some nice ladies and discuss the book.

Eggs and Avs
I would like to mention the breakfast I have most mornings.  It is a pretty typical breakfast for many homes.  However, this has some slight differences that I have adapted since embracing the Thin Healthy Mama (THM) diet.

In the past, I would enjoy scrambled eggs with toast.  And, if I made fried eggs it usually would be with toast (with butter and jam).



Eggs and Avs

However, after trying fried eggs with avocado I ask myself, "Why didn't I think of this sooner?"  These are just plain ol' fried eggs, but when you drizzle them with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO -- an official term originated by Rachael Ray) and top with parmesan and nutritional yeast, which adds a nutty, cheese flavor, the avocado is just butter on the plate (a.k.a. icing on the cake).

CONCLUSIONS:
Please don't let me run out of avocados.  It's my breakfast most mornings now and it isn't the same without avocados.

Enjoy your week.

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)

SINGING CANARY SHOT (pg. 399)
I didn't realize at the time, but "Singing Canary Shot" is a stronger version of "Singing Canary" that I didn't see until after the fact.  It is called a "shot" because it is a quick way to get your daily dose of turmeric. 

With that being said, if you are not accustomed to turmeric, tread with caution.  This baby is potent! In a good way.  I do like turmeric and like the idea of getting a quick dose of it for all it's benefits.  You can find many of the benefits posted on pinterest along with many recipes.  Here's one to get you started:  Turmeric. 

I made two versions of this (only because I didn't know it was met as a shot until it was too late).  The photo on the left is the Canary shot in all it's turmeric glory.  The photo on the right was my version after I "doctored-up" the recipe.  "Doctored-up"  is a term my mother-in-law use to use all the time and it simply meant she was adding her own personal touches to a recipe.

CONCLUSION:
I will make this again for a quick "shot" but I am looking forward to trying the original Singing Canary.

Have a nice weekend!

Stay healthy and strong,
Chris :)