Turkey and Pepper Soup

So my love for soup grows every day so I'm trying all kinds of soups and tweaking here and there!  This is also made in the crock pot so it's a huge time saver :)  This soup is really high in protein and low in calories and extremely filling.  Makes for a great lunch or snack.

Turkey and Pepper Soup

*Makes 6 servings

1 lb. Ground Turkey
3 Bell Peppers, any color (chopped kinda big)
1/2 Onion (chopped)
2 cups Cauliflower (minced)
2 cloves Garlic (minced)
1 can Tomato Sauce
1 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
3 cups Beef Stock
1/2 tsp. Basil
1/2 tsp. Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Brown the turkey in a pan.
2. Add all the ingredients to the crock pot.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Lasagna Cups

I love Italian food and who doesn't love lasagna!  To be honest I can't remember the last time I had a real chunk out of a lasagna.  I occasionally make my Lasagna Rolls but today I wanted to make cups that we could pick up with our hands because finger food is fuuuuuun!!!  They turned out amazing and the nutrition facts are pretty sweet as well!

Lasagna Cups

*makes 12 cups, serves 4

24 Wonton Wrappers
1/2lb Ground Turkey
1/4 C. Onion (chopped)
1 C. Favorite Marinara (I use Classico Italian Sausage)
1/3 C. Ricotta (low fat)
1/8 C. Parmesan
1/4 C. Mozzerella
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasonings (to taste)

1. Brown meat and onions.  Season to taste with all of the above seasonings.
2. Add the marinara and simmer for a minute or two.
3. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  spray muffin pan(s) with non-stick spray.  Line each with a wonton wrapper.
4. Mix the ricotta with most of the parm and mozzerella (saving just a touch of both for the top of the cups).
5. Spoon the meat mixture (I use a large spoon, about a heaping tablespoon?) into the wrapper.  Top this with about a teaspoon of cheese mixture.

6. Add a wonton wrapper on top of the cheese.  Pushing down to compact the ingredients.  Add another teaspoon of cheese to the bottom, then top it with another heaping tbsp of meat.
7. Top each cup with just a touch of the leftover mozzerella and parmesan.  Bake for 20 mins.

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana!

Who doesn't love a little soup and salad for lunch every once in a while?!  Well, my absolute favorite at Olive Garden is the Zuppa.  I get it every time!  MMMMMMMM dipping hot fresh breadsticks in that soup is heavenly.  Well, I decided to try the recipe my mom put together and see if it's anything like the real soup.  Boy was I amazed!  It tastes JUST like it!  I made it a little healthier using turkey instead of spicy Italian sausage.  But I honestly couldn't really tell the difference.  :D

Zuppa Toscana

*Makes 6-7 2 cup servings

Allergen Tips:
Make sure you check the bullion and bacon for gluten ingredients to keep this a g-free recipe!

1-1.25 lbs of Ground Turkey (or Spicy Italian Sausage)
(season with Italian seasonings, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and garlic if you're doing the turkey)
1/2 lb. Smoked Bacon (chopped)
10 C. Water
4 Chicken Bullion Cubes
1 Med Onion (chopped)
2 Large (or 3 med) Russet Potatoes (sliced)
2 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
2 C. Kale (chopped)
1 C. Heavy Cream
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Add water and bullion cubes to a pot and cover.  Put on med-low to dissolve.
2. In a pan, brown the turkey, adding the seasonings as it cooks.  Drain and put aside in a bowl.

3. Cook the bacon in the pan, drain, and add to the turkey.

4. Add the sliced potatoes, garlic, and onion to the pot.  Bring to a low boil and simmer on med with the lid off until the potatoes are tender.

5. Add the meats, bring to a low boil and simmer for another 10 mins.
6. Add the kale and cream, season the soup with salt and pepper.  Doesn't need to boil, just warmed through, and it's ready to serve!

And here's a jar of the soup with my label to sell :)

(this soup must be kept fresh, it's not canned)

Tostitos Taco Bites

I love making my taco bites with wonton wrappers!  They're fun and inventive but sometimes I'm feeling a little lazy.  The solution?  Bite size taco bowls of course!

Tostitos Taco Bites

*Makes 30-45 bites (depending on filling)

Allergen Tips:
Be sure to read the fine print on your taco seasonings for a g-free dinner!

1/2 lb. Ground Turkey (or hamburger)
1/4 C. Bell Pepper (chopped)
1/4 C. Onion (chopped)
1 Taco Seasoning Packet (or close to 1/4 C. if you have a large container)
3/4 C. Water
Tostito's Scoops
1/4 C. Shredded Cheese
Olive Oil or Butter for Veggies
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder to taste

1. Cook bell peppers and onions with oil or butter for about 8 mins on just above medium.  Add turkey or beef.  Season and brown and then drain fat.
2. Add the taco seasoning and water.  Bring to a boil and then reduce to med-low.  Simmer for 20-25 mins or until the liquid is almost gone.
3. Set oven to broil with the rack at the very top.  Place chips on a cookie sheet lined with foil.  Add the meat and cheese.  Place in oven for about 45 seconds to melt the cheese.
4. Serve with lettuce, olives, sour cream or whatever else sounds good!

Bagel Stacks

I'm always looking for new things to have for breakfast.  I'm not a huge breakfast person so it's usually a bagel or some cereal.  And let me tell you, that's not getting me healthy any faster...  So this morning I decided I was super hungry and I have also been slacking on my protein.  So I stared in my fridge for a bit and came up with this beauty that is sadly cheese free (I'm trying to love it just a little less...).  But you can add some cheese if you'd like!

Bagel Stacks

*Makes 1-2 servings depending on how hungry you are

1 Thomas' Whole Wheat Bagel Thins
3 Egg Whites
3 Mini Bell Peppers (chopped) (1/8 C. if you only have large ones)
2 Slices of Turkey Bacon
2 Tbsp. Salsa
Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder

1. Chop everything up and separate the eggs.
2. Cook the bell peppers and bacon until the peppers are soft.
3. Add the egg whites with seasoning to taste and scramble.  Toast bagel at this point.
4. Top bagel with the yummy eggs and add salsa.
5. Enjoy!

NF are if you eat both slices

Italian Sausage and Peppers

In my recent development of eating healthy and trying to work out, I've taken the plunge with different types of ground turkey.  I am not a huge fan of sausage because of the fat content so when I found Hot Italian Turkey Sausage I said, hey why not?  This is a very simple and healthy meal that's filling and satisfying to the taste buds!  By using a can of tomatoes with just a serving of actual marinara sauce, you're cutting the calories by almost 2/3!

Italian Sausage and Peppers

 *Makes 3 servings

Allergen Tips:


Rice flour noodles are a great g-free option for any pasta dish!


2 Italian Turkey Sausages (you can use real sausage if you'd prefer, it's just not as healthy)
1/2 Onion (sliced)
1 Bell Pepper (sliced, and go for red, orange or yellow for better nutrients)
1 15 oz. Can Diced Tomatoes (undrained)
1/2 C. Favorite Marinara Sauce (this makes it a bit thicker without adding all the calories!)
3-4 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
3 Tbsp. Parmesan Cheese
1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Pasta (I used Penne)
Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasonings

1. Boil water for the pasta.  Add pasta and some salt when it's ready.  Drain when it's al dente and keep covered until the topping is done.
2. Cook sausage on medium heat for about 8 mins, making sure to turn frequently.  Lower to med-low and cover the sausage.  Cook for about 10 more mins or til the juices run clear.  (I like to poke my casing once so that the juice can run free and it's easier to watch)  When they're done, take them off and cut them into slices.
3. Add a bit of oil to the pan.  Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.  Then throw in the peppers and onions.  Cook for around 8 mins.
4.  Add the sausage and the can of undrained tomatoes.  Season with salt, pepper, and italian seasonings.  You can also up the heat a bit with red pepper flakes.
5. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer for 5-8 mins.
6. Serve on top of pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Sammiches Done Every Day

I would hope that most people know how to make a sandwich but I like to have a little more than just lettuce and tomato on mine.  Plus as my picture will show, I just like to have a little fun :D

Plain Ol' Turkey Sammich

*serves 1

2 slices of Favorite Bread (I tend to use a 8 or 9 grain bread)
1 slice of Cheese
4-6 slices of Turkey (or your favorite lunch meat, but keep in mind the Nutrition Facts will be different)
1-2 leaves of Lettuce
3 rings of Onion
4 slices of Bell Pepper
1 Tbsp. of Spicy Ranch (you can change this or omit but I think it just makes the sandwich)

1. Just put them all together, spreading the ranch on the bread and enjoy!

 I like happy food!