Spicy Corn Soup

This recipe was an attempt to experiment with some CSA corn on the cob.  Unfortunately the corn didn't turn out after I boiled it, so I used canned instead.  This soup turned out spicy with a ton of flavor!

Servings: 6
Size: 1 1/2 cup
Points Plus: 3 pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rating: 3 stars - Good

Ingredient List: 
1 T. olive oil
1/2 cup white onion, chopped small
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 Kohlrabi, shredded
2 cups of corn
6 cups of chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 can spicy Ro*tel tomatoes
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
1 t. ground turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat olive oil in dutch oven.  Sautee onion, peppers and garlic for about 5 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Let simmer for about 30 minutes.  Don't forget to remove the bay leaf before serving!

Tip:
I used Kohlrabi in place of a potato and it turned out really nice.  I also shredded it to add a different texture than the other chopped veggies!

XOXO - Katie

Pasta with Cauliflower and Orange

You may remember me mentioning Bar La Grassa aka the best restaurant of all time.  Anywhoo, they make an amazing AMAZING gnocchi dish with roasted cauliflower and a creamy orange sauce that is just really amazing! I have been wanting to recreate it for a long time, and when we receive a fresh head of cauliflower in our CSA this week I knew the time had come.  I didn't have any gnocchi at home, but decided to go for it using regular pasta.  This recipe is a great example of how you can eat healthy while still using 'taboo' (delish) ingredients.  For example, heavy whipping cream?!?!?*  I created just enough sauce to create a strong creamy orange flavor to cover the pasta without over doing it (meaning using more sauce than needed).  Next up, their lobster and soft egg bruscetta - for real I have the recipe!

Servings: 2

Size: 2 cups! (see tip below)

Points Plus: 9pp

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Rating: 5 stars - Excellent!!!!!!

Ingredient List:

1 head uncooked cauliflower

1 T. olive oil

Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)

Salt and pepper

1 cup uncooked whole wheat pasta

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1 T. orange juice 

Garlic salt, to taste

A sprinkle of parsley for color

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Cut cauliflower into small pieces (chunks) OR slice it thin as they do at Bar La Grassa. Put cauliflower on a large cookie sheet, don't crowd, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.  Put in the oven and roast for 17 minutes, stirring every 5.  Cauliflower should be browned. While cauliflower is roasting boil water in a small sauce pan and cook noodles according to package directions.  When pasta is done put it into a large bowl.  In the same small saucepan heat heavy cream, orange juice and a sprinkle of garlic powder.  When warmed pour over pasta and stir.  Then add cauliflower to bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste!  I added a sprinkle of parsley solely for adding color purposes. 

Tip: 

I LOVED this recipe (duh), but a few suggestions.  I think adding a few snipped chives on top would be delish.  If you like a stronger orange flavor add a touch of orange zest during the final steps.  Try it with 1 cup on gnocchi!

*My husband, who is not a Weight Watcher, said that he would have liked more sauce.  I disagree, but feel free to double the sauce for additional points plus!

Finally, I am a 'quantity eater' so 2 cups was a nice dinner for me.  You could split this recipe into 4 1 cup servings for 5 pp eat.

Salad for One! (chicken, veggies, cottage cheese and evoo)

Sometimes salads sound so blaaaaaa.  Sometimes all you need though, is a new mix of salad ingredients to reinvigorate your salad love.  Example - one day my weight watchers leader said 'I love to mix cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, feta, evoo and salt'! I went home, made that salad, and then ate it practically every day for weeks!  Here is an easy salad that I made in an effort to use up some CSA veggies. Also, I am a quantity eater, and I love that this salad is huge, filled my WHOLE plate and made me full. It is packed with protein and made for a great dinner for one!

Servings: 1

Size: 1 salad!

Points Plus: 9 pp (keep in mind this salad is HUGE and could be split in 1/2)

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Rating: 3 stars - Good

Ingredient List: 

1 handful of mixed greens

4 oz. rotisserie chicken

1/2 cup sliced cucumber

1/2 tomato

2 T. fat free feta

1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese

4 basil leaves, chopped

1 t. olive oil

Kosher salt

Directions:

Mix first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Add olive oil and salt, then toss.  Put on a plate and enjoy!

Tip:

1. I love using cottage cheese as salad dressing, try it! 2. There is something about tossing your salad together at home that makes it feel fancier, try it!

Fresh Green Beans with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Fact: I hate balsamic vinegar and roasted tomatoes.  Fact: This recipe made me love both!  And I don't mean like, I mean L.O.V.E.  Who knew!?  Who knew that when you roasted baby tomatoes in olive oil and balsamic vinegar that it created a delicous thick sauce?  Who knew that the combo of roasted tomatoes and green beans is the bomb?  Who knew that goat cheese is great on anything? (I knew that!) Goat cheese is actually a really low fat cheese that I am going to start using more this summer.  Anyways, enjoy this as a side or main dish with your fresh veggies.  Also as a side, it is almost tomato time! (I am so excited)

Servings: 4

Size: About 1 1/2 cups

Points Plus: 3pp

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Rating: 4 stars - Very Good

Ingredient List:

4 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cleaned

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 T. olive oil

2 T. good balsamic vinegar

2 oz. goat cheese

Directions: 

Bring a pan with water to a boil and cook beans about four minutes.  Remove from heat and strain. Heat olive oil in pan and sautee tomatoes until soft, about 4 minutes.  Add balsamic and sautee 1 minute more.  Add beans and sautee about 3 more minutes.  Portion you dish and add equal parts of goat cheese to both plates.  Enjoy!

Tip:
You could add the goat cheese to the sautee pan while still on the heat to made a more creamy sauce.  Also, I am sure this dish would be great with garlic and onions but I just wasn't in the mood (which is weird because as you know I love onions)

XOXO - Katie

Harvest Pilaf With Sweet Peas and Green Garlic

On the first day that our CSA box came in we ordered pizza, oops!  The next day I made a delicious blend of veggies that were included in our box, some of which I was unfamiliar with.  For me, one exciting thing about a CSA is that you have the opportunity to use fruits and veggies that you have never tried, or even heard of before. I researched two of them, green garlic and garlic chives, and added them to this mix for a garlicy twist.

Servings: 4
Size: 1 cup
Points Plus: 8pp
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Rating: 4 - Very Good

Ingredient List: 
1 cup uncooked Trader Joes Harvest Grains
2 cups chicken stock
1 T. olive oil
3 stalks green garlic
2 cups raw and cleaned spinach
1 cup peas
4 oz fresh mozzarella
Garlic chives for garnish
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions: 
Bring stock to a boil and add Harvest Grains.  Cook according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Cut green garlic like you would a green onion, using white part and some of the green part. Head 1 T. of olive oil in a sautee pan.  Add green garlic and cook for about 3 minutes.  Add peas and cook about 3 minutes more. Add spinach and cover pan to allow spinach to wilt, about 2-3 minutes more.  When Harvest Grain is finished cooking add it to the sautee pan and mix, allowing flavors to meld.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with 1 oz fresh mozzarella and chopped garlic chives.  Enjoy!

Tip:
Green garlic is a milder (in my opinion) form of regular garlic.  This pass weekend I added it to breakfast potatoes, spaghetti sauce and the recipe above. Seek it out at your local farmer's market and give it a whirl!

XOXO - Katie