Menu Plan Monday~ A Month of Soups and Salads, Wk. 4

I have really enjoyed these past 3 weeks of trying out so many new soups and salads. It's been stretching for me to find and try new recipes.

I have enjoyed eating lighter and have actually lost almost 7lbs just by planning my meals, calorie tracking, and exercising consistently in the New Year! Woohoo! Now, don't cheer for me just yet though. FIVE of those pounds were ones I had gained in my time home in the States, haha! But I'm glad I was able to lose it quickly and get back on the DOWNWARD spiral again! I'm thankful for some friends that I check in with every night on facebook about my exercise, eating, and water intake. It's such a help!

BUT I am not sure Tim has the same positive sentiments about the soup and salad month :) He said to me the other day, "If I don't have something besides soup or salad soon, I'm gonna lose it. I just want some chicken Fajitas!"  Hahah! Let's just say not all of the recipes have been as satisfying(read filling) for him as they have been for me ;) So he's glad this is the last week!

But all of that said, there have been plenty of recipes that we will use again for entrees, others for lunches, side dishes, and appetizers! So it's been a worthwhile endeavor.

Well, here's the last week of soups and salads...

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

 Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 4 • Points+: 5Calories: 215.7 • Fat: 0.7 g • Protein: 8.7 g • Carb: 42.0 g • Fiber: 6.7 g   

Grilled Salmon Salad

317 Calories, Fat 14.6g,  Protein 37g,  Carbs, 8.1 grams,  Fiber 2g, Sodium 392 mg

Cheddar Chicken Chowder

Taco Salad with Homemade Shells 

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1lb. broccoli

1/2 lb. butter
1c. flour
1qt. chicken stock
1qt. half & half
1t. salt
1/4 t. White pepper

*I'm going to add some shredded carrot for color and variety

Cut broccoli into small pieces: steam in 1/2 c. water (which you will not drain). Melt butter; add flour. Cook 2-3 min. Add chicken stock (use whisk) & bring to boil. On low heat add broccoli, milk, salt & pepper. Heat but do not allow to boil. Serves 8-10.

* I got this recipe from my sweet mother in law. She mentioned that you could also blend it to make it creamy if you wanted. 

New Recipe Reviews:

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup Ease to make- 8/10 Taste -Tim- 8/10, Julie-7.5/10 It had a really nice flavor. I didn't use all fresh herbs. I just couldn't find them all, so I ended up using several dried and it was fine. I didn't like the noodles. I think I would have preferred brown rice. But I would make this again. It's a GO!

Chicken BLT Salad Ease to make- 9/10- very easy to make, Taste- Tim 8/10, Julie 8.5/10 - so tasty, fresh and filling! Even Tim said this salad was a MEAL ;) Its a GO!

Creamy Tortilla Soup Ease to Make 7.5/10,  Taste -Tim 7/10, Julie 6.5/10 -excellent flavor, but I think I made it wrong! The tortillas never "melted" into the soup fully, so it was kind of chunky. Maybe it's because I couldn't find corn tortillas and just used flour instead. I'm sure if Shanna had made it for me, it would have been amazing! But even so, Tim said it wasn't filling enough on it's own. But you may still want to try it. For us it's a NO GO.

Basic Beef Stew with Carrots and Mushrooms Ease to make 8/10, Taste -Tim 9/10, Julie- 9/10 -WOW! This stew was absolutely amazing! You need to try it. I feel like some stews are so bland and blah, but this was bursting with such rich flavors! It's a GO GO GO!

Creamy Light Potato Soup Ease to Make 6/10 - it seemed like it took me forever with all of the chopping, cooking, creaming etc., Taste - Tim- 6/10, Julie- 7/10 - It seemed too creamy. I would have liked it more chunky. The flavor was good, but nothing to write home about. NO GO.

Cranberry Avocado Salad with Candied Spiced Almonds Ease to Make- 7/10, Tim- 7/10, Julie 8.5/10 - Tim again didn't think this was filling enough. He said if I added chicken it might be ;) But he and I both agreed that the flavors were amazing together! Those spiced pecans were so good just on their own! They had a great sweet and spicy thing going that paired perfectly with the homemade dressing, the cranberries and avocados. I'll definitely do this one again. It's a GO!

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