Hoppin' John - a southern Soup

Hoppin' John - a southern soup
1 lb turkey kielbasa
2 cans black eyed peas - drained
2 cans diced tomatoes (one regular, one with onions & peppers)
25 oz of chicken broth (save remainder of broth for other recipes this week!)
1 soup can of water
1 box wild rice with seasoning (I used Uncle Bens)
1 chopped onion
Dried Sage
Garlic Powder
Pepper

Mix all ingredients in the crockpot - cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8. And Serve!

This was such a simple recipe, but was VERY filling and delicious!

It's my blog, right?!

Well, one week in - and I've realized I need to edit my plan already. Sundays are leftover days now! We have leftovers from the weekend (since we don't need lunches packed), and I can't waste them! So, leftovers it is! For this week I will move all the recipes down one day - and keep on going!

Also, check out my friend Missys blog, You are what you eat. She is a meal planning, healthy eating mom & wife, and is sharing the journey on her blog! Another great site for recipes!

Here are some pictures of our breakfast yesterday (Banana Walnut Pancakes - your favorite batter, mashed banana & some walnut pieces). I think Owen liked them! :)

mmmm pancake!

"No more?"

Week #2 Meal Plan & Ingredient List

Salmon Patties, Hot & sour swiss Chard OR Kale (whatever is available)

 Lemon Paprika Shrimp with zucchini couscous
Balsamic chicken with white beans & spinach
Orange Poached Fish, baked fries & fresh green vegetable
Chickpea Winter vegetable stew
Blueberry almond pancakes
Crockpot Casserole for Skinnies (cabbage & beef)
 Guiltless Chicken Parmesan

Grocery List:

onions – 5

Cabbage

Celery
Green Bell Pepper

2 baking potatoes

Extra vegetable* (Broccoli is what we are doing!)

Sliced Leeks
Lemon  -2

2 juice oranges
2 zucchini
Blueberries (1 cup)

Butternut Squash

Yukon gold potato - 2

Garlic

1 pound turnips
Fresh spinach

Fresh cilantro

Squash (this is for salmon patties, you can use carrot or squash)

Shallot

1 bunch swiss chard OR 1 bag kale

2 cans low sodium stewed tomatoes

2 cans green beans
28 oz can crushed tomatoes

Whole wheat couscous

3 2/3 cups vegetable Stock

tomato paste  - 2 small cans or one large can (used in 2 recipes – save remainder for later in week!)

1 can chickpeas 
1 can condensed cream of mushroom (98% Fat Free)

1 can white kidney (cannellini) beans

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Chicken Breast (2 lbs)
1 lb skinless fish fillets (catfish, flounder or orange roughy)

1 lb shrimp

1.5 lbs lean stewing meat

1 (6-oz) can salmon, packed in water, w/o bones or skin, drained

couscous

Molasses

Almonds

Panko Bread Crumbs

Whole wheat bread crumbs

Reduced Fat Parmesan

Skim Mozzarella

Whole Wheat Penne

Egg whites

Pantry Staples:
ground coriander

caraway seeds, crushed

Apple cider vinegar

Red chili flakes

ground cumin

ground red pepper

Honey

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

Whole Wheat Flour

Baking Soda

Skim Milk

Vanilla Extract

Oregano

Thyme

Dijon Mustard

Paprika

Dried basil

Dried oregano

Dried thyme

Week #1 bonus recipes!

Anything I make not on the meal plan, I will add to a "bonus recipe" post each week.

Today (Wednesday), I made a new soup for lunch - Almond Chicken Soup with Sweet Potatoes, Collards and Ginger

I made it straight from that site - it was great!

 

I also made granola bars this week for our snack. They were a little crumbly, but VERY good. And the ingredient list is great - no added sugars or oils. For the fruit, I did half craisins and half apricots.

Week 1 - meal plan & shopping list

Happy New Year! Here is goes - one full year of meal planning. One week at a time of planning, one meal at a time of cooking. (recipes with reviews to come!)

Sunday: Hoppin' John Soup (a little southern soup anyone?)
Monday: Impromptu visit with friends, out to dinner :)
Tuesday: Edamame & Red Pepper cashew chicken stir fry with brown rice
Wednesday: Chickpea & Turkey Burgers w/ baked fries
Thursday: Fish Cobb Salad
Friday:  Chicken Spinach & Ricotta Quesadilla
Saturday: Low Carb Spaghetti Squash

Shopping list:
1 lb Turkey Kielbasa
3/4 lb ground turkey breast 99% fat free
4 fillets white fish (1 lb) - cod is great option!
Chicken Breast - 1.5 lbs (1 lb for stir fry, 8oz for quesadillas)
Whole Wheat Burger Buns
8 whole grain tortillas
Eggs
1 can Chicken peas
1 Can Navy Beans
2 cans black eyed peas
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes w/ onions & peppers
1 32 oz box low sodium fat free chicken broth (25 oz for Hoppin John, 4 oz for Edamame stir fry, 3  for spaghetti squash)
Low Fat Crumbled Feta
Low Fat Ricotta
Skim Shredded Mozzarella
Unsalted Almond Butter
Fresh Ginger
Frozen shelled edamame
Green Onions
Romaine Lettuce
Avocado
Tomatoes: 2 roma, 1 slicing
Scallion
2 baking potatoes
Lemon -2
Red Bell Pepper -2
onion - 2
Fresh herbs: Parsley
Bag fresh spinach - 2
Spaghetti Squash
1 box wild rice w/ seasoning packet (I used Uncle Ben's)
Brown Rice
Pine Nuts

Pantry Staples:
Dried Sage
Garlic Powder
Fresh Garlic
Pepper
Salt
Honey
Dry Mustard
Good Cooking oil: Olive or Safflower
Low Sodium Soy
Ground Cumin
Worcestershire Sauce
Paprika
Balsamic Vinegar
Dijon Mustard
Nutmeg
Crushed Red Pepper

Why I'm doing this

Anymore questions?

This little man is why I'm doing this. I've decided to "eat healthy" and make it a habit many times. It lasts a few nights - then I'm done. Brian (my husband) is on board, ready to get healthy - and stay healthy. Owen is starting to eat what we do, and therefore, it being healthy is no longer an option. I refuse for him to grow up eating fast food & chips. It just isn't an option. He has to learn by example, and we are his example.

We usually have a good breakfast - a high protein cereal with skim milk, eggs with turkey sausage, wheat pancakes or waffles. Lunches are leftovers from dinner the night before. So, it boils down to if we want to eat healthy - we need to cook healthy dinners.

This provides 365 opportunities a year for me to set an example for Owen. 365 choices we make - to eat healthy, or not to. There will be nights we eat out - we spend time with family and friends, and often that includes going out to dinner. We will strive to make good choices while we are eating out as well. Each day is a new choice, and one day cannot affect the next. So, if one day goes askew, it's up to me to get back on track immediately. Not "the next Monday", but the next minute. Immediately.