Saturday, November 1, 2014

Beef and Cannellini Bean Minestrone

Here is another soup recipe...a hearty and satisfying meal for a chilly evening! Here is  the
 recipe. I got it from Giada DeLaurentiis of the Food Network.

For Weight Watchers: 5 points per serving (excluding Parmesan cheese).








Beef and Cannellini Bean Minestrone


3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch pieces
1 rib celery, trimmed and diced into 1/4-inch pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces lean (8 percent fat) ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
4 cups low-sodium beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium heat. Stir in the onion, carrot and celery and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to high and add the ground beef and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and mix to combine. Add the broth, tomatoes, beans, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Parmesan.




Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/beef-and-cannellini-bean-minestrone-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Another Halloween Idea!

When carving your pumpkin, don't throw away the seeds...they can be oven roasted!  Pumpkin seeds are a very nutritious and satisfying treat. Here is a basic recipe from allrecipes.com.





1 1/2 c raw pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoonfuls butter, melted
a pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 

Toss the seeds in a bowl with melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes,stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown. 


Sources: allrecipes.com, wikimedia

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Halloween Treat Ideas

This post is more of a concept than a recipe...since Halloween is coming soon I thought I'd share some Halloween treat ideas that are fun and healthy at the same time.

Here is today's idea: A vegetable platter suitable for work or school!