Chicken Soup with Quinoa

 Today I would like to share my latest soup creation:  Chicken Soup with Quinoa.  Have you tried quinoa yet?  Quninoa is a grain originally from South America that is taking the foodie world by storm.
Here's why:  Quinoa is a complete protein and contains complex carbohydrates, so it will digest gradually and keep you felling full.  It is gluten-free, tasty and cooks in less than 15 minutes.  

Quinoa is so versatile that you can use it in everything from hot cereal to hot soups to cold salads to cookies and muffins.  It is high in fiber, folate, iron, magnesium and manganese.  With all of these health benefits, you may wonder why you haven't tried it yet!  Well, here's your chance.

I took a basic chicken soup recipe and used quinoa instead of noodles or rice (using quinoa in place of rice is a very easy way to start using it).  While I created this recipe myself, I was inspired by reading through various soup recipes in Quinoa 365:  The Everyday Superfood by Patricia Green, who also wrote Quinoa Revolution.  I highly recommend both of those books to learn everything you ever wanted to know about quinoa.  To your health!

Chicken Soup with Quinoa

1 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tsp. minced garlic
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup diced potatoes
1/3 cup dry (uncooked) quinoa
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. dried basil
2 cups diced cooked chicken
salt and pepper to taste

Saute first four ingredients in a tablespoon of olive oil for 5 to 10 minutes, until they begin to soften.
Add broth, potatoes, quinoa and chicken.  Simmer for 15 minutes, until potatoes and quinoa  are cooked.
Season with dill weed, parsley, basil, and salt and pepper.  Simmer an additional 10 minutes or so.

This Chicken Soup with Quinoa is a very easy way to start using quinoa in your cooking.  Read one of the books about quinoa listed above, and you may find yourself using it in everything from breakfast to dinner!

Quinoa is becoming quite common in grocery stores, but if it's not in your area, just order it online.

Have you ever tried quinoa?  What is your favorite way to use it?  Share below!

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Posted in: healthy eating,soups

Best EVER Buttermilk Pancakes

Yes, you read that right.  These are absolutely the best pancakes I have ever made - and I owe it all to Jennifer Reese from Make the Bread, Buy the Butter (see my list of favorite cookbooks).

My daughter loves pancakes, and up until I read Jennifer's book, I had been whipping up the shortcut ones with packaged baking mix.  They were just okay to me, but my daughter liked them.  I was beginning to think I was  getting tired of pancakes, as I kept thinking they were a bit dry and tasteless.  Then I read Make the Bread, Buy the Butter, in which Jennifer journals about her adventures making almost every edible thing from scratch just to see if the food was worth the hassle.  She rates each recipe as "Make it" or "Buy it."  This was a no-brainer "Make it."

These buttermilk pancakes cook up perfectly light and fluffy.  I cannot believe how soft they are!  And they have flavor -win, win.  I only made a few tweaks to the original recipe.  I am listing it the way I made it, with 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, even though the original recipe calls for 2 cups.  I thought the batter was too runny, so I cut it back.  I also make my own buttermilk, which you can do by using a ratio of 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup milk.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes so it gets thick.

I do recommend making these on an electric griddle so that they will not stick without needing to use extra butter or oil.  Go ahead and whip these up for breakfast (or lunch or dinner for that matter) and see if you are not amazed with you culinary talents.  By the way, if you have any leftover pancakes, they reheat beautifully in a toaster oven.  Enjoy!

Best EVER Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups white flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Whisk dry ingredients in large bowl.  Combine egg, buttermilk and melted butter in small bowl; add to dry ingredients and stir until smooth.  Cook on hot griddle.  Flip pancakes over when the top begins to look dry.  Makes about 10 large pancakes.

Find more simple recipes at www.livingonadime.com.  Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper share recipes as well as frugal living tips and tricks.

Do you have a favorite pancake recipe? Is it this one??  Share your flippin' pancake stories below.

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Posted in: breakfast,cookbooks,recipes

It's Here! It's Here! Half-Price Cookbook Sale

For money saving tips, along with hundreds of delicious quick and easy recipes, check out the Dining On A Dime Cookbook now!

Great news!  The half-price cookbook sale at Living on a Dime starts today. That's right - in honor of Mother's Day, which is right around the corner, Tawra and Jill are running a Mother's Day Crazy Sale from now until Monday, April 22.  That means you can get titles like  Dining on a Dime, Penny Pinching Mama or Dig Out of Debt for 50-62% off the regular prices.  They come in e-book or print book versions, and some are bundled together for maximum savings.

I own some of the other books from Living on a Dime, and I just ordered my own copy of Dining On a Dime, which is sort of their flagship book.  If you're not familiar with Dining on a Dime, it is a huge 480 page encyclopedia of inexpensive and simple to prepare recipes designed to help you dramatically reduce your grocery bill while feeding your family delicious homemade meals.  Sounds great, right? Well, it also has lots of household tips and tricks to save you money.  And speaking of saving money, check out Dig Out of Debt to learn how Tawra clothes her family of six for $450 a year.  Really!  Penny Pinching Mama will show you how Jill raised two kids on $500 a month - as a single mom!

Whether you need to cut your food budget, save money around the house or just make delicious home-cooked meals, these Living On a Dime books can help you get organized and make your life easier.

Go here right now and see the terrific deals for yourself!

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Posted in: cookbooks

Meal Planning to Save Money: Huge Sale at Menu Planning Central!

I have two burning questions for you today.  Have you heard about meal planning as a way to save money?  Do you know about Menu Planning Central?  Read on for more about both topics.

1.  Planning your meals in advance involves four steps:  Write down what the meals will be; make a grocery list for those items; buy the groceries; and keep the menu handy so everyone in the family knows what is up.

Meal planning can save you money for several reasons.  When you plan your meals in advance, you go to the store one time at the beginning of the week to get everything you will need.  That way you do not have to frantically stop at the store on your way home when you will be tempted to buy other impulse items.  Buy what you need in advance and you are prepared!

When you buy ingredients for meals that you actually plan to make, you will be sure to use said ingredients and therefore, not waste food.

Also, if you know what dinner will be, you will not need to resort to take-out or fast food because you are pressed for time.  I know it sounds simple;  easier said than done, right?  Enter topic two.....

2.  Menu Planning Central is a menu planning service run by Christine Steendahl (aka The Menu Mom) that provides TONS of recipe ideas, grocery lists, e-books and lots of surprise freebies.  The best part is that Christine is running a HALF-PRICE sale now through April 16.  That means you can get access to the 16 weekly menus (4 Family Friendly, 4 Healthy, 4 Vegetarian and 4 Frugal) each month PLUS access to the custom software "My Menu Maker," that allows you to customize meals for your family - whether you have have someone with a food allergy or just pickiness.

Christine is also very generous with free e-books each month as well as more surprises.  With the half-price sale going on, a one-month trial will cost you less than $10!  That is a great deal, but you can get an even better deal by signing up for the lifetime membership!  Read here for more info.  Grab this bargain while it lasts!

P. S. Check out these sample menus to see what's in store for you with Menu Planning Central!

What is your meal planning method?  Do you use  a service or do it yourself?  Share below!

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Posted in: meal planning,menu planning

Bean Barley Soup with Kale: High in Fiber, Low in Fat

I made a new soup recipe today.  As you may or may not know, I LOVE to make soups.  I found this recipe for Bean Barley Soup in the February 2013 issue of EatingWell magazine, which is my favorite cooking magazine.  EatingWell contains some great healthy recipes that are just the right level of healthy, if you know what I mean:  they are good healthy recipes without being off the wall.   Most of the recipes contain fairly common ingredients,which is very convenient, because who wants to go to the store to buy a whole cartload of stuff you may never use again just to try a new recipe?  Of course, I had to modify the recipe a bit because that is what I do.

EatingWell includes this Bean Barley Soup as part of their "Slim-Down Meal Plan" due to the soup's high nutritional content and low calorie count.  Their version contains 328 calories, 7 grams fat, 13 grams protein and 7 grams fiber plus high does of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron and more.  Note that I substituted kale for the spinach called for in this recipe, which means the Vitamin K level goes through the roof.  I added carrots and changed the spices a bit.

This recipe is great for dieters because you can consume a large volume while taking in relatively few calories.  Need I say more?  This recipe rocks!

Bean Barley Soup with Kale

Ingredients:

2 T. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 c. diced carrots
3 t. minced garlic
1/2 t. dried basil
1 (15 oz) can white beans, rinsed
1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes
6 c. broth (vegetable, chicken or beef)
3/4 c. quick-cooking barley
2 c. chopped kale
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic pepper
1/2 t. Pizza Pasta Magic (or Italian seasoning)

1. Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat.  Saute onion, garlic, carrots and basil until tender.
2.  Add beans, tomatoes, broth and barley.  Bring to a boil and simmer until barley is cooked, about 15 minutes.
3.  Add kale and cook until wilted, about five minutes.

I hope you love this Bean Barley Soup with Kale as much as I do.  Drop a comment and let me know what you think!

How would you like to have someone plan all of your family's meals for you?  Try the free "Menu Planning Basics" e-book to learn all about Menu Planning Central!

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Posted in: healthy eating,recipes,soups

Decorating Easter Eggs and Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Decorating Easter Eggs And Natural Easter Egg Dyes

by Tawra Kellam of Living on a Dime

This is a guest post from one of my online mentors, Tawra Kellam.  Her "Living on a Dime" website and books are jam-packed with tips, tricks and recipes to help you save money, get organized and even get out of debt. Read on, and then check them out!    ~C

OK, so the kids noticed on the calendar that Easter is approaching and they want to make a huge production of decorating Easter eggs. In the past, the little stickers you bought at the store sufficed, but now they want the real thing. Here are some old standards for egg dying with a few new ideas for you.

One important note: When the kids get really excited about egg dying, don't feel sorry for them and pour the left over egg dye in their bath water so they can have more fun (no matter how much they beg and plead! Especially if it's food coloring). Someone might panic and declare a citywide medical quarantine if they see your kids dyed all sorts of strange colors in their Easter finery.

Before decorating Easter eggs, cover the entire table with newspaper. Keep a huge roll of paper towels or rags handy for messes. Have each kid wear one of dad's old (now disposable) tee shirts.

Making Easter Egg Stands

Cut toilet paper roll cores into one inch cylinders and use for egg stands. Decorate with stickers or paint.

Decorating Easter Eggs

Traditional Method

Hard boil eggs. Fill several mugs with boiling water and add 1-2 tsp. vinegar. Place a few drops of desired food coloring in each mug. Place eggs in mugs for several minutes until eggs reach desired shades.

Remove with a spoon. Place on paper towel to dry. When dry, polish with a small amount of shortening on a paper towel. Buff until glossy.

You can draw or write on the eggs with a light colored or white crayon before dipping. The drawing will remain white after the egg is dipped.

To clean out mugs, put a little bleach water in the cups and soak for a few minutes.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

If you would like to try decorating Easter eggs with natural dyes, try the following:

• Yellow-- yellow onion skins, turmeric (1/2 tsp. per cup water) celery leaves
• Orange--any yellow dye plus beet juice
• Red--beets, paprika, red onion skins
• Pink--cranberry juice
• Blue--blackberries, grape juice concentrate, red cabbage
• Brown--black tea, white oak, juniper berry, coffee, barberry
• Light purple--blackberries, grapes, violets
• Green--alfalfa, spinach, kale, violet blossom plus 1/4 tsp. baking soda, tansy, nettle, chervil, sorrel, parsley, carrot tops, beet tops or dip yellow egg in blue dye

Hard boil eggs with 1 tsp. vinegar in the water. Place dying ingredients in non-aluminum pans, cover with water and boil 5 minutes to 1 hour until desired color is achieved. Use enough material to make at least 1 cup dye. Crush ingredients as they boil to extract as much dye as possible. Strain the dye. Most dyes should be used hot. Let each egg sit in the dye until it reaches the desired color. Some dyes will take longer than others to make the desired colored on the egg. Remove the egg and let dry.

Glitter Eggs - Place 1 tablespoon each of glue and water in a cup. Stir the mixture and then paint the eggs with it. Sprinkle with glitter. This can also add sparkle to already dyed eggs!

Decoupaged Eggs - Tear small pieces of wrapping paper, napkins, stickers, or clip art. Mix equal amounts of glue and water. Paint egg with glue mixture. Place paper on top and then cover with more glue mixture. Let dry.

Spotted Eggs - Place 1 tsp. of cooking oil in dye. Dip the egg. The oil will cause the dye to make an irregular pattern on the egg.

Waxed Eggs - Dip a portion of the eggs in melted paraffin or candle wax. Then dip them in the dye. Remove from dye. Dry and peel off the wax. The egg will be white on one half and colored on the other half. You can also dip in dye before waxing to get two colors.

Hollow Eggs - Poke a hole in one end of an egg with a very small needle. Poke another slightly larger hole in the other end. Then blow on the small end and the egg will come out the other side. Decorate Easter eggs as desired.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining on a Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com , sign up for our free Living On A Dime Newsletter and learn to save more!

Check out these other ideas for decorating Easter eggs on Pinterest.

What is your favorite way to color Easter eggs?  Do you use a boxed kit or get creative on your own?  Share below!

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Posted in: Easter,kids in the kitchen

Easy Healthy Pasta Recipes

     Pasta dishes are quick and easy to prepare, making them the perfect choice when you want to whip up a quick meal.  If you like convenience as much as I do, you like the idea of preparing your whole meal in one pot so there are less dishes to wash.  But you have to be a bit careful with a pasta dinner because it can easily become laden with calories and fats.  Just keep these tips in mind to help you prepare easy, healthy pasta recipes that are scrumptious and nutritious.

Choose the Right Pasta

     If you want a healthy pasta dish, you have to start with the basics, which is the pasta itself.   Pasta is mainly carbohydrates and small amounts of protein and fat, but whole grain pasta contains much more of the good stuff.  It contains healthy parts of the grain including fiber, which is good for the heart and the digestive system.    Whole grain pasta is digested more slowly, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels and makes you feel full longer, which helps prevent those snack attacks later.

Not a fan of whole wheat or whole-grain pasta?  Try using half whole grain and half white until you get used to it, or try buying the white whole-grain varieties that most stores carry.  ("Ronzoni Smart Taste" is one brand available in my area.)

Check Portion Sizes

     You can have too much of a good thing, so always check portion sizes.  An ounce of uncooked pasta has approximately 100 calories and measures about half a cup when cooked.  A cup of cooked pasta has around 180 to 200 calories.  Be sure to get the right portion size to maintain a healthy weight.  It is very easy to get too much, especially when you compare your serving to those giant-sized servings you get in most pasta restaurants.  Holy ravioli!  (Trust me, they are overfeeding us:)

Add Vegetables

     Vegetables add nutrition as well as volume to your pasta recipes.  Make sure to include onions, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, spinach,  zucchini, broccoli, etc.  Don't forget my favorite - kale!  Vegetables can be sauteed or steamed before tossing them in the cooked pasta.

You will find some really easy and delicious  pasta recipes in the Healthy Express Cookbook:  101 Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners by Erin Rogers.  This is an e-book that I highly recommend because the recipes really are light and healthy, yet they are simple enough for anyone to make.  Some of the pasta recipes include Rustic Ravioli Stew, Lemon Scallops with Angel Hair and Angel Hair with Pesto and Grilled Chicken.  Yummy, right?  And they don't use exotic ingredients either.  For example, all you need to make the Rustic Ravioli Stew are garlic, onion, rosemary, beef broth, ravioli, spinach and tomatoes.  Simple and real, just the way I like it.

Add Healthy Protein

     Now that you have your carbohydrates (the pasta) and vegetables, it's time to put in some healthy protein for a deliciously healthy pasta recipe.  Grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast turns a simple pasta dish into a scrumptious main course.  You can also saute or steam some shrimp to top off your pasta dish.

The Secret is in the Sauce

     Sauce matters when it comes to pasta.  A healthy whole-grain pasta can turn into a nutritional nightmare if it becomes laden with fats and calories.  You may want to stay away from pasta recipes that are heavy on cream.  One of the healthiest recipes for pasta sauce is a simple marinara or tomato sauce.  Simply simmer tomatoes with fresh basil and oregano.  A little olive oil, finely chopped garlic and fresh basil also make a simple yet delicious pasta dish.

Pasta Salad Recipes

     A pasta salad can be a side dish or a meal in itself.  Cooked whole wheat pasta shells, spirals, bow ties, or macaroni make the perfect base for a healthy pasta salad recipe.  Pasta salads also offer a way make use of that leftover chicken, tuna, vegetables, etc.  Add low fat mayo, sour cream or yogurt, and some capers, smoked salmon and chopped hard boiled egg for a gourmet recipe.  

See my Tomato Kale Pasta Salad recipe, too!

 What's your favorite healthy pasta recipe?  Share below!

 Need more ideas for simple, light dinner ideas?  Try the Healthy Express Cookbook:  101 Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners by Erin Rogers.  It is chock full of really easy and healthy recipes.  Click here for more.

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Posted in: healthy eating