Yummy Lentil and Chaya Soup

This is a recipe that we make at least two times a week or more. I have recently started using Chaya in place of the spinach and it is so GOOD! You just need to do your research before using Chaya to make sure it is a good fit for you. This soup is still AMAZING with or without spinach or kale as well, so don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on any.

This soup is so good for you and it is so easy to make … you can add just about anything you like and it will only make it better! You can also leave it as simple as you like and still have a healthy, filling meal. I can make a pot of this in the beginning of the week and have it for lunch all week… as long as the kiddos don’t get to it before I do!

Here is a look at one of our Chaya plants…. or ‘yard leaf’ as Mr. Awesome calls them…

I think I will definitely be adding even more next year! I’m also planning to pick some more and cook them up before putting them in the freezer so we can enjoy them all winter long!

Continue reading “Yummy Lentil and Chaya Soup” →

Homemade Croutons

Forget the days when croutons were just for salad toppings. We love to eat croutons on our salads, our soups, stews, and we have even been known to eat them as a snack every now and then as well.

I know I have a recipe for homemade croutons somewhere around here but I’m not sure where it is but I’ll update this one if there is anything different about the way I made them the other day.  It just happened that my sister sent home some of the Quick & Easy Garlic Bread and it got pretty hard even though we had it in a Ziploc baggie.

Well, I really didn’t want to throw it out because it was really good and then I had an idea. When we did our last grocery pickup they were out of oyster crackers. I had planned to make Loaded Potato Soup that night as Mr. Awesome had requested it but we really like to eat it with oyster crackers. I had some regular saltines but decided to give it a try with some garlic croutons and they were a HIT!

I skipped a couple of the steps as our bread already had the garlic and butter so I simply had to cut it up and bake it for the most delicious croutons ever. I also keep a baggie in the freezer with scrap bread for making croutons and/or bread crumbs. Continue reading “Homemade Croutons” →

Chicken and Dumplings w/variations

This recipe is a favorite around here and I have recently update the recipe as it has become a craving for some of the expecting mamas in the family. Some of them prefer more broth and some prefer a thicker soup base… customize as you will, it’s always delicious. It’s also a go-to for when we are sick!

You can any vegetables that you like… this is a good way to use up turkey leftovers and any celery laying around after Thanksgiving… just sauté the celery with the onion and use turkey in place of the chicken. You can also throw some parley in there if you happen to have any laying around.

Tip: Use chicken with the skin-on and bone-in for extra vitamins!

Chicken and Dumplings w/variations

Continue reading “Chicken and Dumplings w/variations” →

Crockpot Taco Soup

A friend invited me over for lunch one day and served this wonderful concoction. I’m not sure if this is close to her recipe or not but this stuff is good, really good. You can also make this on the stovetop if you don’t have a crockpot.

We like to serve this over rice to make it stretch a little bit further. Continue reading “Crockpot Taco Soup” →

Black Eyed Peas

I had never been a big fan of black-eyed peas. When I was trying to come up with a semi-traditional New Year’s meal a few years ago I decided that they should be included as we need all the good luck we can get. Right?

Well, I can’t guarantee that these will bring you good luck but they will fill your tummy. This recipe was a big hit at our house and so easy to make. We actually eat it a few times a year just because we like it. Continue reading “Black Eyed Peas” →