Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Soup

I mean, I guess it's a soup?  It's kind of a cross between a soup and a chili.

But it's super easy and super delicious.  Also, it's a makes a healthy portion for just 6 Smartpoints!  Chalk that up to the tons of veggies in it!

For those of you worried about the "buffalo" in the title, let me assure you, it' s NOT super spicy.  It's a flavor in the background and it does have some heat, but you aren't going to be diving for the ranch or the bleu cheese!

Crockpot Buffalo Turkey Soup
5 Servings - 6 Smartpoints per serving

1 lb. 93% lean ground turkey
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large can (28 oz) + 1 small can (8 oz) tomato sauce
3 cups low sodium, fat free chicken broth
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1/2 cup hot sauce
3 cups chopped zucchini
2 cups chopped broccoli
2-3 cups chopped kale

Spray a frying pan and cook turkey. Spray crockpot insert and add turkey to crockpot.  Add in garlic, black beans, tomato sauce, chicken broth, paprika and hot sauce and cook on low for 2 hours.

Add zucchini and broccoli and cook on low for 2 more hours.

Finally, add kale, and cook for one more hour.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Portion into 5 containers (about 2 1/2 cups per serving) or enjoy immediately!

Nut Free Trail Mix

So I really like the concept of trail mix - all that variety!  Packed with protein!  A great energy boost.

The thing is,  I don't like nuts.  Weirdly, I LOVE any kind of nut butter, I love the flavor of nuts, but I can't do the texture.

I know.  Strange.

Try finding a trail mix in the stores that has no nuts.  It's pretty impossible.

So I invented my own!

The recipe for this involves a lot of weighing so you definitely need a scale.  I found this to be a great snack (paired with some fresh fruit or vegetable) before a run or just in that mid afternoon lull.

Nut Free Trail Mix
Serves 4 - 4 Smartpoints per Serving

51 grams pumpkin seeds
40 grams dried mixed fruit, chopped
17 grams semisweet chocolate chips

Combine ingredients, then portion into small containers!  (Each portion weighed about 33 grams for me!)

One Pan Chicken and Baby Broccoli with Spicy Peanut Sauce

I made this MONTHS ago and totally forgot to post it.

My bad, because it's seriously delicious and super easy.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is pretty much cooked on one sheet pan.

I was inspired by the recipe in the book Sheet Pan Suppers, and then made a few adjustments to make it more points friendly. 

This dish serves 4 and it's a pretty good serving.  I basically dished out 1 chicken breast per person and then split the broccolini.  I served it along some cauliflower "fried" rice and it was perfect!

(There was more broccolini left on the sheet!)

Only 6 Smartpoints per serving!

One Pan Chicken and Baby Broccoli with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Serves 4 - 6 Smartpoints per serving 

Cooking spray
1 tbsp. brown sugar
6 tbsp. Better 'n Peanut Butter Original Peanut Spread (or PB2 mixed with water)
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1/4 cup Bragg's Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce)
1 tbsp. Siracha sauce
1 tbsp. rice vinegar
1/4 cup warm water
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 pound broccolini
16 oz. uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast

Preheat oven to broil, with rack 4 inches from heat.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

For the sauce, whisk together brown sugar, peanut butter, sesame oil, liquid aminos, siracha, vinegar, water and lime juice until smooth.

Lay chicken breasts and broccolini on baking sheet.  Coat with sauce evenly.   Once done, arrange chicken and broccolini in a tight layer.    Broil, flip the chicken halfway through and the broccolini is cooked through (about 10-12 minutes, but keep an eye!)

Portion among four plates and serve!

Fabulous Find: Siggi's Yogurt

Yogurt is definitely one of my go-tos for a mid-morning boost.  And I tend to gravitate to Greek yogurt because I love the protein - really helps tide me over until lunch.

I was at Target last week and I saw this (and it had an offer on Cartwheel!).  A friend of mine had recommended it and so I decided to give it a whirl. 

WOW.  Really delicious.  Not unlike the texture of Greek yogurt honestly, though it does have less sugar (score!).

I've tried two flavors so far: pumpkin spice (of course) which was 2% fat and 4 Smartpoints, and the raspberry, which was 0% fat and 3 Smartpoints.  Both are really delicious!  And Siggi's seems to have a lot of really interesting flavors.

I've seen it in both Target and Stop and Shop, and there is more information at Siggi's Dairy!

Spinach and Pasta in Garlic and Oil

Super simple.

Nothing fancy.

But REALLY delicious.

I didn't overly season this because I wanted to be able to use it as an option for different things.  Several days I did it as a bed for an Italian seasoned chicken breast.  A couple nights I added a portion into some veggies I was frying up with some paprika and had it as a side dish.


The recipe made about 8 servings and each serving was 3 Smartpoints.  I really used a LOT more spinach than pasta to bulk it up!

Spinach and Pasta in Garlic and Oil
8 servings - 3 Smartpoints per serving

2 cloves minced garlic
12 oz chopped frozen spinach, thawed
6 oz whole wheat or protein pasta (I weighed it uncooked and used the points from that)
2 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil.
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.  Heat oil in skillet and add in garlic, stirring until slightly browned.

Add in spinach and cook until warmed through.  Add in pasta and toss until coated.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Fantastic Friday Four - March 11, 2016

Spring has sprung! LOVE LOVE being able to run outside and not on the treadmill!

One of the many things making me smile this week, along with....

Because I can't go into the Container Store without a chaperone.  But I have had this before and I love it.  It helps me know what I have and what I don't.

Upgrade to the FitBit Charge HR!  In my new location, there are stairs.  I want to know how many I climb a day!

This may actually be rivaling my love of pumpkin coffee. OH MY GOD it's so good.  It smells and tastes like salted caramel and it is heaven.

And it's FRIDAY!  Bought at Kohl's (another place I can't go without a chaperone!).

What's making you smile this week!

Fabulous Find: Elli Quark

Yogurt, specifically Greek yogurt, is one of my favorite midmorning snacks. With fresh fruit and a touch of granola, it's the perfect thing to tide me over until lunch.

Over the last month or so, I started seeing all these posts about Quark on Instagram.  It was less Smartpoints than Greek yogurt, so color me intrigued.

When I first spotted it in Shoprite, the wording "spoonable cheese" almost steered me away, because I couldn't actually picture what that meant.  However, I figured the multitude of Instagram posts couldn't be wrong, so I took a chance.

SO GLAD I DID!

It is absolutely delicious! It's got the texture of Greek yogurt, but is less tangy.  And only 2 Smartpoints for the whole cup!

I've only been able to find a few of the flavors so far (it's not available in all stores).  I've tried Bananas Foster, Blueberry, Vanilla, Plain and Strawberry.  I also have a Pineapple to try tomorrow.   Everything I've tried has been really delicious, with a lot of flavor.  I'm dying to find the Sea Salt Caramel and the Red Velvet and the Mint Chocolate!

I know these are also available at Target, if there is one near you.

You can also order online!  Elli Quark

Definitely keep a look out.  Worth the extra looking!