Pasta with Broccoli and Lentil Soup

Pasta with Broccoli and Lentil Soup is my favorite dinner my dad would make!  I now make it whenever I feel like a healthy no meat dinner.  I like to call this a semi homemade meal, because my dad uses Progresso's Lentil Soup as a main ingredient.   My dad has made this meal for many family members and it is one of their favorites as well!  It is also loaded with fiber,  inexpensive to make and takes about only 30 minutes.  If you are looking for a quick fix healthy meal, then this is the recipe for you!

Please Click Here for Printable Version:

Ingredients:

* 1 cup of D'italini or Elbow macaroni ( I use Barilla, because it has ridges in them which holds the flavor of the soup better)

* 1 Can of Progresso Lentil Soup (Get the regular not 99% Fat Free.  It is already low in fat.)

* 1 small Broccoli Floret Crown (It should give you about 3 cups cut up)

* 1 Small Cooking Onion (Cut into small thin slices)

* 3 TBSP. of Olive Oil

* 1 cup of Reserved Water (from Boiling the Broccoli)

* Salt, Pepper, and Red Pepper Flakes to Taste

* Grated Cheese to top the soup with

Procedure:

* Chop 3 cups of Broccoli into small bite size pieces.

* Boil for 8 minutes

*Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the water. Set Aside

* Put cooked Broccoli in a bowl. Set Aside.

* Get a small sauce pan and Boil 1 cup of  macaroni according to box in lightly salted water and then drain.

* Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, cook onions in 3 TBSP's of Olive Oil on Med Heat until onions are soft and translucent.

* Add the Can of Lentil Soup and Broccoli. Season with a little Salt, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes to taste. Bring to a light boil and let simmer until macaroni is done.

* Spoon the soup into individual bowls and then add the macaroni.

~*~Note~*~ There is nothing I hate more than over cooked macaroni in soup, so I always add the macaroni to individual serving bowls as eaten.

Top with grated Cheese and Enjoy!

Zucchini Turkey Burger

 

Yesterday my husband came home from work with this $150, 24 day cleansing kit by Advocare.  It is called the 24 day challenge; maybe you have heard of it before?  With this challenge there are, fiber drinks and other beverages to drink along with a list of foods you can only eat (most of which my husband would normally never touch, such as green vegetables, fruits, whole wheat rice cakes, and unsalted natural peanut butter). While being entertained with watching him attempt this new life style for 24 days, I am also being supportive.  Today we went to the grocery store, Trader Joe's and bought all healthy and organic foods on that list.  I also looks online to find some recipes that go along with this challenge and found a ton.  Tonight I tried one called Zucchini Turkey Burgers and boy were they delicious! Jimmy can't have bread for the first 5 days of this challenge, so I wrapped his in some lettuce and I put mine on some crusty French Bread with Lettuce and Tomato on top. 

Source:http://24daychallengerecipes.wordpress.com/
Please Click Here for Printable Version:

Ingredients:

*1 lb of Lean Ground Turkey

* 1 cooking Onion

* 1 small Zucchini

* 2 large Garlic Cloves

* a pinch of salt and pepper

* 1 tsp. of Ground Cayenne Pepper (the recipe calls for Oregano, but I love the flavor the pepper gives instead)

* a pinch of Nutmeg

* 1 tbsp. of Parsley

Procedure:

* Finely dice or grate the Zucchini (I use my mini food processor, it saves a lot of time!)

* Finely dice or grate the Onion and Garlic (I use my mini food processor. It saves allot of tears!)

* In a large bowl, add the Ground Turkey, Grated Zucchini, Onion, and Garlic.

* Add the Salt, Pepper, Parsley, Nutmeg, and Cayenne Pepper

~*~Note~*~ ground Turkey does not have much flavor, so make sure you add those spices!

* Mix with a spoon or spatula

* Separate into desired size of patties (I got 6 out of them)

  

* Spray your grill with nonstick grill spray and grill on both sides until no longer pink in the middle.

* Enjoy wrapped in lettuce, on a bun, or on crusty Bread with Lettuce and Tomato!

Enjoy!