Broccoli, Cheese, and Potato Soup

Photo Courtesy of Brown Eyed Baker

Ingredients

1 small onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

2 1/2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

1 cup milk

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced small

salt and pepper

4 cups (about 2 heads) broccoli florets, chopped into small pieces

1-1/2 cups 2% shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 slices 2% American cheese

1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Directions

Chop onion, carrot, celery, garlic in a chopper or mini food processor (I honestly didn’t want to take the time to get out the food processor, so I just chopped them the old fashioned way – with a knife and cutting board).  In a large soup pot, melt butter.  Add chopped vegetables and sauté on low heat until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add flour, salt and pepper to the pot and stir until smooth.  Add chicken broth, milk and potatoes and set heat to high until it comes to a boil, then cover and cook on low until potatoes are soft, about 10-15 minutes.  Add broccoli florets, parmesan cheese, and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.  Cook uncovered until broccoli is cooked, about 5 minutes. Add cheddar and American cheese, stir well and remove from heat.

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (3/24/13-3/30/13)
Broccoli	Bird’s Eye Vegetables (10-16 oz.) on sale 10 for $10.00 Green Giant Fresh Packaged Broccoli Florets on sale 3 for $5.00
Butter	Our Family Butter (1 lb.) on sale for $1.88
Potatoes	Klondike Rose or Gold Dust Potatoes (5 lb. bag) on sale for $2.99 each
Flour	Pillsbury Flour on sale for $2.99

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (3/24/13-3/30/13)
Cheese	Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese (5-8 oz.) on sale for $1.99 Free Cub Large Eggs when you buy any 3 Crystal Farms Shredded or Chunk Cheese (Cub Coupon) Kraft American Singles (12 oz. package) on sale for $1.99
Potatoes	Farm Stand Russet Potatoes (5 lb. bag) buy one get one free with cub coupon
Flour	Essential Everyday Flour (5 lb.) on sale for $1.98
Celery	Organic Celery on sale for $1.98 each

Thai Green Curry

A mild curry with chicken and fresh vegetables

Photo Courtesy of Soni's Food

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons green curry paste

1 14-oz. can light coconut milk

1 ½ cups vegetable or chicken broth

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 inch fresh ginger, minced

1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 small zucchini, cut into ½ inch thick half rounds

2 cups small cauliflower florets

2-3 medium carrots, cut in ¼ inch slices

1 ½ cups fresh or frozen green beans

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

Sautee chicken breasts in a large skillet over medium heat until fully cooked.  Add ginger and sautee for 1-2 minutes.  Add all vegetables to the pan along with the coconut milk, vegetable broth, soy sauce, and curry paste.  Bring to a simmer, cover, and let cook until vegetables are tender (5-10 minutes).  Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch with 1-2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl.  Once vegetables are tender, add the cornstarch to the skillet and bring to a simmer to thicken.  Serve over rice or couscous.  

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (3/24/2013-3/30/2013)
Vegetables	Bird’s Eye Frozen Vegetables on sale 10 for $10.00 Green Giant Packaged Fresh Broccoli Florets on sale 3 for $5.00
Chicken	Gold ‘n Plump Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (28 oz.) on sale for $4.99
Broth	Progresso Broth (32 oz.) on sale 2 for $4.00 Better than Bullion Bases on sale for $4.39

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (3/24/2013-3/30/2013)
Chicken	Gold ‘n Plump Bone in Split Chicken Breasts Buy 1 Get 1 Free with Coupon

The World's Best Smoothie

I've tried many smoothies in my life, but this one is the best, by far, that I've ever had.


Photo Courtesy of DAMY Health

Ingredients:

2-3 cups frozen berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)

1 container berry flavored yogurt

1-1.5 cups of cranberry juice (or cranapple, or cran-raspberry juice)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.  Add more juice, if necessary, to reach a desired smoothie consistency. 

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (3/17/2013-3/23/2013)
Berries	Nash Brothers Organic Blueberries (10 oz.) on sale for $3.49 Nash Brothers Whole Strawberries (10 oz.) on sale for $1.99 Our Family Sliced Strawberries (10 oz. container) on sale for $1.19 Fresh Blackberries (6 oz.) on sale 2 for $5.00
Yogurt	Yoplait Yogurt on sale 2 for $4.00
Juice	Langer’s Juice Blends (64 oz.) on sale 2 for $5.00

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (3/17/2013-3/23/2013)
Yogurt	Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt on sale 10 for $10.00
Juice	Tropicana Farmstand Juice (67 oz.) or Ocean Spray Juice (59 oz.) on sale 2 for $6.00

Quinoa Pizza Casserole

This casserole is a perfect way to introduce kids to quinoa.  It’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters 

Photo Courtesy of First Kitchen

Ingredients:

3 c. vegetable stock

1 1/2 c. quinoa

8 oz. button mushrooms, sliced

1 green bell pepper, diced (optional)

1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)

1/2 onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce (or 2 cups pasta sauce)

1 c. 2% Small Curd Cottage Cheese

1/2 c. shredded mozzarella, divided

1/4 c. grated parmesan, divided

1 tbsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Pepperoni (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*.  Bring stock to a boil in a pot.  Rinse quinoa under running water for a minute, until no longer murky. Add quinoa to vegetable stock, stir and turn to simmer.  Cook for 15-18 minutes, until stock is absorbed, stirring every few minutes.  Heat a saute' pan over medium heat, add 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Add mushrooms, peppers, onion and garlic, stir and saute' for 10 minutes, until liquid is cooked out and vegetables begin to caramelize.  Remove from heat.  When quinoa is cooked, add tomato sauce, cottage cheese, half of the mozzarella and parmesan, basil, oregano, fennel, crushed red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Stir well, add vegetables from pan and stir well.  Pour into a casserole dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese and pepperoni slices. Place in the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes, until cheese is golden and casserole is bubbly.

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (3/10/2013-3/16/2013)
Tomato Sauce	Ragu Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) $0.99 with coupon Nash Brothers Trading Company Organic Pasta Sauce on Sale 2/$5.00
Cheese	Our Family Shredded Cheese (16 oz.) on sale for $3.99
Bell Peppers	Green Bell Peppers on sale 2 for $3.00
Onions	Yellow Onions (3 lb. bag) on sale for $2.49

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (3/10/2013-3/16/2013)
Tomato Sauce	Ragu Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) on sale for $1.49 Classico Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) on sale for 2 for $4.00
Shredded Cheese	Essential Everyday Shredded Cheese (6-8 oz) on sale 2 for $5.00.  Crystal Farms Shredded Cheese (32 oz.) on sale for $9.99