Monday/Tuesday

We are finally settling back into our weekday routine around here. I have gotten back on the treadmill, I actually didn't gain the weight I thought I would after being off last week. Monday I made the Orange Chicken recipe that I posted on January 6. This time, I only used half the chicken broth and used cranberry juice for the rest of the liquid. It was so good. Next time I may just eliminate the chicken broth all together and use all cranberry juice. One of my favorite cookie recipes is Orange Cranberry Cookies. I got the recipe at a cookie swap several years ago. The idea for the chicken has been in the back of my mind for a week or so.

Last night we had soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper. I love soup and sandwiches! It's one of my comfort foods. Just making it makes me feel good. Brian is not a big fan of soup, but he may be getting used to it by now.

On the way home from dropping Brianna off at school this morning Alex was talking about getting to go outside to play this afternoon. I told him we couldn't because it's raining. Then I told him that rain was for the grass and trees to drink. He said, "I will give them my apple juice so it can stop raining!" He just cracks me up! He was dead serious too, he wanted to be able to go outside and play after homework.

Here's the soup recipe from last night:

Quick Hamburger Soup
www.diabeticlivingonline.com

8 oz extra-lean ground beef
8 oz ground turkey breast
1 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 carrots, coarsely shredded
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups lower sodium beef broth
2 14 1/2 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 Tbsp. snipped fresh sage, or 1 tsp. dried
2 tsp. snipped fresh thyme, or 1 tsp. dried
1 tsp. snipped fresh rosemary, or 1/2 tsp. dried
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 medium potatoes, chopped (2 cups)

In a Dutch oven, cook beef, turkey, onion, carrot, celery, and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat.

Add beef broth, undrained tomatoes, sage, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil Stir in potatoes, reduce heat. Cover; simmer 10 to 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.

I used only ground turkey and did not use the rosemary or sage. I thought I had those, but didn't and didn't feel like going out to get them. This was so good with a colby-jack grilled cheese sandwich! This was fairly healthy too. Only 103 calories for 1 cup serving. I also used the no salt added tomatoes.