Summer Tomato Soup / Sauce WW Blue 0 point

 

Summer Tomato Soup / Sauce

I bought about 8-10 tomatoes a week ago. As they start to ripen, I kept two firmer ones for sandwiches and with the rest I decided to take and make a puree sauce. So I can use it on pasta, or pizza. You can make it and leave in fridge for a week or so. You can also freeze it.

Mine is in my instant pot / but you can do the slow cooker also.

Tomato Sauce / Soup

**if you are using your instant pot then put in this way.** otherwise it doesn't matter with a slow cooker.

Rough Dice up and throw in.

Tomatoes ( I had 8 and 2 that I threw in freezer that went to fast last week, before I got to them)

Onion

Carrot (2)

Oregano 2tbls

Basil (I only had dried, so 2 tbls If you have fresh just throw that in.

Garlic (I used a good amount of minced, but you could just throw in fresh cloves)

Close up and set for 20 minutes and a natural release. (no hurry to open it, if you do need to release it after a 10 minute natural release)

Puree with a stick blender. You can wait and safely do it after it cools.

As I was putting in the jar for the fridge, I tasted it and it had a slight metallic taste (that is okay it is the tannins in the tomatoes - just a pinch of baking soda, clears it and it is so sweet and savory good.

While I put in the jars, the smell is so fresh, like a garden tomato is in the summer. I decided to ladle a bit into a bowl. I was right.

Tomato Soup.

Fresh, Light, and a little salt, pepper and I drizzled a little high end olive oil on mine.

I even tried the crunchy chili oil (ww it has points)

It spiced it a bit. But I think just a little hot sauce would have been enough.

I am thinking those parm crisps would have been yummy floating in it.

So this recipe is a two for one.

A Sauce or a Soup?

I wonder which it will be at my house. We have taken two bowls of soup from it.

I might just have to hit that stand again.

I am outta tomatoes.. go figure..

The soup was such a summery meal.

WW Blue notes

This is a great 0 point Sauce/ Marinara or a Tomato Soup.

I kid you not the freshness of the summer in the tomato

This also works for me, I am trying to keep my WW on the clean eating side.

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

Double Stack Pot in Instant Pot Experiment - Creamy Spinach Chicken and Brown Rice

I tried out the Double Stack Pot today. I made a Creamy Spinach Chicken and Brown Rice. Sides were a small vinegar salad, a canelli bean salsa and some roast squash bits ( I have a new cutter and it cuts bits and they were just so good, and a change up on the texture. My family ate it all.

The Dinner was Creamy Spinach Chicken/Brown Rice Healthy Bowls. 

Okay here's the deal on the pot in pot. I bought one of the silver double stack pots. I also have a 3 qt pot also to use down in the 6qt.

But today I tried the double stack.

Creamy Spinach Chicken / Brown Rice - Healthy Bowls

The players:

3 chicken breasts split in half

1/2 cup of chicken broth

1/2 diced onion

1 clove garlic

_______

Sauce / you will wait until the chicken and rice are finished.

1/2 block cream cheese

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese

1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese

____

2 Cup of Brown Rice (rinsed)

The game

I took the bottom one and put in 1/2 cup of chicken broth , and layered in the chicken breasts, and on top I put diced onions and garlic. Put on bottom of the picker upper/ clip that closes it all, and you can lift up and put in. There is no lid the top pot sits on top of it and it has a lid.

In the second on I put 1:1.5 of brown rice (rinse twice and then put in) and add the water. I did 2 cups of rice. I added chicken bouillon and parsley, and shut it up.

Pour in 1 cup of water in the instant pot and then Put lid on top and lower down the double pot. It only fits the 6qt and larger. Clip the closer on the double pot closed.

The recipe said 25 minutes and 10 release. When I pulled them out and opened them up the bottom with the chicken was perfect. I put it to the side.

I opened the rice and as from the picture you could see it was still swimming. So I closed it back up and put into the instant pot. Set for 5 min/ with a 10 minutes release and came out perfect.

(oops not ready)

ready

For the chicken , you are to remove and then add in the broth the cream cheese, parmesan , mozzarella and spinach; and put back in and let it heat up and melt, then put the chicken back in.

I however just removed the chicken to a serving dish and waited for the spinach mixture to melt and then poured over the top.

Canelli Bean Salsa

Roasted Squash cut into bites

As you can see from the pictures I put the rice on the bottom, a little spot for the chicken and sauce, a little spot for a canella beans and corn salsa, a little spot for a lettuce/oil and vinegar/ and lastly a little spot for roasted vegetables.

Needless to say my husband thought it was a hit. The boy, ate his and liked it. I would think seconds constitute that.

So that is my first lesson with the pot stack in the instant pot.

I wanted share.

Please subscribe above if you like to see more of my hacks and recipes. And now experiments. 

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

Instant Pot Dump and Go Tomato Cabbage Soup

 

Hey who doesn't like a nice soup, for the summer. Vegetables abundance, those extra tomatoes. We are all trying to eat better. So what better way to get those veggies on.

Finally getting the hang of the instant pot. I am finding that it sure can make a quick soup when you are a hankering for one.

Today is Tomato Cabbage Soup.

I have watched a woman make a tomato cabbage Bulgarian Stew on a you tube channel. I love her ideas on flavor and technique but not sold on the oven one. So I took the inspiration and made it into a soup.

This soup was so good, such a hearty deep flavor. The cabbage was cooked was cooked perfectly and the aromatic veggies, where cooked down to impart such great flavor and a good bite. 
The tomatoes were the bomb of the soup. I have always heard about San Marzano tomatoes and how a great flavor they were and how they work well in foods. The store I frequent a few months ago, on had them and on sale. I snagged a few for my pantry.

I made this in my instant pot, buy you could sit in your Crock pot all day too.

Okay, let's get busy, so excited to share.

Tomato Cabbage Soup - Instant Pot - or Crockpot

The players

1/2 - 3/4 head of cabbage (this will depend on how much you want. I like mine thick and full of cabbage) I also cut it in a thin shred, to give it a texture of like a noodle without the noodles. 

1 Can of whole Tomatoes (San Marzano if you can, if not any kind)

1 tbsp. of tomato paste

1/2 cup diced onion

1/2 cup diced celery

1/2 cup diced carrots

4-6 cloves of garlic (really how much you like, I am a garlic lover)

Seasoning Salt / Pepper / and 1tbsp of Paprika

chicken bouillon (1-2 tsp)

3 cups of chicken broth / or water

*optional Jalapeno diced (gave it some really nice heat)

The Game

This really is a dump and go, except for a special technique, that I watched this woman do, and it made a really big difference in the cabbage. 

In your instant pot start with throwing in carrots, celery, onion and garlic.

Then throw in your cabbage, and spices.

Then throw in your tomatoes and tomato paste. 

Now here is the technique, put on a glove or wash you hands and get into the pot and start to massage the cabbage, and all the veggies, do this for a bit. Breaking down all the whole tomatoes. 

Then pour in the broth and put in the bouillon .

Give it all one more stir.

Set instant pot, close the vent, set at 4 minutes with a 5 minute release. If you do crockpot leave for atleast 6 hours, until everything is tender and good.

This soup was finished in a total of maybe with coming to pressure and then the cook time and release I would say under an hour. 

I am totally in love with it. I am not sure if it was massaging the cabbage was the key, or the marzano tomatoes.. Or just the whole thing.

It was so flavorful. Like layers, tomato, and then the veggies, and then with a few saltines with butter made the whole meal. 

Nothing like getting your vegetables on.

WW Blue Notes

Made this to have for the week at lunch. With a few saltines and some turkey, or a turkey wrap. This soup comes in as a 0 point soup. Doing the cabbage the way I stated gives it that texture of not needing a noodle or a carb in in. The technique of massaging, the cabbage with the tomato, is a great little secret. 

This also works for me, I am trying to keep my WW on the clean eating side.

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

Omelet in the Ninja Air Fryer

 

So I thought, hmmm that coating on that ninja is just so thick and slick. I wonder, if I could do an omlet in that base tray. So I gave it a try.

I will tell you I did a vegetable omlet that was delicious. I used a combination of zucchin, yellow squash, onion and mushroom. What made it even better was how I did a small dice, same for all on the vegetables. It made the taste of the omelet more enhanced. Maybe because the distribution of the vegetables was really so even

Vegetable Cheese Omelet

Players

Vegetables that you like, (zucchin, yellow squash, onion, mushroom) small dice

>>I brought a really nice little dicer and what a great little tool also

2 eggs

Salt pepper

Spam spray

Game

Preheat the Ninja

Spray the base plate

Pour in vegetables and spread out a bit and close and cook 2 minutes to soften them

Pour in scrambled eggs right on top of them.

Close and cook about 3 minutes / 390 /

Open and lay in cheese and roll up.

Serve. 

This was quick, easy, no mess, and I was eating a warm omelet. 

I though I should share this with you all. Always looking for a easier way. IF you try it leave a comment.

Until then.

WW Blue Notes

Well now we know this is a score for a breakfast. Veggies and eggs, all 0 the one point is for the cheese. I however did love the dice on the vegetables. That little dice, gave it a whole different taste. I am finding more I am craving taste, seasonings, I guess now that it is ww and servings, i just want everything to be worth eating them. 

This also works for me, I am trying to keep my WW on the clean eating side.

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

I have a Ninja 6 in 1 Air Fryer / Grill

 

The exact definition of mine. Ninja 6-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-Quart Air Fryer Roast Bake Dehydrate Broil and Leave-in Thermometer, with Extra Large Capacity, and a Stainless Steel Finish

I need to tell you that this is the best one that I have ever bought. I love the finish in it. It really is wipeable if you take care of it. It has a very thick non-stick coating. I am very careful when I was it and wipe it. Also use plastic utensils so as not to scratch it.

I have made so many things in it and it has proved it's self over and over. There are no screens, or wire racks, no moving racks to get an even cook. This is just a flat base, the the flat base pan, and then a basket (where you can do fries and stuff) I spray it an do everything in it. It also comes with a grill insert that sits on top of the base pan. I have just recently discovered cooking in the base pan and it is really convenient. I have done vegetables atleast 2 cups. I do potatoes, and today I even did an omlet, yes an omelet.

This contraption is a little large for the counter, and looks to me like a space ship. We had a place to keep it, but we have not stopped using it, so it stays right near the stove. I have not used anything but it and an instant pot for the last 4 months to feed my family of 5. 

It has a thermometer probe also. When I try it I will get back to you.

I love how this one just opens up and you lay it in there. The element and fan up top have a removable washable screen over it. 

I just thought maybe you would love to hear a review from someone who just got one. I am not being paid or even given one. I paid 250 dollars for this on Amazon and worth every penny.

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

Air Fryer Stuffed Sweet Peppers

 

Me, again, twice in one day. Still looking and trying use up and waste nothing. Prices are going through the roof. 

This time is The Sweet Peppers that I found hanging in the fridge. They have been used for all kinds of good things this week, but I have about 8 left and I plan on using them up.

This time I take them and split in half. Taking off the top and removing the seeds. 

I look in my fridge and the dip of the day. Really I have a few. I found a cheddar cheese spread my daughter bought for crackers. They used it once and then It became forgotten and I know it was a little pricey.

I took 4 peppers cut in half which gave me 8 halves to fill. I filled with them with the cheddar, a healthy, not over the top smear. I then took the real bacon bits ( I keep a large bag in fridge, they are super handy) and sprinkled them.

They went into a preheated air fryer, 400 for 5 minutes and then check.

The other 4 / 8 halves I filled with the spinach dip and some parmesan sprinkled on top. These also go in air fryer same way as the others.

When you remove them remember they are like lava, the cheese is melty. Let them rest.

I found that I loved the cheddar more than the spinach, but they both were good.

I also left them to share with my husband when he gets home. I left in a container on the counter. They are even more delicious a little cooler. I could have eaten them all, but I need him to try them so I can make them again.

WW BLUE NOTES

This too can be as many points as you put into them. I got away with eating 6 of them and accumulated 4 points for all. They were really good. I can see them as an appetizer or a healthy snack.

I know that Sams Club makes a really friendly buffalo chicken dip. That is for easy. Or just do your own with a can of chicken, buffalo sauce, and a little cream cheese or save points and use a few laughing cows. 

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple,

 Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise

Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

 

Lately in my home, I am trying to waste very little. I love having fresh vegetables, but if you don't keep track of them and use them, they go very fast. There a few options that I use to try to save them. Depending on the vegetable I cut them up and baggy them into little bags and then into a gallon with the label of what they can be used for. I have one gallon bag for omlets-breakfast / one for pizzas / one for soups / one for broth making (scraps of everything) one for making meatloaves (this is leftovers of anything to be pureed into a mix for the meatloaf meat)

This week I was planning my menu, and as usual I first list what I have fresh, and in the fridge. Then I can check the freezer and pantry and make menus from what I have. With maybe a few things I need from the store. 

This week I had a bag of sweet peppers and mushrooms lingering in my fridge. I also noticed, like everyone else. We love a good dip. Dip with crackers, pitas, chips, vegetables any way we can get it. I am also sure if you are like us, we use 1/2 and put the rest up for another day. Those usually get filed away into the back of the refrigerator. 

Not today.

I had in mine a small container of spinach dip, and I also found a wheel of wedges of laughing cow pepper jack cheese. hmmmmm

I took 12 mushrooms. Six of them I filled with the spinach dip, and little dash of salt/pepper/ and parmesan cheese on top.

They other six I took a laughing cow wedge of pepper jack,  and filled each one. It took one wedge for 2 mushrooms. A little salt/ pepper.

I placed these down into a pre heated sprayed air fryer. I hit 400 for 6 minutes and then check. Get them to the color you like.

These were very good and very quick to make. No traditional bread crumbs. 

Be sure to let cool, mushrooms can be very, very hot.

WW BLUE NOTES

As for the dips. 

This can be a very low point snack or even a meal. I make my own dips, but there are some out there that are really WW friendly. The spinach one today was the spinach tzikia from Aldi's. it was 1 point for 2 tbsp. and for 6 mushrooms that fills it. Then a slight sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Makes 1 point for 6.

The laughing cow, was 1 point for 1 wedge and I could do all 6 mushrooms with three or maybe even two it puffs up. Be sure to season. Makes 3 points for 6.

Living your best life and doing what feels good for you is the secret.

Keep it simple, Stay well and safe. 

welcome to my journey

Louise