Recipe: Aromatic Pork Loin, Northern Beans, and… Jello
Posted: April 20, 2011 Filed under: 24-Day Challenge Friendly Recipes, Food | Tags: bean dishes, blood orange, creamy jello, crockpot recipes, easy dinners, fennel seed, healthy dinner, healthy dinner recipes, high fiber dinner, high in protein, jello recipe, low fat dinner, low sodium dinner, meat rub, northern beans, orange zest, pork loin, pork loin and beans, pork loin marinade, pork loin rub, recipes high in fiber, recipes high in protein, slow cooker recipes, white beans Leave a comment- 1 Tbsp fennel seed
- 3 garlic cloves – minced
- zest of one orange (save the insides for your jello)
- 1 1/2 Tbsps chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1 pork loin (the one I used was just under 2 lbs)
- 2 cans of northern beans
- juice of one lemon
- Pulp from orange you zested for the pork (I used blood orange, but they’re more easy to come by in Italy)
- 1 package of sugar-free lemon jello mix
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- 1.5 cups of cold water
Recipe: Slow cooker turkey breast soup
Posted: March 7, 2011 Filed under: 24-Day Challenge Friendly Recipes, Food | Tags: crock pot recipes, crock pot soup, crockpot recipes, crockpot soup, easy dinner, edamame, frozen turkey breast recipes, healthy dinner for four, slow cooker recipes, slow cooker soup, soup with frozen vegetables, turkey soup 1 CommentMother Nature is trying to push Spring our way, but so far the weather seems pretty indecisive. Between the pollen and the random chilly days it’s tough to stay healthy.
At the first sniffle of a stuffy nose, my soup craving begins. The trouble is I know now how much sodium is in the old chicken noodle soup I used to eat. I don’t really want to be stuffy AND swollen, so I have to be choosy with anything canned. Soup is a great option for a healthy diet, as long as it isn’t brimming with preservatives, cream, etc.
Organizing the refrigerator (yes, I do that, and I enjoy it) this past weekend I found a frozen turkey breast and had a Clueless moment as I said, “Project!” They sell frozen turkey breasts year-round, we just don’t think to make turkey except for on Thanksgiving – when it’s a major task.
The recipe below turned out to be one of the best, easiest soups I’ve ever made. Whether you’re in perfect health or not, it will make you feel good. Because it’s cooked in a slow cooker, it’s also an easy meal that requires minimal hands-on time.
Slow cookers, crockpots, whatever you prefer to call them, are wonderful because they do the work for you. You get to come home to a house that smells like someone’s been cooking for you all day. I should add that my husband thinks this must be torture for our dog.
In conclusion, this is, indeed, turkey soup for the soul – just not the dog’s soul.
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Soup…for the soul
Serves 4
- Defrosted turkey breast
- 1 Tbsp. prepared pesto
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 2 14oz cans of chicken broth
- 1/4 cup frozen diced onion
- 1 cup frozen sliced carrots
- 1 cup frozen edamame
- Optional: any frozen veggies of your choice, low sodium crackers for topping
Remove excess fat/skin from the turkey breast, but leave the main piece of skin over the top. Combine pesto, olive oil and pepper and rub all over turkey and under skin. Put turkey breast in slow cooker and pour half a can of broth around it (around, not over, as you don’t want to rinse off the seasoning). If you’re in a hurry, cook on med-high for 4 hours. If you’ll be gone all day, leave it on med-low for 7 hours. After the initial cooking time, you should be able to pull the turkey breast apart with a large fork easily without removing it from the cooker. Once it’s well separated, add frozen vegetables and remaining chicken broth. Turn up to high and cook for another 30-45 mins, or until it has reached and held a simmer for at least 15 minutes.
Serve hot with crumbled crackers on top. Whoever is served the piece of turkey skin can just discard it.
Turn your cooker back down to med-low to keep it warm for seconds. Save leftovers in fridge or freezer.