Foods and A Happy.
I found this recipe on Pinterest and want to try it. Here’s the original:
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
some chopped carrot
some chopped celery
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
4 cups chicken broth
2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 Tablespoon flour
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup milk
2 cups chopped broccoli
2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese
Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 or 2 additional minutes. Add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender. Mix flour with water, add, and simmer until soup is slightly thickened. Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.
I was thinking I would change it to fit my diet plan by 1) Eliminating the butter. I never saute veggies for soup anyway. I just let them soften in the broth. 2) Either leaving out the potatoes or replacing them with sweet potatoes. I’m not sure how the sweet potatoes would taste in this, though. What do you think? And 3) Using skim milk, reduced fat cheese, low-sodium broth. And adding cauliflower, with possibly other veggies thrown in, too. Spinach maybe? Zucchini or squash? Garbanzo beans?
What do you think? Does it sound good?
I’ve been doing pretty well with the eating plan, I think. The meals so far have been: ribeye on the grill, with a large veggie-filled salad on the side. Another night was whole wheat penne, made with chunky garden pasta sauce (store bought. label me lazy) and ground turkey meatballs, served with steamed green beans. Then I made an asparagus/broccoli/red pepper/carrot stir fry using thin slices of the leftover steak, served with an egg roll (that violated my “meat from a 4-legged animal only once a week” rule but I couldn’t let ribeye go to waste!). And last night was grilled skinless chicken breasts, with roasted carrots/parsnips/zucchini.
Tonight I was gonna make the soup (meatless! yay!), and maybe make some bread but I don’t know. Bread isn’t really on my plan, but soup and bread just plain go together. The End. 
I’ve still gotta do one fish meal (I was gonna plunge right into some salmon. I’ve never touched the stuff before, either to eat or cook, so this should be an epic fail, I figure. But I’m gonna do it anyway!) and I need one leafy salad meal. I’ll probably just do a chef salad with either chicken or turkey, eggs, the works. I know salads like that can end up being pretty calorie-filled, but still healthy(ish), right? And if that’s the whole meal, even better?
In other news, we’ve been busy outside- or at least I have been, and M has been when he’s had the time. Last night we built and replaced a sagging gate on the privacy fence, and planted 5 raspberry bushes. Oh, and I finally planted that st00pid lilac bush. I planted it on the corner of the garage in the back yard, which, if we put in the patio he wants to put in, will be right in sight of (in smell of!) the patio. So far all we’ve done on that front is measure out the dimensions and talk supplies and how best to build the damn thing. Naturally, we want to have it on the one nice grassy area of the whole sandpit- er, I mean back yard. But there’s just nowhere else to put it that makes sense or looks good when you factor in the placement of the house, the garage, and the upper deck stairs. Maybe I can move that sod, though, if I can figure out how to get it up.
In the area out front, we’ve decided to stop trying to fight nature and just go with it. We’ve got this horseshoe shaped area in the front of the house that is just a jungle of wild blueberries and overgrown brush. We’ve checked into scraping the whole thing and starting from scratch, but you start talking how deep you’d have to scrape to get at the root systems, and then it would need to be filled back in with dirt so it didn’t turn into a bog when it rains- that starts to get pricey. It’s much too difficult to do by hand, we’ve tried; it’s rocky and the roots are deep and strong. So! I happen to like the jungle look. Or so I’m telling myself. 
We’re going to try and clear just enough to make a couple of gravel pathways. He’s got his flagpole set up in the middle so I’m thinking we’ll start with an arbor (cuz arbors are pretty!) centered on the front edge with one pathway going to the flagpole and two more pathways branched off- one to the mailbox and one to a bench set under the pine tree (maybe). We planted the raspberry bushes out there, and we’re gonna plant a couple of dwarf apple trees there. I have a bunch of wildflower seeds to plant in random patches, too. I’d like to get some good sized blueberry bushes to add to the wild patches, and maybe some other berry type things. In a few years it’ll be a fruit and wildflower jungle out there. Or so I’m hoping.
And THEN, for the deck, I saw this picture on Pinterest:
And I want THAT. Bad. We were gonna make the back deck into a screen house anyway, so that, with a little modification, could work. Isn’t it purty? I want that same seating and e’erything.
I want lots of things.
Also, it sounds like we’ll close on the house by the end of the week. Unless something crops up that we aren’t expecting, which would totally suck.
The garden pretty much bit the dust in the last frost, except for the onions. Meh. I quit for this year. Yup. What little bit survived, or is struggling to recover, probably won’t produce anything in the time left. I don’t care. M said he’s gonna make me a green house, a little one, for next year.
The flowers look good, though. The daylilies are just opening now, and the phlox haven’t opened yet, but the hostas look good and the rest is doing great.
Them’s my yard work stories.
It looks like Jes will be moved within a few weeks. Do airlines offer chaperones for adults? lol. She’s terrified. She’s never flown before! She’s afraid she’ll get sick or panic or something and she’ll be there alone with a 3 year old– she’s freaking out. Oy. Her freaking out makes me freak out.
Things are in a real good place right now. I feel great. M and I are awesome. My kids are finding themselves and sorting themselves out. The animals are healthy. Everything is just good.
That means something bad is gonna happen!
Pessimism. I have some.
Ps. Also, this. THIS is why I luff him so.
Uncategorized | kaya | 
June 25, 2012 8:59 am
Hello! I am a bit of a lurker and have not posted before, but I have a wonderful fish recipe that is super easy and awesome. Take 4 pieces of cod, pat them dry, smear just a teensy bit of mayo on the top of them. After that, take one of those lunch size bag of potato chips (any flavor, plain, sour cream and onion, jalepeno is awesome) and crunch them up fine and sprinkle on the top of the fish and bake for 15ish minutes at 350. Cod is done when it flakes and its a really mild fish. Good for beginners. And one lunch bag of chips spread over 4 pieces isn’t too shabby calorie speaking. Good luck to you! LOVE your blog!
I think the soup sounds great – going to make it myself actually! and wrt the low fat cheese – if you use a strongly flavoured one rather than a mild cheese you can cut the quantity you use by about half as it tastes more “Cheesy” – that way you can reduce the fat content even further.
As far as the salmon goes, you will be fine as long as you don’t overcook it – it needs to be really lightly cooked – ideally until it is just just firm to the touch. I usually bake it in the oven with some lemon juice and S&P, or put it on one of those thin maple planks you can buy in the supermarket and cook it on the grill – either way, no more than 5-10 mins (and start checking it after 5!) give it a poke with your finger and if it feels firmish it is done.
Hi chica!
I made a ton of salmon while I was dieting (oh god, need to get back on that train SO BADLY.) Anyway – super easy salmon – buy the “no name” brand salmon in individual packets. These are awesome because they come with little red poppers that pop up when they are cooked. Wrap them in tin foil packets, put lemon slices on them. Throw them in the oven per the instructions on the back – I seem to recall 375 for about 20 minutes. Eat. Easy and delish. 
Kaya,
Soup sounds great! Being from the deep south, we used to have one meatless dinner a week. Usually some dried bean soup, (Navy,Pinto, or Lima). Big salad and cornbread. If we didn’t have salad, we had collard greens or kale. Mom always threw in a can of creamed corn made it kinda like a souffle. Corn and Beans together supposedly make a complete protein. Was very filling.
Fish is easy to fix. Living in Florida, we eat a lot of seafood. Just don’t over cook the fish and dry it out. UGH!
The description of your yard and plans for patio and arbors sound so awesome. Can you send some of your energy this way? Happy to know the ‘dumb’ lilac bush finally got planted.
Loved the picture…
Joyce
Okay, I’m going to go completely against the grain here and say do whatever the hell you want with your salmon. For me, and my family we can’t stand the texture of fish cooked in little packets. Too moist. Can’t do it. Texture throws me off too badly. I thaw the salmon then put a little olive oil in a pan and cook it that way. Generally I season it with whatever I have on hand but my favorite is dousing it in pepper then using fresh lemon once it’s on my plate.
Yum! Yup, throw in some chopped spinach and garbanzo beans for bulk, if you want more bulk.
Love soups!
(Incidentally, there’s a cookbook called Love Soup. It is vegetarian, well written. I’ve tried a few of the recipes in it; they’re fantastic)
You may want to rethink the no butter part of the soup. Adding the butter right at the beginning and then the flour into it forms the roux which will thicken and flavor your “chowder.” Without it, the soup will not have the same consistency. The same goes for the potatoes. As they cook, they release starch which will help to thicken the “chowder”. “Chowders are suppose to be rich and thick. Good luck!
What Serene said about the salmon, that’s what I do too and Dan loves it. He isn’t into fish, either.
That back deck is gorgeous, Pinterest is dangerous! lol
Adorable pic of Grandpa and BabyGirl! Very sweet…
I love all fish but catfish and mahi mahi. However, I do like my fish more on the overcooked side than undercooked. I love it on the grill or baked, if we cook it on the grill we put it on foil with a piece of foil lightly over it. This keeps it moist but not too moist. You will just have to try different recipes. I am sure you will find a couple of types of fish that you love!
Sauteing the veggies helps to bring out all their natural flavor for the soup, and it should be noted that not all fats are inherently evil. I’d consider substituting olive oil for the butter, it’s a heart healthy fat and while it won’t be as tasty as if the veggies are sauteed in butter, it might very well be an improvement over boiled veggies in terms of flavor . . .
Cheddar-broccoli-potato soup is delicious….but it ain’t healthy
Sauteing your veggies before adding the water isn’t about softening them, it’s about the flavor. This recipe doesn’t have any spices in it, but for those that do- cooking your veggies in those spices (you can use oil, butter or even just a small amount of water) will help to infuse them with flavor. It’s totally worth it.
Low fat dairy is really not that great. I’d suggest a stronger cheese and less of it (in the regular, full-fat version) instead of low-fat.
So- real cheese, add way more veggies….and go! And, if you’re making this soup, I have to say, I’d probably use less potatoes but I would still use them. I think the texture you’re looking for is going to come from the potatoes (plus it will be a familiar flavor combo – all the easier to sneak more veggies by!)
reading this made me hungry! – I have a very similar veggie chowder recipe which has no potatoes but does have cauliflower..it’s delicious..so I say go for it! …in fact I liked mine so much I actually made myself sick cause I couldn’t stop eating it! hahaha
I would saute at least the onions and maybe the celery and carrots too…it will give it a depth of flavor that you won’t get otherwise..but if ya wanna skip the butter maybe just use a bit of olive oil
as for the fish…if you’re worried you’ll screw it up, get yourself a digital probe thermometer (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Digital-Cooking-Thermometer-Probe/dp/B001GD1WHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340659917&sr=8-1&keywords=probe+thermometer+digital) I haven’t screwed up a single piece of meat or fish or even so much as dried out a meatloaf since I started using mine!
ok off to read more..I didn’t know you existed till Amber and Mimi sent me here haa
I’m sure I sound like a total nut just busting in..but I’m sure they can assure you that well…I AM! hahaha
Comments from teh man reading over my shoulder about your proposed changes to the soup…
If you do all that to the soup the first time, all you’ll get is veggie water with cheese sprinkles in it. You’ll need all the butter and sauteing and whatnot to begin with to make it a chowder. Do it like the recipe first, then slowly make changes to it.
Another meatless recipe if you are interested is…
http://www.cookstr.com/recipes/tofu-and-mushroom-stroganoff. I did it minus the peppers. Another variation is ketchup instead of peanut butter. For some reason with the ketchup, it gave it a slightly more hearty taste. And if you use sour cream, just put that in at the very end, and it all works out.
Another fun place to find recipes is…
http://whatthefuckshouldimakefordinner.com/veg.php
And I have a good fish recipe that I’ll send ya as soon as I find it.
Enjoy and I hope that helps!
I have a solution if you get tired of your jungle look. Fence it off and put some sheep or goats in there. Shortly they will eat everything up and you can start over.
oh man! You had me at carrots and parsnips…but throw in the sun porch? Oh, love love love!!
Do you have any adventist book stores (also known as ABC shop) near you? They sell a LOT of vegetarian foods. Also Market basket here sells a company named Gardien(might be Gardein?)…their proteins are wicked good, and almost meat-like. YUM!
Soup sounds good, but I’d use white beans (navy beans?) coz they are sweet and tender. You can boil them up yourself and freeze them in portions (muffin containers work well for this) and then pop them into soups. Makes it very frugal and adds less salt into your food. Each muffin cup is 1/2 a cup. ONce frozen, pop them out of the cups and into a ziplock bag.
Try Halibut for your fish..nice “steaks” a bit drier than other fish..I don’t like “wet” fish…nor am I a fan of raw sushi..or overly delicate fish to cook that fall apart..and are a pain in the ass…but halibut is a good..easy fish..doesn’t fall apart etc. Can bake it, or simply pan fry it with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon..excellent.