Mushroom & Zucchini Soup

I made a trip to Produce Junction and bought a huge bag of mushrooms. I found this recipe on Pinterest to help use up the mushrooms!

As always, I adjusted the recipe to use Tastefully Simple products. 

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh mushrooms, chopped

One large zucchini, chopped

One medium onion, chopped

2 tsp Garlic Garlic

1 1/2 tsp Rustic Herb Seasoning

3 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock

1 cup coconut milk 

1 Tbs butter

Seasoned Salt to taste

Instructions:

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add Garlic Garlic, onion & Seasoned Salt to taste. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 

Add the mushrooms and Rustic Herb, cook another 5 minutes. 

Add zucchini and cook until vegetables release their juices. About 10-15 minutes. 

Add stock and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add coconut milk and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. 

Purée soup with an immersion blender or in batches in a standard blender until smooth. 

Serves 4, prep 15 minutes, cook 30 minutes. 

This is some awesome soup!! I'm bringing it in my lunch tomorrow and I froze the rest in Tupperware for later. 

Zucchini Lasagna

I found this recipe on Pinterest and adjusted it to use Tastefully Simple products. This is so much easier than I was expecting. I will definitely be making this again!

Ingredients: 

3 medium zucchinis 

Olive oil cooking spray

28 oz can crushed tomatoes 

2 tbs Garlic Garlic

2 tbs Onion Onion

2 tbs basil 

1 tsp oregano

Salt

15 oz container ricotta cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 large egg

8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

1 lb ground beef, cooked & drained

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Thinly slice zucchini length wise and place on a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt (this helps to dry them out) and let them sit for 10 minutes.

Spray olive oil on a grill pan and grill zucchini slices for about 1 minute on each side. 

In a medium sauce pan, combine tomatoes, Garlic Garlic, Onion Onion, basil, oregano & cooked beef (if using) bring to a simmer. 

In a large bowl combine ricotta, egg & Parmesan cheese. 

Using a 9x13 dish or two 8x8 dishes, spread some sauce on the bottom of pan. 

Place a layer of zucchini, then a layer of mozzarella, then ricotta. Repeat until all ingredients are used. 

Bake, covered for 45 minutes, remove foil and bake another 10 minutes. 

This amazing recipe was picky husband approved! 

Turkey Meatballs

I wanted to make mini turkey meatballs to go with all of the Tastefully Simple sauces to sample at my open house party.

Let me just say that this recipe is seriously amazing. This is my new staple!

Ingredients: 

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 tsp Garlic Garlic

1 tsp Onion Onion

1 Tbs parsley

1/4 tsp Seasoned Salt

1/4 tsp oregano 

1 egg, beaten 

1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs 

Mix all ingredients and shape into tiny meatballs. Place on a foil lined pan and cook at 350 for 7-10 minutes until lightly browned. 

Note that I made very small meatballs. Larger meatballs will require a longer cook time. 

Easy Baked Salmon

This recipe is SO simple.

Ingredients: 

Fresh Salmon

Balsamic & Basil Dipping Oil

Preheat oven to 450. Line baking sheet with foil, place salmon skin side down on foil, top with dipping oil. 

Bake for 12-15 minutes. 

I served this with steamed broccoli. 

Basil Pesto Cheese Ball

I wanted to make something new, found this recipe on the Tastefully Simple website. I served this with Ritz crackers.

Ingredients: 

2 Tbs Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto

1 tsp Garlic Garlic

2 tsp dried basil

1/4 cup real mayo

8 oz cream cheese, softened 

1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Combine first 5 ingredients with 4 Tbs of the grated cheese, reserving the remainder. Form into a ball and chill for 2 hours. Roll into reserved cheese. Makes about 12 servings. 

Ribs & Sautéed Kale

Trey has been working so hard lately so I wanted to make him a nice rib dinner. I found this slow cooker rib recipe on the Tastefully Simple Website. I ended up doing it without the BBQ sauce it called for. This recipe is so good you need to sauce!

Ingredients:

2 Tbs Garlic Garlic

2 Tbs Onion Onion

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp Seasoned Salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2-2 1/2 lbs boneless pork ribs (I used bone in)

1/2 cup water

Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl; spread over ribs. Place ribs in a greased slow cooker; add water. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. 

I put the ribs in the crockpot before I left for work, when I got home I made a kale & mushroom saute on the side. I also thawed out some frozen mashed potatoes that I made a few weeks ago. 

Here's what you need for the veggies:

Fresh Kale

Mushrooms 

Olive Oil

Garlic Garlic to taste

Seasoned Salt to taste

Tear the kale into bite sized pieces and place in pan, add mushrooms & drizzle with olive oil. Turn on medium heat and stir until lightly heated through. Turn down slightly and cover. Uncover and stir, adding in Garlic Garlic & Seasoned Salt. Keep on low/med heat until cooked to desired consistency. 

I've never made ribs before, this was such an easy first recipe! I highly recommend it. Trey even asked what I used to make the ribs - THAT good. 

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

I spent all day cleaning today so I needed a simple dinner idea. I found this recipe on the Tastefully Simple website and swapped out the spinach for broccoli being that I was out of spinach. Here's what you'll need:

Jar of Alfredo sauce

3 Tbs. TS Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto

2.5 Tbs. Olive oil

3 Tbs. Water

12 oz diced chicken, cooked

Bag of frozen broccoli, prepared

16 oz prepared pasta

Parmesean cheese (optional) 

Prepare pesto as directed on package. Set aside.

Heat Alfredo sauce in large pan, add chicken, pesto and cooked broccoli. 

Once heated through, top pasta with Alfredo mixture, sprinkle with Parmesean cheese if desired. 

Taco Salad

I love my Mexican food! Here's a simple taco salad with a Tastefully Simple twist. You'll need:

Tortillas & tortilla bowl molds

Chicken or beef 

Lettuce

TS fiesta party dip mix

TS salsa

Sour cream 

Shredded cheese

First, prepare the tortilla shells in the oven at 375 for 15 minutes

Set these aside. I actually used leftover pulled chicken, I heated this up in a skillet and added the TS fiesta party dip mix. I didn't want too spicy so I just sprinkled on top. 

Then add lettuce to your bowls, top with cheese, TS salsa, chicken and sou cream. BAM! Easy dinner!