Artichoke, tortellini and Tomato Soup

My dear friend Christina made this soup for a lady's baby shower. I absolutely fell in love with it. I made it tonight and it was a BLISS! Healthy to eat and easy to make.

2 tbsp olive oil
6 white mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can quartered artichoke heart, drained
4 cup chicken broth
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
9 oz cheese tortellini
1 lb fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

Heat a large soup pot over med-high heat. Heat olive oil, mushrooms, and onions, season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Add artichoke, chicken broth, and tomatoes, bring to boil. Add tortellini and return to boil, then reduce heat to simmer for about 4-5 minutes. Fold in spinach, top soup with parmesan cheese if desired.

Peanut butter Banana Oat Cookies

Healthiest cookies, no flour, no sugar, high protein, very filling, good for breakfast or snack.

2 ripe bananas (mashed)
1/3 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1&1/2 cup quick oatmeal
1/4 cup chopped nuts (peanut, walnut.....)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix mashed banana, peanut butter, add apple sauce, protein powder, mix well.
Add oatmeal and nuts. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.
Drop cookie dough, by spoonfuls, onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, flatten cookies into rounds.
Bake for 30 minutes.

Garden Chicken Cacciatore (in slow cooker)

I was looking for low-carbonate & high-protein meals and I found this recipe in a cooking magazine. Tried and we liked it. Simple, yummy and healthy.

2 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 onion, chopped
2 green peppers or broccoli (chopped)
1 can diced tomato, (Italian style, with oregano, basil and garlic), undrained
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste ( I didn't have tomato paste at home and I used salsa, still good)
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
minced garlic,
2tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water

Place chicken in slow cooker. Add chopped onion, vegetables.
In a bowl, combine diced tomato, tomato paste, garlic, salt, pepper, pour over chicken and vegetables. Pour chicken broth over. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Combine cornstarch and water, stir into slow cooker, cook until sauce is thickened.

Salmon-Vegetable Bake

We have lots of salmons thanks to my husband's fishing trip in Kenai. Found this recipe in New Cookbook. Healthy and yummy!

1 pound fresh or frozen salmon
2 cups thinly sliced carrots (4 medium)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups sliced green onions (4)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 cloves garlic, halved
4 tsp olive oil
lime juice (optional)

    Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse, pat dry with paper towel. Cut into four serving-size pieces.
    In a small saucepan, cook carrots in a small amount of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain.
    Tear off four 24-inch pieces of 18-inch-wide heavy foil. Fold each in half to make four 18*12-inch pieces.
    In a large bowl combine carrots, mushrooms, green onions, oregano, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, garlic, toss gently.
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Divide vegetables among the four pieces of foil, place vegetables in center of each piece. Place on fish piece on top of each vegetable portion. Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil over each fish piece. Sprinkle lightly with additional salt and pepper. Bring together two opposite foil edges and seal with a double fold. Fold remaining edges together to completely enclose the food, allowing space for steam to build. Place the foil packets in a single layer in a large baking pan.
    Bake about 30 minutes. To serve, transfer the packets to dinner plates. Sprinkle with lime juice if desired.

Caramel Apple Crisp

A recipe from Pinterest. Best dessert for a cold rainy day when served warm.

3 cup old-fashioned oats
2 cup all-purpose flour
1&1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup butter, cubed
8 cup thinly sliced peeled tart apples (about 6 Granny Smith apples)
14 oz packaged caramel candies
1 cup apple cider
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9*13-in baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Press half of the mixture into the baking dish. Layer half of the apples, caramels and 1 cup oat mixture. Repeat layers. Pour 1/2 cup cider over top.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Drizzle with remaining cider, bake for another 20 minutes.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Beef &Tomato Pasta Casserole

Saw this recipe on Pinterest, tried it immediately. And Everybody said it's really good.

1 lb ground beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
8 ounces bow tie pasta or macaroni
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package instruction.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook ground beef, garlic, oregano, basil, onion, green pepper, salt and black pepper until beef is brown and vegetables are tender.
Drain fat.
Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce to beef mixture, simmer for 5 minutes.
Mix beef mixture with cooked pasta and place in a 9*13-in baking dish.
Top casserole with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

Crockpot Italian Seasoning Chicken

Got this recipe from Pinterest. Me and my husband loved it so much!You only four ingredients and it's super easy to make. Perfect for workdays: throw everything in slower cooker and when you come home a few hours later, a delicious meal is ready.

2-4 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese (let it soften in room temperature)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package Italian dressing seasoning
vegetables (optional) (I added chopped broccoli and sliced carrots)
Cooked rice

In a bowl, stir cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, seasoning together. Place chicken breasts in slower cooker, (place vegetables), stir in the mixture over the chicken breasts. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. After it's cooked, shred or cut chicken into strips for easier eating. Serve with cooked rice.