{Comfort Food: Soup and Protein}

Seth had been gone working at the fire station all day, I forgot to get out any frozen protein, I knew I really needed a good protein for dinner, and I'm trying to get the whole THM thing.... soooo 'what to make?'  Especially since pregnant mommy was thinking some "comfort food" sounded good (like Campbell's Tomato Soup) Well, there was canned salmon in the pantry... and I came across one of Serene and Pearl's soup recipes when flipping through the book looking for the salmon patty recipe, soooo suddenly I had dinner idea! =)
Menu:
Salmon Patties - Trim Healthy Mama "S" and Better Than Campbell's Tomato Soup - also THM "S" and small salad (leftover steamed broccoli and cauliflower for the kids).

 So the salmon patties were super easy to throw together... one can of Salmon (mine was a small can from Costco), a bit of oatmeal, one egg, celtic sea salt, pepper, a good dash of Oregano, and mix together and form three patties.  Cook up/fry in a generous amount of coconut oil.
We had them with a bit of ranch dressing as they did seem to need some sauce.  But overall, they were quite good!  (and both kiddos really liked them!!! Hooray!)  Next time, if I have them, I'd definitely add regular or green onion, basil or cilantro, spritz of fresh lemon, etc.  =)

So this tomato soup was super yummy, even though I did put too much cayenne pepper in for me! Especially for summer!  Boy, does it warm ya' up! lol! =)  By the way, I think this was my first time at making homemade tomato soup, and I was quite happy it turned out! (I've had some crummy stuff of the homemade.)  (Thanks to Serene and Pearl for a good recipe =)  

{Lemon Poppyseed Muffin in a Mug}

I'm linking what I made this afternoon for a snack as I didn't take any pictures, and there are great pics and recipe tutorial of the same over here at Gwen's Nest!  It was quite different, and I think if I actually had the good kind of stevia (as she used) AND real poppy seeds (not just chia seeds, which is what I used)... then I think it could be DELICIOUS! =)

Even tho' it did taste different  it was good (even Mercy wanted her own! =) and so helped that I'm-pregnant-and-it's-afternoon-and-I-need-a-snack-NOW! Lol =D  PlusI knew it was really good for me... better than the cookie dough calling my name.  Not that there was any made, but I am sure I can whip up a batch pretty quick =)
Oh, and for those interested, this recipe is Trim Healthy Mama approved.  It's actually a variation, I believe, of the THM "Muffin in a Mug".  =)

http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/low-carb-lemon-poppyseed-muffin/



Oh, and by the way... when I can, I'm so making that red berry syrupy sauce... doesn't it look amazing?!?!?  =)

{Cabbage Rolls}

I made the Trim Healthy Mama {Cabbage Rolls} recipe for dinner tonight!  I have never had cabbage rolls so I really have nothing to compare them to, but Seth and I thought they were pretty good =)
Hey and the good news?!  I actually took PICTURES! Aren't ya' proud of me?! Lol! =D  Been trying to keep up with my blogs but with how busy summer time is, trying to hardly cook anything (especially not in the oven) while it's so hot, and just being the pregnant and tired out mommy that I am.... I've obviously been failing miserably at keeping "up" with my blogging! ),=
But.  I'm trying! =)  Hehe...
...so here's another tried and true dinner recipe, and it's even THM =)

Cabbage Rolls - 

-Trim Healthy Mama - S (meaning, "S"atisfying... balanced protein, low carbs, higher fats) pg. 312 -

1 head cabbage - 1 lb ground beef - 1 eggs - onion - green pepper - seas salt and other seasonings - tomato sauce or diced tomatoes - Worcester sauce 

1. Cut off the bottom part of a whole head of cabbage, carefully peel off approx. 5-7 leaves.  Blanch the leaves in boiling water for 5 minutes to soften.
2. In a bowl, mix 2 lbs ground beef with 1 egg, 1 finely chopped onion, and 1 finely chopped green pepper.
Season beef filling mix with desired seasonings - salt, pepper, chili powder, and onion powder are good options.
3. Fill the middle of each blanched cabbage leaf and roll it up, tucking the sides in as you roll so you end up with an enclosed cylindrical shape. (If you can do this with all of them, kuddos to you, because it so didn't happen with mine! Lol)
4. Put rolls in crockpot and cover with 1 (8oz) can of tomato sauce, or 1 can diced or crushed tomatoes seasoned with Worcester (worcestershire) sauce, sea salt, and pepper.
5. Cook on med/high in crockpot for 7-9 hours.  NOTE:  Since I pre-cooked the ground beef, my rolls did not need this long.  I also can't imagine blanching the cabbage in the boiling water for 5 minutes.  I only cooked the rolls 4-5 hours and the cabbage was plenty done!
6.  Serve hot =)
Pearl and Serene add, "Once you're in S helper stage, you may add some quinoa to the meat/egg mixture." Also, I should note that the recipe in the book is actually for a double batch, but not only does my crockpot not hold that many (approx. 14 rolls!) but my family doesn't eat that much!!!  =)  We also had leftovers, but I am thinking that once the older two are a little older that it'll be all eaten up! =)

 I dry heat sauteed the onions...

 ...and added green and red bell peppers.  Such yummy deep flavors!

 Cooked the ground beef and seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and chili powder.  

 Here are the cabbage rolls (sorry no pics of the blanching process... not only did I beg Seth for help, as I kept ripping the leaves horribly... it was slightly hectic in the kitchen this early afternoon while I was trying to put it all together! =).  Also... this is double layer, and the bottom had four beautiful rolls; alas the top ones were piece-mealed together!  Oh well =) 

 I used diced tomatoes, added the Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, and dumped it on! =)

 This is what it looked like at about 4- 4.5 hours.  Cabbage leaves were cooked through and very soft and since I had cooked the ground beef before making them, it was definitely ready to eat! =) 

Mmmm.... here's to a savory  new dinner!  =) 

http://www.trimhealthymama.com/