Creamy Dreamy Skinny Wifey Soup

Not to be #basic- BUT OMG YOU GUYS I JUST LITERALLY MADE THE MOST AMAZING SOUP AND IT’S HEALTHY!!

Presenting….a Kale, Potato, Cauliflower soup that’s ; virtually fat-free, vegan and super healthy. Oh and its really flipping good too and beyond easy to make.

it's 21 degrees but this will make you feel COZY

it’s 21 degrees outside today but this will make you feel super duper cozy

Giddy Up!

WHAT YOU NEED: 

  • a head of cauliflower- chopped roughly, stems thrown away
  • 2 large potatoes – chopped into chunks (see photo later for reference)
  • half a yellow onion chopped
  • two bunches of kale, with the leaves pulled off stems thrown away, then the leaves are massaged in olive oil to break them down
  • 3 or so cloves of garlic minced
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 4 cups veggie stock
  • around 4 cups of water- or enough to cover the stuff in the pot
  • 4 stalks of celery diced
  • a lemon cut in half
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • a blender
  • a big pot

WHAT TO DO: 

  • heat the pot and dump in the 2tbs of olive oil, the onion and garlic.
this pot is about to make magic happen

this pot is about to make magic happen

*Here’s a quickie on how to chop an onion*

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cut the end off the onion but leave the other side in tact

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slice the onion in half- the long way

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BE CAREFUL as you place your non knife palm down on the top of the onion and use your knife to cut 3-4 sideways half moon cuts along the side of the onion

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now turn the onion and make cuts the other way across the top (from top to bottom), but don’t cut all the way to the very bottom so it holds together while you cut

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turn the onion to the side (like in step 1) and cut along the other cuts you just made- cutting right to left. This is how you dice an onion! * thanks Kendall Culinary for helping me learn!*

  •  Let the onion and garlic “sweat” or brown for 2 mins or so, then dump in the cut potatoes, cauliflower, celery, veggie stock and water.
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ignore the butter, I SWEAR I didn’t use it. This pic is to show you the size of the potato chunks

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I basically cut the celery down the stalk into pieces this size

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rough chopped cauliflower, potato and celery

  • Now it’s time for a massage…YES! For the kale- sorry- you need to book your own (you deserve it!). After you’ve pulled the leaf from the stem and put all the leaves in a bowl, douse them with olive oil and …well…massage them with clean hands until evenly coated and relaxed.
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I used two of these bad boys

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ooo lala see how much zexier this kale is after a good rubdown!?

  • Add the kale into the mix and stir. You can salt and pepper with every big stir.
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massage!?! we want a belly rub!

  • Once this pot is boiling, turn the heat to a simmer and cover with a lid.

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  • You’re going to have about 35 mins to do whatever you need to do; set the table, get the blender out, jump in the shower, stalk your crush on instagram- no judgement!
  • After about 35-40 mins your potatoes and cauliflower will be nice and soft- it’s time to get that blender ready.
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I’m an ugly ducking now, but watch me become the zexiest swan EVER in a hot second.

  • Transfer equal amounts of stuff and liquid to the blender but ONLY FILL IT 3/4 the way.
  • Squeeze the juice of one half of the lemon, add salt and pepper.
  • Now puree that stuff like the bad b#$ch you are until it looks even (takes about 30 seconds).
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what a transformation!

  • Now, pour that into a bowl and repeat with remaining soup.
  • Serve with bread, crackers or pizza- cause this stuff is GUILT free!!!

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All Week Long Lunch

This weekend I enrolled in Kendall Culinary School’s “boot camp” and I learned a ton of cool cooking stuff – BUT I got even more intel on what 20 Something’s are looking for when it comes to their daily habits.

NEWS FLASH: 20 Something’s make or break everything (notice I capitalized “something’s” cause they are everything)- so I borderline question-raped these poor three girls and dove in head first- asking questions about their dating life:

Where do singles go… what they like to look at on-line… and what they would actually watch/read when it comes to cooking?!?

According to my new bff’s* – they want recipes that will last all week- not rocket science – BUT they also want the stuff to taste good and be semi healthy…and cost efficient.

*BFF’s- I’m sure they were trying to shake the “old gurl” all day long- but that didn’t stop me trying to fit in. 

This post is dedicated to any lady or dude who’s so busy that making food seems like death- but spending $$ is even more brutal.

I challenge you to take a rotisserie chicken and make it last Mon-Wed. (cause the weekends are meant for eatin’ and weekends start on thursday/thurs night, am I wrong?!).

Monday:

Cheesy  Enchiladas (with chicken)

Tuesday:

Cheater Chicken Noodle Soup

Wednesday:

Mamma Zink’s Chicken Pot Puff Pie

Thursday:

If you still have left over chicken- make chicken salad sandos (a little mayo, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and a toasted bagel *in the toaster oven* with some cheddar cheese is beyond )- BOO YA GRANDMA.

Zexy Mamma Bars

One of my pregnant girlfriends has been craving nothing but cookies for weeks, opting to hit up health food stores for the more nutritious kind.

So I decided to try and make her something that would both hit the spot and be good for the little one and found this version and pretty much stuck to it, although there is a tiny Wifey Kitchen twist involved.

They are NO BAKE and BEYOND simple. I think they’d be perfect for a snack for kids or to bring to work in lieu of donuts or something less healthy.

what is that in your hand mom?

what is that in your hand mom?

I WANT!!! *these are actually dog safe as well*

I WANT!!! *if you skip the chocolate- then these are actually dog friendly as well, as long as your pooch doesn’t have a nut allergy*

*The only part that MAY trip you up happens with the dates* (our food processor happened to be broken so I used the blender)

Zexy Mamma Bars

What You Need:

  • a loaf pan (I got mine from Jewel Osco, it’s disposable- that way you don’t have to worry about getting it back)
  • a cup of dates (take out the pits)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3/4 cup almond butter
  • 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
  • 1 and 1/2 cup of rolled oats
  • a quarter of a bar of 70% dark chocolate bar
  • plastic wrap
  • a cookie sheet
  • *optional- a grater

What to Do:

  • lay the oats and nuts out evenly on a cookie sheet and toast them for about 12 mins at 350
  • put the dates into a food processor or blender and chop them finely
  • heat up the almond butter and honey on low in a small pot or in the microwave
  • take the oats and nuts out and combine them with the dates, honey, almond butter- stir until everything is equally mashed and while you do this either break your bar into chunks and drop them into the mix OR grate the bar in to the bowl while you mix it up
  • lay some plastic wrap at the bottom of your pan
  • put the mixture into the pan , spread it out then cover with another piece of plastic and mash it down into a thick bar
  • throw it in the freezer for around 20 mins, then cut and serve!