Chicken soup - perfect to warm you during the winter months!

Chicken soup is the perfect winter weather food.  It also seems to cure all sorts of cold symptoms.  I left out noodles to keep this gluten free but feel free to add noodles, rice, quinoa or any other grain you desire.  This also freezes well and I usually keep a few single servings in my freezer for those days when I'm not feeling 100%.  As with any recipe, this is just a suggestion. Try to use as many organic ingredients as possible but especially the chicken, broth and greens (kale or spinach if used) Feel free to add or subtract ingredients and share what you ENJOY!

Ingredients:
2-3 pounds of organic chicken breasts, blanched and cut into small pieces
1 T organic extra virgin olive oil
2-10 cloves of garlic, sliced
large organic onion, chopped
8oz package of organic baby bella mushrooms, sliced
small bag of organic baby carrots, cut into thirds
dash cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1 t dried organic oregano
1 t dried dill
 (and any other herbs you'd like)
can of organic canallini/white beans, rinsed and drained (I often use 2-3 cans)
1 bag frozen organic peas (I often add frozen organic kale or spinach as well)
2 T
dried seaweed wakeme (helps the body digest beans and adds much needed iodine and other trace minerals)
6 cups organic chicken broth (this is for 3 pounds of chicken and stew like/thicker consistency - use less for 2 pounds of chicken or more for a soup like consistency)

1) Boil a large pot of salted water (enough to fully cover chicken breasts).  Once the water is rapidly boiling, add chicken breasts and cook until chicken breasts float in the water (approximately 5-10 minutes depending on size)
2) Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.  Cut up vegetables and add onion to warm oil. Allow to cook for a few minutes until translucent.  Add sliced garlic and cook for a few minutes.  Add in the broth, mushrooms, carrots and herbs.  Bring mixture to a boil.  Reduce and simmer for a few minutes or until the carrots are tender.
3) Add chicken, beans, and peas.  Bring to a boil and serve hot.
4) ENJOY!

Yummy crock pot chili - perfect GF winter meal

Crock pot chili

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 lb organic lean ground beef
1 organic onion, chopped small
5 garlic cloves, chopped (I used 20-30, didn't count)
1 can organic cannellini beans or white beans, rinsed and drained
1 can organic kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can organic black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans diced organic diced tomatoes
1 bag of organic baby carrots, chopped in thirds
1 package of mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup organic beef broth or red wine
2 Tablespoons dried pacific wakame (seaweed, aids in digestion of beans, no worries if you don't have it)
1 Tablespoon organic oregano
1 Tablespoon dark chili powder
dash cayenne pepper
1 cup organic brown or basmati rice, cooked per package directions

Heat olive oil in metal crock pot liner or sauté pan.  Brown ground beef over medium heat.  Add onions and garlic, cook until onions are translucent.  Add carrots, broth or wine.  Place liner into crock pot or pour ingredients into crock pot and turn on high for 6 hours.  Rinse all the beans and add along with the rest of the ingredients, except for the rice, to the crock pot.  Cook the rice according to package instructions just before serving the meal.  ENJOY!!!!

Easy crockpot black beans

Easy crockpot black beans with tomatoes and peppers. 

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large green or yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes
• 1 cup V-8 juice
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chile peppers
• 1 small jalapeno or serrano chile pepper, seeds and membranes removed, minced, optional
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

In a skillet over medium highheat, heat oil; add onions, bell pepper and garlic. Sauté vegetables until tender. Spoon vegetables into slow cooker.

Add remaining ingredients except salt and pepper. Cook on low 5 to 7 hours, or until stew is thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice or warm flour tortillas.
Serves 6.

Top TEN healthiest foods

Drum roll please....here are the top 10 healthiest foods - ENJOY!!!!
Update: 12/15/13 - I'm going to look for recipes that include at least one if not multiple ingredients on this list.  The only one that may be difficult mixing is the dark chocolate other than with walnuts :-) ENJOY!!!

Lemons Why They're Healthy:

-- Just one lemon has more than 100 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C, which may help increase "good" HDL cholesterol levels and strengthen bones.

-- Citrus flavonoids found in lemons may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Quick Tip:

Add a slice of lemon to your green tea. One study found that citrus increases your body's ability to absorb the antioxidants in the tea by about 80 percent.

Broccoli 

Why It's Healthy:

-- One medium stalk of broccoli contains more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement and almost 200 percent of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C -- two essential bone-building nutrients.

-- The same serving also helps stave off numerous cancers.

Quick Tip:

Zap it! Preserve up to 90 percent of broccoli's vitamin C by microwaving. (Steaming or boiling holds on to just 66 percent of the nutrient.)

Dark Chocolate

Why It's Healthy:

-- Just one-fourth of an ounce daily can reduce blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals.

-- Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants shown to reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol and increase "good" HDL levels.

Quick Tip:

A dark chocolate bar contains about 53.5 milligrams of flavonoids; a milk chocolate bar has fewer than 14.

Potatoes 

Why They're Healthy:

-- One red potato contains 66 micrograms of cell-building folate -- about the same amount found in one cup of spinach or broccoli.

-- One sweet potato has almost eight times the amount of cancer-fighting and immune-boosting vitamin A you need daily.

Quick Tip:

Let your potato cool before eating. Research shows that doing so can help you burn close to 25 percent more fat after a meal, thanks to a fat-resistant starch.

Salmon 

Why It's Healthy:

-- A great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a reduced risk of depression, heart disease, and cancer.

-- A 3-ounce serving contains almost 50 percent of your daily dose of niacin, which may protect against Alzheimer's disease and memory loss.

Quick Tip:

Opt for wild over farm-raised, which contains 16 times as much toxic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) as wild salmon.

Walnuts 

Why They're Healthy:

-- Contain the most omega-3 fatty acids, which may helpreduce cholesterol, of all nuts.

-- Omega-3s have been shown to improve mood and fight cancer; they may protect against sun damage, too (but don't skip the SPF!).

Quick Tip:

Eat a few for dessert: The antioxidant melatonin, found in walnuts, helps to regulate sleep.

Avocados 

Why They're Healthy:

-- Rich in healthy, satisfying fats proven in one study to lower cholesterol by about 22 percent.

-- One has more than half the fiber and 40 percent of the folate you need daily, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

Quick Tip:

Adding it to your salad can increase the absorption of keynutrients like beta-carotene by three to five times compared with salads without this superfood.

Garlic 

Why It's Healthy:

-- Garlic is a powerful disease fighter that can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli.

-- Allicin, a compound found in garlic, works as a potent anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help lowercholesterol and blood-pressure levels.

Quick Tip:

Crushed fresh garlic releases the most allicin. Just don't overcook; garlic exposed to high heat for more than 10 minutes loses important nutrients.

Spinach 

Why It's Healthy:

-- Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two immune-boosting antioxidants important for eye health.

-- Recent research found that among cancer-fighting fruits and veggies, spinach is one of the most effective.

Quick Tip:

Spinach is a healthy -- and flavorless -- addition to any smoothie. You won't taste it, we promise! Try blending 1 cup spinach, 1 cup grated carrots, 1 banana, 1 cup applejuice, and ice.

Beans 

Why They're Healthy:

-- Eating a serving of legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) four times a week can lower your risk of heart disease by 22 percent.

-- That same habit may also reduce your risk of breastcancer.

Quick Tip:

The darker the bean, the more antioxidants it contains. One study found that black bean hulls contain 40 times the amount of antioxidants found in white bean hulls.