Butternut Squash, Kale & Turkey Sausage Crockpot Soup

Here's a quick crockpot soup that's absolutely delicious and full of all kinds of good stuff.  I use my crockpot(s...I have six) all Fall/Winter long and this creation was a favorite with the entire fam.  Enjoy!  Feel free to make it vegetarian by substituting Vegetable Stock and omitting the Turkey Sausage.  But don't leave out my secret ingredient...just a bit of applesauce!  It gives it a tiny bit of sweetness that tastes amazing. This also makes a huge batch, feel free to halve this (but I like leftovers).

Butternut Squash, Kale & Turkey Sausage Crockpot Soup

Ingredients:
3 cups chopped Butternut Squash (bite-sized pieces)
3 cups chopped Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cups Kale, torn in small pieces
1.5 lbs Turkey Sausage
64 ounces Chicken Broth (homemade or storebought)
1/2 cup unsweetened Applesauce
1 Tablespoon fresh sage, diced
1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary, diced
1/2 cup Rainbow Quinoa, uncooked
Shredded parmesan, optional, for serving

Directions:
Brown turkey sausage in a medium saucepan until cooked. (this is actually optional but I like to cook my sausage first).  Place  all other ingredients in a 6-quart Crockpot and cook on low  heat for 6-8 hours. Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese and with crusty bread.  Serves 10.

Back to the Future Cake

Great Scott!!

Is it really 10/21/2015?

I haven't been posting much except on Social Media but couldn't let today go by without a Back to the Future Cake!  So, grab three (yes, THREE) ingredients and let's go on a culinary adventure...no need to put your shoes on, where we're going we don't need roads.

Doc's Tab Soda & Toffee Chocolate Dump Cake

Ingredients:
1 Can TAB Soda (or any soda)

1/2 cup Toffee Bits
1 box Betty Crocker Triple Fudge Cake Mix
Icing (optional) or Whipped Cream, for garnish

Directions:
I'm almost embarrassed at how easy this is.  Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 x 13 cake pan.  In a medium bowl, combine cake mix and soda, pour into pan.

 Sprinkle toffee bits over cake batter.  Bake 35-40 minutes until set.

It's delicious served up just like this w/ a little whipped cream!

OR

Since this was ridiculously easy, if you want to you can get crazy and frost the cake "Welcome Home Uncle Joey" style.

If you want to download and print this DeLorean Time Clock, click on the image below or HERE.
Have fun and The Future is YOURS, make it amazing!!

Blondies, Turkey Meatballs and Insta

Hey Foodie Friends!

I know I haven't posted on here in forever. However, I love sharing food things with all of you and hearing from you!

To help keep the food ideas and conversation flowing, I've been posting more on social media sites, a ton of you are already there but if you haven't yet, come follow me on Instagram! It's fast, fun, and I'm sharing quick recipes and fitness ideas (and also I can multi-task by stalking my tween's friends;)). Or, you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Here are couple recipes we recently posted, come join the conversation and please share your own food photos/ideas that you'd like featured!

 Turkey Meatballs 

So easy to throw into pastas, soups, on top of salads, you name it.  I make up a batch of these bad boys almost every weekend!

Ingredients:
-32 ounces ground turkey
-2 cups shredded veggies (whatever floats your boat--I used a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, orange bell pepper and onion)
-1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
-salt & pepper to taste
-and the secret ingredient: 1 Tbsp sugar free grape jelly!! (Do it, I swear it's good)
Directions:
Mix all together, roll into 1-inch balls, place on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Makes 50. 

One-Bowl Blondies

Adapted from How To Cook Everything

 So easy the kids can make them while you get a Sunday nap. If you don't have this recipe in your go-to collection, give it a try! They're fantastic and a staple around this joint.

Ingredients:
One stick (4 ounces, 113 g) Butter
1 cup (218 g) Brown Sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup (125 g) white flour
1 cup TOTAL of your favorite mix-ins: chocolate chips, raisins, pecans, white chocolate chips, the possibilities are endless. (I used dark chocolate chunks and pecans for these)

Directions: preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Grease an 8" x 8" square pan or a 9" round pie pan. Melt butter in microwave safe bowl for 60 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until center is set. Cool and cut into bars.

Notes: no, it wasn't a typo, there isn't any leavening (baking soda or powder) in these bars. Just sugary, buttery goodness.