Recipe: Resolve to be Awesome

This whole resolution thing can be a self fulfilling prophecy of failure! No one ever commits to anything realistic and it becomes all about extremes. People spontaneously go all or nothing. How does anyone win that way?! They don’t.

Ssssh I’m here to help. I’m a self admitted carboholic, thank you for feeling my pain. The best trick I have for other carboholics is to have your carbs in soup form, and always order or serve yourself the small portion. Then pair your soup with a super gigantic salad.

Cheaters Minestrone
Yields 2 quarts

3-4 quarts low sodium chicken broth
1 can white bean (chef’s choice: cannellini, pinto, garbanzo, black eyed pea, navy bean)
16 ounces crushed tomato
1 large yellow onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, lightly crushed (don’t mash them you’ll be taking them out later)
1/2 cup celery diced
1 cup zucchini diced
1/2 cup carrot diced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 1/2 cups cooked small shaped pasta

Execute:
Put everything in a large pot except for broth and pasta. Bring to a simmer, taste and season. Add broth, bring to a boil and then simmer down to a bit over half. Taste and season.

Serve with pasta at the bottom of the bowl. The soup will heat thru pasta.

Super Salad
1 large salad

1 head of romaine, trimmed, cleaned, outer leaves discarded
2 ounces your choice lettuce, spinach, watercress, arugula, turnip greens shredded
1/2 cup beans, chef’s choice: chickpea, black bean, kidney, lentil
1/3 cup veggies, chef’s choice: roasted red pepper, zucchini, grilled eggplant, cauliflower, green pepper, carrots
1/3 cup fruit, chef’s choice: any kind of berry, citrus, melon
1/3 cup crunchy, chef’s choice: tortilla chips, Chinese fried noodle, crispy onion, nuts, veggie chips
3 ounces protein, chef’s choice: chicken, salmon, albacore tuna, shrimp, grilled pork loin, cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Equal parts vinegar or citrus and olive oil

Execute:
Mix everything together except for the crunchy stuff. Add small amounts of vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Remember it’s easy to add, difficult to take away. Taste and season. Top with crunchy stuff.

Enjoy!