Category: Food

Easy Taco Soup Supreme

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Easy Taco Soup Supreme

If you’re like me, when cold weather hits, you are looking for something you can cook that is warm, filling, and tasty. You can only cook so much chili before everyone is tired of it. I was recently inspired to try taco soup after a lady at my church served it at a women’s meeting. However, the recipes I found online for it called for ingredients I didn’t have on hand. You know me… I decided to just make up my own recipe and call it “Easy Taco Soup Supreme” and see how it turned out. It was amazingly delicious and filling and will be a new favorite for my family. Continue reading Easy Taco Soup Supreme

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Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

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Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but I say that to be really inventive, you have to look at the world in an unusual way. That is how the idea for this protein cookie on a paper bag was born.

For about two weeks now, I’ve been experimenting with my cookie in a mug recipe to try to make it a bit better (mainly moister). It’s been a frustrating endeavor. I’ve tried adding different ingredients, adjusting cook times and so on.

I wanted a cookie that was:

  • Low carb
  • Would satisfy a sweet craving
  • Had added protein to keep me satisfied for a while
  • Had healthy fat for the same reason
  • Could be microwaved
  • Could be created in single serving sizes, so I didn’t eat to many of them

I tried everything from adding an egg yolk (this made the cookie so cake-like that I hated it) to adding more liquid, which just gave me a runny goo. The goo tasted good, but was not anything like a cookie.

Today, it finally hit me that the problem might not be with my batter as much as the vessel I was cooking the cookie in. I use parchment paper for nearly everything, but tearing off a piece small enough to fit in the microwave isn’t always feasible. Still, I wondered if moving the batter to a piece of parchment would make a difference in the final product. Of course, I knew it would.

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That is when I opened my cabinet to grab my bag of Jay Robb – Egg White Vanilla Protein Powder. I love this protein powder. It doesn’t have the after taste of some others out there and it is extremely low in carbs (2 net carbs per serving). I can’t speak for his other flavors, but I love the vanilla for making protein cookies and smoothies.

Well, since my cabinet is a mess, as you know if you read my articles this week about organizing it (x and x), my Paper Lunch Bags that I keep on hand for popcorn in the microwave fell on my head.

This was my light bulb moment. Would the paper bags work in a similar way to the parchment paper when cooking my protein cookie? It was certainly worth a try. I am happy to report that the cookie was perfection.

I was able to lift the lunch bag down and eat the cookie off it with a fork. The cookie is made of protein powder (and stuff, info below), so you won’t be able to pick it up and eat it like a cookie with flour. However, use a fork and I promise you that you will have a great, filling, healthy treat.

Let me know what you think! I’m definitely making this one again.

protein cookie
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Brown Paper Bag Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
Author: Crabby Housewife
Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoon or a pat of real butter (grass fed is even better)
  • 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter the only ingredient should be peanuts and possibly salt
  • 2 pinches of Splenda or sweetener of choice
  • 1/2 - 2/3 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder
  • Atkins chocolate covered candies optional
Instructions
  1. In a mug, place butter and peanut butter. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds or until melted. Stir.
  2. Add Splenda. I don't actually measure this. I just pinch some between my thumb and forefinger and throw into the mug. I do this twice and the taste is just right. Stir thoroughly.
  3. Add 1/2 scoop of the protein powder. Stir. The mixture should be like regular cookie batter in consistency or similar to Play-dough. If not, add a bit more until you get it there.
  4. Lay out your paper bag (still closed). Spoon the cookie mix on top and spread it out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
  5. If you are adding candies, press into the top now. You could also add nuts, sugar free sprinkles, sugar free toffee or other item of your choice.
  6. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Allow to cool for a minute and then eat right off the bag with a fork.
Recipe Notes

Want something different? Try using 1 Tablespoon of butter, leave out the peanut butter, add fresh berries for a raspberry flavored sugar cookie.
You could also replace the vanilla whey with chocolate for a chocolate cookie. Yum!

Want to support our site? You can get everything you need to make this cookie using the links below.

Note that grassfed butter is very pricey. You won’t use much for this recipe and it will last you a really long time. However, if it isn’t in your budget, any butter from the grocery will do as will any protein powder. Some protein powders have a strong aftertaste, so your results may vary if you choose not to use Jay Robb.

Hope you enjoy this cookie!

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New Year’s Detox Plan – Food Based

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New Year’s Detox Plan – Food Based

I’ve spent the last few weeks researching and reading a lot about detox. There is something about a new year that makes me want to get organized, declutter, clean things out – and that includes my body.

Good health is something that is easy to take for granted, but something which we should guard. However, doing a complete detox, such as a juice fast, is just never going to happen in this household. For one thing, we love food way too much. For another, I can’t imagine existing on juice for weeks while keeping my regular pace. I need protein I can chew.

First, I want to say I’m not a doctor. I’m not a dietician. I only know what I’ve read and studied just like you. I may not always get it right. So, please, please always consult with a doctor or professional before trying what I’m trying or any other plan. It is always best to be smart and look after your health in this way. While you’re at it, you should also have your doctor test things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides.

This will all give you a baseline reading and you’ll be able to clearly see how eating healthier and adding a little exercise to your life helps improve your health. The proof is in the numbers.

That said, the book I most enjoyed reading was Dr. Ian Smith’s The Shred Power Cleanse. While I’m not following his plan exactly as written, if you have the willpower of say an Olympic athlete, you probably could do well on this plan. What I did take away from his plan that I think is smart is to drink a high powered, antioxidant filled smoothie to start each day. And also to eat cleaner and avoid the junk.

So, I am going to continue with my meal replacement plan in the new year and try to lose the rest of my weight. I’m in no hurry. I want to be healthier. I’m not running a mad dash, but a lifelong stroll. Here is my plan:

  • DIY Meal Replacement Plan like Medifast and similar
  • Purple Smoothie shake from Ian Smith once a day to help detox my body
  • Giving up diet cola (Lord, help me with this one, because I am so addicted to it and it is so very bad for me)
  • Eating as many whole foods as possible
  • Adding even more vegetables and antioxidant rich fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
  • More water. Since I drink so many diet colas, I’ve been drinking less water. Water flushes our bodies and is so good for us. My goal is at least 6 glasses each day.
  • More exercise. I started a yoga class once a week but got away from going. I plan to restart on Monday and do gentle walking on my treadmill other days. At least 20 min a day 5 days a week to start. More later.
  • Less toxins in my home, too. I’m trying to do things more naturally. I became a Young Living distributor, so I can get a discount on essential oils and I’ve started drinking NingXia Red juice every day (which can also help with detoxing). It is rich in antioxidants. I plan to switch to their oral care line and their cleaning products later in the year, as I can afford it.

So, you can see that detoxing is an ongoing process. However, I don’t feel that it is an all or nothing proposition. If you can only add a berry rich smoothie with a little spinach and some chia seed to your daily diet, then that WILL still benefit you.

Will you see results as fast as someone who goes all out? Of course not. But something you do for your health is ALWAYS better than doing nothing for your health.

Happy New Year! Let’s work on being healthier together in little ways, big ways, and everything in between.

Lori Soard, the Crabby Housewife

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Super Easy French Bread

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Super Easy French Bread

French bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. This bread goes perfect with pasta or soup. However, making it takes forever. I like to make my own bread when I can to control the ingredients, limit the sugar in it, and use whole ingredients.

Please pardon my photos. They aren’t the best in the world and I cut the bread in half to make sure the center was done before snapping the pictures. It was done and delicious, by the way.

I started to look for a solution to bake my own French bread without having to knead it, let it rise, punch it down, knead some more. That’s so much work and this isn’t the 1950s.

Here is the recipe I came up with based on my old recipe books, some trial and error and looking at other bread machine recipes I had on hand. The result was a tasty, simple bread that paired perfectly with our dinner.

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Super Easy French Bread
Author: Crabby Housewife
Ingredients
  • 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour can use bread flour if that is what you have on hand
  • 1 packet yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 1/4 cups warm water
Instructions
  1. Add flour to your bread machine baking insert.
  2. Make a small crater in the center of the flour and pour yeast packet inside.
  3. Sprinkle sugar on top of yeast.
  4. Add salt and baking powder around outside edge of crater.
  5. Pour water on top and set bread machine to "dough" setting.
  6. When bread machine is finished, divide dough in half and shape into long, narrow loaves.
  7. Cover and let rise 60-90 minutes more.
  8. Bake at 450-degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes (about 20 in a gas oven and about 25 in electric) or until crust is golden brown.
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