Winter Vegetables

Today, I need to use up winter vegetables. I also need dishes that will fit into my pre-op diet which is pretty basic. I couldn't quite find a recipe that appealed tome, so I am going to do what we used to call potluck. I am going to take all the vegetables I have and make a fresh vegetable soup. Seems an appropriate dish for a snowy winter day.

 "Pot Luck" Vegetable Soup
 Note: This soup is made with vegetables I had in my kitchen. You may use whatever you have available.

•  1/2 head cabbage*, chopped
•  2 turnips*, peeled and diced
•  1 large Yukon gold potato*, peeled and diced
•  celery heart and leaves (about 4 stalks), sliced
•  6 oz mushrooms, quartered
•  2 cups sweet corn*, frozen or fresh
• 2 cups frozen peas
•  1 small sweet potato*, peeled and diced
•  12 cups water
•  4 Tbsp beef stock flavoring ^
• 1 tsp dried thyme
•  1 Tbsp dried marjoram
•  1 bay leaf
•  1 Tbsp minced garlic

 Prepare all vegetables and place in large Dutch oven or stockpot. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over med-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are well cooked.

^Note:Use a good beef, chicken or vegetable stock if you have one. I did not have one, so I used a stock base.

*CSA ingredients 

SuperBowl Sunday

Ok, so lets start with the morning.  I started cooking as soon as I got up because I knew it would take all day to cook the soup.  But I was hungry, so here's what I had for breakfast:

Spinach Feta Kielbasa Scrambled Eggs

Makes 1 serving

• 1 lg egg*
• 2 egg whites*
• 2 oz kielbasa, sliced and quartered*
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 1/4 cup feta, crumbled*
• garlic powder (to taste)

In a small saucepan, add kielbasa and spinach.  Cook until spinach begins to wilt.  In the meantime, beat egg and egg whites in small bowl with garlic powder.  Pour over spinach, sprinkle with feta cheese and cook, stirring, until eggs are just barely wet.

*CSA items

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 10pts

Now,  for dinner/SuperBowl, I made queso dip (Velveeta and Rotel) and the following soup.  I will admit I am a sucker for the cabbage soup at Big Boy.  So, taking a cue from Lindsay Allen, I attempted to recreate it.  I have to admit, it turned out pretty darn good.  I did add to it by adding kielbasa, which changes the flavor a bit, but it turned out quite good.

Cabbage Soup

Makes 8 servings

• 5 cups cabbage, coarsely chopped*
• 1 med onion, diced
• 1 med green pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz kielbasa, sliced and quartered*
• 1 (28-oz) can whole tomatoes, hand crushed
• 2 cups low-sodium tomato juice
• 1 1/2 cups fat-free chicken broth
• 1/2 stick butter*

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add onions and saute about 1 minute.  Add green peppers and garlic and continue sauteeing until onions just become transleuscent.  All all ingredients to crockpot, cover and cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours, or until cabbage is cooked.  Makes about 8 1-cup servings.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value (per 1 cup serving): 5 points

Beginning of cooking

Finished

It's always nice to have time to cook for the week.  Just wish I could actually be watching the game. Time to find a good movie to put on!