Well, here we go, day one! lol; bear with me!
Of course I woke this morning at the crack of you know what since my body so conveniently forgot that we set the clocks back and I was entitled to an extra hour of sleep. So I pulled myself out of bed; started the coffee and watched the sunrise over Marblehead Harbor as the lobster boats were making their way out for today's catch.
So I'll start today's first blog with what I believe to be some great tips and then I'll throw in a recipe for you all to enjoy.
I've always found that on Sundays at the larger grocery chains (Shaws and Stop and Shop here) you should really pay attention to sales and really "hunt" through the store. I say Sundays are best because it's the end of the shopping weekend and stores are trying to get rid of produce and meats for the new week of shipments on Monday and restocking. Don't be afraid of buying the discounted "must sell by" date items. Stock up! You can save a ton of money by buying meats with the sell by date. What you do is either buy what you'll cook that day/ night or you buy items that you put in freezer bags and freeze until you're ready to eat them. They will not go bad if you do this. Obviously don't buy an item that's going to expire that day and leave it thawed for days...not a good idea.
You can also save on other items such as bakery items that are heavily discounted. Also don't forget to check out the areas where they'll have dented items...these are great ways to save, just make sure you inspect the cans/ boxes for dents that have openings in the cans/ box. Otherwise you're in luck!
And of course, last but certainly not least for my shopping tips of the day...don't be too proud or stingy to clip and use those coupons. Some stores even let you double up and you can really save on those discounted items when you also use your coupons ontop of the existing discount!
Okay...so, now onto today's recipe! Please note, aside from when I bake I don't follow measurements. A cook cooks a chef creates...so, create! Enjoy! If you really need measurements just let me know and I can give you a better idea but honestly it's all about taste and what you like.
Not sure where you are but it's a cold, windy and grey day here in Marblehead...a perfect day for today's menu.
Pull out that crockpot!
Turkey Soup Provencal and Pesto Pinwheels
Turkey Soup Provencal
What you'll need:
-2 cans of diced tomatoes with garlic and onion (do not drain)
-1 can of coconut milk
-about 2 pounds of ground turkey breast (you can also substitute any ground meat you like such as chicken, pork, beef, etc)
-To taste - dried herbs de provence, crushed (you may also substitute or even add to this dried basil or thyme)
-Olive oil
-Salt and pepper to taste
-about 2 cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
-Fresh parsley
-2 cans of white beans, I prefer cannellini beans, (do not drain)
-2 cans or boxes of chicken broth or stock
-about 4 to 5 cups of chopped fresh spinach, you can even add more if you prefer more spinach
How you'll do it:
-In your slow cooker, add all of the ingredients except for your turkey and turn the slow cooker on high heat, give it a good stir and cover it
-In a saute pan, coat the bottom with olive oil, add your garlic and saute the garlic to sweat it out a bit; then add your ground turkey (or meat of choice) and brown the meat. Once it's browned, drain the meat and add it to your crockpot.
-Give the crockpot a good stir, turn the heat to low and let it do its magic for about four hours
-Serve with fresh parsley, roughly chopped and tossed on top
*tip* You can also add pasta to this, which is also another way to make this a truly yummy and filling soup. Also, voila...put your leftovers in containers or in the freezer for quick meals throughout the week or later on!
Now, for the pinwheels (yummy for dipping in your freshly made soup)
What you'll need:
-can of crescent rolls
-cheat...and get a jar of pesto
-Olive Oil
-Grated or Shredded Parmesan Cheese
How you'll do it:
-unfold the crescent rolls into individual triangles
-spread your pesto onto each triangle
-roll each triangle into your crescent shape
-brush the top of each roll with olive oil and then sprinkle the parm cheese ontop
-bake at around 325 for about 10 minutes or until golden brown on a cookie/ baking sheet
ENJOY!
Well, I hope my first blog wasn't too horrendous! ;o) Would love some feedback!
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