Delicious Recipes

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Tortellini Soup

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Tortellini Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4

All of the flavours of spinach and artichoke dip in a soup with cheese tortellini.

 

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
• 8 ounces cheese tortellini
• 4 ounces low fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
• 8 ounces spinach, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup milk or cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• cayenne to taste (optional)

directions

1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minute.
2. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
3. Add the flour and cook for another minute.
4. Add the broth, artichokes and tortellini, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the tortellini is tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the cheeses, let them melt, add the spinach, let it wilt, add the milk, season with salt, pepper and cayenne to taste and remove from heat.

Option: Omit the tortellini to make the soup more of an appetizer rather than a complete meal.
Option: Replace the tortellini with cooked, shredded chicken and/or white beans. (If you add white beans, pureed half of them and use them as the thickening agent instead of the flout.)
Option: Add sliced sun-dried tomatoes.
Option: Add bacon!

 

Reuben Rolls

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Thousand Island dressing
• 1/4 cup Dusseldorf mustard
• 2 tablespoons wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup minced onion (divided)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• Dash of Worcestershire sauce
• Dash of hot pepper sauce
• 8 ounces corned beef (ground or shredded)
• 6 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
• 1/2 cup sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
• 12 to 15 egg roll wrappers
• Vegetable oil

Southwest Vegetarian Lentil Soup
Instructions:

Make dipping sauce by combining dressing, mustard, vinegar, 1 teaspoon minced onion, the garlic, Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce. Set aside.

To make rolls: Combine corned beef, cheese, sauerkraut and remaining 1/4 cup onion and mix well. Place about 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of an egg roll wrapper. Roll up as directed on package, sealing edges with a little water.

Deep-fry rolls in 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil, heated to 325 to 350 degrees, until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, turning to brown evenly. When done, remove from oil with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Serve with dipping sauce.

Makes 12 to 15 rolls. 3 cups vegetable broth

1 large onion, chopped

1 can (10 ounces) mild diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained

1 cup mild salsa

1 cup dried lentils, rinsed

1 cup frozen corn

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies

3 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 package (16 ounces) firm tofu, drained and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives

Contouring!

Contouring and highlighting help sculpt your face to enhance your natural shadows and bone structure. Yet contouring is one of the most frequently left-out steps in makeup applications. That’s because a minefield of the make-up world, contouring is something that can go badly wrong- but it is easily doable for anyone with just a few simple tips.

Highlighting works with contouring. For example, when you contour your cheeks, you apply contour in the hallow area and highlight the apples. You also highlight the brow bone to open the eye and give depth to the crease area.

Queen of contouring, Kim Kardashian looks like an average gal when bare faced, but slims down and plays up her features with the help of her makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic.

 To contour Nose: To slim your nose you would apply the contouring shade on each side of your nose, blending carefully, and the highlighter down the center of your nose.

To contour Cheekbones: To enhance the cheekbones, suck in your cheeks, apply a darker shade to the hollows and a highlighter to the top of the cheekbones. Then apply blush as normal. Don't over do it!

To contour Forehead: If you have a wide forehead, apply a light bronzer to each temple and blend. This will create a shadow effect causing the head to look more rounded.

To contour Chin: For a small, thin chin, apply highlighter to the center of the chin, directly under the center of the lip. To minimize a double chin, apply bronzer  along the jaw line and blend it down, towards your neck. This creates depth and helps to strengthen the jaw line.
You should always apply contouring color on your neck to your shirt line to avoid a "mask" look.

To contour Eyes: Used at the back corner of the eye going upward toward the temple.

To contour Lips: To slim full lips, apply a deep shade of lip color to the entire lip. If you want to plump up thin lips, you can apply a light lip color with shimmer or gloss. Then apply highlighter between the peaks of the upper lip and below the center of the lower lip. This makes thin lips look full and gives a pouty
appearance.

Get your contouring kit here:Coastal Scents Contour and Blush Palette or Coastal Scents Professional Camouflage Concealer Palette

My Mini Vision Board

Spring Cleaning Checklist!

I love spring cleaning. It is an opportunity to throw open the windows, let some fresh air in, and make our homes clean, happy spaces.  Don't be scared by the size of this list, many of the jobs are small ones that will go by quickly, and you'll be so glad you took the time to do them!


FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.
2. Wash walls and trim
3. Wash doors, knobs
4. Wash bench or other furnishings.  Launder bench cushion, if applicable.
5. Empty out coat closet.  Wash walls and floor, if needed.  Sort items as you return them to the closet.  Store out of season items, donate unneeded items. 
6. Clean or replace entry mat.
7. Sweep and scrub floors.  
8. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Dust furniture.
3. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate Items you no longer need. 
4.  Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly.  Donate items you no longer need.  Try not to store things on closet floor.
5. Move Bed.  Sort and put away anything that was under bed.  Sweep or vacuum under bed.  Try not to store things under bed.
6. Put bed back.  Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.
7. Launder bedding and curtains.  Wash pillows and duvet in hot water.  Air out mattress pad, if you have one.
8. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.
9. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
10. Wash switch plates.  Wash walls and trim as needed.
11. Wash mirrors or dust art.
12. Wash doors and doorknobs.
13. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
14. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

BATHROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Empty all cabinets and vanity.  Wash inside, replace items neatly.  Discard expired medications and cosmetics.
3. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities
4. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.
5. Clean toilet, inside and out.  Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.
6. Clean sink and drain.
7. Shine faucets.
8. Clean mirror and frame .
9. Dust light fixtures. 
10. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.
11. Wash switch plates.  wash walls and trim.  Wash doors and door knobs.
12. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
13.  Sweep and wash floors.  
14. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

1. Open windows.
2. Remove and clean window coverings. 
3. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate unneeded items.
4. Wash and sanitize cutting boards
5. Sharpen knives
6. Wash cabinet doors and knobs
7. Clean and organize pantry.  Check food expiry dates.
8. Clean oven.
9. Clean stove top.  Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.
10. Clean and organize fridge and freezer.  Defrost freezer, if necessary.  Check food expiry dates.
11. Clean under fridge and stove.
12. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
13. Clean microwave.
14. Clean crumbs out of toaster.
15. Clean and descale kettle.
16. Wipe down any other counter appliances
17. wash counters and back splash.
18. Wash and shine sink.  Shine faucet. Clean drain.
19. Clean Dishwasher.
20. Dust light fixtures.
21. Wash windows and window sills.  Remove window screens and wash.
22. Wash switch plates.  
23. Wash walls and trim as needed.
24. Wash doors and door knobs.
25. Wash floor registers and other vent covers
26. Sweep and wash floor.  
27. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

DINING ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash curtains.
3. Wipe down table and chairs.
4. Wipe down or dust other furnishing.
5. Clean chair pads, if applicable.
6. Polish table, if necessary
7. Create a pretty spring vignette on table!
8. Dust any displayed china or serving dishes.
9. Launder table linens.
10. Shine silverware.
11. Dust art.
12. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
13. Wash switch plates
14. Wash walls and trim.
15. Wash doors and door knobs
16. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
17. Clean floors.

 LIVING ROOM/ FAMILY ROOM/ PLAYROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Vacuum sofas.
3. Spot clean sofas, if applicable.
4. Launder throw pillows and blankets.
5. Dust shelves, furniture and decor.
6. Clean lamps and lampshades.
7. Wash windows and window sills.
8. Take out and wash window screens.
9. Clean television screen.
10. Carefully dust electronics.
11. Tidy electronics wires.  Tuck nicely out of sight.  Label them, if practical.
12. Sort through music and DVD collections.  Purge things that no longer suit your families interests.  Organize what is left in an attractive manner.
13. Sort books and magazines.  Donate or recycle ones that no longer suit your families interests.
14. Wash hard plastic children's toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry.  Launder stuffed toys.  Donate or store toys that your children have grown too old for.
15. Wash switch plates.
16. Wash walls and trim as needed.
17. Wash doors and knobs.
18. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
19. Clean floors.

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash windows and window sills.
3. Take out and wash window screens.
4. Wash cabinet doors.
5. Wash inside cabinets.
6. Wash laundry sink.  Shine faucet.  Clean drains.
7. Wash outside of washer and dryer.
8. Wash inside of washing machine.
9. Wash lint trap with soap and water to remove filmy build-up from laundry soaps and dryer sheets. Let air dry thoroughly before putting back in place.
10. Wash switch plates.
11. Wash walls and trim.
12. Wash doors and door knobs.
13. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
14. sweep and wash floors. 
15. Reseal grout lines, if applicable. 

STAIRWELLS

1. sweep/vacuum stairs
2. Spot clean walls.
3. Wipe down handrail.
4. Dust art and light fixtures.

OUTSIDE

1. Sweep porches and walkway.
2. Wash thresholds.
3. Wash exterior doors.  Give front door a fresh coat of paint, if necessary.
4. Clean or replace welcome mat.
5. Wash siding.

REMEMBER TO:

• Clean blades of ceiling fans.
• Sort through and organize family photographs (digitally or into albums).
• Sort and clean any extra zones such as linen closets, utility closets and office spaces.

School?

 This is a hot topic right now our schools are dedicated to preparing people to be employees working for the rich, another aspect that I like about school is, and dare to label children ready or fools at an early age. The reason why this issue affects me is because I labeled it silly, from the beginning, and not that it was silly, but I was bored and had no interest, and I could choose any material that interested me, and nobody could tell me how or where I was going to use Calculus???? I kept asking my teacher, how and where will I use Calculus? And simply could not give me an answer. Or they train you to become an employee, or they train you to be “street smart”. Today I prefer to be “street smart”.   I’ve met all kinds of people, some are highly educated, and some have no education. I thought, wow they’re doing pretty well, did not go to school but are packed with real estate, and you began to see a pattern develop, when you see that many people who did not go to college is still very smart, and have created a wealth of their own.
Entrepreneurs who did not Finish School.
Steve Jobs – Apple Bill Gates – Microsoft Michael Dell – Dell Computers Henry Ford – Ford Motor Company Richard Branson – Virgin Kemmons Wilson – Holiday Inn Hotels Jerry Yang – Yahoo Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook Mary Kay – Mary Kay Inc Russell Simmons – Def Jam Records Ted Turner – CNN J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter Empire Colonel Harland Sanders – Kentucky Fried Chicken John Mackey – Whole Foods David Neeleman – JetBlue John D. Rockefeller SR. – Standard Oil Ray Kroc – McDonalds Ralph Lauren – Polo Michael Lazaridis – Research in Motion Blackberry Tom Anderson – MySpace Walt Disney – Disneyland Tyra Banks – Bankable Production Jay Van Andel – Amway Cornelius Vanderbilt – Railroad Tycoon Albert Einstein – Father of the Atomic Age Thomas Edison – General Electric.

So, to School? or not to school? This photo explains my answer.

Clear your Mind.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't get your mind to shut off?  If your thoughts are becoming louder than a heavy metal concert, try using one of the tools below. You'll have a clear, calm mind in no time.

Write it out -- then throw it out

      

Putting pen to paper could help. Physically writing out negative thoughts and throwing them away can help clear your mind.

Meditate on nothing

      

Voices in our heads can be annoying, most of us are so entranced by non-stop conversation we're having with ourselves that we aren't even aware we have a voice in our head. Solution? Meditate. Meditation allows you focus on one thing and, with practice, helps you to pull your thoughts back when they start to wander.

Press play and run away

     

Next time you head out for your run, make sure to grab that iPod. Exercising with music activates the makes everything better. No sad songs though.

Get that shuteye

     

 Next time your brain is clouded with thoughts and you're feeling that mental fatigue, let your head hit the pillow. Taking a 10-minute nap can increase your alertness and productivity and recent research found that sleep also clears out the clutter in your brain at a cellular level.

Start talking

      

If your head is buzzing with stressful thoughts, talking it out can help. Being around your best friend during tough times can help alleviate stressful emotions.

Happy Spring!!

Yaaay! Spring is finally here! I hope everyone is enoying today.. come check out the new posts today and tonight, I'm just getting them done now. Don't forget to follow my blog! -XOXO-M