Me, Tomatoes and Popcorn

I will admit tomatoes aren't my favorite thing, but i do like ketchup, so that's a start. I usually find myself cutting up a food of these and adding into some salads or maybe into my veggie burritos (more on those later in another blog) but for today's inspiration, i found a great little receipe on All Recipes that got me to thinking. Could I make a tomato inspired soup, fresh , with great seasonings and no salt? Now, I know what you thinking but it can be done. So this receipe is quick and really simple. I am not a chef, so anything I post here, will be very simplicistic where you can add to this and I won't put a cup of this or a teaspoon of that. Just make sure to measure at your will, and enjoy them in a healthy meal.



Pam's Tomato Soup:

Fresh Tomatoes or a Can of cut up tomatoes
Basil
Oregano
Minced Garlic
Garlic Salt / Garlic Powder
1 Can of Tomato Paste
Chicken Stock
Calories: 120 calories a bowl / zero fat




Time: Ten to Fifteen minutes





Methodology:




Cut up your fresh tomatoes and put in a bowl; once you have finished cutting them, either puree the bowl or you can choose to place in a pot with some chicken stock, water, and your can of tomato paste. Cook for a few minutes, make sure to toss in your seasonings, and the minced garlic. Cook on low heat until finished. Let sit and serve with fresh basil or oregano. Goes great with a spinach or other salad.




Now, I know what you are thinking Tomatoes, now popcorn. But see, it's all about healthy options and it is also about eating snacks. I would never lie, I love love love popcorn. I am an old school homemade popcorn chick. I do not cook microwave popcorn unless I'm totally lazy. Thus tonight is a popcorn night because I have the Hurt Locker to check out and I want to have a great snack. If you know anything about popcorn, you know it has a lot of fiber. But the kind you get out of the store doesn't have that much of it because popcorn is produced in such a way that removes a lot of it during the process to create a quick snack. This receipe below is a combination of testing and trying out things, and keeping it all simple. Again, use seasonings and measurements at YOUR WILL.




Homemade Popcorn with Almonds:

Popcorn Kernels
Salt
Oil
Honey
Almonds

Calories: 25 calories a cup / 5 grams of fiber / zero fat (without butter); with butter add 9 grams of fat


Take one teaspoon of olive or canola oil and place in a pot. Once it has heated up, put your kernels in the pot and let it heat up and cook. When all kernels have cooked, transfer your popcorn to a bowl, add some butter (at will), along with honey and almonds for a treat that your mouth will thank you later for. Now, compare the homemade popcorn with 'your microwaved' version and tell me it isn't better? If not, oh well, your mouth isn't ready for a new cuisine!




Inspirational thought of the day: Resilence




It is a powerful thing that you can tap into anytime. When you need a light, turn to your soul and turn on the light of love and compassion. It can get your far on the dark days of life.




See you next week:

Pam