What You Need:

2 1/2 lbs fresh broccoli, chopped

1 T unsalted margarine

Water

2 C fat free milk

1/2 C light processed cheese, cubed

How to Make It:

Remove any tough stalks from the broccoli and discard.

Place the chopped broccoli into the crock pot.

Dot the margarine over the broccoli.

Fill the crock pot with just enough water to cover the broccoli pieces.

Cover and cook on the high temperature setting for 2 hours.

Pour in the milk, recover and continue cooking 30 minutes.

Stir in the cheese, recover and continue cooking 20 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted into the soup.

Serving Size:  6

There’s very little fat in this soup.  If you want a little meat with your soup chop some cooked ham and add it to crock pot at the same time you add the broccoli. 

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What You Need:

1 lb turkey breast cut in cubes

1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 C pumpkin, peeled, seeded and cubed

1 onion, chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/2 C frozen corn

1/2 C chicken broth

1 T chili powder

1 (4 oz) pkg. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

Place the turkey into the crock pot.

Pour the tomatoes and juice on top of the turkey.

Add in the black beans.

Pour the tomato sauce into the mixture and stir to combine.

Add the pumpkin, onion, garlic and corn.

Stir in the chicken broth.

Sprinkle in the chili powder and mix the ingredients together well.

Cover and cook on the low temperature setting for 10 hours.

Sprinkle the cheese over the top just before serving.

Serving Size: 6

The individual flavors stand out in this chili.  Add a 1/2 C of dried cranberries to the mix for a slightly different taste. If your chili is too thick add more chicken broth during the cooking time. 

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What You Need:

1 lb beef chuck, boneless and cut into cubes

2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano

2 (14 oz) can beef broth

1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 C carrots, sliced thin

1 small onion chopped

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1 C bow tie pasta, uncooked

How to Make It:

Place the cubed beef into the crock pot.

Add the tomatoes, with the juice, to the crock pot.

Pour both cans of broth into the crock pot.

Stir in both types of beans.

Add in the sliced carrots and chopped onions.

Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and stir to incorporate the ingredients together.

Cover and cook on the low temperature setting 8 hours.

Stir in the uncooked pasta.

Recover, set the heat to high and continue cooking 40 minutes or until the pasta is tender.

Serving Size:  8

In a hurry then cook this soup on the high setting for 4 hours.  Remember the additional time for the pasta cook.  When ready to serve sprinkle the top of each bowl with a little grated Parmesan cheese. 

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Dried fruits can serve as a healthy alternative to candy. Instead of reaching for chocolate or a piece of hard candy, the kids will reach for a dried pineapple or apple slices. The sweetness of the fruit is concentrated when it is dried and bursts forth with every bite.

Learning to dry fruit is a fairly easy process. You don’t need to buy any fancy equipment. Investing in a few sealing jars would be nice so that storing the fruit will be easier, but it isn’t a necessity.  Sealing jars can be found fairly inexpensive at many supermarkets.

To start, gather all of the fruits you want to dry. Most fruits make good choices. Some of the more common ones are: pineapples, apples, plums, grapes, apricots, and tomatoes (yes they are a fruit!). If you favor lemons, limes, or other citrus fruits, you will be drying the peels and not the fruit itself.

All fruit and equipment need to be clean and thoroughly dried before beginning. Drying racks are needed if you plan on air drying outside or using an oven. Some pieces may be done before others so rotating the trays in the oven gives you a chance to remove any fruit that is already dried and replace with another.

Slice the fruit into small pieces. Apples need to be cored and peeled before slicing. Tomatoes can be cut into slices or quarters and salted before drying. Grapes and plums are okay as is because the skin doesn’t affect their taste.

If you prefer to use the microwave to dry your fruit, place small batches in the microwave on the turntable tray. Fruit pieces should be evenly spaced to allow for air circulation while drying. Set the microwave to the defrost setting in order to dry the fruit. It will take about thirty to forty-five minutes. Check after thirty minutes and gradually add time as needed. It is not recommended that tomatoes be dried via the microwave because they should be dried at approximately 120 degrees for about twenty-four hours.

You can eat some of these tasty treats as soon as they are dried or you can save some for later. If storing for later, let the fruit cool before placing in sealing jars or plastic bags. Dried fruits will keep for up to two weeks in a cool dark place. However, these fruit treats are so scrumptious they may not even last for that long.

Dried fruit has a multitude of uses.  It can be eaten as is or as a flavorful addition to ice cream, salads, pizzas, and more. Drying your fruits will save you money because it makes the fruit last longer than normal, avoid spoilage and gives you a reason to eat more of it.

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