Mad About...

Pj's
Getting dressed up everyday to go to work in heels can be so annoying! I love to lounge in some pj's on the weekends and usually they are the first thing I put on when I get home from work. I recently dropped by Victoria's Secret for the semi-annual sale and scored big time when I saw these super comfortable pj's, I feel so grown up in them.

Celery

Yes celery, I am mad about celery. With the new year resolution to drop all the extra baggage I have put on since the holidays I am going low-carb. I have learned celery is something very handy to keep around. I have been using it for different soups and snacks. The crunch of celery takes the place of chips or popcorn for me.

Yummy Celery Snack ideas:

• Celery and Peanut Butter (my personal fav)
• Celery and low-fat cream cheese
• Celery and hummus
• Celery and guacamole (I make a killer guac)

Applegate Turkey Bacon
OMG, I am defiantly mad about this stuff, Applegate turkey bacon. Turkey bacon is such a great healthy substitute for normal bacon, but I have never really been the biggest fan. Most turkey bacon is very high in sodium and never tasted that great to me, until now. Holy junk this stuff is good, at only 35 calories a slice and one slice is all you need. Try it along side some eggs in the morning...uh, yum!

Soup

I have been a soup making machine lately, again the whole low-carb syndrome. Soups are great for quick lunches or dinners, they are also a great way to get in a ton of wholesome veggies for the day to fill you up and make you feel great. I have been making big batches of soups on Sunday's and portioning them out for the week ahead. My current personal favorite soup to make that is super easy  and completely low-carb is the 17-day-diet chicken vegetable soup.

The best thing about this recipe is you can add or substitute any low-carb veggies you want! I usually substitute eggplant for the okra (not a big okra fan) and for extra-low carb goodness I leave out the carrots. I also prefer poaching the chicken and shredding it as opposed to baking it and cutting it into cubes, but play around with it and see what you like!

Ingredients

4 Chicken breasts

2 cups chopped cabbage

3 large carrot sliced bite size (leave out for xtra low-carb)

1 onion diced or chopped

4 celery stocks diced

1 can crushed tomatoes, large (I have used diced tomatoes as well for a chunkier version)

1 can chicken broth (10.75oz) (I have made it with vegetable broth as well)

1 Cup of water

.5 teaspoon salt, (I use sea salt)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Bake chicken till done and cut into chunks. Place all ingredients except the chicken in large pan and simmer for one hour or until veggies are soft. Add chicken and heat thoroughly.

Makes 6 servings

To learn more about the 17 day diet, visit the website here. Also, there is a very informative blog on the diet here.