Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup

When it is in the negative temps, what else sounds better than some warm soup! I really enjoy trying new healthy recipe's while my husband is away, and of course EASY recipes. This one I found on Pintrest from here. I adapted it into a crock pot recipe.

 

Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup

I put the chicken in raw on the bottom of the crock pot (of course, if you wish, you can cook it before it enters the crock pot).

Top the chicken with all the vegetables; onions, zucchini, carrots and tomatoes.

I then added the broths (I used half chicken broth and half vegetable broth) and spices.

It turned out DELICIOUS!

 

The chicken cooked perfectly, it was so easy to shred,

For lunch I added in brown rice with it, because I wanted to have a healthy grain with my meal.  

For dinner, I did not add anything to it.

Ingredients:

• 2 table spoons extra virgin olive oil (I did not use this)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 4 garlic cloves, minced ( I probably used 6, garlic is good for you)
• 2 1/2 cups quartered and sliced zucchini
• 1 (28 ounce) can dices tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken stock (I used 2 cups chicken and 2 cups vegetable, and you could do 4 cups vegetable if you wanted)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used 2 hormone free chicken breasts)
• Sea Salt to taste (I also added pepper)

Instructions:

• Add all ingredients into a crock pot
• cook on high for 4 hours (after those 4 hours, I kept mine on warm for another 4 hours to get all the flavors mixed together)
• Then enjoy!

 

Paradise Island

Josh and I were fortunate enough to join a few of his co-workers on a trip to The Bahamas. We stayed at the Atlantis Resort. Pictures do not even do this resort justice. It was absolutely breathtaking! Josh and I had such a wonderful and relaxing time. It was also nice for me to get to get to know some of his co-workers a little bit better. We would definitely go back!

This is one of the many slides they have in the pool area. This particular one goes through the shark tank.

This was a view from where I sat by the pool each day.

My cutie hubby!

Brian and Quinton hanging out with the sharks.

Josh's getting ready to go down one of the slides! He had a blast!

Inside the resort I felt like everything was just massive!

Our group! What a fun vacation!

I was thankful we were invited to go! If anyone has a chance to vacation to the Bahamas, I would encourage you to go!

Kelly's Korner, Show Us Your Singles

After seeing the "Show Us Your Singles" post on Kelly's blog today, I e-mailed my sister right away to ask if it was okay I linked up to it. So here we are.

I would like to introduce you to my sister Danielle.

She is one of the most amazing people I have ever known. Yes, of course I am bias because she is my sister and best friend, but truly she has a heart of gold. 

My sister and I on my wedding day (Best MOH)

She is beautiful.
She is smart.
She is loyal.
She puts in 110% for everything she does.
She is a hard worker.
She is a dog lover.
She is a sports fanatic, and probably could beat you in Fantasy Football.

Currently she is living in St. Petersburg, Florida and is working as a Business Analyst at a well known financial company.

She likes to travel.
She likes to be with family and friends, especially family!
She likes to Crossfit.

Miami, FL with my sister, my brother in-law and my husband

She is a wonderful sister, daughter, godmother, sister in law, friend and so much more!
She is always ready for a good time.

Danielle and a good friend of hers.

Danielle and another good friend.

To get to know more about my sister, please e-mail her at dhthygesen@gmail.com! There have been couples that have met because of Kelly's Korner and been married!

Happy New Year

I am hoping 2014 is the best year yet! I have a few things on my list that I hope to happen in 2014.

I've been a little MIA lately. I have my husband home, so I am trying to enjoy every second with him. I also was lucky enough to have my sister come visit us over Christmas. I am not going to lie, I cried like a baby when she left. I really enjoyed having her here and just being able to spend time with her. Maybe someday we will live closer. (#wishfulthinking).

Here are a couple pictures I actually captured (or I mean my sister captured) over the holidays.

Sister and I (LOVE HER)

The BEST Bloody Mary's at Babes Steak House.

Josh and Jason doing dishes after Christmas Dinner, they were thrilled.

My family. Wish my mom had been here also.

Danielle, Joelle and I at dinner.

Jason and his cousins Jamie's Baby! Cutie!

Our attempt of a picture before we went out on New Year's Eve.

 

New Year's Day over at Josh's dads watching Iowa play.

My #1 Hope for 2014 is to become a parent. Josh and I are anxious, so hopefully 2014 is nice to us! I guess we will see...