Bennigan's Copycat Baked Potato Soup

This copycat soup recipe from Bennigan's is so hearty and delicious it can be served as a meal! Creamy potato soup is topped with tasty cheddar, crispy bacon and chopped scallions to create the perfect winter dish.

Serves: 4

Ingredients
 3 pounds all-purpose potatoes, scrubbed and pierced in several places
1 tablespoon stick butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onions 2 tablespoons minced garlic
14 1/2 ounces chicken broth
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 tablespoon pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.Bake potatoes 1 hour or until tender when pierced. Peel when cool enough to handle.

3. Melt Butter in a 4- to 6-quart pot over medium low heat. Stir in onions and garlic; cover and cook 10 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add 2/3 of the potatoes and mash with a potato masher. Add broth, milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.

4. Cut remaining potatoes in small cubes. Add to soup and stir gently to reheat. Sprinkle each serving with toppings. 

Thank you: http://www.recipelion.com/Restaurant-Recipes/Bennigans-Copycat-Baked-Potato-Soup/ml/1#DXtBb50bCDomO0Uy.99

OIive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana

A copycat Tuscan soup recipe just like Olive Garden’s! At least that’s what I’ve heard. When you’ve been eating homemade Italian food all of your life it’s hard to get excited over their food. I’m thinking they deserve a second chance. This delectable soup easily earned a top spot on my ‘favorite soups’ list! That’s pretty serious. Being the soup lover I am. Simple ingredients turn into something sensational. Crispy bacon and spicy Italian sausage give it tremendous flavor. Meaty potatoes and fresh kale round it out to make a completely balanced meal. With a finish of heavy cream it has an air of indulgence to it. Served with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and a wedge of crusty bread for a hearty, inspired and satisfying meal!

Zuppa Toscana

Ingredients:
4 slices bacon, cut into a small dice
1 pound hot Italian sausage, ground or links with casings removed
1 large yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups (32 ounces) chicken broth or stock
3 cups Russet potatoes, cubed
sea or kosher salt and fresh black pepper
2 loose packed cups kale, in bite size pieces
1 cup heavy cream or 14 ounce can evaporated milk
Parmesan cheese, grated, for serving

1. In a large soup pot or sauce pan cook bacon over medium until crispy. Add sausage and break it apart as it cooks. Once sausage is browned and crumbled drain off the grease leaving a tablespoon or two to saute onion.

2. Push the sausage to the edges of the pot and add onion to center; saute until translucent; add garlic; saute until fragrant.

3. Stir in broth and potatoes, season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, simmer for about 20 minute or until potatoes are tender.

4. Add kale and heavy cream or evaporated milk. Bring to a simmer. Serve with Parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

Thank you: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/zuppa-toscana/

Do You Have an Underactive Thyroid?

Thyroid problems are very common in this country. About 27 million Americans have a thyroid imbalance, but not even half of them know it, because the symptoms, including changes in energy, mood, and weight, are similar to those of many other conditions. When thyroid hormones become unbalanced — when their levels in the body are either too high or too low — chemical reactions throughout the body are thrown off. Do you feel sluggish or have you started to pile on extra pounds that you can't blame on a poor diet or lack of exercise? These symptoms and others, including "brain fog," coarse hair and skin, depression, exhaustion, joint pains, constipation, and high blood pressure, may be signs that you have hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, which can sap your energy and cause you to gain weight.


An underactive thyroid is death to your metabolism, making attempts at weight loss very frustrating. In fact, most of my hypothyroid clients tend to be about 15 pounds overweight. The condition becomes increasingly common with age — up to one in five older women experience some form of it, especially white and Mexican-American women. A simple TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test can be done at your doctor's office to check your thyroid function. If you are diagnosed with low function, you can take some of the following steps:

You need to eliminate many of the environmental and nutritional toxins that have been shown to create thyroid problems. In addition to following this program, be sure to cook goitrogenic cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale, instead of eating them raw, which can stimulate goiters, a bump on the throat that indicates a swollen thyroid gland. Don't take a multivitamin with iron, cholesterol-lowering medication, or eat any food with iron, calcium, soy, or a high fiber content within a few hours of taking your thyroid medication — all of these can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. The stress hormone cortisol interferes with healthy thyroid function. Exercise is a great stress reliever that lowers cortisol levels while increasing your body's sensitivity to thyroid hormone.

Don't supplement with iodine. If you add salt to your food, choose iodized salt rather than kosher, but don't take supplemental iodine. Contrary to some nutritional advice you can find, supplemental iodine (or kelp) is not necessary; the average American diet has plenty already.

Take other thyroid-supporting supplements. Selenium is necessary for proper thyroid function. Other helpful supplements for the thyroid include vitamin D, zinc, and fish oil; in addition, choose foods that contain these nutrients. Be sure to consult your doctor before you try any supplements, especially while taking thyroid medication.

Discuss thyroid medication with your doctor.

A Trick to Work Your Abs All Day Long

Is getting a flat stomach one of your fitness goals? If it is, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: You can work your ab muscles all day long and achieve great results — just by going about your daily life! By paying attention to your posture and pulling your abs in tightly, you'll be giving your abs a continuous workout for hours at a time.

Does it sound too good to be true? Well it isn't! You may think that sexy abs can only come from doing hundreds of crunches a day, but you'll achieve more noticeable results much more quickly simply by standing up straight and tucking everything in.

Give it a try right now! Sit or stand up super straight. It might help to imagine that there's a string attached to the crown of your head and it's pulling your whole body upward. Picture your spine getting straighter and longer. You'll soon notice that your hips automatically tuck under and your tummy squeezes in — quite the opposite of how your stomach protrudes when you're slumped over. Standing upright like this works your abs — and, if you can keep it up all day, just imagine how 16 hours of ab work will strengthen your core! Even better than that rock-hard stomach you'll achieve will be the way you look slimmer and more confident with that excellent posture. Go for it!

It's Time to Curb Mindless Eating

Okay, you've all heard the term "grazing" — you know, picking at food throughout the day instead of (or in addition to) eating regular meals. This constant, indiscriminate eating — especially when you're focused on another task, such as talking on the phone, working on the computer, or watching TV — is the downfall of many committed dieters, but it doesn't have to be. If you're piling on pounds because you eat when you're distracted or bored rather than when you're actually hungry, try the following tactics to break the habit.

To curb daytime grazing:

• Don't eat while you're standing up, in the car, on the go, or when you don't have time for a full, proper meal. If you sit down at mealtimes and pay attention to every bite, you'll be more relaxed; you'll notice when you're satisfied, which means that you'll be less likely to overeat — and you'll actually enjoy your food! 
• Don't skip meals. I mean it. You might think you're saving yourself calories, but it will only leave you famished and more likely to consume extra calories later on to feel full.                                            

To curb nighttime grazing:

• Why do most people graze at night? Because they're bored. If you've been thinking about taking up knitting, crossword puzzles, Ping-Pong, or some other hobby that will keep your brain busy in the evening, now is the time to do it. 
• Brush your teeth. Food never seems quite as appealing when you have that fresh, minty toothpaste taste in your mouth. 
• Try a cup of hot tea; the warm liquid in your stomach can help you feel satiated.

Four Ways to Fit Fitness Into 15 Minutes!

Has missing workouts got you down? Don't beat yourself up! On those super-hectic days, take just 15 minutes to do something active. If it seems impossible to accomplish anything worthwhile in 15 minutes, think again! Even on days when you're pressed for time, you can do the simplest things to squeeze in some physical activity. Any workout is better than none! Try these ideas and feel great knowing that you're making progress toward your goals:

Take the stairs! Climbing a few flights will be just enough activity to get your heart pumping and leg muscles warmed up. Plus, you'll feel satisfied because you made the effort!

Go for a walk on your lunch break! Choose a lunch spot that's a few blocks away so you can take a brisk walk. If you packed a meal, reserve some of your break time to go outside and stretch your legs. Can't get out? Stroll the office!

Get a jump on things! No time to fit in a full-blown cardio session? Grab a jump rope for a quick one, or do a set of jumping jacks before hitting the shower in the morning.

Deskercise! If all else fails, you can still do some great stretching and aerobic moves while you're seated at your desk. Try a series of side-to-side head rotations, shoulder shrugs, arm circles, glute squeezes, and knee lifts. It's so easy, and you'll be done in only 15 minutes!

Butter vs. Margarine

Have you ever wondered which is better — butter or margarine — when it comes to your health?

First, it's important to know that both are high in fat and calories. Both butter and regular margarine weigh in at around 35 to 45 calories per teaspoon. (If you use reduced-fat margarine, a whole tablespoon gives you the same number of calories.) Butter also contains both cholesterol and saturated fat, and diets high in these substances have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Too much cholesterol can clog the arteries, while saturated fat has been shown to increase levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol.

Margarine, which is made from vegetable oils, doesn't contain cholesterol. But that doesn't mean it's good for your heart. To render the oils solid at room temperature, hydrogen is added during processing, creating trans fats. These fats are thought to be even more harmful to the heart than saturated fats because they not only raise LDL cholesterol but also lower HDL, or "good," cholesterol. Some stick margarines contain relatively high amounts of trans fats, while softer margarines (tub and squeeze versions) usually contain less (if any). However, even some stick margarines are free of trans fats, so be sure to check labels.

So what's a person to do? Cut down on both butter andmargarine! Try replacing them with healthier options whenever you can. Butter sprays, for example, add buttery flavor to potatoes, vegetables, and other foods without adding many calories. Butter-flavored sprinkles and trans fat–free spreads can also add flavor with fewer calories and less fat. When sautéing foods, use a cooking spray or a heart-healthy oil like olive or canola, and when baking, try cutting the butter or margarine called for in the recipe by a third. You can also try replacing some or all of the butter or margarine in your baked goods with applesauce, crushed pineapple, mashed bananas, or yogurt.

In short, rather than getting caught up in the butter-versus-margarine debate, do what Online followers do best: Use common sense and portion control. Opt to reduce your use of both fats whenever you can. Every tablespoon you cut will also cut out calories and fat you don't need.