Zucchini Soup

I recently did a 28 day challenge at a local gym, Signature Fitness.  The challenge included 4 trainer-led (killer! – but doable) workouts per week and a meal plan.  Well, I didn’t exactly follow the meal plan (I do Weight Watchers anyway so I felt no need to deviate from that) but I did try to eat more “clean” during the challenge.  I didn’t win the 4 week challenge but I did lose a few pounds (which was not my goal) and some inches (that was more my focus).  Even though I didn’t follow the meal plan exactly, I did try a few of the recipes.  This Zucchini Soup is one of those.  It’s a very summery soup… does that make sense for a soup?  It does in this situation… it’s so fresh tasting!  You have a couple options for flavors here.  The original recipe calls for fennel.  I loved it with the fennel, but not all members of my family are fennel fans so I often make it with dill instead.  I love it just as much with dill, and it’s delicious served warm or cold, either one!  ~Erin

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Ingredients:
  • 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped
  • ½ a medium white or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp. dried fennel seed OR ½ tsp dried dill weed (not both!)
  • 3 c. low-sodium chicken stock
  • Salt, to taste (plus black pepper if using fennel)

Instructions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a medium pot with zucchini, onion, and fennel seed (if using).
  2. Sautee over medium heat until onion becomes translucent.
  3. Add chicken stock and dill, if using instead of fennel.
  4. Simmer until zucchini is very tender (about 10-15 minutes).
  5. Turn off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes, then blend with an immersion blender. If you do not have an immersion blender, let the mixture cool to almost room temp and then puree in your blender. Do not put hot liquids in the blender.
  6. Add salt (and pepper if you used fennel as the spice – pepper is not necessary if you used dill) to taste.
  7. If you used fennel, you may want to strain out the seeds at this point; they don’t blend.
  8. Serve warm or cold.

WW Freestyle Info: This soups makes about 4 one-cup servings. Each serving is ZERO points!

Lemon Dill Broccoli

Are you always looking for ways to eat vegetables that don’t involve ranch dressing or some sort of cheese sauce? When you’re in a family like ours – one that seems to have a genetic predisposition to love all things that involve carbs and sugar – a good vegetable recipe is dinner-time gold! ~Tracy

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Ingredients: 
1 large head of raw, fresh broccoli
1 c. prepared chicken bouillion
½ tsp. dried basil
½ tsp. dill (or more to taste)
¾ tsp. garlic salt
1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice (can use bottled lemon juice)

Instructions: 
Chop broccoli into bite sized pieces leaving a small piece of the stalk on each to hold the
broccoli together.

Prepare chicken bouillon according to directions. Pour into a saucepan large enough for the broccoli to be in one layer. Add broccoli to bullion in saucepan. Sprinkle basil, dill, and garlic salt onto broccoli.

Turn on low heat and allow to simmer, covered, until broccoli becomes tender. Remove from heat; toss to coat well with all seasoning and bullion. Remove broccoli from saucepan and add lemon juice; toss to coat.

WW Freestyle Info.:  ZERO SmartPoints!