Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Success Winners & Lighter Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Hi All!

First things first- I missed my blog birthday!! Itzy’s Kitchen turned two on March 5. I will be celebrating with another special giveaway coming up! Also, please not that I've added some new tabs to the blog- let me know what you think.

Second, thank you to everyone who entered my Success Rice Giveaway. The 10 winners of their own success rice coupon are:

Nicci
Katie
Em
M
Sarah
Rose
Juliana
K
Shannon
Amy
(photo from the Success website)

Congrats Ladies!! Please send me your address (itzyskitchen at gmail dot com).

How has your week been? Cooking up anything fun?? I have had Petite Foodie’s Broccoli & Cheddar soup book marked since October. I finally got around to making it and loved the result! I adjusted the recipe a bit (decreased some of the quantities to make a smaller batch, used all broth instead of a broth/water combo, used skim instead of 2% milk and utilized 2% Cheddar Cheese), but followed her directions exactly:

Ingredients:

  • Cooking Spray

  • 1/2 onion-chopped

  • 1 clove garlic-chopped

  • 2 & 1/4 cups vegetable broth

  • 12 ounces broccoli

  • 1 & 3/4 cups skim milk

  • 1/4 cup flour

  • 1 cup 2% Milk Sharp Cheddar Cheese

  • ½ tsp Red pepper

Directions:
Heat a large nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and broccoli. Bring broccoli mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Add seasonings. Reduce heat to medium; cook 10 minutes.


Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Add milk mixture to broccoli mixture. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Stir in pepper. Remove from heat; add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Puree/blend half of the mixture and remix all together.


I tried to calculate out the nutritional information on ¼ of the recipe and came up with the following (not sure this is 100% accurate):

202 calories
7.25 g fat
3.9 g sat fat
734 mg sodium
7.5 g carbs
2.7 g fiber
16.75 g protein
21% A, 58.5% calcium, 128.5% C, 7.5% iron

This soup goes super well with a sandwich (shown here is Josh’s melty buffalo chicken & cheese sandwich on an Arnold’s thin):



Have you all had a good week of workouts so far? Its been a while since I posted my teaching schedule, but this was another crazy week!

Monday: Warm up run, Taught Body Pump
Tuesday: Taught Body Attack
Wednesday: Warm up run, Taught Body Pump
Thursday: Teach 45 minute Body Step, 45 minute Body Pump
Friday: Teach Body Pump
Saturday: Teach Body Step

Enjoy the rest of the week.

45 comments:

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

I love broccoli cheddar soup and have never tried to make my own. That looks so good, girl!! I need to try!

K from ksgoodeats said...

HAPPY BLOG BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I'm so happy that we could have "met" on the blogs - I know we will meet for real on our season of Housewives ;) By the way, OC reunion part one was on last night and I totes missed it.

Woohoo! Hopefully I'll have some success now with rice! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

I found out that Panera's broccoli soup isn't vegetarian (chicken broth) so it has been missing from my life. This recipe looks like it could fill that quota! Delish! Have a good Thursday, my dear!!

Lori said...

This soup sounds great. I'm out of broccoli though, just cauliflower so maybe I'll make it with that.
Workouts are going well. I've got 5 miles on tap for today and 10 on Saturday. I can't believe the half is 3 wks away!

To answer your question, we stay at Sandals. We have been to about 6 on the different islands now, but Jamaica is our favorite. Because of their returning guest program though, we haven't tried another chain. The one you went to looks great! Blue Mountain coffee is by far my favorite of all that I've tried even through all our travels. Did you know they export 90% of it to Japan?! It can be hard to find in the States, but more people are starting to sell 100% like that kind I reviewed.

homecookedem said...

YAY!! So excited to have won your giveaway!!!!!!! :) I love rice, especially since it's GF!! Just emailed ya! ;)

Broccoli cheddar is one of my favorite soups!! I wonder if I could use rice flour instead of regular, or maybe Bob Red Mill's GF all purpose flour would work better? Worth a try, right! :) Your soup looks so wonderful!! :)

Stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

Homemade broc/cheddar sounds delicious, I've never made it before but yummmm! Sounds like you are having a busy but great week :) Happy Blog Bday too!

Pam said...

Hey Congrats on your bloggies birthday! and also to the winners!

Did ya set an extra table setting for me? he he!...Yummy!

xoxo

Susan said...

Happy blog b-day Erica!

You've got a busy week of teaching ahead of you, but it looks like tons of fun.

Have a great day girl!

Julie said...

ya know what..
..i didn't wanna win anyway.

haha ;)

HAPPY 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's so exciting and to be honest i had NO idea that you were at 2 years! you are a seasoned veteran girl :) i'm SO SO SOOOOO glad that we're friends! woo hoo :)

soup? yes please!

Beth @ DiningAndDishing said...

Happy 2 years! I didn't realize you were a fitness instructor. What a fun job! Probably one of the best ways to stay in shape too :)

Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete said...

Happy blog b-day! I'm trying to workout on vacation, but it is difficult. It is getting done though!!

Anonymous said...

I love broccoli cheese soup. It looks so awesome!

Britt said...

Happy Blog Birthday!!! :-)
I need to get better at picking out recipes for the week. That soup sounds great, might need to attempt it next week.

Great week of workouts!!

Crystal said...

Thanks for the low fat version - I normally avoid cheddar soup 'cos of the calories so I shall have to run out and buy broccoli to give this a try.

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

LOVE your workouts seriously want to take a body pup calss with you! and then you can take a spinning class from meeee

brocolli and chedder soup is SO comforting I have never tried to make it myself, although I want to!! I love it with a simple sandwich like that :)

yay bloggie birthday!!! you are awesome girl, love you :)

Jessica said...

Soup looks delish. I've noticed a few broccoli/cheese soups lately, must be something in the air!

Lauren @ Eater Not a Runner said...

I love broccoli...that soup looks delish!

Holly said...

Yum - that soup looks SO GOOD! I love broccoli and cheese. They go hand-in-hand like PB&J, in my book!

Happy belated Blog Birthday!!

Krista said...

Your teaching schedule makes me tired! LOL! My workouts have been going well this week!

Broc soup is awesome...

Sarah @ THE FOODIE DIARIES said...

oooh im usually not big on broc and cheddar soup bc it always is SO heavy (really not into creamy soups)--btu yours looks amazing and light!

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

My workouts (yoga, anyway) is going well this week - been scheduling classes into my calendar so I'm sure to make it!

Rose said...

Wee! I can't believe I won!

Mom on the Run said...

I am so excited I won!!

Happy Blog-o-Versary!

Esi said...

Happy belated blog birthday!! Man, we have been blog friends for a while now :)

Maria said...

Yeah for your blog b-day! Congrats! Is it wise to do pump two days in a row? Just curious..or should I rest my muscles. I went running yesterday, thought it was warm, but the wind made it freezing. I wish spring would hurry up!

Sarah said...

Hurray for successfully making creamy soups lighter! I confess I'm always scared of them, even to make myself, because the dairy can upset my tummy too easily :-( Soup and sammich is such a great combo though. As a kid my mom made soup a few times a week especially in winter (nowadays I make it almost as often) and she'd often serve little toasted sandwiches like cheese and tomato alongside.

One of her usual soups was a broccoli noodle soup, I guess to get some more greens in us when we were more resistant. She still makes it, but I'm afraid I never liked it much, even with a little sprinkle of parmesan. Alas, though I adore broccoli today I still don't love it in soup.

tam said...

Soup looks delish x x

Anonymous said...

Happy blog-birthday!

I've never had broccoli cheddar soup but have seen it on a few blogs today...sure sign that I need to try it!

Workouts- with the weather being better, I am walking a lot more. I have clocked up over 50 miles this week and only just realised. Which explains why my hip hurts! Weekend of rest!

laura dishes said...

Happy belated blog birthday! It's amazing that you have been able to keep up w/ blogging for 2 years now!

Your teaching schedule is intense... does your body ever feel sore anymore from working out or are you totally immune to it?! :)

I Run for Fun said...

Wow! 2 years! Happy blog b'day!

That soup looks so yummy! I will definitely try it.

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

happy 2 years...wow, you're elderly :) most blogs are barely 6 mos old, you're a granny. and a wonderful one at that!!! oxxo

soup, anything with brock is near and dear to my heart :)

Andrea @ CanYouStayForDinner.com said...

Mmm broccoli cheddar soup looks amazing!! And I love seeing your workout/teaching schedule. Question: Do you work out on top of the schedule, or do you just use those classes as your workout? Either way, I'm always so impressed and inspired!

Kerstin said...

Happy Blogiversary!! Broccoli cheddar soup is my favorite and a lightened up version sounds fantastic!

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy birthday to your blog!

jenna said...

Happy blogiversary! :) I'm glad you liked the soup! It looks great!

mtbcy said...

The soup looks delish! Happy birthday blog!

Kristen @ Change of Pace said...

Ohhh I love broccoli and cheese soup! I love the bad for you kind though. I'll have to try your recipe! It looks really good :)

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Broccoli cheddar soup is one of my favorites! I used white beans to thicken it up, plus it adds a bit more protein.

Your schedule does look crazy busy! Since I've been home my workouts haven't been great, or very existent until this morning... 6.4 mile run woo hoo!

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Forgot to mention that I like your new tabs. I never knew you were a cost accountant, cool!

Ana said...

Hey girlie! That broccoli cheddar soup looks yummy :) Thanks for all the quick bread recipes, I will be making them soon!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogiversary!!! That broccoli cheddar soup looks really good.

I haven't worked out at all this week... that should be on my agenda for tomorrow ;)

Holly said...

happy 2-year birthday dear erica! what better way to celebrate than with broccoli ched soup - you just can't go wrong with that :)

~M~ said...

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll e-mail you right now :)

Deva (Voracious Vorilee) said...

I love broccoli cheese soup, and am going to have to give this recipe a go - sooo yummy looking!

Ashley said...

Happy blog birthday a little late :-). And thanks for stopping by my blog and entering the giveaway!

Christina said...

haha you are going to be famous at charleston's cafe!! next weekend will be your fourth weekend in a row, right? awww yay bc i'll be there too! can't wait!