Cajun Smoked Sausage and Veggies

This is one serving, at least for me it is.

1/4 cup EVOO
1 tsp minced garlic
5 oz smoked sausage (one link)
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 summer squash
2 slices eqqplant (about 1/2" thick)

(you could use any veggies you have on hand)

Heat olive oil and garlic in saute pan on medium heat. While heating chop up all veggies and sausage. Add and let cook down about 15 minutes. Serve.

Crockpot Mexican Bean Soup

I was trying to copy La Caretta's bean soup. Didn't taste like it but it was pretty good, a little spicy but I modified the recipe so it shouldn't be as spicy next time.

10 cups water
1 3/4 cup dried pinto beans
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 chopped chipotle peppers (I had a can of some in adobo sauce)
12 oz crispy center cut bacon broken up
1 bunch chopped cilantro
1 link andouille sausage (I will use smoked next time)
1 onion, chopped

Turn crockpot on (I cooked mine on high for 4 hours).
Fill crockpot with 10 oz of water. Add rest of ingredients. Mix and cover. Soup should have a good amount of liquid in it once done.

Taco Soup

Another recipe from Spark People, member leighwoman. This was very good, Staci and Jenna even loved it. Here is my version with a few minor changes

2 lb. Lean Ground Beef
1 lg. Yellow Onion, chopped
1/2 cp dry Pinto Beans
1 16 oz. can Kernel Corn
2 28 oz. can Crushed Tomatoes
1 can Rotel Chopped Tomatoes
1 pkg. Low Sodium Taco Seasoning (I will use 2 next time)

You can use a can of pinto beans if you don't want to cook your own.

Boil water and cook pinto beans for about an hour or until soft.

Brown ground meat, drain if needed. Add onion and cook down about 10 minutes. Add rest of ingredients and let cook down at least 30 minutes. Can top with sour cream and cheese when served. Freezes well.

Cream Cheese Pancakes

So, I started a diet a couple weeks ago and now I have some catching up to do with posting my new favorite low carb recipes. I joined Spark People and I love it. Easy to keep up with my daily intakes and some great recipes plus message boards.

This morning I made cream cheese pancakes, original recipe by Spark Member mainstreetalto.

2 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 pkts stevia
Dash of cinnamon
1 tbsp Smuckers Simply Fruit

Blend everything together (I didn't blend the fruit in, I used it as a topping instead). Spray a small non stick pan and heat on medium. Pour batter into pan and cover (I didn't have luck flipping mine so I covered and let cook until there wasn't anything left runny on top). Serve, it is good by it self or topped with fruit.