Sausage and Veggie Soup

  Gardening is my favorite hobby.  I love fresh vegetables and pulling weeds is great therapy.  It's low carb, high fiber, packed with vitamins and can be low fat with a chicken/turkey sausage substitute. 

1lb Sweet Italian Sausage links

1 medium Onion (diced)

2 cloves garlic (diced)

1 Tbsp italian seasoning

1 tsp black pepper

2 - 16oz cans chicken broth

1 red pepper (diced in 1 inch pieces)

1 yellow or orange pepper (diced in 1 inch pieces)

1 small egg plant (diced in 1 inch pieces)

1 small zucchini (in 1 inch pieces)

1 small yellow  squash (in 1 inch pieces)

3 diced tomatoes or 1 - 16oz can diced tomatoes

  In soup pot, cook sausage links on medium heat.  When cooked through, remove from pan to cool.  To fat add garlic and onion, sautee for 3-5 minutes.  Add chicken broth, dry seasonings and both peppers and bring to a boil. 

  Cut sausage into half inch slices and return to soup.  Add remaining vegetables (zucchini, tomato, etc........) and simmer for 30 minutes.

* You could also try adding adding different things - mushrooms, hot peppers, pasta?

Enjoy!

Confessions of a Serial Dieter

  I once weighed 187lbs and 89lbs in the same year.  Cabbage soup, grapefruit, sugar busters, starvation and ephedrine.  Up until a couple years ago, I was always on some type of diet and either desperately trying to loose weight or maintain within 5lbs.  My entire life revolved around eating or not eating, either way I was obsessed with food.

  My mother is a runner and has never had a weight problem.  According to her all I have to do is run 5miles a day like she does.  So if someone would be kind enough to chase me around on a daily basis with, maybe, a loaded gun, I'd be happy to try that out.  Since adulthood, I've developed an aversion to bouncing and uni-boob sports bras and spandex garments.

  As I've aged, I discovered that I really enjoy cooking and I'm good at it.  I got really tired of not being able to eat foods I really love.  I was miserable and honestly, sometimes food makes me happy.  The idea that I had some abnormal mutant obesity genetic disorder had always loomed in the back of my mind.  So I decided to just eat sensibly and see what would happen. 

  First, I did set some guidelines.  Only wholegrain starches, fruits and vegies to my hearts content and above average size portions of lean meats.  Guilty pleasure - ice cream (sometimes daily).  Power walk till dog is tired.   I figure if I can tire the dog out, then we have gotten enough excercise.  I refuse to drink my calories, so with the exception of a couple cups of coffee in the am., I generally drink water.

  At first I did gain some weight, then I maintained for a while, then lost a little.  I could stand to loose about 5lbs but I refuse to give up my ice cream.  Since I've been creating healthy and yummy meals that I'll be sharing.  This was a huge mental adjustment and it turns out that I got healthier in the process. 

Be Well!