Tips & Tricks Link Party--Trash to Treasure!

Hey guys! Hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC tuesday! Last week we had some awesome superbowl foods linked up & I even added a few to my recipe book! Now, on to this weeks party: Trash to Treasure...we are changing things up a bit, there will just be one section to link everything up. What awesome things do you guys have to share this week? I am always saving things to "recycle" into something new.. Mr.Hooah will agree that I keep more "recyclables" than I actually recycle!  And I love to refurbish things from craigslist...what's that old saying?

 "Someones trash is someone else's treasure"... Now let's party!

Here is the most-pinned SuperBowl Recipe from last weeks link up..

 Spicy Rosemary Cashews from 3 Little Green Woods.

Please take a button so that your readers can come party too! Also, don't forget to follow all of the awesome hosts below so that you won't miss out on your shout-outs!

Stringtown Home  

Facebook / Bloglovin' / Twitter / Pinterest 

 Like Gramma's House 

Facebook /  Bloglovin' / Pinterest 

Fearlessly Creative Mammas 

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest /  Bloglovin' 

Kraft Mint 

Pinterest / Facebook /  Bloglovin' 

Stl Motherhood

Twitter / Facebook /  Pinterest / Followgram 

A Fresh Start on a Budget 

Facebook / Twitter /  Pinterest /Bloglovin' 

Gina's Craft Corner 

Facebook / Twitter / Google+ /  Pinterest / Bloglovin' 

Controlling Craziness

Twitter /  Facebook / Pinterest 

Be Simply Better 

Facebook / Linked In / Twitter / Pinterest 

Trip Worth Taking 

Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter  

A Daily Dose of Del Signore 

Facebook /  Twitter / Pinterest /  Google+ 

Krysta Steen

Facebook /  Pinterest /  Instagram / Twitter

<a href="https://a-hooahs-housewife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/koreankupcake22/TipsampTricksLinkybutton_zpsce53002e.png" alt="photo TipsampTricksLinkybutton_zpsce53002e.png" width="125" height="125" />< a>

  Trash To Treasure:      Want to know whats next?  

Broccoli & Cheese Orzo

When it comes to healthy side dishes, there are tons of options...BUT when you're married to a picky-pete, it is hard to staple them down sometimes. I love broccoli & cheese, Mr.Hooah however, not so much. He will eat maybe a spoonful of it & that is as far as it will go for him! I have cooked with orzo maybe once or twice before, in soups.. As I always say, I am ALWAYS looking for healthy recipes or recipes that can be made healthy. This is another random pinterest find, so I decided to pair it with my Honey-Lime Chicken & it was so delicio! Mr.Hooah even likes it, he ate 2 bowls! Woot Woot, GO ME!!! Haha! It is light, fresh, & the broccoli still has some crispness. We decided that the best way to eat this was with our chicken (link to recipe above) diced up & stirred in! 

-XO

Broccoli & Cheese Orzo

1 c. orzo

1 head of broccoli florets, chopped

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

1 TBSP light butter

1/4c. 2% milk 

salt to taste

*You can use more milk if need be, to whatever consistency you like...I also like to sprinkle in some garlic pepper seasoning to give it some extra flavor*

• Add orzo to a pot of salted boiling water. Cook 3mins then add in broccoli & cook for 5 more mins or until orzo is tender.
• Drain well then return to the pot. Add in all remaining ingredients & mix well, until cheese melts.

Honey-Lime Chicken

Ommm Nom Nommmm! Is what I think about this recipe! If you've been keeping up, then you've noticed that chicken is a BIG part of our life! Our freezer is always stocked with it & it is my most used meat! Mr.Hooah & I were blessed to have been given a really nice free gas BBQ grill last summer.. his friend at work decided to get a new one & gave us this one.. CRAZY! because there is nothing wrong with it besides a little fading down the front! Needless to say, we LOVE to grill & we grill A LOT, so this grill has been put to good use! This recipe, I found on Pinterest, there are tons of pins for this recipe so I just used whichever one I came across...but this is such a great recipe! You can get fancy & fun with it & cut the chicken up to skewer it, which is great too! Ither way, this has to be one of my favorite ways to make grilled chicken! The flavors are amazing & I even like to squeeze a lime over the chicken after Mr.Hooah brings it in from the grill because I love that extra bite the lime gives it! MMM, I'm getting hungry just blogging about it haha! Sooooooo delish!

-XO

Honey-Lime Chicken

3 TBSP soy sauce

2 TBSP honey

1 TBSP EVOO

Juice of one lime

1 TBSP garlic, minced

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 TBSP cilantro, roughly chopped

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

• Mix all ingredients together & then place chicken in marinade, refrigerate 1hr.
• You can cut the chicken into pieces & skewer it (just remember to soak your skewers in water at least 30mins-1hr before putting on your chicken!), or just grill it whole. Cook until chicken is no longer pink. You can also chop & sprinkle some extra cilantro on top as an extra tasty garnish!

Crock-Pot Orange Chicken

Me being half Korean & Mr.Hooah having a strong love for all foods Asian, I cook A LOT of fried rice(made with quinoa instead of rice) & stir-fry. And when he's really been good, I make homemade sushi! I have tried some recipes for Asian inspired crock-pot meals & I just wasn't a fan! However, this Orange Chicken recipe must have crossed my path on pinterest 100 times or more! I finally broke down, got the ingredients & made it for dinner tonight! I mentioned that I swapped out brown rice for quinoa a while ago but I thought with this, I would just serve it with white rice...so for Mr.Hooah, this was a treat! Haha! I have two words for this recipe: 1) Surprised & 2) DELICIOUS! I was seriously surprised that I liked this so much & Mr.Hooah had no complaints three bowls later ither! I always get General Tso's Chicken or Orange Chicken when we go out for Chinese, so this was right up my alley! Also, in my own opinion it is healthier because the chicken isn't fried. The sauce is saucy & the orange marmalade gives it just that right amount of brightness. It will definitely be on our next menu plan!

-XO  

Crock-Pot Orange Chicken

4-5 Boneless Chicken breasts, cut up into bite-size pieces

3/4 c. Smuckers Orange Marmalade 

3/4 c. Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce

2 TBSP soy sauce 

(I added 1 tsp. minced garlic also)

(I also sprinkle with sesame seeds...MMM!)

• Cut chicken into bite-size pieces, place in the crock-pot & cook on high for 3hrs, then drain the juices off, return to crock-pot.
• In medium bowl, combine all other ingredients & mix well. 
•  Pour the BBQ-Orange mixture over the chicken & cook on high for 30 more minutes & serve with/over rice!

Tips & Tricks Linky Party-Superbowl Foods

Hey guys! Today is my first official day to co-host Tips & Tricks by Stringtown Home! To say I am excited is an understatement! Now, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALLLLLL?! This weeks party is Superbowl Foods! Mr.Hooah is a big football fan so we usually have a little get together...however, this time there is a good chance he will be out in the field playing Army when the games on...I'm not excited because I just got him back! Lol. Oh, the life of an Army wife, right?! This is a 13 blogger party & all links will be shared on various social media outlets, with that kind of exposure it's kinda like being a little bit famous huh?! Haha! I always like to make fun "Man Foods" for the Superbowl & I only have a few good recipes, so I can't wait to see what you all link-up!

-XO

Please grab a button so that your readers came come by & party too!

<a href="https://a-hooahs-housewife.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l16/koreankupcake22/TipsampTricksLinkybutton_zpsce53002e.png" alt="photo TipsampTricksLinkybutton_zpsce53002e.png" width="125" height="125" />< a>

Superbowl Foods: Anything Goes:

 Also, please follow these hosts below so that you wont miss out on a party or shout out!

Stringtown Home  

Facebook / Bloglovin' / Twitter / Pinterest 

 Like Gramma's House 

Facebook /  Bloglovin' / Pinterest 

Fearlessly Creative Mammas 

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest /  Bloglovin' 

Kraft Mint 

Pinterest / Facebook /  Bloglovin' 

Stl Motherhood

Twitter / Facebook /  Pinterest / Followgram 

A Fresh Start on a Budget 

Facebook / Twitter /  Pinterest /Bloglovin' 

Gina's Craft Corner 

Facebook / Twitter / Google+ /  Pinterest / Bloglovin' 

Controlling Craziness

Twitter /  Facebook / Pinterest 

Be Simply Better 

Facebook / Linked In / Twitter / Pinterest 

Trip Worth Taking 

Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter  

A Daily Dose of Del Signore 

Facebook /  Twitter / Pinterest /  Google+ 

Krysta Steen

Facebook /  Pinterest /  Instagram / Twitter

Wanna know what our schedule looks like for the weeks to come? Check it out:

Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

With the Super Bowl coming up, it's time to dig out all of my trusty Super Bowl worthy recipes... Mr.Hooah requested that I make the Homemade Salsa he likes so much & what football party would be complete without "Man Foods" like potato skins?! These Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins do not disappoint! This recipe is a little healthier than your regular potato skins & to my surprise, the men do not complain, these are definitely a crowd pleaser! Sweet potatoes are so savory too, so this is something I like to make for dinner once in a blue moon just to change things up. Just throw the potatoes in the oven for an hour & forget about them, from there its all 'stuffin', spice, & everything nice!

-XO

Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

(You'll want to double this if you have a crowd!)
3 medium sweet potatoes
1 can chicken, shredded
1/4 c. EVOO
2 TBSP lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped.. reserve 3TBSP of the sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
salt & pepper to taste
2 c. spinach
Mexican-Style shredded cheese for topping
Cilantro for garnish

[HELPFUL TIP: I use a plain ice-cream scooper to scoop out the potato flesh, then when it comes to stuffing the skins, use it again to get the perfect servings of stuffing!]

• Preheat oven to 350'...wash potatoes, prick with fork all over then place onto a foil lined baking sheet & bake 50-60 minutes. Place potatoes on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes to cool then cut them in half.
• In medium bowl, combine EVOO, garlic, lime, peppers, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt & pepper. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan or skillet, wilt spinach over medium heat. Remove from heat, toss chicken & reserved adobo sauce in.
• Turn oven up to 400' & scrape the sweet potato out of peel, leaving a medium layer of flesh inside peel. Place the potato back on the baking sheet & brush them with the EVOO mixture you set aside. Bake 5-10 minutes. While those bake, take the remaining EVOO mixture & mix it in with the chicken & spinach mixture.
• Remove skins from oven, stuff with chicken mixture & top with cheese; Bake 10 minutes or until cheese melts. 

MMM! How good do these look?!

Look at all this chipotle goodness!

Homemade Salsa

I mention ALL THE TIME that Mr.Hooah is a compulsive hot sauce buyer... if he see's a pretty bottle with flames, it will end up in our cart. Needless to say, his collection is growing multiplying all too rapidly, taking over my spice cabinet. Honestly, I think he has a problem.. he is addicted! Oh, who am I kidding?! He is a hot sauce hoarder lol! Did I also ever mention the fact that he has really bad acid reflux?! I'm surprised he even still has an esophagus left, seeing as how he loads down everything he eats with hot sauce! I always joke with him that "my cooking must not be good because there is NO way you can taste the flavor of anything but hot sauce" haha...anywho, my point is, we love spicy foods! And salsa is something Mr.Hooah & I absolutely LOVE to snack on! I got this recipe from another awesome Milso, Katie! It is so simple & fresh. Much better than the store bought stuff! You can tweak it any way you like & easily turn the heat up or down! This is my go-to recipe when it comes to salsa! So, thank you Katie!!!

(My apologies for the 'date' printed on the jar, it was a recycled Vlasic pickle jar that I just found a use for! LOL!)

Homemade Salsa
1 (28oz.) can whole tomatoes with juice
2(10oz.) cans Rotel (I use the cilantro & lime Rotel!)
1/2 an onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, roughly chopped
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
1 handful cilantro
Juice of a fresh lime
Chili powder to taste
Garlic powder to  taste
(This makes 4 small jars of salsa!)

• Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor.

Now, how stinkin easy is that?!  

Grilled Asparagus

I've only had asparagus a couple of times growing up. I had it at a Christmas dinner one year, it was boiled & over cooked. Then, I randomly grabbed a can once...BIG mistake! It was definitely mushy & fell apart when I took it out of the can. About a month ago, the commissary where we buy our groceries here on post, had fresh asparagus on sale so I decided to buy a bundle. I actually had to Google "the right way to cook asparagus" & I ran across a video of a chef grilling it. It looked simple enough so I tried it! He just drizzled it with some oil & threw it on the grill & that is exactly what I did! It has that perfect crunch to it & is simply delicious...anything but FRESH asparagus, should be a crime! No more mushy-yuckness for this girl! Mr.Hooah & I loved the way it turned out, & we have it at least once or twice a week now. This is a great side to pair with fish, steak, or chicken & is super easy-peasy! You can also check out my tip on how to stretch the freshness of your asparagus here: All About Asparagus!

Grilled Asparagus

1 bunch fresh asparagus

EVOO

Kosher salt 

Black pepper

1 lemon

• Preheat your grill or iron grill pan so it will be nice & hot when you throw on the asparagus. Now you want to get rid of those hard "stalky" ends..take the asparagus & press towards the middle, like so, & the stalkly ends will snap off perfectly.

• Drizzle with EVOO & salt/pepper to taste.

• Throw it on the grill for 5 minutes, turning throughout. 

• After plating, squeeze the juice of the lemon over top & serve.

All About Asparagus!

Despite the exclamation point at the end of the title, I understand that this might not be the most exciting post, but I can say that it is helpful! When it comes to asparagus, do you know how to shop for it? It's kind of funny looking, how do you even tell if the asparagus you pick up is even "ripe" or "any good"?! Well, I have the answer to that! Did you know that when it comes to shopping for asparagus, you should always check to make sure that the store has taken good care/keeping the asparagus fresh, by keeping it on ice? You also need to make sure it is firm to the touch.. And most importantly, the freshest asparagus is the bunch with the most purple color in the tips. The more purple the tips, the better! When it comes to groceries Mr.Hooah & I make 2week menu plans & usually we have asparagus twice.. to keep it fresh until I use it (which is within the week I buy it) I do these the steps below!

-XO

Keep It Fresh!

See the purple tinge in the tips? Good bunch!

Wet a paper towel, wrap around base of asparagus.

Now fold the bottom over...

Fill a small bowl with a little water, set the asparagus in, & put in some ice!

Stick it in the fridge, when you get the chance & the ice melts, just pour a little of the water off & add a little more ice! Simple as that! Oh, & are you wondering why I have zebra print in my refrigerator?! They're placemats, so that when something spills, it catches it, so when I clean out the fridge, all it takes is a quick rinse off or wipe down of the mats! Something to cut my cleaning steps down! :)

Co-Hosting Tips & Tricks Tuesday!!!

Hey guys! I am so excited to announce that I will be co-hosting Tips & Tricks Linky Party, EVERY Tuesday, with 12 other amazing bloggers! Just like it says, this is a 13 Blogger Host, you'll get more exposure to your blog because every link posted is shared/pinned on our Pinterest Party Boards, along with our other social media sites! Who doesn't need/want the chance to have all of their crafty or recipe goodness shown off everywhere?! Am I right?! Tuesday, January 21st, will be my first launch of the party, so come on over & share all your yummy 50-Yard-Line worthy, Superbowl Food favorites! And be sure to swing by & check out some of the awesome Co-Hosts below, show some blog love, & follow them so you don't miss out on any shout-outs!

Can't wait to see what you guys have to share at the "kick off"!

Stringtown Home  

Facebook / Bloglovin' / Twitter / Pinterest 

 Like Gramma's House 

Facebook /  Bloglovin' / Pinterest 

Fearlessly Creative Mammas 

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest /  Bloglovin' 

Kraft Mint 

Pinterest / Facebook /  Bloglovin' 

Stl Motherhood

Twitter / Facebook /  Pinterest / Followgram 

A Fresh Start on a Budget 

Facebook / Twitter /  Pinterest /Bloglovin' 

Gina's Craft Corner 

Facebook / Twitter / Google+ /  Pinterest / Bloglovin' 

Controlling Craziness

Twitter /  Facebook / Pinterest 

Be Simply Better 

Facebook / Linked In / Twitter / Pinterest 

Trip Worth Taking 

Facebook / Pinterest / Twitter  

A Daily Dose of Del Signore 

Facebook /  Twitter / Pinterest /  Google+ 

Krysta Steen

Facebook /  Pinterest /  Instagram / Twitter

Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette

Tomorrow guys! I am MORE than ready to have Mr.Hooah home! He has only been gone a week training but between having pneumonia & him being gone, it has seriously seemed like a month or longer! Lol. He called today, finally, & I teared up so bad. You just don't know how much you miss when you're married to a soldier...the constant coming & going. On to a lighter more happier note! This Lemon Parm Vinaigrette is so super easy & much better for you than other fatty salad dressings, plus a little of this stuff goes a lonnnnng way! I use it all the time & I absolutely LOVE it! My favorite salad greens to use it on, has to be the boxes of Spring Mix you can get in the salad isle...hands down! It's so light & fresh! I have to admit, I even like to sprinkle a bit of this dressing on my grilled chicken when its hot off the grill so that the cheese melts... the bit of melted cheese you get & then the bite of the citrus, it is just delicious!

-XO.

Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette

1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
(You can use bottled but fresh is SO much better!)

1/4 c. EVOO

1/4 c. fresh shredded Parmesan cheese

Garlic Pepper Seasoning to taste

(No need to salt because most garlic pepper seasonings have salt mixed in & it also has a bit of sugar too!)

Whisk all ingredients together & store in an airtight container! Simple as that! 

A Milso's MUST read, The 5 Love Languages: Military Edition

You know, I've been big into reading lately...it's calming. And there is nothing I love more than climbing into bed beside Mr.Hooah, cuddling up & reading a great book...BUT, you know what is even better than that?! Reading a book TOGETHER! As some of you know, but for those of you who do not...Mr.Hooah & I just celebrated our [2] year anniversary this past November! I know, I know, some of you must be thinking "this girl is a newly wed, she doesn't even know what she's talking about yet!" And to be honest, those of you who were probably thinking that, are half right! Haha! This is the "time of learning", or at least that is what I like to call this! You learn sooo much about one another & I honestly think that it never stops...I think all throughout a marriage, you learn something new every day about your someone. But as for me & the 2 years of marriage that we're packin right now, the "some things" are plentiful! And you know, being married to someone in the military IS NOT easy... Some people think it's some kind of fairy-tale. Not so much. It does have some whimsical moments however. Like when you see him for the first time since a 9 month deployment... PCS'ing to different parts of the world...or getting all dressed up to go to a Military Ball. But aside from certain highlights, its a lot of sacrificing & waiting. But we military wives are STRONG, we hold on! Mr.Hooah & I, we are like any other couple, we have up's & down's/spit's & spat's just like everyone else! We do not have any major issues in our marriage (besides the Army keeping him away for weeks or months of training etc), we have truly been blessed in so many ways through our 2 years so far & I hope that we continue to be blessed with such blessings! THANK THE GOOD LORD ABOVE! However, ANYTIME we see outlets to better us/make our marriage stronger, we take them! I am part of an amazing Milso support group online & someone had posted how she & her husband enjoyed this book & how much more they understood one another, so I had Mr.Hooah pick it up from Books-a-Million. The 5 Love Languages: Military Edition... this book is indeed amazing. I wanted to do a review of this book because I feel like it definitely deserves it! The pages are filled with such wisdom of love. There are even true stories from real-life military couples that I know others can relate to. This book is one that you can read together as a couple & understand it together. It teaches you the 5 languages of love so you better understand your spouse & helps you understand how to communicate with one another...even if your someone is deployed. It guides you to always think before you act...to really appreciate your love. There is so much we take for granted. Since reading this book together, Mr.Hooah & I have yet to let our arguments escalate if we have one & he constantly tells me 'thank you' for things I do around the house or for things as simple as cooking dinner...that is my language, sometimes that is all it takes, a simple Thank You. The old saying is "The first 5 years of marriage are the hardest" & I believe that it is what you make of it! Anyways, if you are having a little love trouble or just want to make your relationship stronger, this is THE book!

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

I decided to try out a new recipe with tilapia tonight...it was my own thrown together version of Parmesan Crusted Tilapia from a Rachael-Ray-Magazine I got in the mail some time ago. [I NEVER throw magazines away & it irks Mr.Hooah, lol] We love tilapia because it is our easy-to-cook,/go-to fish! I always, always, ALWAYS have fresh shredded parmesan cheese on hand (I like to use it in my super easy Lemon-Parm Vinaigrette for my salads) so I used some of it & trying to add a little bit of a flavor blast to this recipe... mostly because I only had 1/2 the grated parm on hand though lol, so no offense to Rachael! Mr.Hooah liked this MUCH better than the regular lemon-pepper! Anyways, this one is short & sweet, going to go spend a little time with Mr.Hooah before he leaves out for the field to play Army for a week lol. Hope you guys enjoy! 

XO.

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

2/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 c. fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
1 TBSP paprika
1 TBSP parsley
4 tilapia fillets, rinsed & patted dry
1 lemon, cut into wedges

1/8 tsp garlic pepper seasoning

• Preheat oven to 400'... 
• In a bowl, combine the cheese, paprika, parsley, & garlic pepper seasoning. 
• Drizzle the fish with EVOO & press each side into the cheese mixture. If there is any of the left over mixture in the bowl, I just sprinkle that on top of the fish also.
• Place on a foil-lined baking sheet & bake 12 minutes. 
• Serve the fish with the lemon wedges.

Rate My Station for Milso's!

Ok, all my Military Wives, Girlfriends, Milso's, Spouses...I have recently stumbled upon an AWESOME new website for milso's made by a Coastie-Wife, Angela, at LovelyVenture! Rate My Station is a place where you can review your next PCS station & get all the info, opinions, & answers you may seek. It is fairly new so there may not be a lot of info on there just yet for a certain station, but imagine how awesome it will be if we all share what we know on there! I think it is a wonderful idea to help all milso's because sometimes we are crunched for time or are not able to travel the distance of the PCS before hand to scout out the area... now it can all be seen/told by the click of a button!

 That's pretty awesome-sauce I'd say! 

Anyways... The link is just below so stop on by, add what you know, help out other Milso's! ;)

Share some info!

Mili-wives, always a step ahead so we can be ready for anything!

This is going to be sooooo very helpful!

Chicken & Vegetable Curry Soup

Mr.Hooah & I, we like to read. I read more than him, however, if a book intrigues us, we buy it. Sometimes we read them half way through then lose interest or we just don't get around to reading them at all & they sit around our house collecting dust as decoration! I think we have a problem because we have A LOT of books that are 'decorations'... compulsive book buyer disease, maybe? Haha. Any who, sometime last year, we went into Dollar Tree & we passed the little book section they have towards the back & a book caught my eye. Now don't criticize me because I don't have any kiddos but the recipes/tips in the book is why I got it: The Mommy Diet, by Alison Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser. I thought, hey, it's only $1! (besides that, it had a $24 price sticker on it, so I consider that a deal lol) Oh & not to mention, I love Alison! I cook with a couple of recipes out of this book & the Vegetable Curry Soup is one of them! TWEAKED BY ME THOUGH, OF COURSE! I add in chicken & instead of pintos I opted to use chick peas because they're full of protein & I hate pintos... Most curry's are full of not so good for you ingredients & some are super heavy & fattening, but this is a colorful, flavorful, lean, clean, yummy light soup that is filling & super good for you! 
Now how can you feel bad about that?! 

What You'll Need:

1-2 TBSP EVOO

1 1/2 c. chopped red onion (about 2 medium)

1 large red(or green) pepper, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

3-4 stalks celery, chopped

1 TBSP minced garlic

1 TBSP curry powder

1(14oz.) can diced tomatoes--I use Hunts fireroasted garlic

2 Bay leaves 

1 box chicken stock

2 cans chicken, drained-- I give mine a rough chop 

1 can chick peas, drained

1/4 c. creamy or crunchy peanut butter--I use almond butter

1 bunch cilantro-- I just tear off the top & roughly chop

1(6oz.) bag baby spinach, roughly chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

Dash or two of black pepper

• Heat EVOO in saucepan (less mess is my motto, so I just use a pot to do this in so I won't have other dishes to clean lol) over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot, & celery; saute until veggies are soft/onions are translucent.
• Add the garlic & curry; saute until fragrant, about 1minute (do not burn garlic). Add the tomatoes & bay leaves, cook uncovered until the tomatoes slightly reduce, about 3 mins or so.
• Add chicken & the stock, bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for about 8-10minutes. Add chick peas & peanut butter, stir to combine. Add cilantro & spinach, cook until thoroughly heated & spinach wilts, about 2minutes. Season with salt & pepper. 

TIP: I will say that it isn't a very "soupy" soup, you can add more chicken stock if you like...We usually have a good bit of this leftover & after it sits, the liquid absorbs so I usually just add in more chicken stock & reheat.