Skinny Shrimp Potato Chowder

We have declared this a winter of soups at our house. Anyone else? It just feels so cold all the time and soup seems to bring that needed warmth and comfort. Funny thing is, we lived in Minnesota last winter, and this winter in Colorado should feel quite warm to us, but I guess it's easy to forget -40º weather and anytime the weather is subzero, it feels cold.

This soup is very easy to make and it tastes wonderful! If you or your children aren't quite sure of shrimp, feel free to omit it, but I think it brings a nice texture and flavor to the soup.

Skinny Shrimp Potato Chowder
6 SERVINGS 
PREP: 10 minutes           COOK: 75 minutes            READY IN: 85 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 12 ounce bag small pre-cooked shrimp
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup green onion (use the white ends for the soup, and reserve the green ends for the toppings for the soup)
• 3 cups skim milk
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS

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1. In a large pot, boil potatoes in water until cooked. Drain water.
2. Add corn, shrimp, water, and white onions. Bring to a boil.
3. Combine milk and flour in a separate container. Add to soup while stirring.
4. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium/high and cook until it thickens. (It took about an hour for me).
5. Add salt and pepper (to taste).
6. Serve with toppings if you'd like. We like green onions and bacon. Cheese would be yummy too.

NUTRITION FACTS

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    1 serving    260 calories   .8g fat   49.8g carbs    15.5g protein    10.2g sugar   

Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Food.com.

Shrimp Avocado Dip

Growing up, I always looked forward to Christmas Eve. We would kick off the evening at church and would have a candlelight service and sing Christmas hymns. Afterwards, my dad whipped up some of his favorite "special" traditions including steamed pudding (yum!) and oyster stew (um yeah...). There was always plenty of food which often consisted of appetizers, soups, and goodies like cookies or fudge.

This is the first year that we are doing Christmas Eve (and day) solo as our very own family. I am looking forward to creating our own traditions, and blending those which have been passed along to my husband and me. Though it feels a little overwhelming to decide what we should do, I will adopt my mother-in-law's favorite saying, "Keep it simple." I figure if I screw it up big time this year, I have a few years before all my kiddos leave the house to make things right. One thing I know for sure is that we will be having this dip. This is a tradition that comes from my husband's side, I believe, but we modified it to be a little healthier. For years we've made it with cream cheese instead of avocados as the base. My husband had the brilliant thought that we should try avocados instead because it has the same texture as cream cheese. (And the colors just scream holidays, right?!) This dip tastes amazing, and bonus: it's healthy! If you already have your holiday menu planned out, this would also be perfect for New Year's Eve.

Shrimp Avocado Dip
15 SERVINGS 
PREP: 5 minutes           COOK: 0 minutes            READY IN: 5 minutes

SIMPLE	HEALTHY	YUM

INGREDIENTS

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• 2 avocados
• dash of salt
• 4 tablespoons cocktail sauce
• 1 cup of small cooked & peeled shrimp (I purchased my shrimp in the frozen section and just thawed with cold water prior to making this)

DIRECTIONS

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1. Peel and pit the avocados. 
2. Place the avocados in a small bowl and add the salt. Mash the avocados until smooth. Place on a plate.
3. Put cocktail sauce on top of the avocados.
4. Sprinkle the shrimp on top.
5. Serve with crackers and enjoy!

NUTRITION FACTS

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(not including crackers)

    1/8 cup serving    61 calories   5.2g fat   1.8g carbs    1g protein    1.7g sugar   

Enjoy!