Diet Friendly Turkey Spinach Tomato Panini and Onion Soup

Lately the weather here in Cali has been far less than sunny. It has been sooo dreary and gloomy. I don't know about you, but gloomy days always make me want something warm to eat. So I thought what better thing than soup! So I headed to the kitchen to make soup and sandwich for lunch. My taste buds are still dancing thinking about it.

(Btw, check out my plants in their pots in the picture, I had no idea I had a green thumb :o )

Recipe (s) of the day:

Turkey, Spinach and Tomato Panini

Ingredients:

• Deli Style Turkey breast
• Whole wheat bread
• Fresh Spinach
• Thinly Sliced Tomato 
• Swiss Cheese (or whatever on hand) OR Avocado (I didn't have any on hand today :'( )
• A drop of olive oil or butter

Instructions: Assemble ingredients on bread. Add oil or butter to panini press or skillet on medium heat and place sandwich. If using skillet use spatula to press down on it. Panini should be ready in 3-4 mins in panini press or 5-6 minutes on skillet, browning both sides.

Onion Soup (serves 2)

Ingredients:

• 1 chopped onion
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp butter
• 16 ounces of chicken stock
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 1 tbs flour
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp thyme (fresh if on hand)
• Pepper to taste
• Swiss Cheese

Instructions: Heat oil and butter in pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and allow to cook until soft ( about 10-15 minutes) stirring occasionally. Allow onion to caramelize (about 5 more minutes). Add wine to reduce. Once liquid is evaporated ( 1-2 mins), add flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add chicken stock, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to boil and let it simmer on medium to low heat for 5 minutes. Season with pepper, top with Swiss cheese  and serve. 

Delish!

Half sandwich and 1 1/2 cup bowl of soup

Nutritional Info:

• 355 calories
• 14 g protein
• 21 g carbs
• 6 g fat

....100 g delicious flavor, hehe :)

I know bread has been demonized in the media as being "bad". But I am here to assure you there is no such thing as "good" and "bad" foods. There are foods that offer less nutrition and are calorie laden, and foods that contain more nutrition for less calories. But when all is said and done, it's a balancing act. It's very similar to balancing your financial budget. 

Say you spent a lot of money on expensive jeans ( I'm sure they are gorgeous and look amazing btw ;) ). Since you spent so much money on jeans, you are likely to spend less money on a blouse, right? (At least I hope so... but we all have those days... I know I do o:) ) ... Unfortunately, when you go over your caloric budget that means fat stored.... Which is a surefire way to not look so great in those expensive jeans :( 

However, we are all human, and there will be days that you go over your caloric budget-that's okay! Say it's a special anniversary dinner, your birthday or whatever it may be. It's okay. Because there will be days that you come in way under caloric budget. Returning to our shopping metaphor- say the day you got things on clearance and also had a 30% off coupon :o ( You excellent shopper, you! ).  You will likely undereat some days or exercise extra hard and burn extra calories. As long as you maintain a healthy balance, it's okay. That's life. Enjoy life, and enjoy food. 

Anyway, let me know how the recipe goes. Let me know how balancing your nutrition works. Try to make the panini with half cheese and half avocado. Which tastes better? Let me know! Keep me in the loop. I love hearing from you guys. Drop me a line. 

XO

-Carmen