Warming up with Panera Bread Soups

Every time my husband and I drive back toward Ohio we hope that we'll find a Panera Bread along the drive to stop in and visit!  Panera Bread is this amazing Cafeteria-Bakery that offers an assortment of gourmet baked goods, yumtastic sandwiches and salads - and delicious homestyle soups!

For the past couple of visits we didn't know where to look for Panera Bread close to the trip route - but this time around we actually planned our stops around where Panera Bread was located.  And even more exciting was the discovery that Panera has several locations now in NYC...and I didn't even know it!!  But even more exciting is the fact that Panera even has locations in Washington state, where I'm headed this week!!  You could say I have an infatuation with Panera Bread!

I'm a sucker for a good soup and sandwich, and Panera Bread definitely knows how to do it right.  I've been there three times in the last month sampling a variety of different soups and sandwiches and I'm going to share a bit about my latest experience and what menu items I recommend you try!

Sierra Turkey Sandwich & French Onion Soup

I most recently visited a Panera Bread in Norwalk, CT this week and chose the French Onion soup and Sierra Turkey Sandwich.  The French Onion soup comes topped with savory croutons and asiago-parmesan cheese shavings.  It is rich in sweet onion flavor with just the right amount of herbs and seasonings to appeal to both the sweet and savory crowd!  I loved it.

Panera Bread French Onion Soup

I paired the soup with the Sierra Turkey sandwich which comes on fresh-baked asiago cheese focaccia!    I love the flavors of the red onion, smoked turkey and chipotle mayo as they come together on this bread.

Panera Bread Sierra Turkey Sandwich

Like I said, this was my third trip to Panera Bread this month!  During my previous visits I tried the Baked Potato Soup and the Cheddar Broccoli soup - both very satisfying on a cold Fall day!  Funny enough, I still haven't visited a Panera in NYC!  But I'm delighted that I will be able to any time I want to now!  And I was just searching to find out where the closest cafe is for my month hiatus home to Seattle...and there is one just a couple of miles from where I'll be staying!  I am sitting here practically drooling as I think about sampling their New England Clam Chowder (next on my list!)

While I was visiting the website to see what day they make their Clam Chowder...I found out they have a great partnership with Feeding America.  While you are dining at one of their lovely cafe's you can give back to the community by dropping a donation in one of the Panera Cares Community Breadboxes which will go toward ending hunger in America!

Have you been to Panera Bread?  What is your favorite soup??  Or which one of these delicious soups do you want to try!?

I received compensation for my food and time for this review through DailyBuzz Food, however; the opinions and views expressed are unsolicited and authentically mine.

{RoastedAvocado}

This recipe, while high in good fat is totally rich and filling!

It is a great recipe for the carb-conscious dieter.

Enjoy!

Great Salad Recipes

A few great salad recipes and a couple of other lean and green meal ideas to enjoy!

 Baby Spinach Salad with Tuna

2.5 Cups Baby Spinach

1 Cup Marinated Mushrooms

1 Can No Salt White Tuna in Water (Drained)

1/2 Cup Fresh Salsa

2 Tbsp. Lite Champagne Vinaigrette

 Baby Spinach with Chicken Salad

2 Cups Baby Spinach

1 Can White Chicken Meat (drained)

1 Cup Marinated Mushrooms

1/2 Cup Fresh Salsa

2 Tbsp. Low Fat Roasted Red Pepper Dressing

 Butter Lettuce Salad with Grilled Shrimp & Avocado

2 Cups Butter Lettuce (Variety)

1.5 Cups Large Grilled Shrimp (Precooked - seasoned)

1/2 small Avocado, sliced

1/2 cup fresh salsa

2 Tbsp Cilantro Dressing

 Grilled Salmon Burger Patties

2 3oz Salmon Burger Patties

2 Tbsp Homemade Guacomole

4 Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

2 Cups Raw Broccoli/Cauliflower

2 Tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Sautéed Turkey Meatballs with Pesto

4 Turkey Meatballs

1 Tbsp Genova Pesto

1 Cup Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms

2 Cups Steamed Broccoli

1 Pinch Garlic Salt

1 Tbsp Freshly Shaved Parmesan Cheese

***
Bon Appétit!

{TacoWraps}

You can also add other toppings as you desire.

I love this recipe because it is super easy to prepare, 

and it is incredibly healthy and carb-conscious.  

I hope you'll try it and enjoy! 

"So Yummies!" Dessert Everyday!

I've told my husband as long as I can remember, that it does no good to keep dessert out of our house…because I have a very demanding sweet tooth!  Instead we try to make sure we have plenty of lower calorie treats waiting for me when the I'm in the mood for dessert…which is, well, almost every night.

Here are some of my favorite everyday desserts made extra special by simply adding COOL WHIP whipped topping:

Chocolate Mousse!

Recipe: 

One single serve container of Jell-O Decadence Chocolate Mousse, 

+ a big dollop of COOL WHIP right on top!  Voila!

I'm definitely not the only one in the family that enjoys their dessert!  Recently, Zion has been asking more and more for a "treat" after dinner.  I have to admit, I love love love the joy it brings when I bring out something I've baked for her and she smiles and says, "So Yummies!"

Berry Smoothies!

Recipe: 

1 Cup Frozen Berries, 

1/4 Cup Yogurt, 

1/4 Cup COOL WHIP, 

1/2 Cup of Milk - 

Blend together, 

Top with a dollop of whipped topping!

My husband has a soft spot in his heart for brownies with ice cream, but I've discovered that I can help him cut out a few calories by forgoing the ice cream and using COOL WHIP instead!  He certainly hasn't complained!

Brownie "A'La More"!

Recipe: 

Brownie Mix prepared per package directions, 

Topped with generous amounts of COOL WHIP!

I love my coffee and I love chocolate.  So when I discovered that I could make rich, creamy home-made mochas using brewed coffee and hot cocoa mix, I never turned back!  I have to say that nothing makes a homemade mocha more perfect than finishing it with a dollop of COOL WHIP and a few sprinkles.

Homemade Mocha!

Recipe:  

8oz fresh brewed coffee, 

1 packet instant cocoa mix, 

Whisk together.  

Top with a generous dollop of COOL WHIP.

Now that the weather is warming up, and fresh fruit is filling up the produce sections…I'm ready to make some delicious fruit salad.  Is there anything more enjoyable than sitting out on the deck on a warm sunny day eating a bowl of fresh fruit salad!?

Fresh Fruit Salad!

Recipe:  

A bowl of chopped fresh fruit (whatever is in season!) 

Tossed with plenty of COOL WHIP, so simple, yet so divine!

What is your go-to dessert!?  Have any simple dessert recipes to share?  I'd love to hear about it!

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

O.M.Y. {oh.my.yum} Featuring Jo from Holding Onto The Little Things

Hey friends, Jo from Holding onto the Little Things is here today sharing a delicious pumpkin recipe.  I know it isn't fall anymore, but this recipe is too good to keep to myself!  Enjoy and make sure to pop on over to visit her blog and say hey!

I am so excited to have finally found time to post my most favorite fall pumpkin recipe.  Maybe one of my favorite breakfast/dessert items..  We use fresh pumpkin and I believe that is what makes this recipe so delicious.. Well that, and maybe all the brown sugar.  I accidentally added too much cinnamon to my streusel, so in the final picture, the tops are darker than they should be.
The following makes a little more than 2 dozen..
















ingredients:
1 cup of softened butter (2 sticks)
2 2/3 cups of packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups of pumpkin (a little extra is better)
1/2 cup of evaporated milk
3 tsp. of baking soda
1 tsp. of salt
4 tsp. of cinnamon (a little extra is better)
1 tsp. of powdered ginger
1/2 tsp. of ground cloves
3 1/3 cup of flour
streusel topping:
10 TB. of flour
12 1/2 TB sugar
10 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup of butter

You can adjust the spices to your liking.  I use extra cinnamon, because it is my favorite.  Adding a few drops of vanilla is also yummy as well!

You will need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees. You cream the butter and brown sugar.. add egg.. add pumpkin and evaporated milk.. add baking soda and spices.. then slowly add the flour.. Mix after each addition.  Do not over stir.

Pour into regular sized greased muffin pan. Fill the cups leaving a little less than 1 cm empty.  Cover with as much topping as you like.  I add at least a tablespoon to the top of each muffin before throwing in the oven. Cook a dozen at 20 minutes.  Makes 28; 30 if you don't eat the batter.. wink wink.

O.M.Y. {oh.my.yum} Featuring Sarah from The Fontenot Four!

Check out this delicious recipe from Sarah of {the Fontenot Four}!

On Saturday morning I was browsing Pinterest.I wanted a simple crock pot recipe for chicken.I wasn't feeling well.  I had thawed out chicken.  Had to cook it. But didn't want to exert a lot of effort!Ever have those days??I came across this pin for Cilantro Lime Crock Pot Chicken:Source: pipandebby.com via Sarah on Pinterest
I checked my pantry and, sure enough, I had the ingredients...pretty much.I had bone-in skin-on chicken breasts, not boneless skinless.I had dried cilantro, not fresh.I had lime juice in a bottle, not a fresh lime.Well, that worked for me so here is my version of this recipe! Easy Delicious Cilantro Lime Crockpot Chicken: So so nice to have a Kindle Fire to put on the counter for easy access to the recipe!!

Aside from the chicken, here's what you'll need:

A 24 oz jar of your favorite salsa.  I had a club-size bottle, so I measured out 24 oz.

The original recipe calls for the juice of 1 lime.  I did not have one, so I added 1 tbsp of "Realime" lime juice.

Instead of fresh cilantro {because I had none}, I used not quite 1/4 cup of dried cilantro.

Add 1 pouch of your favorite taco seasoning.

Blend everything together in your crock pot.

Throw in a package of boneless skinless chicken breasts.

{mine were bone-in skin-on, so I de-boned and de-skinned them before putting them in}

Cover the chicken with the salsa mixture.

Set the crock pot to low for 6 hours.

{about 4.5 or 5 hours in, I put it on warm}

Towards the end, I threw some white rice into my rice cooker.

Chicken is ready!

Serve the chicken over rice and top with the salsa mixture.

Not photographed: I then put some tortilla chips on the side and topped with some of the salsa mixture.  I added a generous amount of shredded "Mexican" blend cheese as well as dollop of sour cream!

This was so good that this post was supposed to go up Monday but I couldn't wait to share it with you!!

And before you say aren't you starting a fast??  Well, yes I am...it starts at sundown tonight.  This is not a Daniel Fast recipe, that's for sure.  And I enjoyed every bit of it! Enjoy!
My mouth is totally watering from this recipe: cilantro & lime---that is all you had to say!!  Thanks, Sarah for this delicious recipe…I'm hoping to get to cook this for my sister's family while I'm visiting with them.  :)  
Friends, you should totally visit Sarah's blog…this lady is inspiring in all that she does!  :)