Cheers!

My friend Nikki sent me a wonderful article today about the benefits of drinking Champagne, from Health.com. Champagne is not only a health booster, but can help calm dry skin, and be a great slim cocktail alternative with only 78 calories per glass! The article also gives a great recipe for salad dressing using leftover champagne from New Years, and starting off 2011 with a healthy meal. And its last benefit: a Spirit Lifter... I think we all knew about that one. Check out the article here, and join me as I toast to 2011, and start drinking more champagne!

Cheers!

Southwestern Chicken Soup

For the first of several healthy recipes in 2010, we bring you Southwestern Chicken Soup, courtesy of Real Simple Magazine. I found this dish while I was looking for something healthy for dinner, and something that would warm you from the inside on these bitter cold nights. This soup did just the trick! Here's the recipe:

1 12oz jar Salsa Verde (I used the Pace version and found it to be delicious!)
3 Whole Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded
1 can cannellini beans, drained
3 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1 tsp Ground Cumin
2 Green Onions, chopped
Fat Free Sour Cream (optional)
2% Reduced Fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (optional)
Tortilla chips (optional)

In a large saucepan, pour in the entire jar of Salsa Verde, and cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Next add chicken, broth, cumin, and beans, and turn up the heat to high until it boils. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Serve in a stoneware bowl, so that the heat from the soup can warm your cold hands, and top with green onions, sour cream, and cheese.

For a quick substitute, buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery and shred that, instead of having to cook raw chicken breasts. This is a quick, easy, and healthy recipe to help start the new year off right! Enjoy!