A Soup in Review

As you may or may not have realized, I’m a creature of habit. I definitely like to try new things, but have my “regular” breakfasts that I make as well as regular meals I order when I go out.

Panera is one of those places that I stick to my regulars. I usually go for one of their Signature Salads, but every now and then I get a little crazy and get a “You Pick Two.” A chilly night calls for a bowl of soup and the Low-Fat Vegetarian Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto was calling my name!

A low-fat vegetarian soup with diced tomatoes, sliced zucchini, yellow beans, fresh Swiss chard, cauliflower, bell peppers and pearled barley in a tomato broth. Garnished with a dollop of nut-free basil pesto.

Panera Bread Low Fat Vegetarian Garden Vegetable Soup Pesto Thai Chicken Salad FoodBuzz

Of course, I also went with one of my staples on the side; Thai Chopped Chicken salad, and I was glad that I did. While the soup was good, the taste didn’t quite live up to the description. It was a decent vegetable soup, but I definitely felt like it was missing something. I’m not sure I would really recommend this soup to anyone, unless they were looking for something light with not a ton of flavor.

Looking back, it was definitely missing something.. see that dollop of nut-free basil pesto? Yea. Me neither.

I’ve enjoyed the soups at Panera before, so I wouldn’t simply pass judgement on all of the soups on the menu from this one experience. And even though it was a bit disappointing, I think I would go back and give this soup a try again. With the pesto!


Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Foodbuzz. I was provided a gift certificate and compensated for my time. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Mango Chipotle Chicken Salad

You can always count on a large container of vanilla greek yogurt in my fridge, but after tasting my latest container over and over again, I realized that this was definitely an off batch of vanilla.

It is definitely plain yogurt. Now I’m trying to figure out what to do with all of this plain yogurt! I have to spice it up or sweeten it up or just do something to it! So as we sit here with a fresh rotisserie chicken, I figured chicken salad is the way to go.

Mango Chipotle Chicken Salad

Makes 3, 1/2 cup servings

Barr & Table Mango Chipotle Chicken Salad Chobani Greek Yogurt

Ingredients
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup mango, diced
1 chipotle pepper in adobo
10-12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 tbsp white onion, diced
2 tbsp bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup english cucumber, diced1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp roasted, salted sunflower seeds
3/4 cup chicken breast, shredded

Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl, except chicken. Taste and adjust any seasonings to your liking. Fold in your shredded chicken. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let all of the flavors come together.

Serving Suggestions
I wrapped my chicken salad up in a whole wheat, low carb tortilla with some romaine leaves and 1 100 calorie packet of Wholly Guacamole. This would also be great over mixed greens or as a sandwich instead of a wrap.

You could even do it as a fun appetizer! Get some baked Tostitos scoops and spoon 1 tbsp of chicken salad into each scoop. Sprinkle some chopped green onion and a dusting of chili powder on top and pass around!

Nutritional Stats
Per 1/2 cup serving

131 Calories  /  5g Fat  /  12g Carbs  /  2g Fiber  /  8g Sugar  /  16g Protein

Speak Up!

What is your favorite way to eat plain greek yogurt? Do you mix it into sweet or savory recipes?

What I Ate Wednesday #12 – Baltimore Restaurant Week

Baltimore Restaurant Week is one of my favorite weeks of summer. I guess winter too, but someone summer just seems better!

I absolutely love trying new restaurants and this is the time to do it. You get to taste 3 courses for $30, and if you choose the right place, you’re really getting a steal! Often, the restaurants on the list serve entrees ranging from $20-$40, so to add an appetizer and dessert to that makes it all worth it.

This time around, we decided to check out Salt. It’s a trendy little restaurant that we’ve been to before, but it’s been years. And while we usually use restaurant week as an excuse to try something new, we just couldn’t pass up the incredible menu.

Being that we went out on a Friday, the first part of my day is uber normal. Aka not so exciting. Except for this awesome pancake!

Barr & Table Chocolate Coconut Protein Pancake Earth Balance Coconut Peanut Spread PB Tone It Up TIU Bombshell Spell Bragg's ACV Apple Cider Vinegar

[Breakfast]

Chocolate coconut protein pancake topped with Earth Balance Coconut Peanut Spread, coconut, and cinnamon plus Bombshell Spell with ZICO. I’m absolutely obsessed with the coconut peanut spread. It’s like a little taste of heaven melted over chocolatey goodness!

[Snack]

(not pictured)
Apple

[Lunch]

(not pictured)
Mixed green salad with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, green bell pepper, carrots, zucchini, diced avocado, & chili sesame tofu. This tofu recipe is divine and so simple. I’ll be sharing it soon!

[Snack]

(not pictured)
thinkThin Creamy Peanut Butter Blizzard + a few pieces Almond Maple Pecan Snackle Mouth. The blizzard was a fun way to mix up my usual protein bar and the little chunks at the very bottom were so tasty! And the Snackle Mouth is really something special.. I was lucky enough to win a couple boxes and I hope to be featuring these (or some new products soon to launch!) in a giveaway very soon!

[Dinner]

The most exciting part of the day. Everything on the menu sounded absolutely phenomenal and we couldn’t make any decisions without asking for recommendations (of course!)
Barr & Table Baltimore Restaurant Week Maryland MD Salt Tavern Fells Point Primaterra Pinot Noir Red Wine Roasted Red Pepper Tapinade Bread Cool Vichyssoise Soup Dungeness Crab Pommes Frites Chive Oil
Primaterra Pinot Noir • Roasted Red Pepper Tapinade with freshly baked bread

Cool Vichyssoise Soup
Dungeness crab, pommes frites, chive oil

Country Pork Terrine (not pictured)
Pistachios, figs, dijon mustard

I went for the soup, Nathan for the terrine. We were both equally pleased with our choices and it was something new for each of us to try.

Barr & Table Baltimore Restaurant Week Maryland MD Salt Tavern Fells Point Grilled Swordfish Charred Gazpacho Vegetables Lemon Olive Quinoa Avocado Puree Crispy Creek Stone Farms Beef Belly Confit Ginger Glaze White Kimchi Asian Pears Spicy Sriracha Creamed Corn
Grilled Swordfish with Charred Gazpacho Vegetables
Lemon and olive quinoa, avocado puree

Crispy Creek Stone Farms Beef Belly Confit
Ginger glaze, white kimchi with asian pears, spicy sriracha creamed corn

The swordfish had been recommended to me by a friend and the side dishes sold me. It was delicious and I savored every last bite. But Nathan totally won. The beef belly confit was rich and savory with a slight sweetness from the creamed corn, which wasn’t all mush, as some would assume. If I went back the next day, I’d get the beef belly confit, hands down!

Barr & Table Baltimore Restaurant Week Maryland MD Salt Tavern Fells Point Key Lime Tart Coconut Meringue Blueberry Coulis Goat Cheese Donuts Lavender Honey Vanilla Sea Salt Coffee Ice Cream
Key Lime Tart

Coconut meringue, blue berry coulis

Goat Cheese Donuts
Lavender honey, vanilla sea salt, coffee ice cream

Finally, the best way to end a wonderful meal; with an even more wonderful dessert. I opted for the tart while Nathan chose the donuts. Really, he’d choose anything fried, but drizzled with honey and ice cream on the side? He couldn’t say no! They were fantastic, but I definitely preferred my key lime tart. It was light, sweet, and tart, and just the perfect ending to the meal.

[Summer Staples]
Fresh fruits and veggies. Not a day goes by that I don’t get my fill of all of the freshness that summer has to offer and Salt definitely feels the same way. All of my favorite restaurants are those that take advantage of the freshest ingredients available and plan their menus around that. Why offer farm-raised tilapia when rockfish are jumping?

Speak Up!

What would you have ordered? Are you a meat-and-potatoes kinda person or a sea-foodie?

Summer Salad with Peach Mango Dressing

I love summer and of course the deliciously fresh fruits that come along with it!

I’m always looking for ways to spice up my salads and after a nice grocery haul at the farmers’ market last weekend, I had the ingredients to whip up a light and flavorful side dish for dinner.

Summer Salad with Peach Mango Dressing

Peach Mango Dressing

Yields about 1 cup

Barr & Table Peach Mango Dressing

Barr & Table Peach Mango Dressing

Ingredients
1 medium peach
1/2 mango
1 tsp champagne vinegar
1 tbsp EVOO
1/2 – 1 tbsp honey to taste
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Directions
Slice up the peach and mango. Throw all of your ingredients into a food processor except EVOO. As the processor is running, slowly drizzle the EVOO into the mixture, allowing it to emulsify.

Be sure to taste as you’re adding the honey, salt, and pepper to be sure you get the right sweetness and saltiness that you’re looking for! It’s that easy!

Summer Salad

As far as it goes adding fruits and veggies to your salads, I always try to choose the freshest ingredients I can get. This week I was able to find strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, tomato, green pepper, cucumber, vidalia onion, and crisp green onion. The lighter flavors of the vegetables I chose really accent the fresh fruit!

Barr & Table Summer Salad

Toss it all together with a fresh spring mix (my favorite!) and top with dried cherries, sunflower seeds, and your delicious Peach Mango dressing.

Barr & Table Summer Salad with Peach Mango Dressing

Speak Up!

What are your favorite fruits and veggies of summer?