It's starting to get cold outside and that means one thing - rich, hearty soup season. There are few things better than sliding your chair up to a warm bowl of great soup when it's cold outside. I like all types of soups and creamy soups are some of my favorites. Chowders, broccoli cheese, potato, and cream of just about anything are always top of my list. These soups are certainly tasty but they're also incredibly fattening. Usually cream soups contain - you guessed it - heavy cream along with butter, cheese, bacon, and other thickeners such as flour and corn starch.

A low carb diet can be challenging when it comes to the amount of time it takes to prepare food. I'm currently trying to nudge low carb and good planning is definitely something required when you need to eat mostly non-processed foods. Fresh vegetables, non-processed meats and cheeses, and low carb condiments are required which can take alot of time without a strategy. I've learned that cooking in bulk is a great way to save time. If I'm grilling chicken, I grill a few pounds of it for the week. As soon as I bring home broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, etc., I cut them up into bite size and store them in ziptop bags for easy snacking or meal options. I also try to prepare low carb condiments and dips for the week.

What the heck are zoodles? Why, zucchini noodles of course! Zoodles are a great way to replace pasta noodles if you're trying to cut carbs, are gluten intolerent, or just want to include more healthy vegetables in your diet. Zucchini has already made a very tasty replacement for pasta in our Low Carb Zucchini Lasagna recipe and we also talked about all the health benefits of eating more of this versatile vegetable.

Whether you're trying to eat more vegetables, cut down on carbs for a weight loss regimen or have a gluten allergy, one thing is for sure - we all crave a good home cooked meal from time to time. By home cooked, I mean something that is made from scratch, hearty, and has all the flavors you remember growing up. Most times when we think of such a dish we think of pot roast and potatoes, roast chicken and vegetables, meat loaf, and of course, casseroles. Casseroles are the embodiment of home. A one pot meal loaded with all kinds of delicious (and most often unhealthy) ingredients that inspires your taste buds and satisfies the soul.