so this was the weekend of cooking for me! here are some recipes i whipped up post party.
berry good french toast bake
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups 2% milk
1 T sugar (substituted 1 T organic agave syrup)
1/2 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
6 eggs (substituted egg white substitute equivalent)
10 slices of fresh bread (used multi grain whole wheat) cut into 1" pieces
3 oz cream cheese (used reduced fat)
6 cups blueberries (used frozen from summer picking in NH)
1/2 cup toasted pecans
grease 9x13. blend all wet ingredients. add bread & stir
pour bread mixture into pan
top evenly w/ cream cheese, blueberries & pecans
cover & refrigerate up to 24 hours
heat oven to 400
bake 30 min
pour real maple syrup and enjoy!
this is a pretty standard brunch recipe for me, but in the past i would use country white bread. with trying to be better about eating i used a multi grain and it had caraway seeds...it was yummy, but that one seed would give you a zinger. next time i will look for a multi grain that was more oat/honey-ish...fornax?
crustless quiche
i wanted to use up some veggies & cheese, so i basically followed the crab quiche in the link...but tweaked it to be just spinach, tomato & goat cheese. i also used 1/2 egg white sub & 1/2 egg sub original. instead of parmesan on top, i just but a bit of goat on top.
again, this was yummy, but took a bit longer to cook then the directions...i added 15 more minutes, until the edges were brown.
well, these 2 dishes were a hit and the side of bacon was fantastic.
sunday night came around and i had not gone to the store or thought of lunches or dinners for this week, so i went into use up leftovers mode.
base for any creamy veggie soup - from ww
2 T light margarine or light butter
1 small onion - minced
2 med garlic cloves - minced
1 med yukon gold - finely chopped
saute all of above till soft
add veggie of choice chopped fine
add enough chicken broth to make veggies float
bring to a boil and then cover & simmer till veggies are very soft & tender
puree soup w/ immersion blender (if you don't have one, allow soup to cool & puree in food processor or blender.
return to pot & reheat
base to soup is 5 points - most veggies are 0 points, so it's a pretty yummy, low point soup option.
i used asparagus, red pepper & broccoli. i also crushed some parmesan, basil w/lemon wafers on top for some crunch & cheesy yumminess.
tonight for dinner i used up the rest of the sesame shrimp salad in a stir fry. i boiled some brown rice, put the stir fry shrimp & veggies on top and it was delish. i added some fresh lime juice, mint & cilantro on top and voila!
yum yum
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
holiday 2008 party menu
well another holiday party has come and gone and it was SO great! the friends, the food, the cheer...we are truly blessed.
this year, i decided to do 95% new recipes from scouring online cooking sites. i do think 90% of them were a success.
so here goes!
parmesan, basil w/lemon wafers - this was a highlight of the night & SO easy to make! highly recommend the parchment paper investment...the first batch was a wee bit stuck....
french onion dip & chips - twist of reduced fat sour cream & lipton onion soup mix with lay's lightly salted chips. i take any short cut i can.
rolo poppers - on parchment paper, place a snyder's snap pretzel, melt a rolo for 5 min on top, toast any nut you like, place toasted nut on warm rolo, push down and let cool until set. delightful and we received as a gift, thanks KP - that's how yummy this sweet, salty, crunchy, caramel, nutty treat is!! these were just placed around the house in candy bowls for folks to nosh on
cheese spread - well this was specially ordered cheese and it arrived the day of (thank goodness). i saw this trio of artisanal cheeses offered on wine.woot.com and asked sweetie to get it. it included 1 lb winchester gouda, 1 lb point reyes blue cheese, 11 oz cypress grove purple haze chevre. i plated the 3 on a cheese slate and offered 4 different kinds of crackers. i did use some of the point reyes blue cheese for my next offering. i was hesitant abou the purple haze chevre, but it was delightful. i really enjoyed the combination of the goat, fennel & lavender - surprise, surprise.
elegant endives - these were delish and a total hit and again so simple to make! i did exactly what the recipe called for, using some of the point reyes blue cheese, honey & toasted & chopped pecans. what a success!!
crudite - french baby carrots (because i had to have the miniature carrots w/ tops on them - no need to have them again. what a pain to peel!!!) but they did look so cute on the tray....snap peas, cucs, celery, red peppers and of course the radish mice. the dip was a reduced fat sour cream and leek soup mix combo.
antipasto dish - summer sausage, salami, mozzarella balls, kalamata olives, green olives w/ garlic, dolmas & sesame breadsticks. this was just a combo that i have seen in numerous magazines and offers a lot of flavor for no cooking!
latkes!!! - my first time around they were pretty yummy. i did leave out the onions due to numerous friends you do not care for the flavor or texture. i did sub in egg white substitute and whole wheat organic flour. sweetie served them w/ apple sauce to offer a sweet flavor next to all the savory flavors on the table and other sour cream based dips.
mini reubens - i must admit i did not try one, i broke the first rule of sending a dish out of the kitchen...but i just couldn't do it. this was not a home run app, it was eaten, but not devoured like a lot of the other offerings...maybe that was the issue..too many offerings. i am glad i made them, maybe a different gathering..a sporting event or a family gathering and they would be better.
mini 7 layer dips (with only 4 layers) - so i absolutely adore the presentation of any appetizer in a wonton wrapper that has been cooked in the shape of a bowl. you take a mini muffin tin (or larger for a bigger cup base), spray w/ cooking spray, press wonton wrapper into muffin tin and crease until it shapes a bowl, spray all cups once full and bake at 350 for about 5 min (you be the judge on how crispy you prefer). plus, you can make these the night before, once cooled put them in a zip lock bag and you are good to go. i heated up vegetarian refried beans, place in the bottom, then layered avocado, shredded cheese & salsa.
panko chicken nibbles - who doesn't like meat on a stick? i cut up chicken breasts into 1" chunks, rolled them in panko/salt/pepper, sprayed a pan w/ cooking oil, baked at 350 for 15-20 min, turning once. i set these these up w/ 3 sauces for my guests to flavor to their liking: hot sauce, duck sauce, terriyaki sauce. i was hoping folks would flavor w/ hot sauce and grab a chunk of blue cheese and enjoy...they did, the panko nibbles were gone in a flash.
dalmatia fig spread & goat cheese in phyllo cups - so these were supposed to be wrapped in bacon, not phyllo cups, but i just didn't have the ambition to cut up the bacon, wrap, skewer, bake. i bought the already made phyllo cups at the store, let them defrost, scooped in some fig spread, crumbled some goat cheese on top and called it yumminess....these were loved.
sesame shrimp salad - i made this hoping to make mini lettuce cups, but it was a mess and figured folks wouldn't appreciate, so i set it out like a salad. i didn't add the watercress, but i did add snap peas. folks really liked the mint/cilantro freshness this dish offered...it's a bit odd for a holiday party, but it was a little something unexpected and not filled w/ dairy!
i did offer desserts too
cut up fresh fruit - pineapple, cantaloupe, star fruit & mango
cream puffs w/chocolate sauce & caramel sauce drizzle - so easy & really fun to eat.
mom's spiked cool whip w/ creme filled pirouettes - spike fat free cool whip w/ a touch of baileys and 10 oreo cookies. i didn't use the oreo cookies, i added 2 packages of crushed 100 cal oreo crisps. mix while frozen, keep frozen until you remove for serving. place pirouettes around the bowl or in a glass for dipping.
the party was a success with only a little bit of food left over.
i did use the leftover vegetables to make a ww creamy soup...that recipe is coming soon.
betcha wondering about the punch....ok,ok, ok i will tell you. it's a family recipe.
2 bottles of champagne - i used asti, don't judge, we like it sweet :)
1 bottle of white wine - use what you like
1 liter of seltzer - i used raspberry lime
1 can lemonade concentrate
1 can limeade concentrate
ice
float some lemon & lime slices
i made a double batch in the large bunch bowl.
happy holidays and enjoy!
yum yum
this year, i decided to do 95% new recipes from scouring online cooking sites. i do think 90% of them were a success.
so here goes!
parmesan, basil w/lemon wafers - this was a highlight of the night & SO easy to make! highly recommend the parchment paper investment...the first batch was a wee bit stuck....
french onion dip & chips - twist of reduced fat sour cream & lipton onion soup mix with lay's lightly salted chips. i take any short cut i can.
rolo poppers - on parchment paper, place a snyder's snap pretzel, melt a rolo for 5 min on top, toast any nut you like, place toasted nut on warm rolo, push down and let cool until set. delightful and we received as a gift, thanks KP - that's how yummy this sweet, salty, crunchy, caramel, nutty treat is!! these were just placed around the house in candy bowls for folks to nosh on
cheese spread - well this was specially ordered cheese and it arrived the day of (thank goodness). i saw this trio of artisanal cheeses offered on wine.woot.com and asked sweetie to get it. it included 1 lb winchester gouda, 1 lb point reyes blue cheese, 11 oz cypress grove purple haze chevre. i plated the 3 on a cheese slate and offered 4 different kinds of crackers. i did use some of the point reyes blue cheese for my next offering. i was hesitant abou the purple haze chevre, but it was delightful. i really enjoyed the combination of the goat, fennel & lavender - surprise, surprise.
elegant endives - these were delish and a total hit and again so simple to make! i did exactly what the recipe called for, using some of the point reyes blue cheese, honey & toasted & chopped pecans. what a success!!
crudite - french baby carrots (because i had to have the miniature carrots w/ tops on them - no need to have them again. what a pain to peel!!!) but they did look so cute on the tray....snap peas, cucs, celery, red peppers and of course the radish mice. the dip was a reduced fat sour cream and leek soup mix combo.
antipasto dish - summer sausage, salami, mozzarella balls, kalamata olives, green olives w/ garlic, dolmas & sesame breadsticks. this was just a combo that i have seen in numerous magazines and offers a lot of flavor for no cooking!
latkes!!! - my first time around they were pretty yummy. i did leave out the onions due to numerous friends you do not care for the flavor or texture. i did sub in egg white substitute and whole wheat organic flour. sweetie served them w/ apple sauce to offer a sweet flavor next to all the savory flavors on the table and other sour cream based dips.
mini reubens - i must admit i did not try one, i broke the first rule of sending a dish out of the kitchen...but i just couldn't do it. this was not a home run app, it was eaten, but not devoured like a lot of the other offerings...maybe that was the issue..too many offerings. i am glad i made them, maybe a different gathering..a sporting event or a family gathering and they would be better.
mini 7 layer dips (with only 4 layers) - so i absolutely adore the presentation of any appetizer in a wonton wrapper that has been cooked in the shape of a bowl. you take a mini muffin tin (or larger for a bigger cup base), spray w/ cooking spray, press wonton wrapper into muffin tin and crease until it shapes a bowl, spray all cups once full and bake at 350 for about 5 min (you be the judge on how crispy you prefer). plus, you can make these the night before, once cooled put them in a zip lock bag and you are good to go. i heated up vegetarian refried beans, place in the bottom, then layered avocado, shredded cheese & salsa.
panko chicken nibbles - who doesn't like meat on a stick? i cut up chicken breasts into 1" chunks, rolled them in panko/salt/pepper, sprayed a pan w/ cooking oil, baked at 350 for 15-20 min, turning once. i set these these up w/ 3 sauces for my guests to flavor to their liking: hot sauce, duck sauce, terriyaki sauce. i was hoping folks would flavor w/ hot sauce and grab a chunk of blue cheese and enjoy...they did, the panko nibbles were gone in a flash.
dalmatia fig spread & goat cheese in phyllo cups - so these were supposed to be wrapped in bacon, not phyllo cups, but i just didn't have the ambition to cut up the bacon, wrap, skewer, bake. i bought the already made phyllo cups at the store, let them defrost, scooped in some fig spread, crumbled some goat cheese on top and called it yumminess....these were loved.
sesame shrimp salad - i made this hoping to make mini lettuce cups, but it was a mess and figured folks wouldn't appreciate, so i set it out like a salad. i didn't add the watercress, but i did add snap peas. folks really liked the mint/cilantro freshness this dish offered...it's a bit odd for a holiday party, but it was a little something unexpected and not filled w/ dairy!
i did offer desserts too
cut up fresh fruit - pineapple, cantaloupe, star fruit & mango
cream puffs w/chocolate sauce & caramel sauce drizzle - so easy & really fun to eat.
mom's spiked cool whip w/ creme filled pirouettes - spike fat free cool whip w/ a touch of baileys and 10 oreo cookies. i didn't use the oreo cookies, i added 2 packages of crushed 100 cal oreo crisps. mix while frozen, keep frozen until you remove for serving. place pirouettes around the bowl or in a glass for dipping.
the party was a success with only a little bit of food left over.
i did use the leftover vegetables to make a ww creamy soup...that recipe is coming soon.
betcha wondering about the punch....ok,ok, ok i will tell you. it's a family recipe.
2 bottles of champagne - i used asti, don't judge, we like it sweet :)
1 bottle of white wine - use what you like
1 liter of seltzer - i used raspberry lime
1 can lemonade concentrate
1 can limeade concentrate
ice
float some lemon & lime slices
i made a double batch in the large bunch bowl.
happy holidays and enjoy!
yum yum
Sunday, December 7, 2008
no new posts this week
i am not really cooking this week for dinners or lunches, pure leftovers & on the fly concoctions.
i am focusing on party food...will blog post-party.
have a great week.
yum yum
i am focusing on party food...will blog post-party.
have a great week.
yum yum
Thursday, December 4, 2008
here are this weeks recipes to try...120508
sorry for the delay in posting these recipes to try!
lunches
pastichio - this recipe is a handwritten one, so here goes! this is a favorite greek dish of sweetie's, so i grabbed this low calorie version when in DC visiting R. i think this cookbook was from the 70's. sweetie enjoys this aromatic pasta dish & i don't really mind it, but it's not my favorite...due to the cinnamon...it's not a favorite flavor of mine.
pastichio
8oz uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 c egg substitute
1/4 t ground nutmeg
3/4 lb lean ground turkey (breast meat only)
1/2 c chopped onion (i use onion flakes, due to sweetie's dislike of onions)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
3/4 t dried mint leaves
1/2 t dried oregano leaves
1/2 t ground black pepper
1/8 t cinnamon
2 t light butter
3 t flour (i use 100% organic whole wheat)
1 1/2 c skim milk
2 t grated parmesan cheese
preheat 350.
cook pasta, drain.
stir in egg sub & nutmeg.
spray 9" dish w/ nonstick spray.
spread pasta in dish. set aside.
cook turkey, onion, garlic in large skillet.
stir in tomato sauce, mint, oregano, pepper & cinnamon.
reduce heat to low & simmer ~10min.
spread over pasta.
melt butter over medium heat. add flour. stir 1 min. whisk in milk.
cook until thickened. stir about 6 min.
spread over mix.
sprinkle w/ cheese.
bake 30-40 min.
dinners
garlicky hoisin beef
this recipe was mouth watering for us. from the original recipe, i only followed the sauce recipe. i used steak tips and made my own stir-fry of snap peas, red pepper, broccoli and brown rice. i would recommend this garlicky hoisin sauce recipe on any type of protein.
black bean & avocado burrito
exactly what it reads...plus some tomato, 2% shredded cheddar cheese, squeeze of lime & cilantro. i am using a honey wheat tortilla shell, instead of a flour tortilla...every little bit helps, right? make sure to rinse & drain canned beans to remove the extra liquid.
turkey burgers with peanut sauce
the title states turkey, but the recipe reads chicken, because we prefer the taste. a great addition is cilantro when forming the burger. i do not put the protein & additional ingrediants in a food processor. i just use good old fashion hand mixing. i do not use the sprouts...we might not mind bean sprouts though...maybe i will try that next time. i use the whole wheat arnold's sandwich thins, instead of rolls, to reduce calories and increase grain intake!
i am pretty light on recipes this week, as we are not home a lot this week...but this is what i have in the pantry/fridge ready to go!
try the clementines, they are still sweet and juicy!
yum yum
lunches
pastichio - this recipe is a handwritten one, so here goes! this is a favorite greek dish of sweetie's, so i grabbed this low calorie version when in DC visiting R. i think this cookbook was from the 70's. sweetie enjoys this aromatic pasta dish & i don't really mind it, but it's not my favorite...due to the cinnamon...it's not a favorite flavor of mine.
pastichio
8oz uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 c egg substitute
1/4 t ground nutmeg
3/4 lb lean ground turkey (breast meat only)
1/2 c chopped onion (i use onion flakes, due to sweetie's dislike of onions)
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
3/4 t dried mint leaves
1/2 t dried oregano leaves
1/2 t ground black pepper
1/8 t cinnamon
2 t light butter
3 t flour (i use 100% organic whole wheat)
1 1/2 c skim milk
2 t grated parmesan cheese
preheat 350.
cook pasta, drain.
stir in egg sub & nutmeg.
spray 9" dish w/ nonstick spray.
spread pasta in dish. set aside.
cook turkey, onion, garlic in large skillet.
stir in tomato sauce, mint, oregano, pepper & cinnamon.
reduce heat to low & simmer ~10min.
spread over pasta.
melt butter over medium heat. add flour. stir 1 min. whisk in milk.
cook until thickened. stir about 6 min.
spread over mix.
sprinkle w/ cheese.
bake 30-40 min.
dinners
garlicky hoisin beef
this recipe was mouth watering for us. from the original recipe, i only followed the sauce recipe. i used steak tips and made my own stir-fry of snap peas, red pepper, broccoli and brown rice. i would recommend this garlicky hoisin sauce recipe on any type of protein.
black bean & avocado burrito
exactly what it reads...plus some tomato, 2% shredded cheddar cheese, squeeze of lime & cilantro. i am using a honey wheat tortilla shell, instead of a flour tortilla...every little bit helps, right? make sure to rinse & drain canned beans to remove the extra liquid.
turkey burgers with peanut sauce
the title states turkey, but the recipe reads chicken, because we prefer the taste. a great addition is cilantro when forming the burger. i do not put the protein & additional ingrediants in a food processor. i just use good old fashion hand mixing. i do not use the sprouts...we might not mind bean sprouts though...maybe i will try that next time. i use the whole wheat arnold's sandwich thins, instead of rolls, to reduce calories and increase grain intake!
i am pretty light on recipes this week, as we are not home a lot this week...but this is what i have in the pantry/fridge ready to go!
try the clementines, they are still sweet and juicy!
yum yum
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
spaghetti squash marinara & quiche
i am in love with my version of this spaghetti squash marinara sauce recipe, it was so delish and i didn't want it to end. i was able to get one dinner for two and two lunches for myself out of a medium squash. the key for me was the artichoke hearts & mushrooms i added to the sauce. the addition of the chicken sausage was ok, but not necessary. i would def. add more veggies next time i make this yumminess!
the quiche i made for sweetie for lunches ended up being a dinner & a few lunches for us. it was a great way to use up leftover veggies & cheese. i had feta, spinach & mushrooms in the fridge. i did want to use a lower cal recipe, as the quiche recipe i used to make had cream, numerous eggs & a ton of cheese. i pulled this recipe to use as a guide to making a quiche with an egg substitute and we both really enjoyed how light and flavorful it was. next time i will try it with the phyllo dough, but the pie crusts were on sale and i couldn't resist this time saver. i did use whole wheat flour in the egg mixture, that counts for something... :)
the quiche i made for sweetie for lunches ended up being a dinner & a few lunches for us. it was a great way to use up leftover veggies & cheese. i had feta, spinach & mushrooms in the fridge. i did want to use a lower cal recipe, as the quiche recipe i used to make had cream, numerous eggs & a ton of cheese. i pulled this recipe to use as a guide to making a quiche with an egg substitute and we both really enjoyed how light and flavorful it was. next time i will try it with the phyllo dough, but the pie crusts were on sale and i couldn't resist this time saver. i did use whole wheat flour in the egg mixture, that counts for something... :)
tonight is sesame shrimp salad cups...sweetie's favorite new recipe, since this new phase has begun. i have actually made this a couple of times so far and it's always been a hit. i revamp this to use bibb lettuce as cups and add some chopped snap peas. i do not use watercress or the napa cabbage...until tonight. i did buy some napa cabbage for the veggie mixture in the bibb lettuce cups. i serve 3-4 cups, depending on size of leaves & i put 3 shrimp on each cup and voila! the cilantro/mint/lime juice/chili paste combo is such an amazing flavor..we love this dish and it's a favorite, sweetie would eat this once a week if i made it.
time saver hint...when the med raw shrimp, already butterflied/deveined are on sale...ask the fish monger for a 2 lb bag and keep it in the freezer. shrimp can be defrosted in minutes and can be added to salads, shrimp tacos or for a quick shrimp cocktail. making homemade cocktail sauce is a breeze...ketchup, prepared horseradish & lemon juice...mix ratio to your liking (we like more kick w/the horseradish!)
i hope you have a wonder Thanksgiving weekend - eat well!
yum yum
Sunday, November 23, 2008
new baby weekend - not so much cooking
we welcomed in our goddaughter's baby sister this weekend!! we had big sister this weekend and she's an amazing child but a tough eater; no veggies, minimal fruits, no bread & really doesn't like pasta...what does a kid eat then???? nothing of what we had in the house....so it was pizza, mac & cheese & mcdonalds...we broke down, it was late....shame.
i was able to cook the spaghetti squash marinara sauce for dinner tonight and was quite amazed with how tasty it was! i did add mushrooms, artichoke hearts & chicken sausage to the marinara sauce. i made sure to add the spaghetti squash to the sauce and heat it all up together. i did melt a sprinkle of low fat mozzarella on each serving in the oven. we both ate our serving it was 2 points as prepared, but with the chicken sausage it probably brought up the points to 5 WW points...not bad for a dinner that was filling!
with a shortened week, i didn't really plan out any meals except eating leftover spaghetti squash for lunches for me and a quiche for sweetie. i am going to make the sesame shrimp salad/cups and the peanutty chicken cutlets/stir fry for dinners.
i did make a version of a WW quiche with leftovers from last week's ingredients...spinach, mushroom feta quiche. i just used the basic egg version of the recipe that i linked. i also used whole wheat flour and only 2 eggs and more egg substitute. i also used a frozen pie crust, they were on sale and i didn't have the patience for phyllo dough tonight.
sweetie, big sister & i did make mini brownie bites stuffed with reese's peanut butter cups for a party...they were so not low cal...but they didn't stay in the house, thank goodness!!
i will be making my pumpkin whoopie pies for thanksgiving and sweetie will be making her sweet potato pie. it's going to be an interesting eating this year, as i am way more into what i am ingesting.
yum yum
i was able to cook the spaghetti squash marinara sauce for dinner tonight and was quite amazed with how tasty it was! i did add mushrooms, artichoke hearts & chicken sausage to the marinara sauce. i made sure to add the spaghetti squash to the sauce and heat it all up together. i did melt a sprinkle of low fat mozzarella on each serving in the oven. we both ate our serving it was 2 points as prepared, but with the chicken sausage it probably brought up the points to 5 WW points...not bad for a dinner that was filling!
with a shortened week, i didn't really plan out any meals except eating leftover spaghetti squash for lunches for me and a quiche for sweetie. i am going to make the sesame shrimp salad/cups and the peanutty chicken cutlets/stir fry for dinners.
i did make a version of a WW quiche with leftovers from last week's ingredients...spinach, mushroom feta quiche. i just used the basic egg version of the recipe that i linked. i also used whole wheat flour and only 2 eggs and more egg substitute. i also used a frozen pie crust, they were on sale and i didn't have the patience for phyllo dough tonight.
sweetie, big sister & i did make mini brownie bites stuffed with reese's peanut butter cups for a party...they were so not low cal...but they didn't stay in the house, thank goodness!!
i will be making my pumpkin whoopie pies for thanksgiving and sweetie will be making her sweet potato pie. it's going to be an interesting eating this year, as i am way more into what i am ingesting.
yum yum
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
slow cooker chili & yum yum brownie muffins
so it's been a slow week for dinners w/ headaches, after work events & already having chili & lasagna in the fridge. the chili was not so great, b/c i thought i shut the slow cooker off, but alas, it was on high for 4 hours and then on low for 8 hours...bummer...so we had smoked chili (due to a blackened top).
i did make the yum yum brownie muffins and they have been well received. i did use Pillsbury® Reduced Sugar Devils Food Cake and a can of LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin, so all in all each muffin is about 2 WW points!! it's a great alternative to a full fat chocolate muffin/cupcake.
btw, the clementines from roche bros. have been delicious this week!!
hopefully i will be making the sesame shrimp lettuce cups tomorrow for dinner!
yum, yum
i did make the yum yum brownie muffins and they have been well received. i did use Pillsbury® Reduced Sugar Devils Food Cake and a can of LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin, so all in all each muffin is about 2 WW points!! it's a great alternative to a full fat chocolate muffin/cupcake.
btw, the clementines from roche bros. have been delicious this week!!
hopefully i will be making the sesame shrimp lettuce cups tomorrow for dinner!
yum, yum
Sunday, November 16, 2008
here are this weeks recipes to try...111508
lunches:
slow cooker veggie chili - red kidney beans, black beans, butter beans & mushrooms, tomato sauce, basil, chili powder...no measurements, just throw it all in. let the slow cooker go for 5 hours on high.
nana's fake lasagna! - since this is a recipe i have grown up with, i will write it out..but i don't use measurements, so you might have to wing it if you want to give it a try...it's a great staple for us in the lunch rotation..make it once, eat all week!
light n fluffy egg noodles
extra lean ground turkey - turkey breast only
mushrooms
fresh organic spinach
fat free cottage cheese
fat free sour cream
tomato sauce
2% shredded cheddar cheese
boil noodles according to package, drain, add sour cream & cottage cheese, stir
saute ground turkey & mushrooms, drain, saute again w/ tomato sauce
place in baking pan according to amount you make
layer noodles, then layer of fresh spinach, layer turkey mixture
sprinkle w/ shredded cheese
bake at 350 for 45 minutes
snacks:
for a chocolate sweet treat, i thought i would make these yum yum brownie muffins for a snack for the office. i tried a mini version and it wasn't too bad..it's more like a muffin then a brownie, but it is a guilt free sweet alternative.
dinners:
sunday night - derby party
monday night - sesame shrimp salad - i turn into sesame shrimp bibb lettuce cups
tuesday night - peanutty chicken cutlets & stir fry
wednesday night - spaghetti squash marinara sauce
thursday night - outing w/ friends
friday night - open for anything!
yum, yum.
slow cooker veggie chili - red kidney beans, black beans, butter beans & mushrooms, tomato sauce, basil, chili powder...no measurements, just throw it all in. let the slow cooker go for 5 hours on high.
nana's fake lasagna! - since this is a recipe i have grown up with, i will write it out..but i don't use measurements, so you might have to wing it if you want to give it a try...it's a great staple for us in the lunch rotation..make it once, eat all week!
light n fluffy egg noodles
extra lean ground turkey - turkey breast only
mushrooms
fresh organic spinach
fat free cottage cheese
fat free sour cream
tomato sauce
2% shredded cheddar cheese
boil noodles according to package, drain, add sour cream & cottage cheese, stir
saute ground turkey & mushrooms, drain, saute again w/ tomato sauce
place in baking pan according to amount you make
layer noodles, then layer of fresh spinach, layer turkey mixture
sprinkle w/ shredded cheese
bake at 350 for 45 minutes
snacks:
for a chocolate sweet treat, i thought i would make these yum yum brownie muffins for a snack for the office. i tried a mini version and it wasn't too bad..it's more like a muffin then a brownie, but it is a guilt free sweet alternative.
dinners:
sunday night - derby party
monday night - sesame shrimp salad - i turn into sesame shrimp bibb lettuce cups
tuesday night - peanutty chicken cutlets & stir fry
wednesday night - spaghetti squash marinara sauce
thursday night - outing w/ friends
friday night - open for anything!
yum, yum.
Friday, November 14, 2008
baked falafel sandwiches w/ yogurt tahini sauce
baked falafel sandwiches w/ yogurt tahini sauce
tonight's recipe of baked falafel sandwiches was a so-so, not top 10, meal for us. it was super easy to make and really healthy, but didn't knock our socks off. don't get me wrong, we both finished up all the recipe that was made (i cut it in half). i used a honey wheat tortilla shell as a flatbread substitute that was quite tasty. the yogurt tahini sauce was yummy, it was just the actual falafel that was not that exciting for me. it might have been my mood and i forced this recipe and i wasn't really feeling it...but i made it, we ate it, i might try it again in the future, but for now, it's not in the rotation.
i would like to thank E for sharing a new recipe...devil's food cake mix & a diet cream soda...you've got yourself all the ingredients you need to make a lo-cal cake (that's right, no eggs, no oil, no water). the www.hungrygirl.com website looks like something i will def subscribe to!
the soft shrimp tacos are going to have to wait for another week.
yum, yum
tonight's recipe of baked falafel sandwiches was a so-so, not top 10, meal for us. it was super easy to make and really healthy, but didn't knock our socks off. don't get me wrong, we both finished up all the recipe that was made (i cut it in half). i used a honey wheat tortilla shell as a flatbread substitute that was quite tasty. the yogurt tahini sauce was yummy, it was just the actual falafel that was not that exciting for me. it might have been my mood and i forced this recipe and i wasn't really feeling it...but i made it, we ate it, i might try it again in the future, but for now, it's not in the rotation.
i would like to thank E for sharing a new recipe...devil's food cake mix & a diet cream soda...you've got yourself all the ingredients you need to make a lo-cal cake (that's right, no eggs, no oil, no water). the www.hungrygirl.com website looks like something i will def subscribe to!
the soft shrimp tacos are going to have to wait for another week.
yum, yum
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
cilantro pesto pizza turned sandwich....
well this recipe as a pizza was divine, so i thought i could turn it into a sandwich alternative for lunches....the first sandwich was not a home run.
cilantro pesto pizza topped w/ portobellos & artichoke hearts - no onions!
we have been turned onto arnold's sandwich thins (only 1 WW point!), we love the whole wheat option. the multi grain is delish, with a hint of sweetness, but it has the seeds that get stuck in your teeth. so i started with a toast of the whole wheat sandwich thin, put on about 1T of the cilantro pesto, a sprinkling of feta and piled the bella mushroom/spinach saute mix & the artichoke hearts. I placed the top piece of thin back in the toaster w/ some feta to melt it a bit. i wrapped the sandwich in tin foil, to be used in the toaster at work and to hold it all together.
well sweetie, toasted the sandwich and thought it was very tasty, but couldn't really taste the cilantro...WHAT?? that's the flavoring reason to make this concoction!! take 2 tomorrow w/ a bit more cilantro pesto & some additional fresh cilantro. i will make one for myself too, so i can try to decipher the appropriate ratio of pesto, bella/spinach, artichoke hearts, feta....
the shrimp tacos will need to wait until another night this week due to unexpected later night appointments for me and sweetie.
what am i going to make for our derby party on sunday....maybe my version of pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese filling?
yum, yum
cilantro pesto pizza topped w/ portobellos & artichoke hearts - no onions!
we have been turned onto arnold's sandwich thins (only 1 WW point!), we love the whole wheat option. the multi grain is delish, with a hint of sweetness, but it has the seeds that get stuck in your teeth. so i started with a toast of the whole wheat sandwich thin, put on about 1T of the cilantro pesto, a sprinkling of feta and piled the bella mushroom/spinach saute mix & the artichoke hearts. I placed the top piece of thin back in the toaster w/ some feta to melt it a bit. i wrapped the sandwich in tin foil, to be used in the toaster at work and to hold it all together.
well sweetie, toasted the sandwich and thought it was very tasty, but couldn't really taste the cilantro...WHAT?? that's the flavoring reason to make this concoction!! take 2 tomorrow w/ a bit more cilantro pesto & some additional fresh cilantro. i will make one for myself too, so i can try to decipher the appropriate ratio of pesto, bella/spinach, artichoke hearts, feta....
the shrimp tacos will need to wait until another night this week due to unexpected later night appointments for me and sweetie.
what am i going to make for our derby party on sunday....maybe my version of pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese filling?
yum, yum
Sunday, November 9, 2008
mixed salad w/ hoisin vinaigrette & crisp panko chicken
well this was VERY easy and really yummy for a lighter sunday night dinner.
mixed salad w/ hoisin vinaigrette & crisp panko chicken
total time to put this together was 25 minutes and that included roasting the asparagus, cooking the chicken & washing the spinach (sub for the mixed greens). i had a few minutes this afternoon, so i put the vinaigrette items in a jar & shook it for a few minutes. i let it meld in the fridge for the afternoon and it was good to go this evening. this evening, i had 2 chicken breasts that i washed, dried, cut up into 1" chunks & dropped into the panko breadcrumb mixture. the recipe didn't call for anything more then some scallions & red tomatoes, but i added some roasted asparagus to get some more veggies in and to use them up.
we really enjoyed this salad, we do love panko anything & hoisin is just a wonderful flavor. i would make this salad again, but add even more veggies to make it really a more robust veggie salad w/ the panko chicken a smaller factor.
sweetie did comment that it was tasty, but odd that she didn't have the flavor or texture of a cheese or a nut...as so many of our salads have these fixings. i felt it was a clean taste and enjoyed the change.
i did also start the cilantro pesto sandwich filling...the sauteed baby bellas & spinach. i am also going to make the pesto tonight so that i can just put the fixings together in the morning and send sweetie on her merry little way to work. a homemade meal, a piece of fruit & a yogurt is pretty much our daily work day eats.
yum, yum.
**i do have a picture, but uploading it has been an issue...so hopefully it will be here soon.
mixed salad w/ hoisin vinaigrette & crisp panko chicken
total time to put this together was 25 minutes and that included roasting the asparagus, cooking the chicken & washing the spinach (sub for the mixed greens). i had a few minutes this afternoon, so i put the vinaigrette items in a jar & shook it for a few minutes. i let it meld in the fridge for the afternoon and it was good to go this evening. this evening, i had 2 chicken breasts that i washed, dried, cut up into 1" chunks & dropped into the panko breadcrumb mixture. the recipe didn't call for anything more then some scallions & red tomatoes, but i added some roasted asparagus to get some more veggies in and to use them up.
we really enjoyed this salad, we do love panko anything & hoisin is just a wonderful flavor. i would make this salad again, but add even more veggies to make it really a more robust veggie salad w/ the panko chicken a smaller factor.
sweetie did comment that it was tasty, but odd that she didn't have the flavor or texture of a cheese or a nut...as so many of our salads have these fixings. i felt it was a clean taste and enjoyed the change.
i did also start the cilantro pesto sandwich filling...the sauteed baby bellas & spinach. i am also going to make the pesto tonight so that i can just put the fixings together in the morning and send sweetie on her merry little way to work. a homemade meal, a piece of fruit & a yogurt is pretty much our daily work day eats.
yum, yum.
**i do have a picture, but uploading it has been an issue...so hopefully it will be here soon.
here are this weeks recipes to try...110908
lunches:
leftovers of mediterranean lasagna
leftovers of couscous w/ grilled asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, feta & red bell pepper (this was just something i threw together with leftover veggies from the prior weeks menus)
a remake of cilantro pesto pizza topped w/ portobellos & artichoke hearts into sandwiches for sweetie...cilantro is one of her favorite flavors.
dinners:
sunday night - mixed salad with hoisin vinaigrette and crisp panko chicken
monday night - left overs due to hip hop class ya'll!
tuesday night - soft shrimp tacos w/ tropical salsa
wednesday night - leftovers due to derby practise
thursday night - baked falafel sandwiches w/ yogurt tahini sauce
friday night - open to using what's in the pantry
each night, i will recap the recipes above to let you know how they come out and if i will put them into rotation. we are trying to eat better and with more variety, so most recipes are brand new and i mostly will tweak them to fit our tastes, but i will let you know what those swap outs are.
yum, yum.
leftovers of mediterranean lasagna
leftovers of couscous w/ grilled asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, feta & red bell pepper (this was just something i threw together with leftover veggies from the prior weeks menus)
a remake of cilantro pesto pizza topped w/ portobellos & artichoke hearts into sandwiches for sweetie...cilantro is one of her favorite flavors.
dinners:
sunday night - mixed salad with hoisin vinaigrette and crisp panko chicken
monday night - left overs due to hip hop class ya'll!
tuesday night - soft shrimp tacos w/ tropical salsa
wednesday night - leftovers due to derby practise
thursday night - baked falafel sandwiches w/ yogurt tahini sauce
friday night - open to using what's in the pantry
each night, i will recap the recipes above to let you know how they come out and if i will put them into rotation. we are trying to eat better and with more variety, so most recipes are brand new and i mostly will tweak them to fit our tastes, but i will let you know what those swap outs are.
yum, yum.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
new phase...
here goes the blogging....
i am not sure what i will be doing with this outlet, but for right now, it's going to be a space for me to write about the new recipes i am trying and the occasional rant of pleasure or pain.
tonight sweetie and i went to the natick collections to finish up some holiday shopping. we decided to go to the met burger bar for dinner and had a great time reviewing the numerous burger building options. i was also desiring sweet potatoe fries and had heard that they were not too bad. sweetie opted for the mini burgers vermont style and i ordered the mini burgers w/ sharp cheddar. i also ordered the sweet potato planks, which i was so disappointed with...but that's because i make great baked fries...so the total lack of potato & extra fried was just a bummer. the mini's were DELICIOUS! they were just the right amount of house blend beef & toppings to fill the dinner hole, without feeling overwhelmed. i would def recommend this place if you are at the natick collection.
i am not sure what i will be doing with this outlet, but for right now, it's going to be a space for me to write about the new recipes i am trying and the occasional rant of pleasure or pain.
tonight sweetie and i went to the natick collections to finish up some holiday shopping. we decided to go to the met burger bar for dinner and had a great time reviewing the numerous burger building options. i was also desiring sweet potatoe fries and had heard that they were not too bad. sweetie opted for the mini burgers vermont style and i ordered the mini burgers w/ sharp cheddar. i also ordered the sweet potato planks, which i was so disappointed with...but that's because i make great baked fries...so the total lack of potato & extra fried was just a bummer. the mini's were DELICIOUS! they were just the right amount of house blend beef & toppings to fill the dinner hole, without feeling overwhelmed. i would def recommend this place if you are at the natick collection.
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