Spinach Tortellini Soup

Here's another great recipe from Skinny Taste that I loved! I decided to make this yesterday since we had been eating a lot of holiday, calorie-rich foods lately. This was filling without making you feel like you had overeaten. This is just what we needed after all of the Christmas meals we had had the few days prior.

This only took me about 15 minutes to put together. So simple and yummy!

Here's the recipe

Mile-High Lasagna

I have to preface this by saying this probably isn't very low-calorie- but I don't make this type of meal very often. :) But you could do several things to this to make it healthier. Ex: ground turkey, low fat cheese

I made this for the first time tonight for our Christmas get-together with my Dad's side. This was pretty delicious, although mine didn't end up near "a mile high" like the title says - haha!

Here are my changes:

Omitted the onion- didn't miss it

Used a shredded mix of Italian cheeses in between the layers (I bought two bags of this and it was barely enough for the two loaf pans)

Didn't see how it was possible to use all of the lasagna noodles. We did two pans and had a ton leftover. We probably could have gotten by with only one box. The San Marzano tomatoes are really delicious! Most grocery stores carry this now and I think it's worth the little bit extra you pay.

I love how Rachael Ray puts a video on her website to show you how to make each recipe. Very helpful!

Here's the recipe

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

I received this recipe from my First Place leader, Connie earlier this month and loved it! I made it for family this past Saturday at our Christmas gathering and received several compliments and promised to post the recipe on here. I did make a couple of small changes to the original. So here you go--

Chicken Tortilla Soup- for the Crockpot

4 chicken breast halves or boneless chicken tenders

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil

2- 14 oz. cans chicken broth

2- 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes

1 cup salsa (mild, medium or hot- whichever you prefer)

1/2 cup chopped cilantro (see note at bottom for a helpful tip!)

1 tablespoon, or more, ground cumin

8 oz. reduced-fat monterey jack cheese, shredded

Baked tortilla chips

Add minced garlic and oil to crockpot. Put chicken on top. Then, add all ingredients except the cheese and chips. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, depending on crockpot temperature. Shred chicken with two forks and put back into the crockpot. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with crushed chips and cheese. Add additional broth if soup is too thick.

Makes approx. 12 servings

Exchange value: 1 cup= 1 1/2 veg. 1 1/2 meat

Basic nutritional value:

Calories: 234

Total fat: 7 g

Sat. fat 3.4 g

cholesterol 69mg

sodium 669mg

When I was shopping for these ingredients at Kroger, I noticed a new product I hadn't seen before (pictured above.) These squeeze bottles are perfect for storing herbs in the fridge and so convenient! You use what you need and refrigerate the rest. Since it seemed like the cilantro was pretty concentrated in this bottle, I didn't measure out a half cup as the recipe calls for. I think it equaled about 3 tablespoons. You could still taste it very well. Just thought I would let you all know about my newest discovery!

Smoky Roasted Eggplant Marinara with Spaghetti Squash

If you haven't ever tried spaghetti squash, I recommend it! This is such an easy and fun recipe! The squash half is actually your spaghetti "bowl" in this recipe. The only hard part for me was splitting the squash down the middle with a knife. But after that was done, and I scooped out the seeds, it was so simple!

You roast the squash cut-side down on a cookie sheet for 45 minutes. Then, you scrape down the insides with a fork to make it look like spaghetti. I also roasted large slices of peeled eggplant next to it for about 30 minutes. I opted out of roasting the red bell pepper garlic and didn't miss it. I just added garlic to my tomatoes. After the eggplant was done, I chopped it into bite-sized pieces and added it to the tomatoes on the stove. And topped it with parmesan cheese. I served it with some whole-grain garlic bread!

Delicious- and SO filling. I had to save half of my bowl for the next day's lunch. A great vegetarian meal - and I didn't miss the meat at all!

Here's the recipe

Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Shallots

We really enjoyed this tonight! These chops turn out very tender since they are cooked in the chicken stock. I recommend keeping them in the pan instead of taking them out halfway through, like this recipe suggests.

My changes:

I used 2 tablespoons of olive oil and no butter.

I lightly dredged the chops in flour before adding to the pan

I have to admit mine didn't look nearly as pretty as Gina's from Skinnytaste.com. So I decided not to post a picture - haha! But they were great tasting and that's what counts in our house. :)

Here's the recipe

Mexican Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas

I made these two nights ago. Definitely a success! They were mild enough that they didn't bother Chris's reflux, but very tender and flavorful. So easy too! The meat was so moist that it tasted the same even with leftovers.

Here are my changes:

I used 2 lbs. pork tenderloin instead of shoulder

I omitted the peppers in adobo sauce

Added salsa and low-fat shredded cheddar after they were cooked

Here's the recipe

Honey Dijon Chicken Marinade

I thought since it wasn't very chilly tonight, I would ask Chris to grill some chicken since I'm not feeling too well. He grilled some chicken tenderloins tonight with this marinade. I sort of just threw this together. They turned out really well and were very tender.

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders

3-4 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon light mayonnaise

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup olive oil

juice of one lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a Ziploc bag and marinate for at least 3 hours in fridge. Grill or bake until juices run clear.

Easy Crockpot Sweet Potatoes

I know Thanksgiving is over now, but I wanted to share this really simple recipe for sweet potatoes. (Maybe you can use it for Christmas!)

5-6 large sweet potatoes- peeled and sliced into 1/4" discs

12 oz. can evaporated skim milk

1 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Combine everything in a large crockpot. Stir well, then dot butter on top. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Low-Fat Fettucini Alfredo

Fettucini Alfredo

1 package reduced-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup skim milk

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons light margarine

Salt & Pepper to taste

1/2 lb. whole-grain pasta

Combine all ingredients in small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

Optional ingredients - cooked broccoli florets and/or cooked baked chicken breast, diced.

Yield: 4 servings

270 Calories when served with 1 cup cooked noodles.

I got this recipe from the First Place 4 Health's Facebook page. (under the recipe tab)

I added broccoli and half a pound of ground turkey to this and we really enjoyed this. It's a very quick meal to put together.

Low Fat Baked Ziti with Spinach

I made this tonight since I wanted to do a vegetarian dish and cut down on our meat consumption. This definitely hit the spot!! So filling and delicious! I would definitely make this again.

Here are my changes:

Used regular spaghetti sauce instead of crushed tomatoes since I already had it on hand.

Couldn't find whole wheat ziti, so I used whole grain penne- very similar.

Couldn't find fat-free ricotta, so I used part-skim ricotta.

Didn't see the need in baking this for the entire 30 minutes. Once my cheese was melted, I took it out after about 15 minutes. Tasted GREAT!

Here are some helpful tips--

1) The recipe doesn't specify this, but if you make this, make sure to squeeze out ALL of the liquid from your frozen spinach after defrosting and before adding it to your pan. You don't want watery, mushy ziti!

2) I find it helpful for clean-up to cover my 9 x 13 dish with foil before adding the ziti. Afterward, you can scoop out the leftover pasta into a container, throw away the foil and have very little clean-up!

Here's the recipe

Honey Mustard Chicken

I saw this on Rachael Ray and had to make it since it looked so simple. She actually used this recipe in the world's largest cooking demo on her show on Monday. She had hundreds of people cooking alongside her all over the world with the same recipe. Very cool!

Anyway, we really enjoyed this and will probably make it again.

Here are a couple changes I made:

Used olive oil instead of butter

Used celery instead of parsnips

Omitted the shallot

Added frozen green peas (about one cup) at the end

Used dill instead of parsley- great flavor!

Here's the recipe

VitaTops

If any of you haven't tried these delicious snacks/desserts, you must! These are wonderful! I found them in the freezer section but I know you can usually find them near other snack items usually too. The frozen ones you just have to microwave for 18 seconds and they are perfect! Plus, they won't go bad in the freezer.

They are only 100 calories each and have 1.5 grams of fat. Great if you are having a craving for something sweet. The Deep Chocolate ones go great with a cold glass of milk!

Here's a link

Squeeze Garlic

This is my newest grocery find. It is made my Spice World. I found this stuff in Target and it makes adding garlic to dishes SO easy! I don't enjoy chopping garlic and the smell it leaves on your hands. So if you're in the same boat, I highly recommend this product. It's also definitely cheaper than buying all fresh garlic.

Here's a link with a picture- it's the first product on the list.

http://www.spiceworldinc.com/index.php?page=garlic

Chicken Pierre

Had this tonight and it was a really nice, easy meal! We had it with green beans and corn- super simple! The tomato sauce is really nice and sweet. Very different from an Italian type tomato sauce. Very easy dish to pull together with some typical pantry ingredients that most people have on-hand. Gotta love that! :)

Here are my changes:

Used a teaspoon of dijon mustard instead of mustard powder

Used olive oil instead of butter

Only used 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of 6, but the same amount of all the other ingredients.

My chicken didn't need the 35-40 minutes to simmer like they suggested. Mine was done after about 20 minutes.

Here's the recipe

Crockpot Minestrone Soup

Chris and I literally JUST ate this for dinner and really enjoyed it. It's definitely a great go-to during the colder months of the year. We had it with some whole grain bread that I toasted in the oven with some mozzarella melted on top. It went great with the soup!

Here are my changes:

Omitted the onion

Used fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead of plain- nice flavor!

Omitted parmesan cheese rind (didn't have one)

***Here's a tip that I saw on Rachael Ray's show recently***

When making a soup that calls for pasta to be added, only add the amount that you will eat right then to your soup bowl. When you eat the leftovers, make a small batch of pasta on the stove, drain it and add it at that time. This will help the pasta to stay "al dente" and not get too squishy and bloated while it sits in your fridge.

Here's the recipe

Crockpot Cranberry Pork Roast

We had this for dinner tonight-- and this is a keeper, y'all! This is so tender and juicy that I just used a fork to get the meat out of the crockpot onto my plate- YUM!

I think this would be a great dish for holiday get-togethers as well and it requires very little prep work.

I put my fresh cranberries in a small pot with about 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup cranberry juice and let it come to a boil for about 5-10 minutes. Then, I mashed the cranberries with a potato masher slightly. I poured this on top of the meat after I had put my savory ingredients onto the meat.

I think the next time I make this, I might omit the lemon slices. I didn't think they were needed as the cranberries were tart enough. But still, VERY good!

I served this with whole-wheat couscous that had golden raisins in it and green beans. Delicious!

Here's the recipe

Oven Roasted Cauliflower

Made this tonight as a side dish and really enjoyed it! Roasting the cauliflower definitely gives it a nice flavor and it was very tender when I removed it from the oven.

The next time I make this, the only thing I would do differently would be to put foil down on the cookie sheet before roasting as it was pretty messy afterward. But the flavor of this dish was great!

Here's the recipe

Petite Turkey Meatloaves

I made these tonight for dinner and really enjoyed mine. Since I didn't have a mini loaf pan, I used a giant muffin pan and they only needed to bake for about 25 minutes instead of the 40 she suggests in the recipe. Gotta love that! I made it as written tonight (shocker, I know!) but this is a very easy dish that can be changed up in a thousand different ways.

Here's the recipe

Lightened Up Creamed Spinach

I made this the other day as a side for dinner. I believe we had it with grilled chicken and this is really delicious, folks!! I will be making this again! The Boursin Light cheese is the key ingredient. I used fresh spinach, but next time, I will probably use the frozen, thawed and drained kind. Either that, or I will buy TWO bags of the fresh kind. One bag was not enough if you don't half the amount of sauce used since spinach wilts down so much when added to the sauce.

Also, when it says to reduce heat to low before adding milk, I actually disagree with this. Mine worked better with the heat turned UP. It helps the milk to thicken up when added to the flour. Make sure to use a whisk when doing this to break up any lumps that the flour creates. This dish came together very fast- it was ready before our chicken had finished grilling on the grill. :)

This would be a great addition to any special occasion or date night at home!

Here's the recipe

Super Scampi

I saw this on the Rachael Ray show the other day and decided it looked too yummy and simple not to make. We both really enjoyed this dish and I will probably make this again. I made several changes...

Added one can of diced tomatoes to the broth mixture.

Only added one cup of water instead of two since I added the tomatoes.

Omitted the anchovies- I was going to try these but I couldn't find them at Target. Rachael says they are the secret ingredient and taste like salted nuts in the background of the dish and aren't fishy.

Used whole grain thin spaghetti instead of linguine

Only used one pound of shrimp- got the raw frozen kind and rinsed and drained them before adding.

Added parmesan to the top.

Here's the recipe

Chocolate Espresso Pudding

I just threw this little dessert together today on a whim today when I was craving something sweet but didn't want to make something too high in calories or fat. Thought I would share it while I was thinking about it... So simple but soooo good!

1- 4 oz. pkg. Jell-O sugar-free chocolate pudding mix

1 3/4 cups skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 individual packet Taster's Choice instant coffee granules

Mix these four ingredients well with a whisk and let them set for 10 minutes in the fridge. Then, mix in about 4 oz. Cool Whip Free until completely combined. Enjoy!

Roasted Butternut Squash-YUM!

Man, I love this time of year with all of the yummy squash and pumpkin dishes! This is soooo delicious and just the right about of sweetness that I had it for dessert tonight haha! This is so simple, but soooo good! The only hard part about it was cutting open the squash. I used my largest knife and it still took some extra muscle. Too bad Chris wasn't home when I was making it! This comes out of the oven so soft that it falls apart. (I cooked mine for one hour at 400, just to make sure it was completely done.) I will definitely make this again at some point.

Here are my changes:

I only used one large butternut squash instead of three and cut it into three lengthwise sections.

I used brown sugar instead of maple syrup on top of the squash (about 2 tablespoons)

Here's the recipe

Healthy Ranch Dressing

So, my sister, Amy is the one who introduced me to this website- www.bethenny.com and I have enjoyed looking through the recipes on here. This was the first one I tried out and I thought it was pretty darn good for being nearly fat-free. Greek yogurt is such a lifesaver for those of us who are trying to lose weight and not sacrifice taste. The brand I used for this recipe was Chobani, which I found at Target and really like.

The next time I make this, these are the two things I will probably do differently--

Add one teaspoon of sugar or Splenda- I thought it was a little too tart.

Decrease the amount of lemon juice and zest by 1/2.

Other than that, I pretty great ranch dressing recipe for not a lot of calories or fat! I'm a happy girl! :-)

Here's the recipe

Lighter Chicken Piccata

This is another recipe I found on skinnytaste.com. Such an amazing site- I love it!

This is one of my favorite dishes, so I was excited to find a lighter version and try it out. We both thought this was very good- and it is so quick to make! Love that :)

Here are my changes:

I couldn't find whole wheat breadcrumbs at Target, so I used Japanese panko breadcrumbs instead.

Added a little lemon juice to the egg whites before dipping the chicken.

The salad in this picture has the homemade "healthy ranch dressing" on it that is in the above post.

Here's the recipe

Pumpkin "Butter"

I tried out this recipe this week and have really enjoyed this stuff. There is no butter in this recipe despite the title. It is like apple butter but with pumpkin. It is so versatile! You can add it to oatmeal, on top of toast, smoothies, pancakes, crepes and probably a thousand others.

My only changes:

Cut down the amount of brown sugar by about 1/3.

Used regular cinnamon instead of sticks.

In 1/4 cup of this, there are only 88 calories and hardly any fat. This will probably become a regular at our house, especially during the fall season!

Here's the recipe

Great Website for Recipes

While I was thinking about it, I wanted to share the link to a website that I found yesterday. This lady makes Weight Watchers recipes that look AMAZING and DELICIOUS! I love how she posts all of the nutritional information on each recipe. I plan on trying out many of these in the near future.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/

Chocolate Espresso Cupcakes

I made these this past Wednesday for my good friend, Connie's birthday. These are very chocolaty and dense, but pretty low in calories considering they are cupcakes.

Here are my two changes:

I substituted unsweetened applesauce for the canola oil.

Couldn't find espresso granules, so I just used Taster's Choice instant coffee granules.

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/desserts/chocolate/chocolate-espresso-cupcakes.aspx

Pesto Chicken Wrap

I had one of these for lunch today and it was SO yummy! I used the leftover chicken from the Chicken Parm Pasta Toss below in this wrap. The chicken already had a little pesto on it, so I didn't add a lot of extra pesto to the wrap. I also cut down on how much gorgonzola I put on it since it wasn't fat-free.

This is a very easy and fast lunch!! Lots of flavor and simple to pull together when you're in a bind. You could also substitute roasted chicken or turkey lunchmeat if you don't have cooked chicken at home. Also, you may want to use whole-grain tortillas instead of the ones they suggest. Be creative and change it however suits you best!

Here's the recipe

Chicken Parm Pasta Toss

I made this a while back with the original recipe and really enjoyed it. This is a very easy go-to dinner!

Here is how I made it tonight:

Replaced the fresh basil with about 1/4 cup store-bought basil pesto

Didn't have any grape tomatoes or onion- so I left them out.

Used fresh spinach instead of arugula

This was delicious both ways- and I'll definitely make it again.

Here's the recipe

Healthified Banana Pudding

This picture is Chris's face after he licked the plate clean and didn't have any left. Hahaha! I'm thinking it was a success!

Wow, this a good fake out! This pudding tastes so creamy and rich with hardly any fat! I halved this recipe since we didn't need to make a big batch. It was so delicious!

My only change was:

Banana cream pudding mix instead of vanilla- it was very good and I would recommend it if you like a lot of banana flavor.

Hope you will try this one out :)

Here's the recipe

Smashed Sweet Potatoes w/ Honey

I served these along-side the barbeque chicken- what a great combo!

If you don't already know, sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables out there. Way more nutritious than white potatoes and have a whole lot more flavor. I will be making these again in the future! So easy!

Since I didn't have chicken stock, I used skim milk. That was my only change.

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/smashed-sweet-potatoes-honey/

Skinless BBQ Chicken

Saw this on the Rachael Ray show yesterday, and just had to make it! The homemade barbeque sauce was really tasty! And since you make it yourself, you can control how much sugar goes in. I made several changes- here they are:

Only used three boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Halved the sauce recipe since I didn't need as much

Marinated the chicken in the sauce for about 4 hours in the fridge

Grilled it on the outdoor grill

This was some of the most tender barbeque chicken we had ever had! Seriously, folks- you must try this!

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/skinless-bbq-chicken/

Slow Cooker Pesto Spinach Lasagna

I made this the day after Chris and I returned from Japan, because I was reeeeally craving Italian food after all of the Japanese for two weeks! This definitely hit the spot. :)

My only changes:

Used all low-fat cheeses instead of the regular kind- used grated instead of sliced mozzarella.

Didn't use quite as much pesto as they ask for since it has a lot of oil.

This didn't take very long at all to cook in my crockpot. So I wouldn't recommend setting it and going to work the entire day. It would probably be burnt when you returned. Mine only took about 4-5 hours on low (but I have a very hot crockpot.)

I served this with some leftover fresh spinach that I had as a salad-- very simple- I combined spinach, sliced Fuji apples, sliced almonds and raisins. Then I tossed it with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, salt and pepper. Simple, but oh, so good!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2010/09/slow-cooker-pesto-spinach-lasagna.html

Pigs in a "Bran"ket

I made these for breakfast this morning and we both really enjoyed this. I made a couple changes--

Since I didn't have Fiber One cereal, I used whole-wheat flour. Also, I halved the recipe since we didn't need as much as this called for. I served these with a side of strawberries. Very filling breakfast!

Here's the recipe

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole

4 boneless chicken breasts, skinned and thawed

1/2 stick margarine

1/2 cup milk

1 cup Minute Rice

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can Campbell's French Onion soup

Melt margarine in bottom of 13x9x2 dish. Add rice and stir. Spread out evenly on bottom of dish. Arrange chicken breasts on rice. Add milk to cream of chicken soup and pour over breasts, then pour French Onion soup on top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 45-50 minutes.

Banana Oat Muffins

These muffins are very good and filling. Perfect for breakfast or a quick snack. They're definitely healthier than my normal banana nut bread recipe but very similar tasting. The oats add fiber and keep you fuller for longer. You could probably substitute Splenda for the sugar and make them even healthier.

Here is my only change:

Added about 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (to make it more like banana nut bread)

Mine probably could have been baked for a few minutes less than 18 minutes. Mine were brown on top, not burned... but next time, I will probably only bake for about 15 minutes.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Oat-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Grilled Greek Chicken

Just had this for dinner and this is DEFINITELY a new favorite! Soooo yummy!

Here are my changes:

I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken.

I used dried herbs because that was all I had- but you could still taste them very well!

I only used the juice of one lemon, but I also added a little lemon zest to the marinade- made it very lemony and good!

I used less olive oil as I had less meat to marinate than a whole chicken.

I only marinated this for about 6 hours in the fridge, but I poked holes in the chicken with a fork to help it soak in.

This turned out very tender and Chris did a great job of grilling it outside. Extremely flavorful and juicy! This is a keeper, for sure :)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Greek-Chicken/Detail.aspx

Pork Apple Burgers

I made these last night and they turned out pretty yummy- especially with the grilled pineapple on them! :)

Here are my changes:

I used ground turkey instead of pork- and I only used one pound

I skipped the onion

Had to add about 1/4 cup dry plain bread crumbs to the meat mixture as it was too mushy without them. But after I added this, they turned out great.

I used Oroweat Sandwich Thins (100 calories each) instead of hamburger buns.

We put lettuce and tomato on ours- not very original, but they didn't mention that in the recipe.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pork-Apple-Burgers/Detail.aspx

Crockpot 3-Packet Pot Roast

This pot roast recipe couldn't be easier! You plop your meat in your crockpot. You mix the three packets of seasoning together in a bowl. You season the meat on all sides. Pour 1 cup of water over the top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add 1-2 cups of water, depending on the size of your pot roast.

The meat was a bit on the salty side for me, and I didn't even use all of the seasoning because my pot roast was only 2 pounds. So use your own discretion.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/08/crockpot-3-packet-pot-roast-recipe.html

RamJam Chicken

Don't ask where the name of this recipe came from because I have no idea. But I do know that this marinade is very yummy! I made this on our indoor cast iron grill and it was great! The house smells wonderful. I used boneless chicken thighs because that was all I had, but I will use chicken breasts next time. I definitely prefer white meat over dark.

Very easy and flavorful marinade :)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/RamJam-Chicken/Detail.aspx

Cheesy Chicken Salsa Skillet

I just made this tonight and it was a really easy and flavorful! I made a couple of changes that I thought added more flavor to the original recipe. I love these Kraft recipes online because they even have how-to videos posted where the lady makes the recipe so these are just about fool-proof. I also liked this because it is a nice alternative to most Mexican dishes which are typically high in fat and calories. It satisfied my craving for something Mexican while not having the extra fat and calories.

Here's what I added:

I can of fat-free black beans (added these right after the salsa)

I diced avocado sprinkled over the top after the cheese melted.

I omitted the green bell pepper but didn't miss it since we had the avocado. :)

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/cheesy-chicken-salsa-skillet-111246.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20100826-_-1006

Grilled (or baked) Pork Tenderloin

This was very similar to another pork tenderloin marinade I've used before several times. It was very flavorful and tender. The small amount of cinnamon in this will make your house smell amazing!

My changes:

I only used one 1 lb. pork tenderloin.

I baked this in the oven instead of grilling it. It was on 375 for about 40 minutes- probably could have done 35 minutes though.

I did not serve this with rice. I served it with the sweet potato dish below this post.

I used low-sodium soy sauce.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grilled-Pork-Tenderloins/Detail.aspx

Southwestern Crockpot Sweet Potatoes and Corn

This was very simple to put together and is pretty tasty. I probably wouldn't make this every week, but it's definitely something different to add to your side dish menu. Also, if you didn't know, sweet potatoes are the most nutritious vegetable out there as far as vitamins. And bonus- they are one of my top three favorite veggies! I love their natural sweetness.

My changes:

I omitted the onion.

I used freeze-dried basil instead of fresh.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/08/southwestern-crockpot-sweet-potato-and.html

Massaged Kale Salad

I saw this on Food Network on the brand new show, "Aarti Party." She is the new winner of The Next Food Network Star. This dish was in her first show. Her recipes usually have an Indian flavor to them. But this one really doesn't, I don't think. But it was very good! I don't think I've ever eaten kale - that I know of until tonight in this dish. It's very hearty and chewy. Definitely a healthy food!

I could only find regular kale at Kroger, not the black kale that she suggested. Even after massaging the kale with the lemon juice, olive oil and salt for 3 minutes, mine didn't seem to wilt very much like the recipe said it would. That was the only problem I had with this. The kale took up a lot of space in the salad bowl.

I omitted the pumpkin seeds because I couldn't find them. I meant to substitute slivered almonds, but forgot.

The mango flavor in this is fabulous! I had forgotten how much I loved mango. Will be buying more of those very soon!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/massaged-kale-salad-recipe/index.html

Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad

This turned out really well, I thought. We both enjoyed this and I plan to make this again at some point. I wish I had made it earlier in the day so that it could have cooled more in the fridge. (Next time, I'll read the directions more carefully!) But it was still delicious. I made several changes---

Omitted the spinach because I was serving it with my next recipe- Massaged Kale Salad.

Used red wine vinegar instead of white- that's all I had- tasted great.

Omitted the parsley

Used tri-color rotini pasta- could not find the kind they listed at Kroger- radiatore??

I substituted olive oil for the salad oil.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sesame-Chicken-Pasta-Salad/Detail.aspx

Baked Garlic Chicken

This turned out pretty yummy. And this one is just about fool-proof!

I changed a couple of things--

I used Italian salad dressing instead of just plain olive oil to cut back on greasiness and calories.

I used thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chicken cutlets). They cook quicker than the regular kind.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Garlic-Chicken/Detail.aspx

Honey Fruit Salad

This is extremely simple but very yummy! Honey is such a great natural sweetener. And you can use whatever fruit you have around to make this. It also goes great on top of cereal or with yogurt.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Honey-Fruit-Salad/Detail.aspx

Caramel Apple Pork Chops

Just made this tonight and it's definitely going to be a repeater in my kitchen. Chris and I both really enjoyed this :)

Here are my changes:

I took the suggestion of a reviewer of this recipe and marinated the chops in 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce and 1 cup apple juice for about 4 hours before cooking. This gave them a really great flavor and they were very juicy. Pork chops can dry out easily so this definitely helped with that a lot.

I only used two pork chops instead of the 4 they suggested.

I omitted the pecans- didn't have any.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Caramel-Apple-Pork-Chops/Detail.aspx

Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu

I made this for dinner tonight and it was soooo tender! I think the next time I make it, I will do the homemade "soup" to pour over the top instead of the canned cream of mushroom that I used today. I'm sure that would really lower the sodium. I also liked that this wasn't breaded like the typical chicken cordon bleu you might have at a restaurant.

I only cooked this for 4 hours on low since I have a pretty hot crockpot and it was VERY done by then. I think this is definitely a healthier version of an old favorite!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/08/crockpot-chicken-cordon-bleu.html

Grilled Salmon with Dill

Chris and I just had this for dinner tonight and it was definitely a success!!

Here are my changes to the recipe below:

Put 9 oz. fillet of salmon in a foil packet with ingredients and grilled on the stove for about 15 minutes.

Added one tablespoon of butter to make sure it didn't dry out

We split the 9 oz. fillet in two and it was SO perfect! The foil packet method of cooking fish is definitely one of my favorites as far as locking in juices and EASY clean-up. But if you would rather bake in the oven as the recipe instructs, do what you feel most comfortable with.

The dill and lemon combo can't be beat. We really enjoyed this :)

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1087038&adsqs=raid:1712080

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Just made this for dinner and it was sooo flavorful! I only marinated it for about 4 hours and the chicken was very juicy and could be cut with a fork! The lemon flavor is very nice in this! I loved how healthy this one is. I made it on my indoor grill since it is SOOO hot outside this week. I'll be making this one again.

My only omission was the red bell pepper-- didn't see the need for it.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grilled-Lemon-Chicken/Detail.aspx

Amazing Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

This recipe couldn't be easier and the taste and tenderness of the pork was great!! I will be making this one again. It has a bit more sodium than dishes that I typically make, so I scaled down the salt with the rest of what I ate yesterday. This went great with some mashed new potatoes and green beans. :)

My only changes were:

1 lb. pork instead of 2 lbs.

Cooked on low for only about 4 hours (but my crockpot is hotter than most.)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amazing-Pork-Tenderloin-in-the-Slow-Cooker/Detail.aspx

Grilled Tomato and Cheese Sandwiches

This was such an easy and yummy lunch! I don't feel quite as bad about having a grilled cheese if there are some vegetables on it :) Also, the cheese is low-fat and I loved it! The roasted red peppers add a great, unexpected flavor. Neat twist on an old favorite :)

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/30-minutes-or-less/grilled-tomato-and-cheese-sandwiches.aspx?WT.dcsvid=NTMxMDQ4NjcyMgS2&rvrin=85656AAF-05C4-4739-966E-B1B4D9429E11&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_EBA_2010_07_14

Foil Packet Mixed Veggies

A picture of this recipe is below with the crab cakes. This turned out GREAT! And only had to cook for about ten minutes! Plus, NO clean-up! Can't beat it. I didn't put in the bell pepper that is called for on this but I did everything else exactly the same. I did chop the mushrooms before cooking though. This can be cooked either on the outdoor grill, in the oven or on the stove. I just used my indoor grill and put the foil packets on there for 10 minutes on high and they are absolutely perfect! This side dish goes with just about any entree and it tastes great too. :)

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/sensational-foil-pack-vegetables-106267.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20100720-_-1015

Homemade Guacamole

So I made some chicken tacos tonight on corn tortillas and I decided some homemade guacamole would go great with them.

Here's what I did:

1 large, ripe avocado

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, diced

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

It's hard to believe that four simple ingredients could make something soooo good! Just mash your avocado down and stir in the other ingredients.

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple Cake

This was soooo yummy! I made this minus the frosting and it was perfectly delicious! My guess is that it is a little under 200 calories per serving without the frosting since it is 255 calories per serving with the frosting. I just made the cake with light Cool Whip. Chris liked it so much that he had two pieces after dinner tonight hahaha!

This one is definitely a crowd-pleaser-- very moist and flavorful! And I loved that it didn't have any butter or oil in it.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1723427

Cooking Light Crab Cakes

Crab Cakes

From Cooking Light

• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1 pound lump crabmeat, drained and shell pieces removed
• 1 1/2 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), divided
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• Cooking spray

1. To prepare crab cakes, combine first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Gently fold in crabmeat. Gently stir in 3/4 cup panko. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

2. Divide crab mixture into 6-8 equal portions ; shape each into a 3/4-inch-thick patty. Place remaining 3/4 cup panko in a shallow dish. Working with 1 patty at a time, dredge in panko. Repeat procedure with the remaining patties and panko.

3. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil (or more) in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat both sides of crab cakes with cooking spray. Add 4 crab cakes to pan; cook 7 minutes. Carefully turn cakes over; cook 7 minutes or until golden. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, cooking spray, and remaining 4 crab cakes.

Slow-Cooker Liners

Just wanted to put in a little plug for this wonderful product! If you've never tried slow-cooker liners, this is a must! Cleaning the inside of crockpots can really be a long task. I'm totally hooked to these now. I've only seen these in one size-- fits a very large crockpot. They are soooo handy! I have heard that if you put the heat on high for a really long time, they can melt a little. But I always cook my food on low and have never had this problem or any breakage. These make clean-up soooo easy!

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

This one couldn't be simpler, folks! This recipe is pretty self-explanatory. The chicken will shred very easily when finished cooking and you can serve on tortillas, if desired. Also good with black beans and corn mixed in later on. A much lighter meal than most Mexican food.

Hope you enjoy!

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup light sour cream

Add chicken to slow cooker.
Sprinkle taco seasoning over chicken.
Pour salsa and soup over chicken.
Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
Serve with rice and black beans.

Campbell's Crockpot Chicken and Rice

I can't remember where I got this recipe since it was quite a while back, but I made this for the first time tonight and this was pretty tasty. And of course, as with most crockpot recipes, SOOOO easy! The chicken was falling apart when I took it out.

My only changes were:

Margarine instead of butter- and only about 2 tablespoons

Low-sodium version of the chicken gumbo soup

Only used three chicken breasts

Even though it said not to stir, after 2-3 hours of cooking, I stirred and everything still turned out great!

Campbell's Chicken and Rice in Crockpot

1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice
2 cans Campbell's Chicken Gumbo Soup
2 cans water
4 - 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 TBLS butter melted
Spray crock pot with nonstick spray, pour in box of rice, pour melted butter over rice, place chicken breasts on top of rice, pour soup and water over chicken, sprinkle season packet from rice on top - don't stir, cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.

Ultimate Barbeque- Rubbed Chicken

Here's what I made for dinner tonight. We both loved this- the perfect summertime meal! I have made the coleslaw before and have posted it on here. Here's the recipe if you didn't see it -

Cole Slaw Recipe.

For the chicken, changed up this recipe in order to get more flavor. Instead of just rubbing the spices on right before grilling and then dipping the cooked chicken in the sauce... I decided to marinate the meat in the sauce AND spices for about 4 hours in the fridge before putting it on the grill. The chicken was *perfect*! Lots of flavor! Hope you will give this one a try.

Here's the chicken recipe

Herbs

Here's a new product that I found in the produce section of Target recently that I had to share. The brand is "Litehouse". They are freeze-dried herbs and they are very close to the taste of fresh ones, in my opinion. I have bought their dill, chives and basil and all have been great. Here is their website if you are interested in seeing what all they make:

http://litehousefoods.stores.yahoo.net/freezdriedhe.html

I really like them and they don't go bad like fresh ones do. No need to refrigerate and no chopping! YAY! :-)

Chicken Vegetable Pizza

I made this tonight for dinner and it was soooo good! What a yummy way to get your veggies.

Here's all I did:

Spread out a store-bought pizza crust on a rectangular cookie sheet. (Or make your own if you are more patient than I am!) Lightly drizzle with olive oil and spread out minced garlic all over the top. Bake this by itself for only 5 minutes on 400 degrees.

Meanwhile, cook or boil one boneless chicken breast until done and cut into small cubes.

Take crust out of the oven, and add desired vegetables and cubed chicken. I used fresh mushrooms, roma tomatoes and roasted red peppers. I didn't use tomato sauce because sometimes it can make it a little soggy. Then, I topped it with about 2 cups of shredded 2% mozzerella. (This kind is lower fat.) I also sprinkled it with some basil.

Then, bake for an additional 10 minutes on 400 and cut into squares.

Healthified Ravioli and Summer Squash Toss

Just had this for dinner tonight and this is a winner, folks! Hope you will give this one a try! I loooove squash so when I saw this, I knew I would be making it. I think I used two large squashes just because I like it so much. I don't really like chickpeas too much so I put in sliced white mushrooms instead. I also added about 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the veggies while they were cooking. Parmesan over the top is the perfect way to garnish this meal!

This is a perfect light, summer, vegetarian meal! And sooooo delicious!

Here's the recipe

Low-Fat Raspberry Summer Sensation

I made this today to have for dessert and Chris and I both loved this! So refreshing, cold and creamy! We definitely recommend this one. And it couldn't be easier. This link actually has a vide to show you every step. I couldn't find raspberry sorbet at Target, so I got raspberry sherbet instead. (Basically the same thing.)

All I have to say is - YUMMY!!

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/low-fat-raspberry-summer-sensation-74024.aspx

Crockpot Red Wine/Cranberry Glazed Pork Tenderloin

I know I have posted this a long time ago but it is so delicious that I think it deserves a second post. Try it out and let me know what you think :)

I've made this probably 4 or 5 times in the last year or two and it's always SO tender and juicy! Crockpots are wonderful!!!

I have changed the original recipe and used a 1 pound pork tenderloin instead of a pot roast. This helps to save on fat and calories, big time!

Since I use a smaller, skinnier cut of meat than what is called for, I usually only cook it for 4-6 hours on low. (But I have a pretty quick cooking Crockpot, so use your own judgement on that.)

Also, another tip for those of you that don't have a lot of bottled wine around the house-- Buy the small boxes of wine, like the ones in the picture above. They are perfect for individual portions and for cooking.

This recipe is just about fool-proof and turns out perfect every time!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/03/crockpot-red-wine-cranberries-glazed.html

Lower-Fat "Fried" Chicken w/ Creamy Gravy

I made this tonight and it was pretty good. Definitely didn't have a fried taste at all. My only complaint about the directions is that they tell you to cook the chicken for quite a while and that really wasn't necessary. Mine was done in about 25 minutes since you put a lid on it for a while. Don't know why they said to cook it for so long.

Also, don't use very much flour at all in the gravy. I accidentally did and it made it super thick and sort of gelatin-like. It tasted decent but the texture was driving me crazy. I had never thought to use evaporated skim milk in gravy before. Very smart idea!

I served this with Ore Ida Steam 'n Mash potatoes and green beans. It was a great combo!

Here's the recipe

Oroweat Sandwich Thins

If you haven't seen or tried these, you really should give them a shot. They are only 100 calories, 0g fat, and 11 g whole grains each. These are very versatile. You can use them for sandwiches, burgers, mini pizzas, breakfast egg sandwiches and a lot more. This website has recipes:

http://www.oroweat.com/Thins/Default.aspx

"Eggstractor" Egg Peeler-kitchen gadget

I saw this on a segment on the Rachael Ray show and I decided I had to have one! It makes peeling boiled eggs a LOT easier. I bought mine through Amazon since it was cheaper. There are two pieces, as you can see, that stack on top of each other. Here is the website that has a video of how it works.

http://www.eggstractor.net/

I tried it for the first time yesterday and it worked pretty well! And plus, it's just plain fun!

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

So I'm not sure if I've posted this recipe before or not, but it is so delicious that it's worth a second post haha! I usually roast it in the oven, but tonight Chris grilled it on the grill for me along with some zucchini. I only had time to marinate the meat for about 90 minutes before grilling it, but you couldn't tell by the taste at all! This was heavenly!

I decided to make an impromptu mushroom sauce with some whole-grain penne pasta mixed in. This was really easy- all I did was saute a 10 oz. package of portobello mushrooms with olive oil and add a can of golden mushroom soup and about 1/2 cup of red wine. Let this reduce on low. Mix in cooked penne and stir.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Marinated-Pork-Tenderloin/Detail.aspx

Blackened Tilapia w/ Secret Hobo Spices

This is a great way to give fish a lot of flavor with hardly any fat. I added dill to the mix of spices since it goes well with fish. The blend of spices are very nice! I did not add the white bread that the recipe calls for. Didn't see a need for it. Tilapia is such an easy fish to cook! If you're scared to cook fish, you should start with tilapia. This only took me 10-15 minutes in the skillet. I used 2 tablespoons of olive oil and that was the only fat I added.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blackened-Tilapia-with-Secret-Hobo-Spices/Detail.aspx

Open-Faced Turkey Burgers w/ Pot Pie Gravy

This was so easy and had so much flavor! I couldn't find the large English muffins called for in this recipe so I used the Orowheat "Sandwich Thins" that are only 100 calories each (50 if you only use the bottom!) But you could definitely eat this without any bread at all and just the turkey patty with gravy.

As you can tell from reading the recipe, this is very low in fat and calories! I used less butter than what she called for and one extra tablespoon of flour than called for to help thicken up the gravy. The dill and chives added a lot of great flavor to the turkey and the gravy is so easy to put together. It definitely reminds me of the inside of turkey pot pies without all of the fat and cholesterol that those have.

This one's a KEEPER! :-)

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/open-faced-turkey-burgers-pot-pie-gravy/

Berry-Filled Lemon Cake

I made this cake for my sister, Amy's birthday yesterday and it was so good- (if I do say so myself! ha!)

I did use real eggs in this instead of egg substitute because the reviews said that the cake won't rise much if you use egg substitute. I used fat-free vanilla yogurt instead of plain because that's all I had. I also used skim milk instead of water in the mix because I thought it give it a bit more flavor. And I added the juice and zest of one lemon to the cake batter.

For the lemon glaze, I used a little more lemon juice than called for in order to give it extra flavor.

VERY easy and almost fool-proof cake!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Berry-Filled-Lemon-Cake/Detail.aspx

Penne with Chicken and Asparagus

So I made this tonight along with my "Fasta Pasta" and this was such a quick, simple meal to put together! To be honest, it's not the most flavorful dish in the world, but it definitely is low in fat and calories and a quick, one-pot meal, so that's about all I cared about tonight. Of course, you can always use your imagination and add things to bulk up the flavor, like different cheeses, veggies, etc.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Penne-with-Chicken-and-Asparagus/Detail.aspx

Portobello Mushroom "Burgers"

I made these last night and OH.MY.GOODNESS-- so delicious and simple! This is a keeper, folks! I WILL be making these again!

The balsamic vinegar adds amazing flavor and the slice of provolone cheese on top is to die for! And these are pretty low in calories too- only 200 per mushroom cap. These are pretty big, as you can tell from the picture. They are more filling than you would think. We just had a side of wild rice and a slice of tomato with these. They only take maybe 15 minutes on the grill for both sides. I suppose if you wanted to, you could also put these on a hamburger bun, but I didn't see the need. Perfect way to save on carbs!! Hope you'll give these a try :)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Portobello-Mushroom-Burgers/Detail.aspx

"Fasta Pasta" Microwave Cooker

Chris and I bought one of these for Chris's brother, Randy a couple weeks back and I was so intrigued with it that I went ahead and bought one for myself on Amazon! :) I used it for the first time tonight and really like it!! I made whole-grain penne pasta in it and it turned out perfect! Not too mushy or hard- - al dente! It only takes 10 minutes in the microwave. You just put your pasta in the container and fill it to the line on the side and microwave without the lid on. It comes with detailed instructions and is so simple to use! It saves you time and another pot to clean after your meal, too. The lid also doubles as a strainer and spaghetti measuring tool. Very handy tool!!!

Healthified Cocoa Squares (aka Brownies!)

I made these for the ladies in my First Place class on Wednesday night and I think they were a hit!

My only change was to substitute sugar-free applesauce for the canola oil. You couldn't tell the difference at all. They were very moist and chewy. The shredded zucchini and mashed banana added some extra fiber and nutrients to the mixture. I sprinkled the top of them with powdered sugar but it had all dissolved by the time I drove them up to the church. But it added a little extra sweetness. I will definitely be making these again in the future!

The recipe says these are only 140 calories each, but I'm sure with the applesauce instead of oil, they are less than that.

Cocoa Squares Recipe

Foil Packet Tilapia

I know I have made this before and put a post about it a long time ago. But I decided to re-post with a few changes to this recipe:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/02/foil-packet-tilapia-crockpot-recipe.html

Here are my changes:

I added:

the zest and juice of one lemon, used low-fat mayonnaise, added a few capers to the sauce

The lemon juice and zest added a very bright lemon flavor.

This could not be simpler. Just mix all ingredients besides the fish in a bowl. Plop your individual fish fillets on pieces of foil. Spoon mixture over the top. Wrap and put on the grill for about 15-20 minutes. Comes out perfect every time!!

Cheery Cherry Compote (aka Jell-O Fruit Salad)

This is a nice change up from your typical fruit salad. The Jell-O is concentrated and gives a really nice cherry flavor. I'm sure you could omit the cherry pie filling if you don't want to have too much sugar. This recipe makes a pretty large bowl, so if you don't have a crowd to serve this to, I'm sure it could easily be halved. I'll be making this again!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cheery-Cherry-Compote/Detail.aspx

Laundry Soap Recipe

Yes, this is a cooking blog, but I just had to share this recipe for laundry soap with you all since we all must wash clothes! I actually got this from the Duggar family website. Above are the only three ingredients you will need. The yellow color is from the bar of Fels-Naptha soap grated up. I had a little trouble finding these in the laundry aisle at Kroger, so I thought a picture would be helpful. The only time consuming thing was grating the bar of soap. But it only took about 10 minutes. The bars were only $1.19 each at Kroger. I thought it was worth it to save so much money! The Duggars say that each batch of laundry soap is only around $2.00!

If you prefer liquid detergent or you have a front loading machine, their site has another recipe listed.

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar, grated
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Lemon Sorbet with Blueberry Sauce

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/desserts/frozen-desserts/lemon-sorbet-with-blueberry-sauce.aspx

OK, this is my new favorite dessert for summer!!! You must try this! It couldn't be simpler.

The blueberry sauce takes maybe 5 minutes to put together. What you don't use the first time, you can store in the fridge and just add it as you choose to your next servings. I didn't re-heat the sauce because I didn't want my sorbet melting too fast. Lemon and blueberry flavors are great together! And sorbet is a great alternative to ice cream. It is fat-free and very flavorful!