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Friday, December 3, 2010

Recipe of the Day - Purple Cow Smoothie

1 bag frozen blueberries
1 large container vanilla yogurt
Approx 1 cup of grape juice

Put all ingredients in a blender and let'r rip!  Sooooooo yummy.  If it's too thick add more juice.

The kids loved it and so did I!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Interesting Combination

So this afternoon as I dished up Ants on a Log to the kids I REALLY wanted to dive head first in to the jar of peanut butter, but really need to cut back on my fat in take so I was looking for another way to get a similar treat without the fat.....

1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup Bead Naked granola
1/8 cup raisins

And then used it as a "dip" for my celery....SO TASTY!  I was a little hesitant about the yogurt/celery combo, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Recipe of the Day - Swedish Meatballs

Original Recipe - pg 130 of The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook
2 slices fluffy whole wheat bread (about 70 calories per slice)
1/3 c fat-free milk
1 large egg white
1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 Tbsp prepared horseradish
1/2 tsp sugar
1 3/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 pound extra lean ground turkey
3 cups reduced sodium, fat free chicken broth
Olive Oil Spray
3/4 cup light sour cream

In a mixing bowl, soak the bread in the milk until it's absorbed.  Tear the soggy bread into small pieces.  Add the egg white, onion, 1 Tbsp horseradish, the sugar, 1/4 tsp allspice, the salt, and pepper.  Mix, then add the turkey, mixing just until combined.

In a 2- or 2 1/2-quart soup pot, bring the broth and 1 tsp of the allspice to a full rolling boil over high heat.

Roll the turkey mixture into 1 1/2" meatballs.  Boil half the meatballs in the brother for 3 to 7 minutes or until they rise to the surgact and are no longer pink inside.  Transfer them to a serving bowl.

Heat a large nonstick skillet to high heat.  When hot mist with spray.  Add the meatballs, working in batches if necessary and cook, sitrring occasionally, until lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.  Return the meatballs to the serving bowl and cover to keep warm.

Strain the broth through a sieve into a bowl.  Measure out 3/4 cup and add to the skillet.  Place over high heat and boil until reduced by half, 4 to 6 minutes.  Whick in the sour cream, remaining 1 Tbsp horseradish, and remaining 1/2 tsp allspice.  The mixture should have the sonsistency of a smooth, creamy gravy,  If it does not, add a bit more broth to make it thinner or continue to boil, stirring, until it reduces and thickens.  Pour the sauce over the meatballs and serve hot.

Makes 4 (10 meatball) servings

Per Serving: 244 calories, 35g protein, 18g carbohydrates, 5g fat (2g  saturated), 60 mg cholesterol, 2g fiber, 698mg sodium

My Version
I pretty much follow this recipe to a T, except that I used ground beef instead of turkey (because it's what I had on hand) and I didn't have horseradish so I just left that ingredient out.  Otherwise I followed it pretty closely and YUUUUUUMMMMMM!  The kids gobbled it up and so did I!

*I enjoyed mine with baby carrots and apple slices.
*The kids had theirs served on top of buttered macaroni noodles and apple slices on the side.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Paradise Sorbet...IF YOU MAKE ONE THING, LET IT BE THIS!!!

This is absolutely my all time favorite recipe and I just came up with it today.  It is ABSOLUTELY and utterly AMAZING!  If you are going to choose ONE recipe from my blog to make....MAKE THIS ONE!!!

1 large container vanilla yogurt
Approx 3 cups Great Value Frozen Tropical Fruit (combination of peaches, strawberries, mango, & pineapple)

Add all ingredients to food processor and process, scraping the sides as needed.  Serve immediately.  I HAVE froze the leftover and it's equally as tasty, but the texture is not near as enjoyable as fresh out of the food processor.

TO DIE FOR!

Make Your Own Tortilla Chips

Using a pizza cutter, cut your favorite tortilla (I used Don Pauncho's whole wheat tortillas) in 8th or smaller if you choose.  You could also use cookie cutters and make the "chips" in to fun shapes.  Place on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 4 minutes.  TA-DA!  You have healthy, unfried, unoily, unsalted tortilla chips.  Goes perfectly with my Black Bean Dip or your favorite salsa!

Recipe of the Day - English Muffin Melt

1 light multigrain or whole wheat English muffin (8 grams fiber per muffin; I used Thomas'), halvved and toasted

1 oz (1/2 cup) finely shredded Cabot's 75% Light Cheddar Cheese, or your favorite low-fat Cheddar

2 (1/4" thick) slices beefsteak tomato

Preheat the broiler.  Line a small metal baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Place the muffin halves on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with the cheese.  Place 1 tomato slice on each muffin half over the cheese.  Broil until the cheese bubbles and begins to brown in spots, 1 to 2 minutes.  Serve immediately.

Makes 1 serving

Per serving: 168 calories, 15 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (2g saturated), 12 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 374 mg sodium

My Version
This is a really simple recipe.  I did a couple things differently as far as products go.  I had a coupon for Thomas' original english muffins (which I did toast prior to the oven), so that's what I used.  In the interest of avoiding a mess I used slice cheese (one per half muffin) rather than shredded cheese and I didn't have tin foil, so I had to scrub my pan afterward, but that wasn't a big deal.  I also put my muffins in the oven (preheated to 500 F) instead of the broiler.

I did not try this particular recipe myself, because I don't eat english muffins, but the kids DEVOURED them (after they pulled the tomatoes off of course) lol.  Enjoy!

*The kids enjoyed this with some slices peaches.

Recipe of the Day - Mandarin Orange Chicken

Original Recipe - pg 111 of The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook
3 Tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
3 Tbsp lower-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp freshly minced garlic
1 Tbsp hot sesame oil
1 tsp chili garlic sauce or chili paste (found in the international section of most major grocery stores)
1/4 c canned unsweetened mandarin oranges in juice
6 (4 oz) trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a large, resealable plastic bag or container, mix the juice concentrate, soy sauce, garlic, oil, and chili sauce or chili paste.  Gently stire in the oranges and their juice.  Add the chicken, submergining it in marinade.  Seal the bag or container and marinate in the refrigerator at leart 6 hours or overnight, rotating once or twice.

Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Transfer the chicken to an 11" x 7" glass baking or casserole dish (or the equivalent) in a single layer and pour the remaining marinade on top.  Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside.

Makes 6 servings

Per serving: 183 calories, 27g protein, 7g carbohydrates, 4g fat (less than 1 g saturated), 66 mg cholesterol, trace fiber, 282 mg sodium

My Version
I follower the directions on this one pretty closely.  I did NOT measure the mandarin oranges.  I dump in one whole plastic jar of them (and their juice).  I also did not make my chicken breasts 4 ozs.  Chances are they were closer to 5 or 6 ounces a piece and there were about 5 of them.  I would say it is essential to have the sesame oil (though I did not use a hot version, mostly because I couldn't find one), I think it gives it the asian flavor this recipe is supposed to have. 

Either way, YUMMY!

*I served mine with steamed mixed vegetables and pineapple tidbits.

A Little Breakfast Treat for Mama

So this morning as I preparing the Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal, I was wondering how I could enjoy a similar flavor, but without the oatmeal (I don't eat oatmeal) and I figured it out and MAN was it good!  It was a wonderful breakfast, but could also be a yummy dessert for any meal.  Healthy to boot!  Who could ask for more?

1 c. low fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
Cinnamon

Stir all ingredients together and enjoy!  Soooo easy and sooooo yummy!  It almost tastes like it should be really bad for you, but it's not!

Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal

This was not a recipe in any cookbook, but came straight out of my head.  I don't buy my kids instant flavored oatmeal for the simple fact that to get it to taste good there is sooooo much crap added to it.  So I buy the plain old fashioned oats (think the big Quaker can).  I've mixed in brown sugar before, but today I was looking for something different.  This fabulous invention of a recipe kills two birds with one stone.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal
Raisins
Cinnamon
Unsweetened Applesauce

Cook the oatmeal as directed on the can adding a generous amount of cinnamon about half way through cooking time.  Seperate in to bowls, top is COLD unsweetened applesauce and raisins.  If you mix it all together it creates a yummy breakfast treat the kids love AND you don't have to wait for it to cool, because the applesauce does that for you....BONUS!  Enjoy!