YUM! Guiltless Cheese Fries

A delicious recipe I just stumbled across while looking through Pinterest. Can't wait to give them a try. I know the Aussie Fries are my absolute favorite thing, so I have no doubts I will LOVE these too :) Enjoy!

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/03/skinny-texas-cheese-fries.html

Zesty Chicken Wraps

Zesty Chicken Wraps Courtesy of Neiman's Family Market

Courtesy of CanolaInfo

 

 

Serve With:
A tasty mixture of chicken and fresh ingredients, serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 10 Min.
Cook Time: 8 Min.
Marinate: 15 Min.

What you need:

(click + to add ingredients to your shopping list)

+ 1/4 c. canola oil
+ 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
+ 2 cloves minced garlic
+ 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
+ 2 tsp. ground fennel
+ 1 Tbsp. grated lime peel
+ 2 tsp. chopped fresh mint
+ 2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
+ 4 large boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 in. strips
+ 6 small tomatoes, seed and chopped
+ 4 green onions, chopped
+ 1/2 English cucumber, diced
+ 6 flour tortillas
+ sour cream

What to do:

1. In large bowl, combine canola oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, fennel, lime zest, mint and cilantro. Add chicken to bowl and toss and coat chicken pieces with mixture. Let stand 15 min.
2. In large non-stick frying pan cook chicken mixture over medium high heat for 6 to 8 min. or until chicken juices run clear.
3. Place chicken on wraps. Add tomato, green onion, cucumber and a dollop of sour cream. Fold and serve immediately.

Nutritional information does not include suggested side dishes.

Nutritional information:

Calories: 270;   Total Fat: 13g;   Saturated Fat: 2g;   Cholesterol: 45mg;   Total Carbs: 26g;   Fiber: 4g;   Sodium: 560mg;  

Crock Pot French Onion Soup

Taken from Taste of Home Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet vidalia onion, thinly sliced (4 cups)
• 1/4 c. butter, cubed
• 2 can (14.5 oz each) beef broth
• 2 tbs. Sherry or additional beef broth
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 4 slices French bread (1/2 in think), toasted
• 4 slices provolone cheese

Directions

1. Place onion and butter in slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Cover and cook on low about 6 hours or until onions are tender.
2. Stir in broth, sherry and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through.
3. Ladle soup into oven proof bowls. Top each with a slice of toast and cheese. Broil 4-6 inches from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

**You may want to add more salt depending on taste. I found I needed it.******
Serves 4

Slow Cooker Lasagna

Taken from Taste of Home Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 medium green bell pepper-chopped
• 1 medium onion-chopped
• 1 jar (26oz) herb and garlic pasta sauce
• 4 c. (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 carton (15oz) ricotta or cottage cheese
• 1 tbs. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 4 no cook lasagna noodles
• 2 tbs shredded parm cheese

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook the beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in pasta sauce; heat through. In a large bowl, combine mozzarella and ricotta cheese, and all seasonings.
2. Spread 1 c. meat sauce in an oval 3qt. slow cooker. Break one lasagna noodle into 3 pieces. Layer 1-1/3 noodles, 2/3 c. meat sauce, and 1 c. cheese mixture in slow cooker. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining sauce. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.
3. Sprinkle with parm cheese. Cover and cook 15 more mins. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

***SPRAY INSERT WITH OIL TO MAKE CLEAN UP EASIER******

Other Freebies

You can also find some free fitness videos by going on to Itunes and clicking where it says free on Itunes. There is one in there from the girl who writes some of the best recipes for www.skinnytaste.com. One of my favorite low cal websites!

Curious about Zumba??

Here's a great link to the basic steps and a few routines that you can easily access for free from youtube. Enjoy!
http://www.squidoo.com/100-zumba-workouts

50 Ideas for Losing Weight

50 ideas for Losing Weight Courtesy of Reader's Digest

Which ones do you currently do? Which ones could you add in slowly, maybe one or two each week to see small changes?

Dr. Pepper Rib recipe

Here it is, and so delicious! Courtesy of Men's Health Magazine. We usually pair it with homemade light potato salad, regular salad, baked beans, or corn :)


Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 racks baby back ribs
1 (2L) bottle Dr. Pepper
1/4 c. salt
1 tbs. chilli powder
1/2 tbs. canola or vegetable oil
1/2 onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. ketchup
2 tbs. worcestershire sauce
2 tbs. cider vinegar
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions

1.

Place the ribs in a large baking dish. Pour in Dr Pepper to cover them, reserving at least 1/2 cup for the sauce. Add the salt and soak the ribs in the fridge overnight (or at least 2 hours).

2.

Heat the oven to 350°F. Remove the ribs from the liquid, dry them, and rub with the chili powder. Place them on a baking dish, add 1 cup of water, and cover tightly with foil. Cook for 2 hours, until the meat nearly falls off the bone.

3.

For the barbecue sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until they're soft and fragrant, and add the ketchup, Worcestershire, vinegar, cayenne, and 1/2 cup of Dr Pepper. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

4.

Fire up the grill, and brush the ribs with sauce. When the grill is hot, cook them bone side down on a cooler part for 10 to 15 minutes. Flip them and cook until lightly charred and smoky. Remove, and brush on more sauce.

March's Recipes

Here are the recipe's for March 1-15th :)

Whole Wheat Pizza x2--See recipe on this blog

Turkey Tacos x2- We use Jenni-O instead :)

Fettucini Alfredo

Simple chicken-(we use chicken broth instead of wine) and paired with pasta with broccoli

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

5 Spice Chicken with Brown Rice Veggie Salad

Turkey Breast, Brussel Sprouts and Scalloped Potatoes

NY Strip Steak marinated in A1 and Montreal Seasoning served with Roasted Green Beans and Salad

Spaghetti w/turkey meat sauce

Breakfast-Scrambled Eggs, Turkey Sausage and Whole Wheat Toast

Eating Out

Recipes for this week

All recipes will feed roughly 6-8 people. we usually keep the leftovers for lunch for the week :)

 

 

Dilled Chicken and Potatoes Recipe
1-14 1/2 oz can of chicken broth, 1/4 cup set aside
1/4 cup cornstarch or flour
1 tbs. prepared mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 onion, sliced
1 lb red potatoes quartered
1-10oz pkg frozed green beans, thawed and drained
... 2 tbs oil 6-8 boneless skinless chx breasts
1tbs fresh or dried dill

In large bowl, combine 1/4 cup broth, conrstarch, mustard, salt and pepper and set aside. Place onion, potatoes, green beans in slow cooker. In skillet, brown the chicken in the oil, then remove and drail. Place the chicken in the crockpot and pour remaining broth from can into the pan. Bring to boil, then slowly add in broth and cornstarch mixture. Cook stiring constantly for 1 minute. Pour liquid into crockpot, top with dill, and stir. Cover, cook on low 8 hrs or high 4 hrs.

 

Coq a Vin

5 slices bacon

2/3 cup green onions, sliced

6 chicken breast halves

1 onion, chopped

1/4 pound whole mushrooms

8 small new potatoes

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup Burgundy Wine--We are using Pinot Noir

 

In large skillet, saute the diced bacon and green onions until the bacon is crisp. remove and drain well, then add chicken breasts to the skillet and brown on both sides. remove the chicken and set it aside. Put the onion, mushrooms, potatoes and garlic in the crock pot. Add the browned chicken pieces, bacon and green onions, salt, pepper, thyme, and chicken broth. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or love 4 hours. **add the burgundy wine the last hour of cooking**

 

Turkey Tacos

1 lb ground turkey

taco seasoning mix

chopped lettuce and tomatoes for toppings

light or fat free sour cream (optional)

salsa

low fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 pkg shells or romaine lettuce that can be used as a shell

 

Brown turkey in a medium size pan. Add in the seasoning mix along with any water that is stated on pkg. Stir together on medium low until water is absorbed. Serve with tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream if desired.

 

Slow Cooker Roast Beef

3-4 lbs. Roast (any beef roast will do)

1 pkg onion soup mix

1 onion, chopped

1 tbs garlic

1 can cream of mushroom soup (milk or water to mix with it)

1/2 bag of baby carrots

5 or 6 red potatoes

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Motreal Steak Seasoning (optional)

 

Wash and cut up potatoes then place in slow cooker. Add in onion, carrots,  and garlic. Place roast on top of these in slow cooker. Then add in the onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup mixed together with one can water OR milk, salt and pepper and seasoning. Stir and cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours or low 8-9 hours.

 

Homemade Pizza

1 whole wheat crust

1 can pizza sauce

1 bag shredded mozzerella cheese

1/4 bag turkey pepperoni

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 tomato, chopped and seeds taken out

garlic salt if desired to flavor the crust

 

Crust will be cooked using box or bag directions. Place the crust on a sprayed cookie sheet. Layer it with a small amount of sauce--about 1/2 a cup. Then add on your toppings--green pepper, onion, tomatoes, pepperoni. Cover with half to 3/4 of the bag of cheese. Place in oven using pkg directions and cook till cheese is melted. Serve.

 

Chicken Stir Fry

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 package shiitake mushrooms
• 2 to 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Serving suggestion: Hot, cooked rice noodles

In a large skillet, heat the oils over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, pepper, and onion and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water chestnuts. In a small bowl, combine broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and cornstarch. Add to chicken mixture and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Serve over hot, cooked rice noodles.

Self Challenge Part 2

In addition to drinking more water and trying to work out each day for 30 minutes, I am also making simple switches in my diet. A great way to do this is to add in fruits/veggies with each meal. For example, berries in oatmeal or whole wheat pancakes. Sandwich on thin bread with lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc...Veggies with low fat dip, cottage cheese, hummus, or salsa instead of chips is another good way. Fruit for snacks throughout the day--dehydrated, fresh, cut up with sugar free or fat free cool whip, in yogurt, raisins, etc....

Really Cool Accountability Website

Upon reading my January issue of Cosmo, I came across a really neat website. It is called http://www.dailyfeats.com/. When you log on, it asks you a few questions about things you want to change and what things you have accomplished. Each time you accomplish one of your goals, it gives you so many points. You collect points to redeem for gift cards or to donate towards charitable organizations. It is really neat! If you sign up, you are welcome to add me as a health buddy. :)