Blog

Sorry for the slacking on my blog lately.  I have been crazy busy.  Something has to be put on the back burner - apparently my blog and my house work are those things!!  We are starting a Little League in my town and I'm on the board so we are working a lot to get everything going for the kids!!  So far it has been a great experience and I'm glad I have done it.  Some of my other volunterring is heading toward the end for this school year so that should help free up some time.  I'm still doing my weight watchers but haven't been tracking as well as I was and you can really tell - the pounds are not falling off as fast.  I'm hoping this week is my turn around week and I get back on track!!  I'm still down 17 lbs - but I still have over 40 to go!!

Fixing Toms

Maelynn got Toms before Christmas and wore them out in the toes in about 2 weeks.  The rest of the shoes look brand new!  The wood chips at school are killer on the shoes!!  I told her she couldn't wear them to school anymore - but she hadn't been wearing them at all since they are all tore up.  I found on http://www.pinterest.com/ how to fix them.  So I let Maelynn pick out the material and then I glued it on with some fabric glue.  It was a lot of work - but she loves them and we can get some more use out of her Toms.

Taco Muffins - 3 Pts each

My Sister made these for us - and they were really yummy and good on my weight watchers points.  Beclynn really loved them - she is my taco child - she can't get enough tacos!!



Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
36 wonton wrappers
your favorite taco toppings - salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, etc
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.

Brown the meat in a skillet and drain off fat (I use a collander). Return the meat to the skillet; add the taco seasoning, water and black beans.  Mix and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until water is absorbed.

Spray 18 regular muffin pan cups with cooking spray.  Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin cup.  Divide half of the taco meat between muffin cups.  Sprinkle half of the cheese over the cupcakes.  Repeat layers - wonton, taco meat and cheese.  Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.  Top with your favorite taco toppings. 2Pts - but I added FF Sour cream and avocado - which added another point.

BabyCakes Apple Cider Donut Holes - 1 pt each

My Mom got my sister and I the Babycakes cake pop maker for Christmas.  I have used it for cake pops and tried it out this morning for donuts.  Since donuts aren't great on my Weight Watcher points - this is a great alternative because it bakes them.  They are 1 pt each - but it helps get over my donut craving with out going to crazy.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
add vegetable oil, egg, and apple cider and stir until well blended
Fill each cooking reservoir with 1 tablespoon of batter
Bake 4-5 minutes
Immediately toss hot donut holes in the sugar cinnamon topping

Makes 3 dozen - each 1 pt

Home Made Valentine's

This year we decided to make our Valentine's our self instead of buying some at the store and filling them out.  I still spent about the same, but feel like these are way more personal and so cute!!  Maelynn's Valentine party at school is a Princess & Frog theme - so she wore her princess dress - and of course Beclynn wanted to dress up too - so she is wearing her Tangled out fit from Halloween.  I think they turned out cute!!

Weight Watchers Crab Rangoon

Ingredients:

8 oz cooked crabmeat, packaged or imitation crabmeat (I used fat free imitation - already shredded)
8 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp steak sauce
1 clove (medium) garlic - minced
24 items wonton wrappers (3 1/2 inch square)  They were out so I used egg roll wrappers and cut them in half.  That is why mine are square instead of triangles.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a nonstick baking sheet with nonstick spray

Combine crabmeat, cream cheese, steak sauce, and garlic in a bowl until blended.

Place 1 tablespoon of crab mixture in the center of each wrapper and brush edges with water and press edges to seal.

Spray wonton lightly with nonstick spray

Bake until wontons are golden and crisp about 20 minutes

Yields 2 Pieces per serving - so 1 point per crab rangoon!!

Turkey Sausage, Cabbage and Tomatoes

Ingredients:
Turkey Sausage (16 oz package)
Head of Cabbage (cut into large sections)
Can Diced Tomatoes

Directions:

Cook Turkey
Add Diced Tomatoes
Add Cabbage to Top
Add Lid to Pot

Add Season about half way through and stir cabbage into tomatoes and sausage.  Add Seasoning again at the end.  I used sea salt, and Italian seasoning salt.  I like to do Cajun seasons too - for a little kick.

Cook until Cabbage is is completed cooked.

Total Pot is 12 points!!

Portabella Mushrooms w/spinach,sausage, cheese and tomatoes Pts 5

I used a Weight Watchers recipe and made it my own.

Ingredients:

Large Portabella Mushrooms
4 cups of fresh spinach
4 oz cooked Turkey Breakfast Sausage
1/2 cup FF mozzarella cheese shredded
Diced tomatoes
2 Tbs Olive Oil


Instructions:

Cook Turkey Breakfast Sausage - set to side.
Clean and season portabella mushrooms and cook in olive oil along with spinach.  Once mushrooms and spinach are cooked ad Spinach to top of mushrooms and sausage.  Then add cheese - while sausage and cheese is warming up add diced tomatoes to pan.  Let them cook and warm through then add them to top of mushroom.  This will help melt the cheese too.

Entire pan is 5 Pts!!

I thought it was really yummy and filling!!

Weight Watchers Mashed Potatoes, Cauliflower and Carrots 2 Pts

These were very yummy.  I was really craving mashed potatoes and these turned great and made me feel better about the points.

Ingredients:
6 small uncooked yukon gold potato(es), peeled, cut into 1-inch chunks (about 1 1/4 lbs)
1 pound(s) uncooked cauliflower, florets
3/4 pound(s) uncooked baby carrots, sliced in half lengthwise   
4 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), peeled  
1 1/2 tsp table salt, divided   
1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk   
1/4 cup(s) fat-free sour cream   

1/2 oz Butter Buds Powdered Mix, or similar product   

1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste

1/4 cup(s) uncooked scallion(s), sliced   

Instructions:

Place potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, garlic and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover ingredients; bring to a boil. Boil until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain; return to saucepan.

Stir n milk, sour cream, Butter Buds, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Process mixture in a food processor until smooth or puree in saucepan using an immersion blender; stir in scallions. Transfer to a bowl and serve. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

Weight Watchers Chocolate Chip Cookies - 1 PT

These were very good - no as good as the super bad for you chocolate chip cookies - but great for only 1 Pt a piece. 

 Ingredients

1 cup(s) all-purpose flour   
1/4 tsp baking soda 
1/8 tsp table salt   
1/4 cup(s) salted butter, softened  
1/2 cup(s) dark brown sugar, packed  
1/2 cup(s) sugar, granulated  
1/3 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa   



Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

Beat butter and brown sugar with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy; gradually add granulated sugar, beating well. Add cocoa and egg whites, beating well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until blended. Stir in chocolate minichips

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 11⁄2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Yield: 40 cookies (serving size: 1 cookie).

Weight Watchers Chocolate Muffins

This is the first time I have made muffins that were not from a mix.  Most of the time I bought muffins already pre made.  Both are alot more points.  These muffins are 4 points per muffin.  Mrs Fields chocolate muffins are 12 points and most others are 14.  The only muffin that is the same points is the Fiber One banana chocolate muffins and their portion size is smaller.  They weren't to hard to make - of course a lot more work than a mix or pre made muffins - but so worth it.  And I will have the rest to get me through the week.

Weight Watchers Chocolate Muffins


Ingredients

2 spray(s) cooking spray 
1 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 tsp baking powder   
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp table salt
9 Tbsp sugar, granulated
2 large egg(s), beaten   
1 tsp vanilla extract 
2 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate   
3 Tbsp unsalted butter   
1 cup(s) hot water, almost boiling
1 1/2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Instuctions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with cupcake liners or coat pan with cooking spray.
  
• In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
  
• Using an electric mixer, in another large bowl, beat granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and somewhat fluffy.
  
• Melt butter and chocolate in a double-boiler over very low heat, stirring constantly, so it doesn’t burn.
  
• With electric mixer running on slow, pour warm chocolate mixture into eggs until thoroughly combined. Add flour mixture and hot water, alternating in batches, until just combined.
  
• Pour batter into muffin holes about 2/3s full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Place pan on a wire rack for 2 minutes and then remove cupcakes from pan to cool completely. Once cool, dust with powdered sugar. Yields 1 cupcake per serving.

Sweets - not so sweet on the diet!!

I am a huge fan of sugar!  And all things made from it.  Since I started Weight Watchers I have really worked hard to stay away from it.  I stopped drinking Dr Pepper - which is huge for me.  There were several days I had more than one 44 oz.  Plus I love chocolate - oh how I love it.  And until tonight my only chocolate was that of Weight Watchers snacks that contained it and they were a total of 2 pts and very small - but got me threw any cravings.  Well we ate out tonight and all the kids got cookies and brownies and I went ahead and got one.  After I plugged in the information in my phone app - that one cookie was 10 points.  This is the same as a 8 oz filet mignon.  How crazy is that!!  And to think I was probably eating at least 1 everyday of those or more!!  I really thought I was doing good watching my food before Weight Watchers - but clearly I was not!!  I hope my numbers keep going down.  I have a long way to go - but seeing that I can get by without the Dr Pepper and sweets, makes me feel really good.  I hope by the end of this year, I am one of those crazy health people that doesn't want anything bad in my system and knows exactly how bad everything out there is for me.  I'm really learning a lot!!

Weight Watchers Chicken Pot Pie

I made this for dinner tonight. I have been wanting it a while -but was worried it may be to many points.  I was excited to find you get a lot for little points!!

Ingredients:

1 cup Bisquick reduced-fat baking mix

1/2 cup skim milk

1/4 cup egg substitute

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

2 cups cooked chicken breasts , chopped

2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans reduced-fat reduced-sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Spray 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray.
3. Mix together veggies, chicken and soup. Pour into casserole dish.
4. In another bowl, mix bisquick, milk, and egg. Pour over top of chicken mixture.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crust is golden.
6. 6 servings=4.5 points.
7. 4 servings=6.5 points.

Weight Watchers Week 1 - I lost 5.4 pounds!!

I had my second meeting for Weight Watchers today.  We did our weigh in and I lost 5.4 pounds!!  The most in our meeting today.  I was very excited.  I just worked on tracking all my food all week - with my etools that comes with signing up.  I really like it.  I don't have to think to much -I just look up the food and select on it and it keeps track of points for me.  I used all my daily points each day and some of my extra 49 points.  My goal this week is to not use any of my extra 49 points - but if I need too I will!  I haven't had a Dr Pepper since last Tuesday so that is pretty great.  I had one Sweet Tea and most of a cupcake for my sweets for a whole week.  Before, that would have just been breakfast!! :)  I am still getting some head aches and find myself a little grumpy here and there.  But my goal is 65 lbs to lose so now I just have 60 more to go!!

Egg in a Basket WW 5 Pts

This is currently my favorite breakfast.  You take a high fiber bread and use a circle cookie cutter and cut out the middle.  Then you butter the bread.  I use a light butter.  You could use pam spray and save 2 pts - but I really like the butter - hopefully I will eventually get to the Pam spray!  I put the large egg in the center.  I love my egg over easy so it seems to cook perfect with the bread.  It really helps me not over or under cook my egg.  So the breakdown is:

1 piece High Fiber bread ( I use Natures Own) - 1Pt
1 Large Egg ( I like the large brown eggs) 2 Pt
2 Tbsp light butter (I don't use all of my 2 Tbsp since I'm trying to get myself off butter) 2 Pt

Total 5 pts - and it is a very filling breakfast and oh so yummy!!

Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms

I made this for lunch today and it was very yummy and didn't take long to make at all.  I had it with fresh green beans sauteed.  Click on the picture to get the recipe or use the link below. http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=50441

Body By Vi Chocolate Cherry Shake (WW 5 pts)

I'm trying to think of creative things to keep me going on my Weight Watchers.  I have the Body By Vi shake mix and sat down and calculated the points for one of my favorite shakes.  I used Silk PureAlmond milk since it is better for you - and it is the same points as Skim Milk.

Body By Vi Chocolate Cherry Shake

1 Cup Silk PureAlmond Milk (or Skim Milk) - (2 points)

2 scoops of Body By Vi Shake Mix - (2 Points)

1 Tbsp of hot chocolate mix - I use Dark Chocolate (1 Pt)

1 Cup of frozen sugar free cherries (0 pts)

Then I put ice in the cup I will be using and fill it up a little over half way and blend it all together.

Because of the nutrients in the Almond milk and the Body By Vi Shake, this ends up being really good for you and it usually gives me a little energy boost.  It is comparable in points to my favorite breakfast the egg basket - I will add it on here tomorrow - but the shake has a lot more nutrients.  I cannot do a shake a day and especially two a day like Body By Vi would like but it is good to throw in the mix a couple of times a week at least.

PhotoShop Fun

I like to play around with photoshop here and there.  I definitely don't have it mastered - but some of the stuff comes out cute and it a little more special than just cropping a picture - which is what I mostly use it for!  I made this today - after I saw this quote on www.pinterest.com

New Year New Diet

I'm currently at my heavist weight baby free.  I did get a little heavier than I am right now with both my pregnancies - but I was well into my last trimester! The last year and half I have gained 40 lbs.  So one of my friends and I joined weight watchers - I had my first meeting.  I found trying to do it by myself is not working - so hopefully this will help me to drop some of the weight.  My goal is 60 lbs.  I am loving all the technolodgy weight watchers has now to help you keep track.  Hopefully that will make it easier for me.  Here is what I made for dinner tonight, it is Lemon Dill Chicken skewers we had it with fresh green beans.  Both were very yummy.  Nice to know that only the chicken counted as points too.

The way I cooked these is I sliced chicken breasts and removed all the skin and put them on skewers.
 I used dried dill - fresh probably would be better but I didn't have any in the house.  Then I poured lemon juice over them - again fresh would probably make it even better.  Then I cooked them in the oven (a little to chilly to use the grille tonight) and baked them at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

They turned out really yummy!  1 cup equals 5 points.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Each Christmas the girls and I bake a cake for Jesus' birthday.  It is a tradition I like to keep and it really helps the girls focus on the reason for Christmas - which easily gets lost with all our other traditions!!  This year I was sick with strep and pretty much missed Christmas - but we did take time to make the cake - unfortunately a few days late but I'm glad we didn't skip this tradition!!