Aunt Adeline's Marinated Vegetables

Marinated veggies, makes a huge amount, lasts a long time, perfect for any picnic.     

Blanche 2 heads cauliflower florets, 

1 pound carrots cut in strips, 

1 pound green beans trimmed. 

Cool the veggies in ice water, drain and 

add 

2 cans cut artichoke hearts, 

16 oz mushrooms and 

8 oz grape tomatoes.  

Mix 3/4 cup oil,

 1 cup white wine vinegar, 

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, 

2 tsp salt and 

2 crushed garlic cloves. 

Pour over veggies and marinate, tossing occasionally. Enjoy! Her recipe also calls for 1 head of broccoli.

Skinny Banana Biscotti!

Oh, I know, it has been a long time since I last posted.  Please forgive me. And I will offer you a cookie...it is that kind of day.  It's cold outside and you want an warm cup of Yorkshire Tea, thanks Liz Babbs, and the smell of fresh baked banana bread.  Only, you don't want all those calories.  This recipe lets you have it all.

Banana Biscotti

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts
 Mix above ingredients in one bowl,

Mix in a second bowl:
1/3 cup very ripe mashed banana ( 1, in my case)
1  tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg

Mix the contents of the two bowls, dough will be sticky. Turn dough onto floured surface. Shape into two 9" long rolls with floured hands.  Place rolls on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Flatten to 1/2 " thick.  Bake at 350 F for 23 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes.  Cut each roll diagonally into 12 slices. Place slices cut side down on a baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 250 F and bake  15 minutes on each side . Cookies will harden as they cool.

1 biscotti is 72 calories, 2 grams of fat .4 grams fiber, 2 ww points,  4 syns.
I got this recipe years ago from Kristin Kinser, who nicknamed it eyeball biscotti after poking her eyeball with a pot handle when she went for her cookie sheet to make these!  I hope you enjoy. I love them, but then, I do have loads of biscotti recipes that I love.

S'More Trifle Please!

Okay, okay...it is still calorie-laden but I made it about as skinny as possible and I needed a dessert for a crowd.  You can probably do better using Walden Farms products but this is what I did.

1 box cake mix, chocolate
1 14 oz. can pumpkin

2 small boxes of sugar free, fat free Instant Chocolate pudding
8 whole reduced fat graham crackers, crumbled
2 1/2 cups fat free milk, plus 2 Tablespoons
7 oz. Marshmellow cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Chocolate bar for decorating
1 12 oz carton lite Cool Whip

Mix Box Cake mix with 1 can pumpkin and spread in sprayed baking pan and bake with time according to box directions.  Remove from oven, cool and cut in 1 inch squares.  Mix 2 packages pudding mix together with 2 cups of milk using a wire whisk.  Allow it to set for 2 minutes and fold in 8 oz. cool whip.  Melt chocolate chips, mixed with 2 TBSPs milk in the microwave fo 90 seconds.

Construct trifle:
Layer cake cubes topped with 1/2 pudding mixture.  Add crushed Graham cracker, drizzle with melted chocolate and spoons of marshmellow cream.  Repeat layers and top with rremaining Cool Whip and shaved chocolate. (I use a vegetable peeler to shave the edges of the chocolate bar.)
Assemble at least an hour in advance.  Serves 24.

Mark's Morning Frittata

Ooooooh, I love it when I wake up smelling this!  Mark gets up before me and I wake up to the most delicious aromas...yes, and he delivers coffe and breakfast in bed when I wish but I would rather have coffee in bed and breakfast at the table.  I am not a breakfast in bed sort of girl, you might be relieved to know, lol.

This recipe is a keeper, I promise...so is Mark, sorry, you can't have him!

First, you slice a few potatoes on a mandoline, or we use the Pampered Chef Simple Slicer. You lay them in a pan sprayed with Pam Spray and brown them in the oven at 350 until beginning to brown.

While they are browning, saute onion, asparagus cut in small pieces, a bit of cubed ham, and he tosses in a bit of frozen chopped up hot red pepper from the freezer.

Distribute evenly over the potato crust.

Add a small sprinkle of fat free cheddar.

In a blender, combine 4 eggs and 4 oz of Fat free Cream cheese.  Pour this over the vegetables.

Now bake for 1/2 hour or until set for the most delicious breakfast Mark will ever deliver to your bed and you will carry to the table to eat!  YUM!  Thanks Mark, kiss kiss x.

Fruited Jello

I know, Jello on my blog...IMPOSSIBLE!  I am the one who can't make Jello afterall.  I know you are thinking that.  Maybe you just are not caught up to date.  When I turned 50 I discovered how to make Jello. Okay, busted.  I did not make this one but I can make it now, um, well usually I can make it.

This is 1 box Sugar Free Strawberry Banana Jello
1 banana, sliced
1 carton Strawberries, sliced
 a handful of frozen dark sweet cherries
2 cups boiling water
1 cup of ice, then filled with water
2 1/2 oz fat free cream cheese
1 cup fat free Greek yogurt, unflavored

Mix Jello with hot water and dissolve well.  Blend cream cheese, yogurt, ice and water.  Then add hot mixture and blend.  Pour over fruit and allow to set in refrigerator.  It sets quickly.  The whole recipe has 2 syns and 1/2 A choice.  Very nice, thanks Mark!

Chicken Fiesta ala Alma!

It was so easy looking even my husband was motivated to cook it for dinner when Alma posted it on facebook.  Here it is,  because it was just that yummy and easy to make.  It would be a great filling for tortillas for a crowd also but we served it over rice.  I may try it over pasta next time and remember to add a nice big green salad!  Free plus 1 "A" choice if you eat half of it, but that is really alot of food!

Crock pot soup

1 can of rotel
2 cans of corn
1 can of black beans (drained & rinsed)
2 frozen chicken breasts (you could add a third)
8 oz fat free cream cheese
1 packet buttermilk dry ranch dressing
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder

Put all ingredients in crock pot and cook 6-8 hours. Shred chicken, and enjoy!

Thanks Avery!

SEEFORYOURSELFANDTAKETHECHALLENGE!

Avery started losing weight about the same time our family did.  I would love this special little piggy to be the reason that millions of people get healthy and I know that if you want to lose weight and get healthy and KEEP that weight off the best way to do it is on Slimming World USA's weight loss program. 

I love that it has been the same plan for 43 years. 
I love that it is SO AFFORDABLE! 
I love that it has changed my life.
I love that all I have to do is make family meals and buy grocery store food. 
I love that they don't sell anything, no pills, no potions, no shakes, no supplements.
I love that our "losers are our real winners". 
I love that we don't pay celebrities who don't need to lose weight to represent us.
I love that every week people come off of their diabetic medications, even eating unlimited amounds of real food, fruits, veggies, lean meats, non fat dairy, pasta, potatoes and rice!
I love that a whole church can be a support system. 
I love that kids from 11-15 are FREE.
I love that Slimming World is about caring for people. 
I love that I can give hope to people who have given up a long time ago.
I love that you don't need to be hungry, it is a fully balanced healthy plan and you don't need to be deprived. 
I love that I get to tell everyone about it and you can to...because, together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  We can make the US the healthiest country in the world.  We have the resources.  Will you join me?  Will you take Avery's challenge?

It has made a difference in my life and it will make one in yours too, no matter where you live.  Will you let me help you?  It would make Avery one happy pig. Yeah, I know, my before picture looks like an old lady.  That's what it does to you.  I'm here for you, together we can...

http://news.yahoo.com/video/dallascbs11-15750646/obese-pet-pig-inspires-local-church-to-get-healthy-28488029.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fdallascbs11-15750646%252Fobese-pet-pig-inspires-local-church-to-get-healthy-28488029.html

Obese Pet Pig Inspires Local Church To Get Healthy « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Obese Pet Pig Inspires Local Church To Get Healthy « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Our very own Avery and so many church members who have gotten healthier on Slimming World USA!

Benriner Vegetable Angel Hair!

As promised, here it is.  It is so simple really.  Three vegetables made into angelhair shapes with the help of the Benriner.  Got it from Amazon. I have only experimented with this one shape so far.

Benriner Cook Help, find it on Amazon.



Attach them to the gripper.

Cut some straight vegetables into three inch pieces.

Rotate the handle using even pressure.

Microwave for 5 minutes on high using your preferred seasonings.

They twirl right onto your fork.  They make a nice base for chicken or fish.

Vegetables should be fun and we need to eat more of them!  Bon Apetit!

Cowboy Mashed Potatoes

Simply one of the best things I have eaten.  Now we are talking comfort food.  You have got to be kidding, this is not diet food, right?  WRONG!  This is Slimming World diet food!  I love this recipe, oh, wait, did I say that already? Mmmmmmm. Just look at all the deliciousness. I am talkin' yummy flavor here people.

Okay, okay, I'll give you the recipe... but first I have to tell you that I got it from Brenda Layton.  She told me today on the phone that she has lost 90 pounds since seeing me on TV and trying Slimming World for herself.  She took a recipe she found and made it Slimming World friendly.  I want ALL her recipes!  Whoooooop Whoooooop Yay Brenda! You rock! Keep up the good work!

Here 'tis....

Cowboy Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

1 pound red potatoes
1 pound Yukon Gold (yellow) potatoes
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced
16 ounces baby carrots
4 cloves garlic
1 (10 ounce) package frozen white corn, thawed
Spray butter, spray it don't pour it!
1/2 pkg shredded fat free Cheddar cheese (1 A choice)
Salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions

Place red potatoes, yellow potatoes, jalapeno pepper, carrots and garlic cloves in a large pot. Cover with water, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
Drain water from pot.
Stir in corn and spray with butter.
Mash the mixture with a potato masher until butter is melted and potatoes have reached desired consistency.  I used a Kitchenaid mixer.
Mix in cheese, salt, and pepper.
Serve hot.

Vegetables made into Spaghetti Noodles!!!

Yes , REALLY!  And they are so very yummy!!!  I got the idea first of all by going to a local Italian restaurant named Patrizio's.  They served my fish on a bed of julienned vegetables and it was lovely even though I had the cream sauce on the side.  I remembered a friend of mine telling me that she had a gadget that made vegetables into long thin noodles...so Christmas came along and Mark got me one!

It is really unbelievable.  I will do a whole blog post about the process, but here is the end result:

These are looooooong noodles, two feet long, sometimes!  You can twirl them on a fork like spaghetti!  I used McCormick's Perfect Pinch Vegetable seasoning and seved a slice of baked salmon over it.  I can't wait to experiment more.  This was a combination of carrot, yellow squash and zucchini. Can you imagine a two foot long noodle of carrot from a short 4-inch stub of carrot! I'll take pictures of this process, it is amazing!  I just left it all in this bowl and microwaved it!

Mini Chocolate 2 syn tarts!

 Tracy Sanders and I put on our thinkin caps about that powdered whipped topping. We used the Kroger brand which uses 1/2 cup Skim milk to make it.  Some may also know it as Dream whip. And I will tell you what...OMG!! It is so gosh darn delicious!!!! SOOOO...we were thinkin' Sugar Free Jello, Yogurt and whipped topping...

I didnt have any sugar-free jello in the house, but I did have the sugar free choc pudding and fat free milk.
I got some of those little mini fillo tart shells. Whipped up the pudding, and topped it with the fat free whipped
topping and dusted it with cocoa. YUMMMMMMY!  Doesn't taste like a diet dessert at all.
 Then I used half of the pudding and half of the whipped topping, mixed them together and plopped it in the crusts. Wowzer...thats good too!!
Everything inside of those little tarts are sugar-free,fat-free. The only Syns I am seeing is for the little tart.
1 syn each for those and to prtoect you weight loss you may add another syn for the filling, even though it is divided by 56 it would have some syn value if you ate more than one!  The next thing is the Yogurt, Sugar Free Jello, whipped topping tarts...standby for that...maybe some red and green ones for the Holiday!

Here is my photo..one batch made 54 tarts!! Im bringing those to my next party you can bet!

 Ingredients:

Mini Chocolate Tarts

3 boxes fillo tart shells

1 pkg sugar-free choc pudding (mix with FF milk,use the pie measurement, not the pudding)
1 envelope powdered whip topping(mix with FF milk and vanilla)

Makes 54 tartlets

Looking for recipe ideas?

Just had to publish these and as I make them I may even add the pictures if I don't eat them so fast that I can't like last time I made them! Thanks to BK and Greg.

 SALSA

 3 large yellow onions.  Place the onions in a food processor first and chop for about 5-7 seconds

 To this add:

1/2 bunch chopped cilantro
2 large jalapeno's (sliced)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup real lemon juice
1 tablepoon salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon minced garlic (I use one from a jar)
8 cans tomatoes (whole peeled)

 Close cover of food processor. Pulse until desired consistency.

Can be stored in jars in the refrigerator for up to two months.

MEXICAN CABBAGE

3-4 pieces of turkey bacon (cooked, does have syns check your brand)
Head of cabbage
Onion
1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes
Salt and Pepper

Cook bacon and crumble. Shred cabbage.  Finely chop onion.  
In a large skillet (sprayed with Pam if necessary) add cabbage, onion, crumbled bacon and Ro-Tel tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook until cabbage is soft. 

Recipe Time!

It is about time, huh!  This is not my recipe...it belongs to one of my lovely target members Margaret Melton and it is yummy...wanted to share it with you! You will be using your A choice with this one, depending on how much you eat!

Italian Zucchini Casserole

3 medium zucchini, sliced (6 ½ cups)

Pam spray
1 medium onion, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 TBSP minced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp garlic salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 boxes Rice a Roni Long grain and Wild rice, cooked with 2 cups water.
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
¾ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

In large skillet, cook zucchini with Pam spray until tender, about 5-6 minutes; drain and set aside.  In same skillet, sauté onion and garlic with Pam spray.  Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic salt, and pepper; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.  Remove from  heat; gently stir in rice, zucchini, parmesan AND HALF THE MOZZARELLA.  Place in ungreased 13 x 9 baking dish.  Cover and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.  Uncover and sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella cheese.  Return to oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

New product Haul, or is it?

I went off to Central Market today to haul home some Hatch Chilies already roasted for the freezer because I love to have them all year long to use.  While there I stumbled upon something I had never tasted or seen before so I thought I would introduce you to it. I could not believe the amazing taste of these and I just had to share it with you!  Grab some if you find them.  Watch and see...wish this was taste-a-vision and smell-a-vision!

Mmmmmm grapes and grape tomatoes!

Seedless Red Grapes

You know I love 'em...and especially I love red seedless grapes frozen!  They are just $.77 a pound so I bought alot, they will be in the freezer afterall!  Just wash them, remove the stems and freeze in freezer bags.  Enjoy by the handful, they are superfree!

Grape Tomatoes Pasta Sauce

The make the best quick pasta sauce.  Take two packages of grape tomatoes and dump them out on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam Spray.  Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked black pepper.  Toss on a garlic clove and cook in the oven at 375 F for about 15-20 minutes until the begin to shrivel and crack.  Dump them into a blender  or food processor with a basil leaf and pulse a few seconds.  Serve on fresh pasta!  YUMILICIOUS, and so easy and superfree!

Birthday Greetings from Laurel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDG-XFiT4mA

Here is a Birthday Greeting just for you...all the way from Texas!  It is better than a card because you get to hear and see me...  now how many people have ever done that for you huh?  Have a great day!

neighborsgo.com: post your community news

neighborsgo.com: post your community news

North Texas Moms Dress Up for Royal Wedding

North Texas Moms Dress Up for Royal Wedding

This is the television coverage from kdaf, Awwwww, great job with this Amber! Thanks so much for coming to our party! Now what to do with all this ROYAL WEDDING CAKE! Way too many syns for me to enjoy it! A great time was had by all and I am so proud of all of you who are on this journey of hope with us.

Smaller Hauler hosts a Royal Watching party!

Click to Watch the Slimming World Royal Wedding Watchers

Why do diets have to be a drag!  They don't, not if you join Slimming World.  We have so much fun in our groups.  It is a whole new family of fun for me. Not only did I get in the dress for the Royal Wedding but so did so many others.  I rejoice with all of them...we are in this together as a group!  Why don't you join in the fun!