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Turkey Reuben

21 Sep

There is a restaurant in the greater Cincinnati called Izzys.  I love to go there and eat the turkey reuben, and I usually get a half sandwich, and cabbage soup, because that’s pretty low calorie and so, so delicious.  Inspired by Izzys, I decided this weekend to make turkey reubens and sweet and sour cabbage soup for dinner tonight. They pair well together, so I’ve even included a photo of them together for your viewing pleasure 🙂

There were 4 of us eating dinner tonight, so, this recipe makes 4 sandwiches.  You could adjust accordingly if you need more/less.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz of Boars Head Golden Roasted Turkey, sliced to your preference
  • 8 Slices of 35 Calorie Bread (We like Aunt Millie’s potato bread)
  • Parkay 0 calorie spray butter
  • 3/4 Cup of sauerkraut
  • 6 TBSP kraft fat free thousand island dressing
  • 4 slices of Sargento ultra thin swiss cheese

Directions:

  1. Portion your turkey out into 3 oz portions.
  2. Spray 1 side of each piece of bread liberally with spray butter.
  3. In a small bowl, mix your sauerkraut and thousand island together.
  4. Please each slice of bread butter size down in a large skillet or electric griddle to grill your bread.
  5. Spray the skillet or griddle with non-stick spray, and place each of your 3 0z portions of turkey in the skillet separately.  Cook each stack of turkey on one side, and then flip to cook on the other side.  The idea is to warm the turkey through, not cook it crisp.
  6. Once your turkey is warmed, place a slice of cheese on top of each turkey portion and allow cheese to begin melting.
  7. Transfer each stack of turkey and cheese to a piece of “grilled side down” bread, and top each of the turkey portions evenly with sauerkraut mixture.
  8. Top each sandwich with a remaining slice of grilled bread, grilled side up.  Slice sandwiches in half, and enjoy.

Makes 4 sandwiches at only 238 calories each

Appx 6 weight watchers points each

 

  
  

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Curry Chicken Salad (for sandwiches)

14 Sep

Hey guys!  So, this recipe is an original that I threw together this weekend.  It was inspired by a deli that used to be near my work, that sold Curry chicken salad on croissants.  I loved the stuff, but the deli went out of business.  I hadn’t had curry chicken salad in years, but last week I got a craving for it, and so this low calorie version was born.  I think this is delicious, and I will definitely be repeating it in my own household.  Even the husband enjoyed it, although he was unsure about trying it at first.  It’s yummy, and not too overwhelming with Curry.   The sweet cherry craisins are a nice comliment to the curry flavor.  I served this with 2 slices of 35 calorie bread (not included in the calorie count below).

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
  • 1/4 cup + 1 TBSP fat free miracle whip
  • 1 stalk of celery, finely diced
  • 1 TBSP onion, finely diced
  • 3/4 tsp of curry powder (i used a 1/2 tsp and a 1/4 tsp to measure)
  • 1 TBSP slivered almonds
  • 2 TBSP cherry flavored dried cranberries (I used craisins)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Mix everything but the chicken together first, to be sure your curry is mixed in well.
  2. Add chicken to mixture, and stir until everything is well incorporated.
  3. Serve with saltine crackers or low calorie bread.  Add Lettuce and tomato if you like.

Makes 4 (1/2 cup) servings= 161 Calories per serving

Appx 4 weight watchers points plus


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Chocolate Brownies with strawberries and cream

8 Aug

This recipe definitely satisfied a craving for chocolate, and although they are made in a cupcake tin, they are more like brownies than cupcake.  Delicious little round brownies 🙂  The addition of strawberries and cream was a yummy one that I’d recommend. It really bulks up this little guy so you feel like you’re having a real, full sized dessert, without many calories.  Enjoy.

Ingredients: 

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp splenda brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp melted light margarine or butter (50 cal per tbsp)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

 

Directions: 

  1. In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients.  In a smaller bowl, mix all wet ingredients.
  2. Mix wet and dry ingredients together, and stir until well mixed and not too lumpy.
  3. Divide batter between 10 cups in a standard muffin tin (no liners). Spray tin well with non-stick spray first.
  4. Bake at 350 for 15-17 minutes.  Let cool 5 min before serving.

 

Makes 10 servings= 97 calories per serving

appx 2 weight watchers points plus per serving

 

1 brownie, served as seen here, with 4 large strawberries, cut into quarters, and about 5 tablespoons of fat free reddi whip=

140 calories

 

 

Garlic smashed potatoes

31 Jul

These are really yummy. I used a ziplock steamer bag in this recipe… They are an item I rely on pretty regularly in my kitchen. If you don’t have them you can use any traditional steaming method, or even boil or bake the potatoes instead.

Ingredients: 

  • 6 red new potatoes (about tennis ball size)
  • Low calorie Spray butter
  • Sea salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic

Directions:

1. Place all of your potatoes inside of Ziploc steamer baggy and steam according to directions on bag until potatoes are done.

2. Preheat oven to 400°

3. Spray a metal baking pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray.

4. Remove potatoes from steamer bag and line them up on the pan. Use a fork or other utensil to gently smashed down the center of each potato, until the sides split, exposing the white part of the potato.

5. Spray each potato with about five or six squirts of butter, and season to taste with sea salt and pepper. 

6. Distribute minced garlic evenly between the potatoes and spread it across the top of each one using a fork.

7. Bake potatoes at 400° for 10 minutes. If you have a broiler with a low setting continue cooking potatoes for five additional minutes on low broil. (If you only have one broil setting cook them until they appear to be turning golden brown)

One serving equals one and a half potatoes. Makes four servings.

1 Serving= 180 calories

Appx 4 weight watchers points plus

   
   

Creamy Mushroom Chicken

1 Jul

So, I was inspired to try a recipe like this, when a friend of mine mentioned how much her family loved a similar dish.  I took to the internet for a full fat version, and started updating it to make it more calorie friendly.  I loved the results, although this version did take a long time to cook in the oven.  I think it will work just as well if i throw it all in the crockpot, and next time i’m going to do just that.  I’ll come back and let y’all know how that works out.  Enjoy!  (ps: eat this with mashed potatoes or rice. omg, that sauce!)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken (i used 4 breasts, 5 oz each)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 3/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
  • 1 jar of sliced mushrooms, drained (the larger glass jar, or 2 smaller cans)
  • Paprika to taste

Directions:

  1. Arrange chicken in a 9 x 13 pan and salt and pepper the tops of the chicken (to taste).  Spread mushrooms evenly over chicken.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix together: mushroom soup, wine and sour cream.  Pour over chicken, completely covering it.
  3. Dust with paprika.
  4. Cover baking pan with aluminum foil, and Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hours.  Uncover pan and continue baking an additional 20 min.

Makes 4 servings of chicken + Sauce= 256 Calories per Serving

Appx 6.5 weight watchers points plus per serving


 

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Strawberry Froyo

29 Jun

This recipe was time consuming, but the ice cream was pretty yummy. The kids loved it.  I’ll probably make this again, but it’s a weekend recipe (takes some time).  Please keep in mind that this recipe is finicky.  You have to let it freeze just the right amount of time, and it has to be eaten right away, and it’s a lot of work… but i’m glad i made it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups Plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1 1/4 cups 1% milk
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 TBSP Splenda no-calorie sweetener
  • 1 Cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • 2 TBSP honey

Directions:  

1. Place strawberries in a small food processor and puree until only small chunks remain.

2. Combine yogurt, splenda, vanilla and honey in a bowl. Mix in strawberries and 1/2 cup milk.

3. Pour mixture into a gallon-sized zip-top freezer bag. Lay the bag flat, and spread the mixture into an even layer pressing to eliminate air pockets. Close the bag and lay it flat on a shelf in the freezer.

4. Freeze the mixture 3-4 hours

5. Remove the bag from thee freezer and break the mixture into small pieces.

6. Place the pieces in the bowl of a food processor; add remaining milk and blend until smooth.

7. Pour ice cream into an 8×4 bread pan.  Cover with plastic wrap and return to freezer.

8.  Freeze for 1-2 hours, and serve immediately.  If you freeze it longer, and it gets too hard to scoop, let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes or until it’s scoopable.

Editors Note: I actually added 1 drop of red food coloring before freezing the first time.  You don’t have to, but i liked the color 🙂

Makes 8 servings= 85 calories per serving

appx 2 weight watchers points plus


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Crockpot lasagna

18 Nov

A coworker recently brought me a recipe she had found for a crockpot lasagna. Naturally I was inclined to take it and use it to experiment on a low cal version. Lasagna is a dish I love to make, but it’s time intensive. This recipe still requires some prep time, but I can do it the night before and just have my husband pop it in to cook.

Ingredients:

– 12 oz lean ground beef (I used 93%)
– 12 oz Italian turkey sausage
– 1 jar prego light smart sauce
– 1 can diced tomatoes
– 1/2 cup water
– 1 medium onion, dice
– 2 TBSP minced garlic
– 15 oz part skim ricotta
– 3 egg whites
– 1 tsp dried oregano
– 1 tsp dried basil
– 1/2 tsp garlic powder
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 9 standard lasagna noodles
– 1 cup 2% shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Sauté beef, sausage, onions and garlic together in a skillet, breaking up meat until it’s all cooked through.

2. Add tomatoes (don’t drain them), prego, water, salt and garlic powder to the skillet and mix until all ingredients are incorporated.

3. In a separate bowl mix ricotta, egg whites, oregano, and basil.

4. Line the inside of your crockpot with aluminum foil. I used one large piece going longways, and one long piece going too to bottom. Press foil down to conform to the shape of the crockpot. Spray with nonstick spray.

5. Pour 1 1/2 cups of sauce mixture in crock and spread evenly across the bottom.

6. Use 3 noodles and lay them side by side across bottom of crock, longways. They’re too long for the crockpot so you’ll need to break the end off to make them fit. Lay the middle noodle down first. The edge noodles may overlap the middle noodle which is fine.

7. Spread 1/2 of ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles.

8. Spread 2 cups of sauce mixture over ricotta.

9. Repeat steps 6-8. Noodles. Ricotta. Sauce.

10. For the The last layer of your lasagna, arrange noodles, too with remaining sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

11. Place lid on crockpot and cook on low about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

12. Use aluminum edges to carefully remove lasagna and foil from the crockpot. Set the foil and lasagna on a platter and allow to cool 15-20 min.

13. Peel aluminum edges away and slice and serve your lasagna.

6 servings= 605 calories per serving
Appx 16 weight watchers points plus

8 servings = 455 calories per serving
Appx 16 weight watchers points plus

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Pork chops with white wine and mushrooms

13 Nov

Ingredients:

– 4 (5 oz) boneless pork chops
– 1 TBSP light margarine
– 1 Medium onion, thinly sliced
– 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
– 3 TBSP flour
– 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
– 1/4 cup white wine
– 1 TSP dried rosemary
– Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Salt and pepper both sides of your chops.

2. Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet.

3. Place chops in the pan and cook about 4 min on each side.

4. Remove chops to a separate plate.

5. Add mushrooms, onions, rosemary, and a little broth to the pan. Sauté about 5 min, and sprinkle with flour.

6. Stir flour around, incorporating it into mushrooms and onions. Add remaining broth and wine. Stir until Lumps disappear.

7. Replace chops back into the pan with mushroom mixture. Cover pan with lid and summer 10 min.

8. Uncover and cook 5 more minutes until sauce begins to thicken a bit.

9. Allow to cool 5 min.

Makes 4 servings

1 serving= 210 calories

Approximately 5 weight watchers points plus per serving

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Pork, Sauerkraut and Dumplings

8 Nov

This recipe was handed down from my mother-in-law. It is a comfort food for my husband, who remembers it fondly from his childhood.  I have to admit, I had never heard of sauerkraut and dumplings, and I wasn’t sure about it.  After trying it at my in law’s house, I had a change of heart.  This stuff is pretty good, and, it’s way outside my comfort zone, which, for me, makes it even better.,

 

Ingredients:

– 4 boneless pork chops, 4 oz each

– 1 cup original bisquick mix

– 1/3 cup 1% milk

– Chicken broth, 1 1/2 cups

– 4 cups, or 1 bag of sauerkraut, with juice

– Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:

1. Mix Sauerkraut and chicken broth in a crock pot.

2. Salt and pepper pork chops, and add to crock pot, on top of sauerkraut mixture.

3. Cook on low 5-7 hours.

4. Remove pork from crockpot. Pour sauerkraut mixture into a large pan (with lid) and place on the stove, on medium heat until nearly boiling.

5. Mix bisquick and milk in a bowl.  Divide mixture evenly into 4 segments, and use a spoon to drop each one into the pot.

6. Allow dumplings to cook for 10 minutes uncovered.   Cover with lid and continue cooking and additional 10 minutes.

7. Serve Pork with 1 dumpling, and 1/4 remaining sauerkraut.

 

*Note: this is delicious with mashed potatoes

 

Makes 4 Servings: 408 Calories per serving

Approximately 11 Weight watchers points plus

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Grocery Store Fabulous Finds!

16 Aug

This page will be an ever-evolving Post. Meaning. I’m going to put it out there now, with the items I have currently on my mind, and add to it periodically as I find new exciting finds at the grocery store. Please check back regularly when you’re looking for inspiration at the grocery 🙂

 

1. Tumaro’s 60 Calorie Tortillas! There are lots of low-carb tortillas available on the market now. Some of them are very low calorie, and others are not. Here’s one particular brand that has less than half the calories of a tratitional flour tortilla the same size. I bought these at a Meijer store, but they may sell the same ones at a national chain near you!

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2. Plain Greek Yogurt: I know this is very “in fashion” right now. Greek yogurt is all the rage. But, i’ve found so many great ways to use it that really do shave off a LOT of calories. For instance, when i’m making a recipe that calls for heavy cream, I use a mixture of 1% milk and greek yogurt instead. I never buy sour cream anymore, for anything. Plain greek yogurt tastes almost identical, and it’s far lower in calories. I use it to make dipping sauces that would typically take mayo or sour cream. it’s very versatile, and has become a staple in our house. My favorites are Fage and Chobani. Whatever you do, don’t eat it straight! It doesn’t taste like “yogurt” it tastes like sour cream!

3. Ballpark lean beef hotdogs: these are a really low calorie alternative to a traditional hot dog, and I think they bring a lot more flavor to the party than their turkey dog counterparts. 80 cal each.

hot dog

 

4. Baked Cheetos

I’m a sucker for these guys, and I swear I can’t tell the difference anymore between baked and traditional. For the record, I can’t stand baked potato chips… But these are really very close to the “real thing.”

cheeto

 

5. Light Butter

Who knew! I was so excited when I found this! Just 50 cal per tablespoon. 1/2 the calories of regular butter.

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6. 10 calorie Sodas

I’ve always had a hard time with diet soda. I just.cant.do.it.. I just can’t. I like the “zero” line better than diet, but this line of 10 calorie sodas is my favorite by far! They taste almost exactly like the “real” thing, and are much better than any no calorie option I’ve ever tried. I’ve seen them in: sunkist orange, dr pepper, 7 up, RC cola, Canada Dry ginger ale, and root beer. My favs: Dr Pepper and Canada Dry!

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7. Minute Rice Multi Grain

This mixture of several varieties of rice, and quinoa is easy to make, and lower in calories than regular rice. It’s pretty bland if you just boil it plain, but throw a chicken bullion cube in the pot with the water and you’re in business!

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8. slow churned ice cream! This version by Edys has only 110-120 cal per half cup which is about a scoop. This butter pecan is one of my favorite flavors, along with mint Oreo. The vanilla bean is also great.. I’m sure they are all delicious! 

  

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