Nutella Rice Krispies

It's about the portion contol right? not diet in any way.. but still better than a brownie.. chocolate fix included! I just heart Nutella!

Nutella Rice Krispies (156 Calories/ 18 servings) (picture thanks to  my 4 year old! )

• 6 cups rice krispies cereal
• 10 oz bag mini marshmellows
• 1/2 cup nutella
• 4 T butter

Melt butter in large non stick pot. Add marshmellows and melt. Take off heat and stir in nutella until melted. Stir in rice krispies. Press into greased dish and allow to cool.

Cream Cheese Chicken

So what if it is loaded with sodium..drink lots of water.. you will be fine.. and it will be OK.. Because well you will want to lick your plate..because this is so basic.. yet so good you will want to go back for more... (but if you are being good you won't.. :) Original recipe here

Cream Cheese Chicken (306 calories/16 grams fat/4 servings)

• 1  99% FF can cream-of-mushroom soup
• --1/2 cup chicken broth
• --1 lb Chicken breasts
• --packet of Italian salad dressing mix
• --2 cloves minced garlic
• -- 1/3 less fat block of cream cheese (to add later)

  Add Everything to the crock pot except cream cheese.. Cook on low about 6 hours.  Stir in cream cheese and switch to high for 30 minutes until cream cheese is melted.. serve with rice or pasta.

Lemon Butter Tilapia

Even though the main source of calories in this dish comes from the butter.. it still tastes incredibly light and almost refreshing.  My hubby was very happy and said it was a home run! Original Recipe here.

Tilapia w/ Lemon Butter Sauce (340 Calories/ 15.5 grams fat/4 servings)

• 2 lbs Tilapia fish fillets ( this is about 2 fish per person..if you want to make less.. you could easily cut the recipe in half and do 1 lb)
• 5 T unsalted butter
• 2 T flour
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup stock ( I used vegetable.. chicken would be good too)
• 4 t lemon juice
• 1 medium diced tomato
• salt and pepper to taste

Season fish with salt and pepper. Heat 3 T butter in a large pan ( I did 2 batches of fish with 1.5 T butter each) and sear on medium to high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.

While fish is cooking, melt remaining 2T butter in a sauce pan, add garlic, cook additional minute. add flour and stir another minute. Slowly stir in stock and lemon juice. cook a couple addtional minutes until sauce thickens a bit. Pour over cooked fish and top with tomatoes.

Taco Meat loaf muffins

Mhh..If you like tacos..or if you like meatloaf..or if you live on the planet earth.. you will like these! Original recipes here, here , and  here!

Taco Meatloaf muffins (158 Calories/8.5 grams fat/ .5 grams fiber/ 12 servings)

• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1 egg
• 1.25 pounds 93% ground turkey or beef
• 1/2 packet Taco seasoning
• 1 can rotel
• 2 oz crushed Doritos ( or you could use any corn chip)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2-3 T taco sauce
• 2-3 T salsa
• 4 oz Velveeta ( or you could use pre-made queso dip instead of the Velveeta and salsa)

Mix first 7 ingredients together and distribute evenly into 12 greased muffin tins. Baste top with taco sauce. Bake at 400 F for about 30-35 minutes. meanwhile heat Velveeta and salsa in microwave and spoon over meat loafs when finished.

Chicken and Cornbread Pie

I really liked this. Original Recipe here.
Chicken and Cornbread Pie (328 Calories/8 grams fat/3 .5 grams fiber/6 servings)

• 1 lb cooked and shredded chicken ( or turkey)
• 1 can Rotel, drained
• 1t chili powder
• 10 oz can enchilada sauce
• 15 oz can corn, drained
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 box corn bread mix (jiffy)
• 1/3 cup milk
•  egg

Heat first 6 ingredients in a deep skillet. Preheat oven to 375F. mix last 3 ingredients in a bowl. Pour chicken mixture in an oven safe casserole dish and spread corn bread mixture over the top of the chicken. bake for about 30 minutes.

Super Simple Fire Raosted Tomato and Black Bean Soup

I don't even know if this can count as a recipe...easiest thing to make in the world..I served mine with Turkey and avocado on ciabatta..soooo good!

Black Bean and Fire Roasted Tomato Soup (106 Calories/.5 grams fat/11 grams fiber/4servings)

• 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes w/ garlic
• 1 15 oz can black beans, undrained

dump both cans in a blender, pulse 'til smooth. heat and serve.

someone smack me around..

This week has been horrible.. Its almost like I am sabotaging myself.. I can't stop eating junk and exercise has been minimal.. (today has been good so far!) I have not got this far to start ruining myself now.. and its not so much a fear of not losing that 10 lbs I still want to lose.. its a total fear of gaining it all back..for the first time in my life my body isn't my biggest  insecurity anymore.. while I am far from perfect I don't want to cry every time I look in the mirror like I did before I started all this...Some prayers and a few swift kicks in the rear-end are needed.. and someone needs to come into my house late at night and tape my mouth shut.. that is all.

Vegan Chickpea and Carrot Soup

A great soup to serve with a sandwich! Original recipe here.

Vegan Chickpea and Carrot Soup (162 Calories/1 gram fat/7.5 grams fiber/4servings)

• 15 oz can Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 9 oz fresh carrots, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup orange juice ( I used pulp free)
• cumin to taste (about a tsp)
• chili powder (about a tsp)
• salt and pepper
• garnish of cilantro and almonds (optional.. not included in calories)

Saute garlic, carrots, and onion in a large stock pot until soft, about 10 minutes. Add broth, water, chickpeas, and spices, bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add orange juice at the end. Eat rustic style, or pureee in blender for a smooth soup.

Spicy Turkey Meatballs w/ Creamy Avocado Dip

Tasty.. yummy.. Dip is a must! Original Recipe here.

Spicy Turkey Meatballs w/ Creamy Avocado Dip (353 Calories/19 grams fat/3.5 grams fiber/4 servings)

~Meatballs

• 1.25 pounds 93% ground Turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1.5 chilies in adobo sauce, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup Cilantro chopped

~ dipping sauce

• 1/4 cup FF sour cream
• 1 avocado
• 2 T lime juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Blend all  meatball ingredient together and form into about 16 balls. Bake at 400F for about 15 minutes.
put all dipping sauce ingredients in food processor and blend!

Pizza Casserole

I made this quite a few times growing up, It was one of those go to meals my mom had me make many times..Its almost exactly the same.. Except I tried to cut down on the calories.. and it was still delicious! This makes 8 big servings, so you could always make more or less depending on what your family eats. This easily made two meals for my family..throw in a side salad and you have lunch and dinner :)

Pizza Casserole (423 Calories/13 grams fat/7 grams fiber/8 servings)

• 1 lb 93% ground beef
• 13 oz box whole grain pasta, any shape
• 6 oz package turkey pepperoni
• 8 oz sliced mushrooms
• 24 oz jar favorite pasta sauce (I used 4 cheese)
• 1 cup reduced fat cheese
• sat and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef and cook pasta according to package directions. Saute mushrooms. drain pasta and then dump all the ingredients, except cheese, in the pot and mix to combine. Dump everything into a oven safe baking dish and sprinkle cheese over the top. Broil in the oven at 350F until cheese is brown and the casserole is heated through.

The Breakfast Burger

I personally do not have a Carls Jr. in my area.. but if you do.. I am sure you have heard of their breakfast burger..personally I love breakfast.. and the idea of putting it on a burger..well it took all of 2 seconds before I knew instantly I would make one for myself. This sandwhich most likley isn't the best for you.. but when you compare it to its fast food brother (780 Calories/41 grams of fat), I would venture to says its not that bad.  The yolk from the egg makes a fabulous sauce on the burger. I ate my with a pancake.. what else?

The Breakfast Burger (384 Calories/13.5 grams fat/4 grams fiber/ 1 serving)

• 100 Calories English muffin, toasted
• 1 slice turkey bacon, cooked
• 1 slice FF american cheese
• 1/5th pound ground beef, seasoned and cooked into a patty
• 1/4 cup baked shreded hashbrown
• 1 egg, over easy ( or as I call it, dippy egg)

Put it together! Enjoy.. yum!

Salt and Pepper Baked Potato Chips

Super easy side.. Hopefully you have better knife skills than I do, as some where just right and others were a little on the thick side.. but still good.

Salt and Pepper Baked Potato Chips (80 Calories/1.5 grams fiber/4 servings)

• 3 medium potatoes, washed and sliced thin
• cooking spray
• salt and  fresh cracked black pepper

Coat potatoes in cooking spray (or if you don't have cooking spray you could use olive oil), sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 450F for 20-25 minutes on a cookie sheet.

I think next time I am going to try a little garlic powder or parm cheese.. yum!