The One point cupcake!

You have to love Curtis Stone.. I think his mission in life is to show people that they can make food that is good and good for you! He can even make cupcakes! :) When you make them with the modifications in the frosting that I did, you get a yummy 1 point cupcake that has almost zero fat and lots of fiber! :) I used the same cake recipe.. find it here!

One point vanilla cupcake ( 1 point/ 90 calories/6 cupcakes)

Batter
5 organic egg whites
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Icing
4 oz FF cream cheese
1/2 banana
1 T Strawberry low sugar preserves

See directions in above link..They are very easy to follow.. when making the frosting.. stir in the preserves as well it adds a great flavor to a kind of boring frosting!

Light General Tso's

The entire time hubby was eating this he kept saying.. "This is good.. but the fried stuff you make is better..you should fry it again!" Keep dreaming buddy...this is a yummy low calorie alternative to the full fat original. I think next time I will double the sauce and add steamed broccoli.

General Tso's (14 points/668 calories/ 1 serving) This makes about 2-3 servings so split your calories or points however you wish

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon chopped  fresh ginger

Cooking Spray

3 dried red chilies, boiled and chopped (use gloves!)

3 cloves garlic 

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces 

In a bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, and vinegar. set aside.

Add cooking spray to a non stick pan and saute ginger and garlic for about 1-2 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for about 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Add sauce and simmer until it thickens.

Serve with brown Rice. (2 points for 1/2 cup)

Pumpkin Turkey Sloppy Joes

My four year old ate every last bite of his dinner ( and the little bit of leftovers the next day!).. and My 2 year old kept yelling  "look Pumpkin!" They really enjoyed this meal and it was super easy!

Pumpkin Turkey Sloppy Joes (5points/270 cals/4 servings) (this is for joes only the pie crust is 100 calories and 7 grams of fat for 1/8th.. the boys ate it.. I used a whole wheat bun!)

1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
1 can Manwich Bold
1 green bell pepper, chopped
Cooking Spray
1 Pillsbury pie crust

Roll out pie crust on ungreased baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, cut out your face, then bake at 425F for 9-10 minutes.

While crust is baking, Spray non-stick pan with cooking spray and cook green bell pepper om medium heat until soft.. add ground turkey and break it apart with spoon, brown until cooked through. Stir in Manwich sauce.

Take out pie crust and place it on top of the joes!  Eat immediately!

Pasta with Butternut Parmesan Sauce

 Butternut Squash Parmesan Sauce (4 points / 170 cals/4 servings) original recipe here.

1 butternut squash average size

1-2 chopped shallots

1/2 cup Half and Half

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

 1 T fresh parsley

 2 t lemon juice

water as needed to thin sauce ( mine was pretty thick)

Pasta ( whatever kind you like.. not included in cals)

Salt and pepper

cooking spray

Cut Squash in half and lay in baking dish , skin size up, cool for about 10 minutes. Scoop out the squash flesh from the skins and purée with a blender adding water as needed. ( I yielded about 4 cups of puree for this recipe)

Saute chopped up shallots with cooking spray in a non stick pan. add squash and mix. Incorporate H&H into sauce and add parmesan. Salt and pepper to taste.. Stir in water to desired thickness.

Serve over cooked, hot pasta.

2 more pounds...

AND..

feeling great and excited about future goals..2 more pounds and I get to buy my first reward prize!

Iron Skillet Pizza

Have you ever purchased a pre-made wheat crust at the store? Not cheap! so I made my own.. and it was pretty good if I do say so myself! :) The picture only shows 1 pizza but there is plenty enough dough for two! Original recipe here.

Iron Skillet Pizza

Dough (4 points/225 cals/6 servings)
1.5 cups warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1tsp sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
3 T  Promise light margarine

Toppings ( total of 9 points and 380 cals..depending on how puch you put on each pizza)
1 c Reduced fat cheese
1 1/4th cup sauce
1 serving turkey pepperoni

Dissolve yeast in warm water with salt and sugar. Add 2 cups of Wheat flour. Mix. Add 3 T melted Margarine. mix in cup of white flour..knead together and let rest for about an hour. Spread dough out into oiled (cooking spray) skillet. add toppings and bake at 425 until dough is cooked through. about 20 minutes.

Orange Beef and rice (crockpot)

This was just OK..I normally love stuff from the Crock-pot Lady, But try as I might, with the exception of lemon and lime, I just can't get into fruit mixed with meat. I am posting this  because although the taste was just OK for me, the combination of veggies and beef was top of the line! I will be making this again without the orange juice and honey.. but instead, replacing it with more traditional flavors of ginger, garlic, soy, and lemon. The way that the sub-par beef was fall apart tender was great.

Hubby thought it would be funny to put his finger in the pic.. funny him ..har har! Orange Beef (4 points/ 195 cals/4 servings)
1 lb Beef round steaks..cut into pieces
1/2 cup orange juice
2 T honey
2 T soy sauce
2T chopped Ginger
1 big huge red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
4 green onions
1 head bok choy
Brown rice ( 2 points/108 cals/ 1/2 cup)

Marinate first 5 ingredient for a few hours or overnight. Dump everything in the crock pot, chop veggies and put on top. Cook on low for about 6 hours.