Weekend Update
Hi, it’s Weekend Update time. I finished teaching my cooking class at Whole Foods on Saturday and I’ve taken a moment to get back to my desk to post this. If you haven’t been to Whole Foods, you must go. The closest one to me is at Eastern and Arden Way in Fair Oaks. They will be opening a new store in Roseville in 2007!! Yeh!
Cooking classes are a great way to add variety to your eating plans. Be sure and look up LearningExchange.com and see the variety of classes that are offered. You can also find some great classes at the city of Roseville Parks and Recreation. Learning Exchange has some really great classes and I encourage you to check them all out.
I do hope you have tried my Tex Mex Barely Bake (previous post). It really is delicious and easy to make.
I will post my chicken enchilada recipe in the next day or so. So here are the recipe ideas you’ve emailed to me. They are terrific. Keep them coming:
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Again, the following is from our members:
I like "Fire Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Butter Sauce" available at Trader Joe's in the frozen veggie area mixed with precooked and cleaned salad shrimp - I use half a bag also from Trader Joe's. Just thaw the shrimp and add to the heated vegetable and sauce and you've got yourself a meal. Can also be served over brown rice or pasta. The Vegetable bag says it serves six, but since I use it as an entree I serve three for 6 points, including the shrimp (but not rice or pasta).
Also, for a snack I like jerky - beef or turkey. It satisfies the need to chew and salt craving. Just be sure to have dental floss for afterward.
360 Gourmet Burritos is a cute little restaurant in the same Roseville shopping center as Best Buy and Michaels. They have a Mixed Vegetables (Vegan) Burrito. I ordered it on a whole wheat tortilla. It is made with zucchini, chayote, bell pepper, eggplant, tomato, onion and herbs, Spanish rice, black beans, salsa and romaine lettuce. It was quite good. I ate 3/4 of it, but could have stopped at 1/2. No meat or cheese in it. I let Philip eat the chips.
The Gorumet Burrito website was down and I tried to call the company for the nutritional information. They say they will call me back. We'll see. (note from Suzanne: if anyone has the nutritional information please email it to me and I will include next week)
Don't know if you have eaten there yet, but I thought you might like to add this to your recipes and ideas in exchange for your email recipes!
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One of my most effective snacks is 1 veggie slice divided on 4
nonfat saltines and a handful of carrot chips. Boring, but it takes a
while to eat if I nibble, and it satisfies. I woke up this am and could picture myself at goal weight, first time I've been able to do so in over a year. How cool is that?! I'm feeling motivated again!
Here is my idea for a light lunch. I like yogurt, but not the texture, so I make a fruit and yogurt parfait (spelling). I put yogurt in a glass dish and then layer fruit and top off with Grape Nuts. Alternate the layers for a tasty treat.
My husband and I eat out often. Frequently, we order an extra dinner salad, and we split a dinner (which already comes with a dinner salad). I usually bring my own dressing (in a small cup), so I know how many points there are, and that I will like it.
Hope these ideas are helpful.
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I have this real simple recipe that I often eat for breakfast.
l Corn Tortilla
1 String Cheese rod
1 Morning star sausage
Heat sausage in microwave for 40 seconds. Spread cheese on tortilla and heat for 20 seconds Roll sausage in tortilla with melted cheese. This recipe is so easy I hesitated giving it to you but I love it.
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Things that I like:
1. sprouted whole wheat bread made by Alvarado St.
Bakery: I like it because 1 slice is 1 point and it is
nice and dense, not just a piece of fluff
2. Aidells roasted red pepper and corn sausage: the
sausage is expensive but only 2 ponts per 1 big link.
When I have a "hankerin" for some spice I use one-half
link, cut up and browned. I use it as part of a big
salad or in some eggs.
Some snacks I enjoy are:
The Puffins cereal by Barbara's Bakery (3/4 cup = 90 cal., 1g fat, 5 fiber); Edamame- they last a while b/c you have to pop the beans from their shells! (2 pts. in 1/2 cup) Tree Top Fruit Energy Bars have 2 points each, and they are sweet, good on the go... and fill fruit req. Popcorn- I like the Smart Pop Kettle Korn (94% Fat Free) by Orville Redenbacher... a whole bag only has 4 points....and carrots w/ dressing- Ken's Lite Northern Italian dressing is my favorite, 1 pt. per 2 TBSP, and it's not creamy, so it goes further and usually 1 TBSP is plenty for dipping!
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Here is a favorite 4 ingredient recipe of mine. I like it because
it's quick and I almost always have the ingredients on hand and it
tastes great - the cheese makes it taste like a comfort food! It's
crispy without adding any oil and no dirty skillet to clean up - yeah!
Quick Chicken Quesadilla
Serves 1 Points 6
1 Fat Free Flour Tortillas (soft taco size)
1/2 C. cooked, diced chicken
2 - 3 Tbsps Pace Chunky Salsa
1/4 C. mixed part skim mozzarella and reduced fat cheddar
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cover a small cookie sheet with foil
(for easy clean up). Cover the top of the tortilla with salsa, place
the chicken and cheese on top of the salsa on 1/2 of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 4 minutes and then flip the quesadilla over. Continue baking for 4 more minutes. The quesadilla will be lightly browned and crispy. Remove from the oven and cut into 3 wedges.
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This is my little invention for dessert. I take a skinny cow low fat ice cream sandwich my strawberry shortcake 2 points then I take a 1 point fudge sickle weight watchers or skinny cow brand, then shave it over the top of the sandwich the two tablespoons of
fat free coolwhip 0 points. great dessert, 3 total points
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This is a very simple appetizer that has everyone asking " what's in it?"
1 8oz package of 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 bunch of green onions
low fat crackers
Trim green onions and chop really fine. (the whole bunch) mix w/ cream cheese and let sit in fridge for a few hours. Spread on crackers or celery.
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Butterscotch/Pineapple Dessert
8oz. fat free cool whip (I use light cool whip)
8oz. crushed pineapple in light syrup
1 small package butterscotch instant pudding
3 Cups chopped apple (with or without skin)
1 Cup miniature marshmallows
Mix cool whip and butterscotch pudding together
Add all other ingredients
Easy and good. 1 cup equals 1 1/2 points
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My favorite snack to keep on hand is
Cottage cheese 3/4 cup with 1/4 cup crushed pineapple
or
Starbuck's Latte is for my milk (I get sugar free and non fat milk)
or I bake bran Muffins (I use this as a dessert) I keep them in the freezer
1 Cup of Oatmeal (old fashion kind)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 Cup All-Bran cereal
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup of egg beater
1/8 cup of vegetable oil
1/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple (in its own juice)
1 cup chopped nuts or dates or raisins
In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oatmeal, flours, cereal, salt, baking powder and soda) and make a well in the center. Separately combine the egg, oil, molasses, buttermilk, and pineapple (with all juice). Pour the liquid mixture into the well and mix just until moistened. Stir in nuts, dates or raisins. Prepare 18 muffin cups by greasing or paper lining them. Fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
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Weekend Update
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Stay tuned for Chicken Enchaladas in the next blog.
