Weigh-in/This & That Thursday - Frozen Ice Cream Treats and Kraft 2% Cheeses

15 by the 15th

Connie

This week: 1 lb.!!
Total Lost: 5 lbs.!!

Well, I am a third of the way to my goal.  Unfortunately, it is getting harder to lose, and I am getting hungrier, too!!
I hope that it was a great week for all you guys who are also trying to shed a few pounds! Let me know how you did!

It's not too late to join us in losing a few pounds before the holidays.
Leave a comment or send me an email at:

mealplanwithconnie@att.net

You can weigh-in any day you like. My weigh-in day will be Thursdays.

There are some fairly low-fat, low-calorie choices in the ice cream section of your grocer's freezer.  Here are three of our favorites.

Fudgsicles = 1.5 grams of fat

60 calories per bar        

Snow Cream Stix = 1.5 grams of fat         

60 calories per bar                          

Sherbet = 0 grams of fat

100 calories per 1/2 cup

 I like to make smoothies with the sherbet. Spoon desired amount of sherbet into blender; add enough orange juice or skim milk for desired thickness.  You can also add sliced bananas or strawberries, if you like.  Blend and enjoy! 

The only downfall to all these treats is their calorie content.  Be sure to watch your portion size.

Kraft 2% Block Cheeses

I love cheese!  I really do!! Kraft's 2% block cheeses are the best readily available reduced-fat cheeses I have found.  Although it's a bit more work, the block cheeses really are better than the pre-shredded variety.  I understand that the pre-shredded cheese has a coating that keeps the cheese from clumping together.  Personally, I think this coating keeps it from melting as well.  When using 2%, you need all the help you can get in getting the cheese to melt and be ooey and gooey, so I do think freshly grating is best.  Of course, it's not as convenient!  There's always a rub, isn't there?!  Also, even though they're lower in fat than the full-fat cheeses, 2% cheese is still contains a fair amount of fat.  Use it sparingly.  Tip:  Remember, the sharper the cheese, the stronger the flavor.  A little sharp cheese can go a long way in adding a lot of flavor to your favorite dishes.  Watch for these to go on sale and stock up!

 

I got my Christmas Planner put together.  The plan begins on October 25 - next Monday!  Let me know if you decide to follow this plan, too!

Weigh-in Day/This and That Thursday - T. Marzetti Fat Free Caramel Apple Dip

15 by the 15th

Connie

This week: 2 lbs.!!
Total Lost: 4 lbs.!!

It's not too late to join us in losing a few pounds before the holidays.
Leave a comment or send me an email at:

mealplanwithconnie@att.net

You can weigh-in any day you like. My weigh-in day will be Thursdays.

T. Marzetti Fat Free Caramel Apple Dip

I love this stuff! I spoon it onto chopped apples, bananas, or a mixture of fruit - kind of a mix between a fruit salad and a dessert! This dip is also good on angel food cake and ice cream. Zap it just a second in the microwave to make it drizzle more easily! It would probably be good just eaten from a teaspoon, but of course that is just a guess! ;)
Because of its sugar content, it's not low calorie, so be sure to watch the portion size!

Product Review: Caramel Macchiato Cookie Mix

In the Mix Cookie Company Gourmet Cookies Mixes

Caramel Macchiato Cookie Mix

Freshly baked cookies from mix

In the Mix Cookie Company Gourmet Cookie Mixes are available at Hobby Lobby and are not terribly expensive. They were very easy to make, requiring only 5 tablespoons of softened butter and 2 tablespoons of water.

They are available in a variety of flavors. These had a nice little hint of mocha!

I would definitely buy these again, especially as a gift. It was nice to be able to pull these out of the pantry and have a plate of cookies in just a few minutes!

Krusteaz Fat Free Cranberry Orange Supreme Muffin Mix

Krusteaz Fat Free Cranberry Orange
Supreme Muffin Mix

I was craving me some cranberries this morning!

Yesterday at Sunday School, my dear friend Donna S. told me about a cranberry slaw recipe she tried last week! She said it was really tasty! I've asked her to share it with us!!

And then this morning, the weather was so nice and crisp when M.C. and I took a little stroll, it felt like cranberry weather!

When we got home, I decided to make this box of cranberry muffins for our breakfast. Logan and I love these! I usually keep a box or two on hand, stocking up when they are on sale. They are found with all the other muffin mixes at most grocery stores.

We love cranberries, and I have several good recipes I look forward to sharing when the fresh cranberries arrive this season!

When the kids were small, we read a series of books that took place in the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts by Harry and Wende Devlin. I was introduced to these through the Five in a Row curriculum. We loved these books and read them for years. We even did a little story time built around these books one year at the library. Each book ends with a great cranberry recipe! We prepared everything from Cranberry Upside Down Cake to Frothy Cranberry Punch through the years! If you have small children or grands, I highly recommend these. I'm not sure they are still in print, but most libraries have them. I think they've got most, if not all of them, here at the Pontotoc library. (Thanks Christine and Regina!!)

I was thinking about these books as I made the muffins this morning, and truthfully, lamenting the passing of time. When Logan came down to feed the cats, he asked what smelled so good. I told him it was cranberry muffins and to have one. He exclaimed, as he reached for one, "Oh, I love these!" He took a bite and said, "You know what I always think about when we have these muffins? Those cranberry books you used to read us. I miss that kind of thing now that I big." To say the least, it made my day!

To make muffins:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray.
Remove about 1/4 cup of the dry mix from the plastic bag and blend with 1/4 cup of brown sugar to make a topping for the muffins; set aside.
Open the can of enclosed cranberries; drain and set aside.
Dump the remaining dry mix into a medium mixing bowl.
Stir in one cup of water, just until moist.
Gently add cranberries.
Spoon batter into prepared pan.
Sprinkle brown sugar topping over batter.
Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Product Review: Marshall's Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

Marshall's Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

I have seen these in the grocery freezer section for years, but have never bought them. When I couldn't find the frozen tea biscuits I usually use, I decided to give these a try. I'll have to say that they were very good and enjoyed by all. They were tender and had a great flavor! I will definitely be a repeat customer!! These were $1.69.

Very Easy Baked Beans

Very Easy Baked Beans

Very Easy Baked Beans

1 (28 ounce)can Bush's Country Style Baked Beans
1/4 - 1/3 cup of ketchup
2 slices pre-cooked bacon.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Open the beans and drain them in a colander. Add ketchup. Pour the beans into a small casserole dish. Top with bacon and bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, usually about 20 minutes.
While they're not as good a homemade baked beans, they're the best substitute I've found. These are the only baked beans M.C. likes!

Southwestern Skillet Chicken

Minute Brown Rice

Southwestern Skillet Chicken

The advertising agency for Minute Rice, Barkley, sent me these samples of Minute Rice Brown Rice to try. I haven't used Minute Rice in years. We think this Brown Rice is pretty good!
This recipe was from the back of the Minute Rice box. M.C. loves rice. This Minute Rice Brown Rice would make a good, quick lunch for her.

Southwestern Skillet Chicken

Instead of using the boneless, skinless chicken breast called for, I used a package of my pre-cooked, chopped chicken from the freezer. I just skipped the part of the recipe that gave the instructions for browning the chicken. I sprayed the skillet with cooking spray and picked up the recipe at Step 2. When the recipe called for returning the chicken breasts to the skillet, I just put in the chopped chicken. Larry, Logan and I all thought this made a good quick meal. It wasn't M.C.'s favorite, as she isn't a big salsa fan, but she said, "I don't hate this. It's ok!"
You could make this just as easily using regular rice. Just increase the cooking time according to the rice package. If you leave off the cheese, or use reduced-fat cheese, it would be a good low-fat meal!

1 Tbsp. oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 cups water
1 cup salsa, thick and chunky
1 pkg. (10 ounces) frozen corn
2 cups MINUTE® Brown Rice, uncooked
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1. Heat oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 7 minutes per side or until well-browned and almost cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

2. Add rice, water, corn and salsa to skillet; mix well. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low; simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Nestle the chicken into the rice and sprinkle with cheese. Cover; simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is fully cooked. Serve with additional salsa on the side (if using).

Product Review: Sister Schubert's Clover Leaf Style Dinner Rolls

Sister Schubert's Clover Leaf Dinner Rolls

We tried these rolls last night! We thought they were pretty good. They're a dense, heavy roll. I would probably buy them again, especially if they were on sale, and/or I had a coupon.

A Twist on Tuna

Tuna made with ranch dressing and lemon pepper seasoning
New York Style Pretzel Flatz

Yesterday, when I was in Sam's, they were giving samples of tuna made with ranch dressing and lemon pepper seasoning, to taste. Needing a quick lunch for all us today and having several cans of tuna in the pantry, I gave this a try. Everyone liked it, except for M.C., who doesn't like tuna any way you fix it! Give this recipe a try for a little change in your tuna sandwiches!
I also picked up a bag of Pretzel Flatz, which were on sale at Wal-greens. The pretzel chips were really good. They only had the Everything variety. I look forward to trying the original, too! The ones we tried were crunchy, salty and low-fat! Everything you want them to be! Be sure to visit the Pretzel Flatz website. There's info on the chips and some really great sounding recipes, too!!

http://www.newyorkstyle.com/newyorkstylepretzelsnacks.php