Monday, November 24, 2014

Skinny “Starbucks” Pumpkin Scones

Skinny “Starbucks” Pumpkin Scones


These are delicious!!  With the help of my super cute nephews, we made these and they were gone by the end of the day!!   However, instead of the glaze, we added chocolate chips to the mix. 


Mashed Potato and Cauliflower Casserole with Onion, Bacon and Swiss

Mashed Potato and Cauliflower Casserole with Onion, Bacon and Swiss

Active Time 15m
Total Time 1h 15m

8 servings



They had me at BACON!!

Since I volunteered to bring mashed potatoes to Thanksgiving, I'm thinking I should bring two dishes: simple mashed potatoes for the less adventurous and these potatoes!  Yum!!  

Keep it simple — instead of using two pots to cook the potatoes and cauliflower separately, we added the cauliflower to the boiling potatoes during the last 5 minutes of cooking, then drained and mashed them together. Less prep and cleanup equals more time to enjoy.

Apple Turkey Burgers

 Apple Turkey Burgers
4 servings

ingredients

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • One 8-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 hamburger buns, split

directions

Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking.
In medium-size bowl combine turkey, apple, coriander, salt and pepper. Mix gently. Evenly divide and shape turkey mixture into 4 burgers, approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
Grill turkey burgers 5-6 minutes per side or until 165 degrees F is reached on food thermometer and turkey is no longer pink in center.
In small bowl, combine cranberry sauce, mustard, cinnamon and nutmeg.
To serve, place burger on bottom half of bun, spoon sauce over burgers and top with other half of bun.

Bourbon Whiskey Turkey with Sweet Mustard and Fresh Apple Hash

Bourbon Whiskey Turkey with Sweet Mustard and Fresh Apple Hash


As soon as I make this, a photo will be posted...


They had me at "Bourbon Whiskey" It's not a secret.  I love most things whiskey and bourbon. This is a must try for me!

ingredients

  • One 10-pound turkey breast, skin on
  • 1 pint bourbon whiskey
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • 1 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
  • 1 tablespoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cups cranapple juice
  • Sweet Mustard:
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup Coleman's dry mustard
  • Apple Hash:
  • 6 large Granny Smith apples, cored and finely diced
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup sundried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 1 cup maple syrup

directions

Remove turkey breast from bone with a boning knife. Gently pull breast from bone. Separate breast into two lobes. (Save bones for turkey stock.)
Mix bourbon, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger and cranapple juice thoroughly.
Place boneless turkey breast sections in a glass or other non-corrosive container such as a food-grade plastic container.
Pour marinade over turkey breasts. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 12 hours.
Remove turkey from marinade, drain well and discard marinade. Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, skin side up.
Roast in a preheated 325 degree F oven for about 1-1/2 hours or until the internal temperature measures 170 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast.
Slice turkey and serve with Sweet Mustard Sauce and Fresh Apple Hash.
Sweet Mustard:
Whisk egg yolks, cider vinegar, salt, sugar and dry mustard together in a stainless steel bowl.
Place over a boiling water bath and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, whisking occasionally.
Cool and reserve in refrigerator for service.
Apple Hash:
Toss together apples, pecans, cranberries, bourbon and syrup. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

nutrition information per serving

700 calories27g total fat250mg cholesterol460mg sodium44g carbohydrates3g fiber66g protein
These nutrition facts are calculated according to the ingredients listed in this recipe. Any substitutions will change these facts. Although we strive for accuracy, please note that food manufacturers occasionally change their food formulas, which could affect the calculations as shown.



Get Cooking: http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/bourbon-whiskey-turkey-with-sweet-mustard-and-fresh-apple-hash-recipe-11259.aspx#ixzz3K0yt7BPc

Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple

Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple

I had to save this!  I've been dying to try and make my own cranberry sauce!  

Cranberries only need to be cooked for a few minutes before they burst and form a sauce. To mold the sauce so it's slice-able, she adds an apple, which is loaded with pectin, a natural gelling agent.

ingredients

  • 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
  • 1 large Fuji apple, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup water

directions

Line an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap and spray the plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries with the apple, sugar and water. Bring to a boil and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently until the cranberries are completely broken down and the sauce is very thick, about 15 minutes. Scrape the cranberry sauce into the prepared pan and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. Invert the jelly onto a serving plate and remove the plastic wrap. Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs. Slice with a serrated knife before serving.


Get Cooking: http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/jellied-cranberry-sauce-with-fuji-apple-recipe-13514.aspx#ixzz3K0xPvjNl

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Super Simple Mini-Salad Prep!

Super Simple Mini-Salad Prep!



Mix together and divide evenly into 4 storage containers:
2 cucumbers (diced)
2 pints cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 can garbanzo beans (rinsed)
handful of parsley (chopped)
optional protein boost: 1/2 cooked chicken breast (diced)

Before eating add 1 TBS light dressing

BOOM!
‪#‎21dayfix‬ = 2 greens, 1/2 orange, 1/2 yellow, 1 red (if adding chicken)

Monday, November 17, 2014

Where have you been?

Visited States Map Generator 

 WOW! So many more states I need to visit. I really need to step my game up.




Create Your Own Visited States Map

Friday, November 14, 2014

Guilt-free Chocolate Truffles




These creamy, chocolaty truffles taste truly decadent, but are shockingly low-calorie. 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup quality chocolate chips (such as Ghirardelli 60% Cacao)
  • 1 tablespoon natural almond butter or peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1/3 cup quality unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder)

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate chips in microwave at 20-second intervals or in a double-boiler for about 4 minutes until completely melted. While chocolate is still warm, stir in almond butter and mix until well incorporated. Carefully fold in Greek yogurt, mix well, and refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until mixture starts to harden.
2. Working with about 1 tablespoon at a time, form truffles, roll in unsweetened cocoa powder, and refrigerate until ready to serve. 
*Nutrition information based on 1 truffle per serving.
Recipe courtesy of MayIHaveThatRecipe.com

Friday, November 7, 2014

Madame Samm's No Bake Chewies

Madame Samm's No Bake Chewies

1 cup of raw large flake oatmeal..( not instant)
3/4 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of honey, ( a good kind)
1 cup of chocolate chips or 1 cup of dark raisins
1/2 cup of toasted coconut ( I put it in a dry pan on med heat and just
brown it, takes 2 min)

In a small pot, add peanut butter and honey and stir until well blended and it thins out like a warmed honey... ( 3 minutes tops).  

Now pour this sweet mixture onto oatmeal and coconut, raisins or chocolate chips. Form into balls.... BE sure to run your hands under cold water and shape balls. This way the mixture will not stick to your hands.  Keep repeating that... Refrigerate


HINT from Madame Samm:
"Refrigerate and take as needed...I would not eat these near bedtime...they will keep you up for hours...that is what happened to me the other day!"

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Quinoa Breakfast Bars

Quinoa Breakfast Bars




Prep time
Cook time
Total time



A grab 'n go breakfast that's tasty and a cinch to make, without all of the added sugar found in store bought bars.
Author: 
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 1 c whole wheat flour (or chickpea flour to make GF)
  • 2 c cooked quinoa
  • 2 c oats
  • ⅔ c nuts, chopped
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp chia seeds
  • ⅔ c peanut butter
  • ½ c honey
  • 2 egg
  • ⅔ c applesauce (or mashed banana)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅔ c craisins
  • ½ c chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
  1. Combine applesauce, vanilla, eggs, peanut butter and honey in a small bowl and mix well.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until just mixed.
  3. Spoon into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 375 for 20 min or until golden brown.
  4. Let cool and cut into bars.
  5. Store in the refrigerator.


These quinoa breakfast bars are chewy and delicious- perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. They’re packed with protein and fiber and they’re gluten-free  as long as you use GF oats. Plus, they could be made vegan if you used a flax egg! I used pecans in mine but almonds would be good as well.

You can also halve this recipe and make them in an 8×8 pan!

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes 


Banana-Oatmeal Pancakes
From FitnessMagazine.com

  • Makes: 4 servings
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 25 mins
  • Serving Size: 8 pancakes


Ingredients 


1 1/2 cups soy milk

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 bananas, chopped


Directions
In a blender, puree soy milk and oats until smooth. Add bananas, flour, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and baking powder and puree a few seconds more. Let batter rest 10 minutes.

Heat a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Mist with nonstick cooking spray, then scoop batter into pan in 1/4-cup increments. Reduce heat to medium low and cook pancakes until air bubbles appear and underside is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook about 5 minutes more. 

Top with sliced bananas and maple syrup if desired.