Veggie Breakfast Bowl

A great way to use up the veggies in the refrigerator prior to shopping day. And  get your protein in for a healthy quick breakfast. This is delicious and filling.
Weight Watchers 5 pts. / 4 pts. if you omit the cheese.

A Must Read!

This book is a wonderful read! It leaves you with a feel good smile on your face. Bill even wants to read it and he is not a book reader. That says a lot! Enjoy!

Blue Cheese Dressing **Healthy???

Can it be healthy really? Well my Weight Watchers recipe builder gives it 1 point with substituting Non Fat Greek Yogurt  Sour Cream. Using Low Fat Heart Healthy Mayo instead of regular Mayo. It can definitely be less bad for you. You can eat it on veggies and not feel deprived.

An All Time Favorite of Mine!

Easy, No Knead 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Great for beginners. That is why I chose this recipe to try. This soft dough is beaten in a bowl for several minutes, then scooped in a bread pan. 90 minutes later, it's ready to pop into the oven. The result: A dense, moist, easy-to-slice loaf, ideal for sandwiches.

~Recipe~

 1 cup of lukewarm water

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 Tablespoons of molasses

1 pkt. yeast

1/4 cup non-fat dry milk

3 cups 100% whole wheat flour

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Grease a loaf pan thoroughly. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Beat mixture for about 3 minutes. An electric mixer on high will do the job. 

Scoop soft dough into prepared pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 90 minutes.

It will puff up.

Bake the bread for 30 to 35 minutes. Internal temp should be 195 degrees and golden brown on top.

After 5 minutes turn it out on a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Ummm.....This was delicious.....made up by ME!

Seriously!

I busted through the door the other day with arms loaded with groceries.....STARVING!

The oven went on first 350 degrees because I was going to make bread. At this point I had no clue what I was going to eat. 

I grabbed the flat bread and I was going to make a turkey sandwich. No, I was sick of that so, I started chopping.

I had just bought spinach (for my Minestrone Soup), Basil for a salad I was making, tomatoes, a must, I had peppers because I LOVE them and the rest just fell together. Oh and I remembered to take pictures along the way as I created this FAB lunch.

Remember I was STARVING?

I ate veggies as I chopped. This literally took 5 minutes to make!

10 to 15 to bake! YUM!

forgot to add a bit of salt and pepper to the recipe to taste.

AWESOME!

I ate and then put my groceries away. That's how a hungry girl rolls!!=)

Valentine's Goodies

Some of the Goodies that I made for Valentine's Day Bake Sale for the March of Dimes.

Some of the items went to the school for the Valentine's Day Party.

I wouldn't have it any other way!

     I have a lot keeping me busy today. But I love it! I spoke with Austin's High School counselor today to see if we are right on track with preparing for college. It all starts when they are a junior and I don't want to miss a thing. His being accepted and invited to attend Governor's School for Emerging Technologies is a huge deal. It includes a full scholarship from the State of Tennessee to cover tuition, textbooks, field trips, housing and meals while at Tennessee Tech University for 6 weeks this summer. We just have to get him there and back. No problem there.
      It is suppose to be one of the most extraordinary intellectual experiences you can have as a high school student. He will experience some of the most engaging academic challenges and visit cutting-edge research facilities across Tennessee. And he will be among some of the brightest students in Tennessee. He is so super excited. I can't tell you how proud we are of him.
     His counselor assured me we are right on track, doing what needs to be done in order for him to have all that is available to him in the next 18 months.
Whew! I can't believe its already time for college. Aubrey will be in high school next year too. Wow.
And I am still doing Valentine's Day Parties in Elementary School. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love my kids!

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

This soup is so good. It has so much flavor and it's hearty too. Full of veggies and legumes and spinach, very healthy. You can add fresh Parmesan Cheese prior to serving if you wish. Serve with a whole grain crusty bread and you have a well rounded filling meal.

1 cup = 3 Weight Watchers Points

Refreshing Lemon Cake

This cake is delicious and refreshing. Garnish with any fresh fruit, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. Try it this weekend.
If your a chocolate lover change it up and make a chocolate cake with diet coke. The cool whip adds a refreshing lightness to this super moist cake.

Happy Valentine's Day from Sweetie Cakes

You are What you Eat!

YUM!

Orange Black Bean Salsa over Baked Tilapia

Hearth Bread Step by Step

 

Recipe for Hearth Bread

1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Salt
2 Cups warm water (not over 110 degrees)
5 1/2 cups Bread Flour
Corn meal
Pan of boiling water for oven

Mix together first four ingredients.
Let stand until yeast and sugar and salt are dissolved. Gradually add flour to the liquid and mix until the dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn the dough onto a floured surface to knead.
To knead fold the bread toward you and push away with the heel of your hand. Rotate and repeat for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with enough flour to keep from sticking.
Place in a clean oiled bowl. Flip the dough around to coat with the oil. Place a wet dish cloth over the bowl. Allow to rise for 2 hours.
After 2 hours punch dough down and knead to get all of the air out. Pinch into two balls of dough. Shape into two loaves. Place loaves on a corn meal covered baking sheet. Let dough rise for 5 minutes. Lightly cut the tops of the loaves and brush with cold water.
Place in cold oven with pan of boiling water. Turn oven on to 350 degrees. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until dough is golden brown.

After Workout Protein Smoothie

Protein Smoothie
One Banana
Handful of  fresh Strawberries or Blueberries or Blackberries
8 ounces of Almond Milk
1 Tablespoon Flax Meal
Ice
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (i use Jillian Michaels Whey Protein Powder)

Bulgar Wheat & Balsamic Vinegar Salad

Bulgar wheat is a hearty whole grain with protein and fiber. It is super easy to fix. One cup of wheat to one cup of tap water. Let it sit for approx. 30 minutes and the wheat will soak up the water, making it soft like rice.

Today I chopped up anything fresh I had in the frig. I had cucumber, peppers, onion, napa cabbage and sugar snap peas. Tossed it all together with balsamic vinegar and I had a great lunch. It was a 4 point lunch for Weight Watchers.

Hearth Bread

This bread is so delicious! I was very excited that it turned out so well. It wasn't to hard, like I thought it was going to be. It came out of the oven just as the kids walked through the door from school. They had it warm with butter! Austin said it was the "best bread" he ever had. And by the way it is not Weight Watchers. Why do I do this to myself? I'm saying it was PMS.

What is for dinner Today?

        I woke up this morning and my brain was churning as usual. I worry about what I am going to make for dinner. I work the next couple of days and I have to have my food plan in order. 
        I blew my diet yesterday. We had delicious Mexican. I pureed Cajun pinto beans from leftovers late last week...delish I must say. Browned some organic beef with taco seasonings. Added a chopped jalapeno and a chopped onion and then tossed in the pintos. Served with Salsa Verde, sour cream and cheese. YUM!!
That's not all!! Warm chocolate chip cookies from the oven. The only way to eat them, unless it is cookie dough. That is my opinion. 
        We watched a movie this weekend called" Food Matters", a MUST see for everyone!!!
Stream it through Netflix if you have the Wii or Xbox. You have to see it. 
         So today I am back on track with the eat well plan. I started my day with my favorite Banana Protein Smoothie and a warm stone ground pancake from the frig. 6 points and I am still full two hours later. 
                                                                                  ~recipe~ 
                                                                    Banana Protein Smoothie
                                                                4 ounces Almond Milk unsweetened
                                                                1 Banana
                                                                 a few fresh berries any kind will do
                                                                 1 Tablespoon Flax Meal
                                                                 1 Scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
                                                                  Handful of Ice
                                                            Put all ingredients in my Magic Bullet and blend. 4 points
        Now what is for dinner??
I have organic chicken breasts in the crock pot over a bed of sliced onion. I added chopped garlic and lemon pepper seasoning, put the top on and forget about it until about 4 pm and I will add BBQ sauce. Right now it smells wonderful in my house.
In the oven will be baked potatoes. I will steam some broccoli. Saute  some Kale in garlic and onion.
I am making a Bulgur Wheat Salad and home made French bread. The dough is rising and the Wheat is soaking in water. That should get us through a couple of days. Whew~!
I better get busy school just called and the kids are getting out early...Again
I will post pics later.

Local Organic Sauteed Kale

Fresh from the Farmers Market!
Russian Kale and Green Kale Mix.
Sauteed in a small bit of Olive Oil with onion and garlic.
I don't leave it in for long because I LOVE the crunch of the Kale.
Salt and Pepper to Taste.
Easy And Delish!

Organic Stone Ground Whole Wheat Pancakes ~2 Weight Watchers Plus Points~

organic ingredients

On the griddle about 3 to 4 minutes a side. 

Until Golden Brown on each side.

A yummy Stack !

These are AWESOME!!!
I even eat them without syrup. They taste like a slightly sweet whole grain muffin!
That may be my next experiment, make them in muffin form.
My kids loved them!
~Recipe~
 1 1/2 cups Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour
1 tablespoon RAW sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup organic milk
1 organic egg
1 tsp vanilla

Blend all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. I used a large cookie scoop to measure pancakes on to the griddle. This recipe made 8 medium to large pancakes. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on a side. Until golden brown on both sides.
I'm telling you if my kids loved them, they are good!
Very wholesome and filling.
I served these with the Easy Veggie Frittata. 

Easy Veggie Frittata

Fresh Frittata with Salsa
A t 2 point Breakfast if your
doing Weight Watchers

Fresh Organic Eggs and Chopped Veggies of Choice

Saute in a Pan. I like to leave some crunch to the veggies.

Whisk together 4 eggs

Pour Eggs in a Oven Ready Pan and then add sauteed veggies.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into quarters.
2 points each. I take these for breakfast at work.
Make a day ahead of time...easy planning.