SLOW-DOWN SUPPERS

My Mom gave me a subscription to the Lady's home journal and I have really enjoyed reading it.  It gives a lot of good ideas for running a household from home health and fitness to relationship tips.  Last week the February issue was in my mailbox and it is the big health issue.  I came across a hearty beef and squash stew that is only 165 calories a serving.  I also love this recipe because it serves 8 and the entire meal cost less than $6 to make.  Try going to a restaurant and ordering a low calorie heart healthy meal for $0.75 a plate.

combine 2 1/4 t thyme, 2 t salt, 3/4 pepper reserve 1t of the mixture for later and stir 5T cornstarch into the remainder.  Toss 1 1/2lb beef ( I used sirloin ct into 1 inch pieces), 1 medium fennel bulb cut into 1/2 inch wedges and 2 potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces. 

Prepair a small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and sliced 1/8 inch thick.  Toss squash with 1t olive oil and the reserved 1tsp of thyme mixture. 

Place the beef mixture in slow cooker, fitting the ingredients tightly; add 28oz can diced tomatoes. Arrange the squash on top of stew, cover an cook 4 1/2 hr on high or 8hr on low. 

165 calories a serving, 4g of fat and 4g of fiber

IT IS SIMPLY DELICIOUS

Dessert anyone?

My Grandma makes the best carrot cake.  I remember as a kid getting so excited when she made this dessert when we stayed at her house for Christmas break.  My Grandma and my Mom have a gift when it comes to baking.  When the New Year approached I took part of a weight loss challenge that makes my New Years resolution of not dieting this year null and void.  I am still pursuing creative cooking to make my family meals more healthy but now I am also counting the calories in the meals.  I decided to try making a carrot cake low calorie and I think the results are DELICIOUS!!!
A traditional carrot cake is often perceived as healthy because of the carrots it contains.  But usually it also contains at least 1 1/2 cups of oil - not good when you are watching your fat intake.  Here is my version which contains no oil and tastes fabulous (if I do say so myself).  
Traditional carrot cake is 449 calories/serving.  This cake is 204 calories/ serving. 
Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray a 13x9 pan with non stick spray.
In a large bowl, stir together 1C all purpose flour, 1C whole wheat flour, 2 1/2 t ground cinnamon, 2t baking soda, 1/2 t nutmeg and 1/2 t ground cloves.  Set aside
In mixer beat 6 egg whites  until soft peaks form.  slowly beat in 1/2 +1/3c sugar and 6 packs splenda.  Then slowly beat in 1C unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 c 1% buttermilk, 1 1/2t vanilla. 
Using a spoon, stir in the flour mixture just until combined.  Then stir in 8oz crushed pineapple in its own juices (undrained), 2C shredded carrots and 1C walnuts.  Spread the batter in the prepared pan.  Bake about 35 min or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool completely
LOW CAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2/3 c fat free vanilla yogurt
2/3 c low fat cottage cheese
16oz low fat cream cheese
powdered sugar (1c splenda + 1t cornstarch)
mix yogurt and cottage cheese in blender until smooth, poor into mixer, add cubes of cream cheese and blend. Place the Splenda and the cornstarch in a mixer or food processor. Blend on high speed for approximately 1 minute, until the texture is similar to powdered sugar. You may need to scrape down the mixer or processor bowl several times in the process. Sugar can be stored in an airtight container for up to a month. Add sugar and mix, place frosting in refrigerator until thick enough to frost cake
This cake makes 20 servings.

Cheers for a New Year and another chance to get it right

There is something about the first month of the year that makes me feel like I have a clean slate. It is a very motivating feeling.  This is the only time of year I am guaranteed to get something organized.  I start taking out projects I vowed to do daily/weekly only to find them all stacked up and deserted in the corner of my office.  I make a list of motivational quotes to post around my house as reminders to stay on task.  I want to make 2011 the year I stop dreaming about accomplishing my resolutions and I start to do them.  I think that starting this blog is a great way to stay on task because my hopes are that my readers will be checking up on my posts.  With that being said, my new years resolutions are as follows
1) To not diet this year.  I want to use my love of cooking to make healthy meals for me and my family.  I want us as a family to get involved in exercise and this will be more than wii bowling together.  We have a beautiful rec center that we are all members of, lets enjoy it!!
2)Enjoy life more Children, more than anyone else, know how to live. They experience everything in the moment, fully. When they get hurt, they really cry. When they play, they really have fun.  I want to learn from my Children instead of thinking I know so much more than them.  I want to learn how to be joyful like they are.
3) Stop caring what others think I know, logically, that you can't even know or predict what other people think, much less change their thoughts. I also know intellectually that other people's thoughts about what you do, say, plan, or think really don't matter. But this is something I struggle with -- a lot. If my kids are doing something cute and my house does not look PERFECT in the back ground I will not take a picture, I miss out on the memory because I don't want people to see that I did not put the laundry away.  People who really love me will not look at my double chin in a family pic, they will see the person that they love.
4)Get out of my comfort zone/ spend more time with my family and friends. I love living in my small town.  It is perfect for me and my family.  I love going to the store and seeing people that I went to school with and giving hugs to patients I cared for when I was a medical assistant.  I love it here but I miss my family that lives in the city.  Two hours is not a long drive, load the kids up and go.  Time is flying by and I am missing out on so many relationships.  Phoenix is so busy for me that I dread every bit of my travel there.  The traffic, the weather, the fear of getting shot LOL.  I need to get over it
5)Help others I do not have to sign up as a volunteer somewhere to help people.  This is not something I have to prepair for.  I want to be more giving, help an elderly shopper with their groceries, make meals for people, babysit for couples that need a break. 
Bottom line is I want to embrace every moment, I need to do more scrap booking so I can remember every moment, laugh until I cry, compliment someone every day.  BE A BETTER PERSON

Dollar day at thrift store

So today I had to go to Sedona to pull up bread in two of our stores there.  I decided to bring my Daughter so we could go to goodwill while we were there.  Once in awhile they have Dollar day Sunday's.  We both did our shopping and here is what we found
Taylor bought a Hanna Montana board game, Toy Story Operation (for her brother) a cute children's place dress, a barbie, cd holder and some new cd's.  I found LL bean Jeans, caffeine addict pj's (so cute) cooking with Rosie book, a new wallet and some cups for smoothies to go.  Everything was $1 and we both have new stuff. 
 I love going to thrift stores for clothes because I am always saying "I don't want to spend any money on clothes until I get into a smaller size" well I have been size 12-14 for 10 years but it never changes the way I think.  I feel like if I spend a few dollars on jeans at a thrift store I am not waisting my money if I do happen to get into a smaller size.  Thrift stores are great for kids spending allowance money because they can get more for their buck and lets face it, kids are not gentle on toys.  The one thing to keep in mind on toy's and games is make sure all pieces are there.  We ask if we can open boxes because we do not want to buy something we can not use.  If they do not let you see inside before you buy then put it back on the shelf because it is not worth the risk.  Even if the game is only $1 it is junk once you find out pieces are missing.

Sunday morning breakfast

Sunday is the only morning we can all eat breakfast together as a family.  I love making breakfast burritos because there are so many ways to make them to fit any diet needs.  Being how it is the start of the New Year I should have made them with egg beaters, whole wheat tortillas and low fat cheese.  However, I would not be a great penny pincher if I did not use up the food I already have.  Here is the recipe to my FAVORITE breakfast burrito.  Taylor is the only one in our family who does not love these so she has bagels and fruit but she loves to help me roll them up for everyone.

4 potatoes shredded
1 lb sausage ( I use chicken breakfast sausage from sprouts) Bobby is allergic to pork
7 eggs
1 4oz can green chili
1/4 c salsa
1/2 c Velveeta cheese

Shred potatoes (I use the julienne slicer to do this), put in cold water for a few min so they will not turn brown. Blot potatoes dry, melt 2tsp butter in pan and add potatoes, brown about 7 min on both sides.
Brown sausage to crumble, beat eggs in a bowl and add splash of milk.
When Sausage is done place in bowl and then add egg mixture to pan, add green chili and Velveeta cheese.  Cook eggs until they are done and cheese is melted, add potatoes, meat and salsa.  Spoon 1/2 cup mixture into flour tortilla tuck sides in and roll.

I make a big batch because I like to make up several to keep on hand for busy mornings.  They are easy to warm up and they freeze well.