Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Soup with Quinoa

So here is another amazing recipe from Aggies Kitchen:

Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Soup with Quinoa

(Click on the link above to access her recipe)

It is seriously SO good!!!

You must try it!!!

And the best thing is that is was so healthy I didn't need to make any modifications!

*note: I only added one red pepper & Aggie has you adding 2.  I just know my kids would not be happy if I added another one.  They were already bemoaning the fact that it had vegetables!

Here is the WW Points + breakdown (Round up as you deem necessary):

1 cup soup: 3 pts +

1/4 cup quinoa: 1.25  pts+

I also added 2 Tablespoons of lite sour cream (1 pts +)

and a Tablespoon of shredded cheese (1 pts +)

I served it with my Whole Wheat Cornbread muffins.  That recipe can be found here.

love,

Low Point Movie Treat!!!

So I LOVE going to the movies!  And I LOVE buying their ridiculously unhealthy popcorn!  Well, one solution to that problem is to just stop going to the movies.  Problem solved!  Ummmm...that's ridiculous!  Especially since I signed myself and my kiddos up for the kids matinee Summer movie program.  Well since they don't seem to care if you bring in outside food (I think because it is an older theater.) I came up with a solution.

Now this solution is SO SO SO SO SO not as good as the regular movie theater popcorn, but I am working on changing my taste buds for the good.  

Solution:  AIR POPPED POPCORN!!!

I know, bland, bland, bland...but the more I ate of it, the better it tasted. 

I popped 1/4 cup popcorn kernels which made a ton of popcorn.  

And it was only.... 4 WW pts +!!!!!

So, it was healthy, it was cheap, and it ended up being pretty delicious.  And since popcorn is pretty versatile, you can add whatever spices you want.

Now, I also love eating candy while I am at the movies.  And since I am trying to avoid candy, I took craisins instead!  

They were only 3 WW pts + for 1/3 cup!!!

It didn't look like much when I first measured it, but it took me awhile to munch on them during my show.  Plus they were sweet & tart...both things I love!

Now you can enjoy your movie!!!

Whole Wheat Sweet Cornbread Muffins

So, this recipe is one of those that you aren't really sure where it originated. 

I got it from a friend, who got it from someone else, who got it from someone else.  

You know, those kinds of recipes.

That said, I am not claiming this as my own, we'll just call it "author unknown".  And yes, I did modify it to suit my own needs and taste.  I cut out corn syrup, butter, regular flour, white sugar and eggs, and made it healthier.

(Ahhh...I can hear the applause now!)

Whole Wheat Sweet Cornbread Muffins

Makes about 16-17 muffins 

(weird #, but whatever!)

WW Points + per muffin: 2.5

(round up your points as you deem necessary)

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup Splenda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup egg beaters
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Mix dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl combine egg beaters and almond milk.  Add to dry ingredients and blend well.  Blend in applesauce.
3. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.  Bake for 20 minutes.

*note: the Splenda makes it so the muffins don't darken as much as they normally would.  The bottom of the muffin remains pale, but if you press on the top of the muffin and it bounces back then it is done.

love, 

Summer Treat: Outshine Fruit Bars

So, I found these popsicles at Target the other day:

Ummmm...yeah...they are delicious!!!

You must try them!!!

The coconut ones even have yummy coconut pieces in them!

Seriously, stop being a baby and go buy some. You will thank me!  

Outshine Coconut WW Points +: 2

Outshine Pineapple WW Points +: 1

Outshine Orange WW Points +: 1

*In no way is Dreyer's compensating me for promoting this product.  I just love it, okay???  But if they did, that would be pretty sweet, just sayin'.

love, 

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

The original recipe can be found at Aggie's Kitchen here.

She is an amazing cook and I love her recipes!  Go check her out!

Here is my version of Aggie's Kitchens yummy Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks:

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Serves: 4

WW Points + per serving: 3

• 3 large zucchini, sliced longways, halved and cut into sticks
• 1/2 cup egg beaters
• 1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup reduced fat Parmesan cheese, grated

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line your cooking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. Mix Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs together in a shallow bowl.  Place egg beaters in another shallow bowl.
3. Dip zucchini in egg, shake off excess and coat in the bread crumb mixture.  I do 4 sticks at a time.  *note: wipe egg off fingertips with a paper towel before touching the breadcrumb mixture.  Otherwise you will end up with a globby mess...trust me...it's gross and unusable.
4. Place them in a single layer on your cooking sheet.  
5. Bake for 10 minutes.  Turn sticks over to brown the other side.  Bake an additional 10 minutes.

I ate mine plain, because I love them that way.  But my kids dipped theirs in ranch.  A good marinara sauce would be yummy with it too!  Whatever you do...don't forget to count your points!!!

love, 

Whole Wheat Quinoa Fruit Muffins

So I found this awesome recipe as I was perusing Pinterest the other day:

Quinoa Raspberry Muffins from In Sock Monkey Slippers.

Well, I love quinoa and decided I needed a go at these awesome little buggers.  But I am doing Weight Watchers and needed to modify it so that I can follow it on plan and get as much bang for my buck as I can.  Plus I am also a whole wheat junkie, I blame that on my Mom. Now I am also planning on making these with Splenda's brown sugar and see if it drops the points any...who knows, but it's worth a try.  I will let you know if it works! 

So here is my modified version:

Whole Wheat Quinoa Fruit Muffins

Makes 12 hearty muffins!

Serving Size: 1 muffin

Points + per serving: 4

(I know, I know, I know...I have a crappy camera.  Sorry!)

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup egg beaters
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fruit (I used diced strawberries in the picture above.  But I would also recommend bananas, any kind of berry, and possibly apple with a little cinnamon added.)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray your muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour.  In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to boil.  Add quinoa, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes.  Drain off any excess water.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Use a fork to evenly distribute the brown sugar so it becomes a crumb-like consistency.  Add the quinoa and gently stir until the quinoa is evenly coated.
3. In a separate bowl, combine milk, egg beaters, and almond.  Pour over dry ingredients and mix.  Fold in the fruit.
4. Fill up your muffin cups.  They fill right up to the top, so don't be afraid to pour a lot in!  Bake for 10 minutes.  Then reduce heat to 350 degrees and cook for another 20 minutes.  They will be golden brown, and when inserting a toothpick it will come out clean.  
5. Carefully remove from pan and let cool.
6. ENJOY!!!

My kids loved them, my hubby loved them, and I wanted to eat the whole pan!!!  But I refrained from doing so, although with  great difficulty.  These are even great as leftovers.  I want to try freezing them, but that will only happen if we don't devour them all first!

Orignial Recipe Credit: http://www.insockmonkeyslippers.com/quinoa-raspberry-muffins

love,

ZERO POINT DONUT!!!

It's finally happened!!!  

A zero point donut!!!  

Haha!  I found this little cutie at Winco.  And it was seriously labeled "donut peach."  Made my day!  Donuts are a huge weakness for me.  Do you think I can convince my donut loving brain that this peach is a "donut"???

(Sorry for the scary picture.  I may have been a little excited!  Haha!)

love,