Quick Bites: Strawberry Pie

We're all about sweets here!

However, we all know that if we ate every sweet we'd like we might not have the figures we want.

I discovered this recipe while on Weight Watchers ages ago.

It's an oldy but a goody that seems totally perfect with 4th of July around the corner.

Less than 60 calories per slice, and just four slices for the whole pie so the whole thing ain't so bad!

My husband llurrrrrvvvveeessss this Strawberry Pie.

In fact for his birthday last week he said all he wanted was strawberry pie.

I sense that had to be a slight exaggeration but man, that's saying something.

I made it a week late (last night) because my strawberries got moldy... twice. Boo.

(ps: it wasn't until this picture that I noticed I bought 'strawberry banana' instead of 'strawberry' Jello-O. Oops!)

Recipe below is the Weight Watchers version but All Recipes has the regular version (which still isn't too bad for you). Oh, and they're pie picture is way cuter than mine. After you make this once consider mixing up the fruit and pudding flavors. Enjoy!

{ingredients}

I small package (1.1. oz) sugar-free Cook and Serve vanilla pudding

2 cups water

1 small package (.3 oz) sugar-free strawberry Jell-O

4 cups sliced strawberries (a little less than a carton)

Cool Whip, lots of Cool Whip!

{directions}

In a medium saucepan, stirtogether water and pudding mix. Heat to a boil.

Remove from heat and immediately add the Jell-O.

Stir until dissolved (be sure to remove any lumps).

Set the pan aside and let the mixture cool to room temperature (important it's not at all hot).

Meanwhile, place strawberries in the bottom of a deep-dish pie plate. Use the biggest pieces for the "crust."

Soooo pretty!

Pour cooled pudding mixture over the strawberries. Refrigerate until chilled. Let is set well before slicing.

Dollop on some cool whip, be it over the whole slice of just the edge.

And, sorry for this awful iPhone pic (and my poor slicing skills)....

The Perfect Combination

Feeling like I could use a little dessert right now so clearly I can't stop thinking about my perfect pairing:

peanut butter + chocolate!

Mmmmm.

A traditional fave is the perfect peanut butter cookie with the hershey kiss smack dab in the middle. Easy peasy and when just slightly undercooked, destined for success (ask my gram; she's the best at them!).

Wishing I could walk downstairs right now to a plate full of all one of these and a big glass o' milk.
Here's to dreamin'....

peanut butter stuffed chocolate cookies

peanut butter chocolate squares

chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing

Quick BItes: Choco, Caramel Drizzled Popcorn

Holla if you luuuurrrvvveee popcorn like I do!

And, drizzled in chocolate, caramel, cheese or some other treat? Double holla!

While I typically don't have high hopes for anything stacking up to my great love of Garrett Popcorn (Chicago mix, please), I am always game for trying. Especially when the bag is portioned controlled.

Mama needs some (forced) self-control.

Sidenote: every time my bro -- who lives in Chicago -- brings me a bag of the Chicago mix I am the disgusting girl who eats an exorbitant amount in one sitting. It's gross but I just can't stop. I literally can't control myself it's that good. Weight Watchers would not be proud. LOL.

Anyway, as someone who stalks out new food finds, I recently spotted an intriguing bright green box on the shelves of Publix but was in a rush and passed it by for the moment. Have you seen this??

Thankfully I have awesome friends like my bff Linds who sent me this New York Times article about

Snackwell's redesign and upping the portions from the more common 100-calorie packs. 

After this kick-in-the-tush read, I immediately went out and grabbed a box to sample.

All for the bloggie, of course. Of course.

This new line of popcorn treats?

It's a 130 calorie snack pack.

Let me rephrase. It's 130 calories of fudge-drenched heaven.

I've sampled both varieties:

Fudge Drizzled Caramel Popcorn

White Fudge Drizzle

Can you see it?? That's called perfection.

This popcorn is so satisfying and tastes like the real deal. I'm also impressed with the portion size.

What you're seeing above is my bag after I already stole a few bites.

I am much more partial to the chocolate fudge compared to the white fudge -- it was too sweet in my opinion -- but either way, you've picked a winner.

This is totally, 100 percent TAGG RECOMMENDED!

Have you tried these? Are you going to?

Gift Idea: Opt for an Experience

If one of the Father's Day gift ideas I suggested last week wasn't for you, I understand.
(though umm, how is a leather beer leg holster not the coolest in the universe?! haha).

Instead of giving an object this Father's Day or for an upcoming birthday of someone special, what about giving them the best gift of all: an experience!

Here's some "entry-level" (still awesome) experience-type gifts:
1. dinner at an awesome place you would normally never hit up, be it far or pricey (or both)
2. visit to a theme park or similar
3. tix to a concert or sports game (and if you go, enjoy it.. even if you're really do not!)
3. mini weekend vacay, or an overnight staycation near your place

Want to kick it up a notch?
There's a million things you can do depending on the person's passion/hobbies... since we love anything food related, wanted to share with you two things I've done. Hope it generates some ideas for you!

To celebrate my husband's major accomplishment of earning his JD and MBA (yay!),
I set up an experience gift we still talk about years later.
There was a sushi restaurant with a chef named Hook near the hubs law school that we constantly frequented. We loved it there. Casual, no frills, fresh sushi.

So, what did I get my man for his big day?
A private lesson for two with our favorite sushi chef, the Hook-ster!
We made all this!

This was the one -- and only -- time in our lives that we had so much sushi that we had to call friends to come over to help us eat it! Note: we do not share sushi. Better not to ask. :)

It was one of the coolest experiences EVER and for less than $200, if I recall correctly.
TIP: just because someone doesn't advertise
for their services in a new way, doesn't mean they're not available. ASK!
Hook didn't do sushi lessons so I approached him about doing so and then negotiated the price. It was so easy for him to do the private lesson for a few hours mid-afternoon while the restaurant was closed.
To save costs, consider getting a group together for a semi-private lesson.


Another experience?
For one of A's birthday's, I coordinated for a local chef to teach us how to cook an Asian-inspired
meal in our home. Amazing!
Wanted someone to teach us with our appliances, pots and pans, etc., so we could replicate it  later on.

Sidebar lesson learned:
it's much easier/more fun to cook when you have a chef to prep everything (a la Food Network!)...
and clean up when you're done.

Semi-embarrassed by this photo for my home: we had just moved into this place. It was all passed-down furniture. Nothing is the same.
OK, lie: the walls are still blue.  Focus on our yum food and happy faces.

Tip: ask a local reporter (in this instance, I reached out to the then-Palm Beach Post food editor,
Jan Norris - who ps: now has an awesome food blog that's such a great resource)
for recommendations for local chefs who could do this for me.

Reporters are often your most-in-the-know locals. Jan was so helpful, giving me insight about this 'freelance' chef who came to our home for a few hours, taught us and left us with recipes and a sense that we could do this on our own. To this day, we delight in his sunamono salad (cucumber salad)
- will have to post that soon!
We planned to have him back for a BBQ cooking night with friends, however he unfortunately moved to California. How rude of him when we were so stoked about our BBQ party! hah.


Well, that's all I have for you today. And, wheh... I'm tired. It took me a crazy long time to find these photos. Thank you dotphoto albums that I created a gazillion years ago!
Happy Wednesday, my smartie gorgeous gals.

Recipe: Sensational Salmon with Broccoli (in Foil)

Wow, sensational is promising a lot in the headline, huh?

Fingers crossed you like this as much as me.

I've been wanting to share more easy yet deliciouso recipes with you ladies yet time gets away from me.

It's one thing to take the time to cook, it's another to coordinate prep, photos and the actual post as well.

Saw a very similar version of this recipe on a recent Hungry Girl post

(remember Hungry Girl? My love/inspiration who's been getting major airtime on Food Network!).
I often don't buy salmon because I'm very particular about it and afraid I won't get it right,
yet this is basically fool-proof (my kinda cooking!)

Next time, think I'll mix up a few different veggies instead of just opting for broccoli.

Really thrilled with how easy this was and that the salmon turned out so moist and flavorful.

[Ingredients]

4 tbsp. Newman's Own Lighten Up! low fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (or similar)

1/4 tsp. chopped garlic

Two 4-6-oz. raw skinless salmon fillet

broccoli/sugar snap peas/similar

1/2 tsp. sesame seeds (if you want to sprinkle on at the end)

[Directions]

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a wide bowl, mix dressing with garlic. Place salmon in bowl and gently flip to coat.

Cover and refrigerate 15 minutes.

Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray.
Place broccoli in the center and top with salmon -- I bought a bag of broccoli and was nervous about using the whole thing; remember that it shrinks a ton when cooked so load it on.
Pour remaining dressing mixture over salmon.

Place another large piece of foil over the top.
Fold together and seal all four edges of the two foil pieces, forming a well-sealed packet.
Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes (until broccoli is tender and fish is cooked through).

Allow packet to cool for a few minutes, and then cut to release steam before opening it entirely.

(Careful -- it's hot inside there... like a sauna.)

Voila! 

Enjoy! I did...
(ps: would be awesome with rice or another starch; we were just trying to be extra good!)



Fun Find to Wash my Berries

Bed, Bath and Beyond is seriously like the Target of the home world.

I go in there for I don't know, coffee K-cups, and walk out a gazillion dollars later.

It's crazy! I didn't realize how much I "needed" for my home until I walk past all their fun gadgets, especially for the kitchen. Yesterday's purchases are almost a blur, but I do remember one awesome find:

This berry collapsible colander!

How handy is this? You can get it in either red or blue, as shown above. 

I'm constantly washing blueberries and strawberries for my girl or for us.... hate busting out even the bigger collapsible colander or putting them in my hands for a faux wash; this is just perfect.

At least to me it is!

If you want to find it online Amazon has it for less than $3 (though the shipping is a little high) so I'd suggest buying a few so you can rotate or give to some very happy family members or friends.

Be careful on Amazon... it kind of sucks you in like Target and BBB (in that glorious way of course)!

I've been known to get lost searching for home goods, books, music, clothes, even furniture

(we bought an awesome console table through the site). Loves.

PS: definitely use this for rinsing other small items like veggies for a salad. Keep your big colander hiding where it belongs (isn't it so annoying if you put it in the dishwasher? Takes up the whole thing!)!

Enjoy your freshly cleaned berries.

Quick Bites: Roasted Garlic Recipe

Mmmm, roasted garlic!

Are you a fan?

It's so phenomenally easy to make, low in calories, and most importantly.... tastes incredible
(not super garlicy at all!).

After some time in the oven, the garlic cloves caramelize, taking on an almost buttery consistency.
Totally heavenly.

If you've never made or tried it, you're in for a treat. It's one of those crazy, super-easy recipes

(trust me, this girl  is quite "average" when it comes to cooking skills!) and always is tastes great.

The key is to be sure it roasts long enough.
Better to roast roast for more time than less. Otherwise the garlic doesn't spread very well,
and still tastes garlicky.
Make this tonight... you'll enjoy!

Ingredients

2 heads of garlic

olive oil

fresh crusty bread

(also great to serve with: goat cheese, olives, etc)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

(TAGG tip: I use my toaster oven so it takes a nanosecond to heat up)

Cut the top (pointy end) of the garlic so the cloves are partially exposed.

Arrange heads of garlic on their own pieces of tin foil.

Drizzle olive oil over each garlic head (approx. 2 tsp, but never too much!).

Wrap garlic heads in tin foil with just the top exposed.

Cook for approx. 40 minutes for average size garlic heads.

Let sit to cool, and then serve.

We paired our roasted garlic and fresh baguette with a "dinner for two" deal from a fantastic local market, Joseph's Classic Market (three locations in South Florida. Check here). You get a salad, two sides, entree and dessert (blueberry pie!) for just $14.99 (some, like this steak were $15.99). It's our new favorite steal. Get to enjoy amazing home cooked-meals without the time or fuss!

In case our meal wasn't garlicky enough, I selected broccoli tossed with breadcrumbs, Parmesan and sliced garlic, plus roasted potatoes with garlic, for our sides. Our entree was a moist london broil.
How good does this look??

Can't wait for leftovers!

Recipe: Panko-Crusted Baked Chicken

Chicken, chicken, chicken! Sometimes I feel as though that's all I cook lately. It's either that or one of my frozen Greenwise pizzas I've recently mentioned. Not so adventurous in the kitchen, I know.

Looking for a spin for my trusty bird, I recently baked chicken using a panko crust. Yum! Familiar with it? It's essentially Japanese breadcrumbs that are becoming increasingly popular (though has been available for eons). While they're often used when frying, not for this healthy gal. Check out my tasty meal:

You can often get a great taste for a lot less calories just by baking so why do it? Even with french fries! I LOVE slicing potatoes and putting them in a 400 degree oven to crisp up. Yum! And, use those extra calories for a nice glass of vino.

For this easy peasy dinner, just roast broccoli or veggie of your choice (400-degree oven, 35 minutes, flipping around 20 minutes and keep an eye on it based on size of veggie) and cook rice. You could make a fried rice, but I went simple with white for this quick meal after the chickie went to sleep.

{Ingredients}
panko (find near breadcrumbs or Asian food aisle)
chicken
season to mix with panko, if desired
salt and pepper
egg whites (or egg beaters)
flour (I used whole wheat)

{Directions}

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly coat the chicken with flour, and set up your stations to keep the process moving (see pic): Chicken, then egg wash, then panko with some salt and pepper, followed by your greased sheet pan.
Simply take each cutlet and coat it first in the egg and then in the panko. (tip: use one hand with the egg and another with the panko so your hands don't get coated.). You can't go wrong when doing this so liberally coat. Some might fall of during transfer.
Wheh, the hard part is over. Place the pan in the oven and cook for approximately 15 minutes, checking based on cutlet thickness.
DONE!

TAGG tip: once you've made this once, integrate different spices and fresh herbs into the panko for a flavor all your own.

Quick Bites: This Frozen Pizza Knocks My Socks Off

When it comes to preparing dinner, I have to admit I'm a bit of a slacker. After a full day of work, errands and time with my little chickie, it's at least 7:30 pm before I can prepare dinner. I never learned that whole slow cooker (though it does seem genius; do you use?!), and we try to avoid those individual frozen meals or spending a lot by ordering take out.

Our new fave dinner these days? An oversized salad plus this pizza by Greenwise (a Publix brand, if you have near you). Yes, it literally knocks my socks off. Promise. I had one tonight and well, I'm not wearing any socks right now! Ha. I make these at least once a week.

The hubs and I split either the Margherita or Spinach Feta (there's a third but it has tons of peppers; not my thing). Delicious and clocks in at about 350 calories and under 10 grams of fat for the 1/2 pie. I'm pleased with that for a hearty, pretty healthy meal. Sprinkle on a dab of parmesean cheese, and you're in heaven.

If you don't have this pizza near you, the organic brand Amy's has some good options.

TAGG TIP: Check the calories and serving size whenever getting frozen pizzas or meals. Most of the serving sizes are kind of tiny, so calculate accordingly if you plan to eat more than one. For example, we're each eating a 1/2 pizza pie, not a 1/3 like the serving size suggests.

Quick Bites... err, Sips: Honest Drinks

I must start this post letting you know I never drink my calories (unless its vino or a low-cal cocktail) and I typically suggest the same to everyone. As a Weight Watcher lifetimer, I realized I much rather eat something tasty instead of drinking a 200-calorie glass or whoknowswhat. Right? Right.

However, I was "forced" to break my rules when I stumbled across a curious bottle in my grocery store the other day that looked familiar yet different. I'm a sucker for new products so I looked closer and realized it was HonestAde, just with new, more environmentally friendly bottling. Go them! Check the label on the left to read their note to consumers.

Since each bottle came in at about 100 calories, is organic and caffeine-free, I figured for the sake of "blog research" I should sample them. 

From the three I tried -- Half Tea/Half Lemonade (called an Arnold Palmer), Orange Mango and Superfruit Punch -- the Palmer was definitely the winner. Not overly sweet, I was a huge fan of the fresh flavor. And, while the hubs liked the Orange Mango I have to admit it slightly reminded me of the kids drink, Sunny D. Thought it was interesting that the Superfruit Punch is made with goji berry and yumberry, two berries I never heard of which are anti-oxidant rich berries from Asia. If you're a fruit juice fan, go for it. It has a refreshing, berry flavor sure to satisfy.

The verdict: If you're looking for the real deal, these are a winner! There's also about a dozen more varieties according to HonestAde's site and all have about 50-100 calories LESS than most bottled drinks. A great alternative.

On a related side note, I'm a HUGE, monster fan of the Honest Kids' Berry Berry Good Lemonade that comes in those little pouches like the Capri Sun's. They're ideal for kiddies but I love 'em, too. Check them out here. There's no high fructose corn syrup and they're low in sugar. I discovered them about two years ago while pregnant and still buy them every so often (while on sale!). They're delish and love the retro feel of squeezin' that pouch. Hah.

Drink up!

Quick Bites: Godiva Pearls

First, a little business: Congrats to SCD from What You See and Laurelann from Opinionated Girl vs. Wild, Wild World for winning The Give Bag package! Contact me with your address and we'll get them sent out ASAP! Now, to today's post...

As I think you know by now, this gal loves her chocolate. I love it dark, with caramel, with almonds and hazelnuts, with marshmallows, with crazy spices, you name it! I'll gladly try it. However, while chocolate might taste delicious it's not always doing my hips a favor. Since this gal is trying to lose a few lbs, Godiva Chocolate Pearls have become my new best friend. How cute are these little babes??

I first tried them a few years ago at an airport, and was immediately hooked, yet I could not -- for the life of me -- find them locally. I haven't give it much thought recently until just two days ago in the Charleston airport, what did I see? Godiva Chocolate Pearls! Packaged in perfectly sized containers for on-the-go deliciousness, the pearls are come in about six flavors. So far I've discovered white chocolate, dark chocolate (my fave!), dark chocolate with mint (like a morsel of a Thin Mint? yum!), dark chocolate with  mandarin orange, milk chocolate and milk chocolate cafe latte. You can buy them online in packs of six (or 18! Some people must really love them), otherwise shops sell them individually.

Packaged in these "take-with-me" tins, they're perfect for on-the-go for for a tiny after-dinner treat without the gilt. The entire container has 220 calories and 14 stinky grams of fat, however three or four of these mini pearls gives me the chocolate taste I need for probably less than 30 calories. SOLD! I keep them in my purse and in the pantry, too. Plus, the hubs is a huge fan, too! Maybe that pack of 18 is for me?! Hah.

Indulge away!
Have you tried them? What do you think?

Quick Bites: Shrimp & Grits from Hominy Grill

Can you tell my nose is stuffy or what??

Hi ladies! I'm back at ya after a long weekend in Charleston. Have you visited? I'm in love! It's charming, historic, laid-back, fun and the food is beyond. Beyond awesome! Granted, I probably couldn't live there without ignoring loads of fabulous restaurants but I guess that's how it goes in most cities. We sampled possibly the best fried oysters, scallops and shrimp of my life at The Wreck of Richard and Charlene (thanks to Be Merry, Kate for the rec!); dug into BBQ ribs and brisket; and dined on upscale low-country cuisine at Slightly North of Broad, otherwise known as SNOB. I highly recommend all.

However my/our favorite? The shrimp and grits from Hominy Grill. If you know me, you are probably in shock right now. I'm a New Yorker by birth and not a gal who ever eats grits, or what was sprinkled all over it: bacon! I haven't had bacon since 1999. Yup, 12 years... almost as long as Justin Beiber has been alive. Hah. I managed to avoid bacon, pancetta, pork and more during a two week trip to Italy and Paris, countless Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai meals, and lots more where bacon and pork are prevalent. I decided to stop eating it after visiting Israel for a month; it was then I started keeping kosher (Jewish dietary laws). Two years later, I opted out of that but felt like my contribution to my faith would be not to eat any pork products. Yet, here we are in 2011 and I couldn't talk myself out of it any longer!

 

It was worth the wait. I didn't even think I'd like grits but man o' man was this dish crazy fantastic. We gobbled it up along with huevos rancheros topped with two poached eggs (another divine dish). The shrimp was so perfectly cooked. And the cheddar cheese grits were rich and buttery, creamy and hearty, yet light and flavorful. The shrimp was sauteed with mushrooms, scallions and this rich, crispy bacon. Mmmm. Its flavors enhanced every bite! This mama was a happy gal.

Today, instead of giving you one of my recipes, you get this one. It's not the easiest but for a special occasion or a family or girls brunch, totally worth the effort. Though I have to admit there's nothing like sitting in a comfy chair with a hot cup of joe while someone is serving this up to you (and cleaning the plates away when you're done!). Maybe you can get someone to make this for you?

Shrimp & Grits, courtesy of the Hominy Grill - Charleston, SC
{Ingredients}
2 pounds unpeeled, medium-size raw shrimp (31/40 count)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 bacon slices, chopped
1 (8-oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 teaspoons hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
TAGG tip: this would also taste awesome over pasta or another grain!

{Preparation}
1. Peel shrimp; devein, if desired. Toss shrimp with flour until lightly coated, shaking to remove excess.
2. Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet.
3. Sauté mushrooms in hot drippings 4 minutes or just until mushrooms begin to release their liquid. Add shrimp, and sauté 3 to 3 1/2 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute (do not brown garlic). Add lemon juice and next 3 ingredients; serve immediately over Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits. Sprinkle with bacon.

How to make the Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits
{Ingredients}
4 tablespoons butter
5 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 1/2 cups uncooked stone-ground white grits
1 (10-oz.) block sharp white Cheddar cheese, grated

{Preparation}
1. Bring 2 Tbsp. butter, next 4 ingredients, and 5 cups water to a boil in a medium-size Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk in grits, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 1/2 hours or until thickened. Stir in cheese and remaining 2 Tbsp. butter until melted. Serve immediately.

For Quick-Cooking Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits: Substitute 2 cups uncooked quick-cooking grits for stone-ground grits. Decrease water and milk to 4 1/2 cups each. Prepare recipe as directed, cooking grits 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened.

Quick Bites: Cape Cod Kettle-Cooked Chips

With Super Bowl just a few days away, I made an executive decision that this week's "quick bites" post must be dedicated to something crunchy, munchy and fun fit for any Super Bowl soiree. Wait... can Super Bowl and 'soiree' be in the same sentence? Ha, I digress! Either way, I must tell you about Cape Cod's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips with 40 percent less fat.

O.M.GEE! 
(these are amaze!)

Normally, I rarely eat chips because you get like seven chips in a serving that's 170 calories and 12 grams of fat, or something absurd like that. I rather eat so many other things, or have a super size glass o' wine! However, Cape Cod has changed my ways. These do not taste at all like they're lower in fat -- they have a great crunch, good potato flavor, good saltiness, resemble the original chip and don't have a weird aftertaste like some baked versions. And, the nutritionals are impressive: 23 chips are 130 calories, 6 grams of fat (no trans fat), 18 carbs and 2 grams of protein.

The hubs and I are obsessed. These are now practically a permanent staple in our pantry, and are always busted out with our turkey or roast beef sandwiches. The brand says the chips are first put in kettles, and then flash-baked to naturally reduce fat content. I'm not sure I totally understand that, but I'm buyin' it! Literally and figuratively.

The major negative? They can be hard to find... and are a little pricier than the regular chips. But, totally worth it for the enjoyment your mouth (and hips!) will receive in exchange.

xo

Alyson

Recipe: Goat Cheese-stuffed Chicken with Butternut Squash

Keeping with my New Year's resolution to make a recipe every week, here's #2:
Chicken stuffed with goat cheese, sundried tomato and basil with a side of butternut squash! YUM-o!

I've wanted to make this chicken dish for a while, actually as a roll-up, but didn't turn out that way. I had good intentions, but maybe my cutlets were too thick. Either way, I'm even more thrilled with how the results. An easy dish that is not only great for the family, but would make an awesome dish for guests.

As for the side, I have a slight obsession with butternut squash (healthy, delicious), however it's a freaking pain to prepare. So when I saw that Costco sells it pre-cubed, I snatched it up like it was nobody's business! It makes cooking a cinch. Eat this when you're craving starchy potatoes. It's a super-versatile veggie that can be cooked as I did, mashed with a little butter or cheese, or a million other ways.

Enjoy these recipes!

Chicken stuffed with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and basil
I'm not giving you the exact measurements... this is easily customizable for 2 or 10 people. Check my picture... I just eyed it for each chicken cutlet.
Ingredients
Chicken breasts (purchase ones thick enough to slice in half)
Sun-dried tomatoes

Basil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Toothpicks

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.
Sprinkle salt and pepper, to taste, on the chicken.
Butterfly chicken breasts (cut in half, but not all the way through).
Crumble goat cheese, and roughly chop sun-dried tomatoes and basil.
Layer the ingredients (see pic) on one side of the breast.
Fold over the side without ingredients to close.
Put two toothpicks in on each end to secure.
Prepare a hot skillet with olive oil enough to coat the bottom.
Carefully put in breasts (the oil can splatter), flipping after two minutes.
After two minutes on the other side, put skillet in oven for 10-12 minutes, until chicken cooked.
Remove toothpicks. Ta-da!
TAGG tip: Here's a similar recipe by Martha Stewart using arugula instead of goat cheese.

Butternut squash

Directions
If cooking separately, put oven on 400 degrees instead of 425.
Place cubed squash on a baking sheet.
Lightly coat with olive oil, salt and pepper. If you like, get creative and add chili powder, cinnamon, etc.
Cook for about 35 minutes, tossing after about 20 minutes.
Take out. Let sit for a minute before transferring to plate.


Hope you enjoy! xo

Quick Bites: Lazy Day Lasagna

I've been hearing that you gals would love more quick, healthy and delicious meals you can whip up during your busy day. I hear ya; I feel the same! I'm glad you asked... this has now morphed into one of my belated New Year's resolutions. I'm going to make a new meal every week and share it with you here! You better keep me on track.

First up, Lazy Day Lasagna. This isn't a "new" recipe for me per say, but a favorite that I'm eager to share. We've been making it for years though it's been at least a year now. What's great is that it's pretty healthy, tastes great and is large enough for a family or plenty of leftovers; I somehow found this recipe while on Weight Watchers years ago. I'm sure I should be crediting someone here, but unfortunately I didn't put the name when I printed it out. (My 23-year old self apologizes!).

This lasagna is perfect: it's vegetarian (so everyone can eat it!), takes about 20 minutes to make, and you have meals for days! Pair it with a salad, or a side of broccoli, asparagus or another green so you're less likely to eat the entire thing in one sitting. Enjoy!

Ingredients

12 whole wheat lasagna noodles, uncooked

1 (12 oz.) bag of morningstar or boca brand of veggie crumbles (sub lean ground beef if you prefer, really tastes the same though!)

4 cups of Hunt's Four Cheese Spaghetti Sauce (typically in a can)

1 1/2 cupes of water

1 (15 oz) container of nonfat ricotta cheese (you can use part-skim, just note the nutritional change)
1/2 cup egg substitute
9 slices of cheese, I recommend either provolone or swiss

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine crumbles, sauce and water.
In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg substitute.
Spray 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of the pan. Arrange 4 noodles over the sauce. Spread another cup of sauce, then 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Add another cup of sauce.
Repeat the process until you end with a layer of sauce.
Cover and bake 70 minutes.
Uncover and place cheese slices on top, then bake another 15 minutes uncovered.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving. (Note: we used Swiss this time, which made the top not as pretty... provalone makes for a better presentation, and we decided we like it better. Just sharin'.)
DIG IN!


Serves 9.
Nutritionals per serving: 190 calories, 5 grams of fat. 22 grams of protein, 15 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber.

Quick Bites: Special K Crisps

I'm a HUGE, I mean monster fan of snacking. It's borderline excessive. That's really the reason every Tuesday is a Quick Bites post. Whether you like it or not, I just have to have a place to talk about food! Haha. Quick Bites focuses on a new snack food discovery or a recipe I just have to share.

Since I can eat every hour (no joke, ask my friends!) it's critical I find snacks that don't break the calorie and fat bank. I'm a Weight Watcher lifetime member so I'm always conscious about what I'm eating.

In a past post, I shared my love of Popchips. They're freaking awesome, lightly popped chips that just make me happy. They come in a ton of flavors. And, I guess you know they're damn good when you start seeing knock offs. I tried some non-pops at a friend's this weekend -- from Costco -- and they were pretty good. So, when I saw these Special K Cracker Chips at my grocery store I had to test. The box cover makes them look identical to Popchips and you can have 30 (!) for just 110 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. I love having something I can munch on; I mean, who wants 4 chips for 100 calories when you can have a few dozen?

So, I tried these in sea salt (also saw them in sour cream & onion). Well, let me save you a few bucks. They have the crunch factor, but that's about all. Tasteless. Pretty tasteless, and there's a slightly weird after-taste as well. I'm hoping the sour cream & onion are better for Kellog's sake, but really, Popchips are soo good (if you haven't tried them, stop reading and go to the store right this very minute) that it's not worth sampling other kinds of these.

Don't hate me Kellog's: I eat your Special K with red berries almost every morning (part of my cereal concoction), and lots lots of your other products. This one just isn't working for this snacking queen!

Quick Bites: Dinnertime Concoctions

I'd like to be a better cook. Really. For as much as I enjoy eating, this really should be a top New Year's resolution for 2011. My major issue is that I don't check out recipes before going grocery shopping so don't have on-hand the necessary ingredients to make an all-star dish. However, while this gal isn't the best cook in the world, she does have a few great go-to dinners.

One of my favorites? The healthy veggies/protein/pasta concoction! This is also perfect because I'm a fan of cooking large portions so we can enjoy the meal the next day or repurpose it into a new dinner idea. Here's one example: last week I made an easy, healthy pasta dish that I thought worthy of sharing, if only to get you thinking about what you could make. I unfortunately didn't have the right fresh herbs on hand (cilantro wasn't the right fit) so consider that when cooking.

Ingredients
1 bag of large frozen, cooked shrimp
1 box of pasta
2 small bags of broccoli
1 yellow (sweet) onion
1 can of quartered artichokes
2 garlic cloves (or to taste)

salt and pepper

Feta cheese

Directions
Defrost shrimp.

Cook pasta according to directions, making sure to salt the water well before cooking pasta.

Meanwhile, get olive oil and garlic cooking in a large pan on the stove top at medium to high heat for just a minute. Put in broccoli and onion. Cook about 10-15 minutes until soft, yet crispy, and then add artichokes and shrimp to heat. Lower heat so artichokes and shrimp warm, and monitor until pasta is done.

Once pasta is complete, combine it with vegetable/shrimp mix. I typically transfer using a collapsible hand strainer (best. purchase. ever. I use to strain canned veggies, beans, pasta, etc. love.). I simply put strainer in pasta pot to scoop. I like having a little of the starchy liquid in the final dish.

Once transferred, mix everything together and add more olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. Alternatively, you could combine with tomato sauce.

Finally, add in feta cheese crumbles and transfer to serving dish. EAT!

This was a solid three days of food for us... with plenty of the low-fat, protein-filled shrimp for us!

Quick Bites: Chocolately Minis & Drops

I passed these in Publix a few weeks ago, supremely tempted, but kept on my way. But then last week I realized, hey, I could review them for my blog. HELLO! There's no calories when it's for blogging, right? Right, let's just assume so.

Meet Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme drops and Reese's minis. I'm in heaven. I have serious sweet tooth, yet at the same time hate wasting loads of calories for a little treat at home. Prefer to splurge when I go out. These are my new answer. Plus, if you're a "quantity" eater like I am (it took a while of Weight Watchers to figure this out!), it's much more satisfying to eat a handful of these instead of one regular cup. Just feels like more!

The Reese's -- which are my weakness -- are seriously mini, and each one is just 18 measly calories. Yet, I feel satisfied with just one or two because these babies have the same exact peanut butter and chocolate flavor as their mamas. While the serving is for 11 pieces at 200 calories and 12 grams of fat, you really don't need that many.

As for the Cookies 'n' Creme drops, they're a little firmer than I expected (like a candy bar) since it says it doesn't have a candy shell, however they're rich and creamy and love them now that I realize they're more like mini, round candy bars. You must like white chocolate to enjoy these bad boys because it's essentially that with some chocolate cookie crumbs mixed in. As for a serving size, these are 14 pieces for 210 calories and 11 grams of fat.

Keep these for an after-dinner treat or consider putting them out for NYE in a clear or silver serving piece (or vase).

Enjoy!! I know I am.