Delicious Hot Drink

Okay, so if you need a morning hot drink or afternoon or really anytime of day this is a good one. This year I came across this delicious Herbal tea called Bengal Spice, brand Celestial Seasonings. It is so good. Well today I bought some Creamer to go with it. The one I got is called Chai latte, Coffee house inspirations. (It is in a silver bottle with a black lid) It is blended with creamy vanilla, and spices. Oh. My. Gosh...is it ever so good. One tablespoon in the Bengal Spice herbal tea and you will love it. Total Calories is 35 being that herbal tea has 0 Calories. If you double the cream it is only 70 calories per serving. I have gone a little overboard today and I am now drinking my 4Th cup of tea with the creamer. I can't get enough of it. I can't believe something that tastes SO good could have so few calories. Anyone who tries this leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Meatloaf---coming soon!

Well, I am not posting this recipe because it was not a hit with the husband. I liked it but I think I could make it a lot better. I am going to play with this recipe and make it better before I post it. Erik couldn't even choke down one serving....he said it was more of a texture thing and he isn't a huge meatloaf fan. My dad has a killer meatloaf recipe that i am going to try and remember. I say I will try and remember because he just throws things in and mixes it up....all from his head. He never makes the exact same meatloaf twice. I am using turkey instead of ground beef. One of the comments Erik used while eating it was "its TOO healthy" That could be the only problem. I did throw in 3 cups of chopped spinach and the recipe did not call for any spinach. I need a new guinea pig to try out my recipes...one that isn't quite so picky.

Cheese stuffed Turkey burgers

1 lb ground turkey
4 slices american cheese
1 1/2 cloves of garlic
4 flat whole wheat buns
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Place turkey in a bowl, add garlic, salt, pepper, and mix. Fold slice into 4 squares place on top of one of the pattys. Place 2nd patty on top and fold sides.

Grill.

Nutritional Information
serves 4
Cal: 232.8
Fat: 2.2g
Chol: 48.4mg
Sodium: 391.5
Carbs: 21.9
Fiber: 4.1g
Protein: 34.8

Stuffed Bell Peppers

8 red, yellow, or orange peppers (or a mix of all colors)
2 Tbs olive oil
1 med onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1Tbs cumin
16 oz fresh Italian turkey sausage
1 (16oz) jar of salsa
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 avocados peeled and sliced
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup fresh cilantro-chopped

Preheat 375* cut peppers in half lengthwise. Leave stems. Remove insides. Put pepper in a 13x9 baking pan. Drizzle peppers with 1 tbs of olive oil. cover and bake for 15 to 20 min. until start to soften.

Heat tbs oil in skillet, add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, chili, and cumin. cook 3 min. Add sausage. Cook until browned then add salsa and spinach and cook 5 min. Remove from heat. add cooked brown rice.

Fill peppers. cover with foil and bake 20-25 min. Remove foil, sprinkle with cheese. bake uncovered 7-10 min. Top with yogurt, avocado slices and sprinkle with cilantro.

Nutritional Information
serves 8
cal: 407.87
carbs: 48.125
fat: 15.875
Protein: 16

I tried this last night and it was pretty good. The recipe actually asks for basil not cilantro. I tried it with the basil and it was good but I LOVE cilantro and I think cilantro would make it even better. I also cut the tops off of the peppers and kept them whole. I didn't think they would all fit in my pan if I cut them all in half. Now that i have made it once I think I could have squeezed them all in. I think I will eat half the portion for a meal to cut back on calories per meal. This makes a lot so be ready for leftovers.

Tuna Melt

1 can tuna
1/2 cup copped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup mayo
4 slices thin bread
1- 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese
8 Roma tomato slices

Spread ea slice of bread with thin layer of mayo

Mix tuna, celery, onion and mayo
top bread w/ tuna mix
2 slices tomato on top of tuna
cheese on top of tomato
toast or broil

serves 4

Nutritional Information
Calories per serving: 274.75
carbs: 20.5
Fat: 21.75
Protein: 15.25

Mexican Tortilla casserole

1 lb turkey
14oz. non fat re fried beans
1/4 cup salsa
4 whole wheat tortillas
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (low fat if you can find it)

heat oven 350

cook meat: add means and salsa until hot. Spray round (cake pan) casserole dish with cooking spray. Layer tortilla in bottom, spread 1/4 of mixture on top, 1/4 c cheese on top, continue layering then top with cheese.

Bake 15-20 min or until hot.
Serves 6

Nutritional information
cal:420
Fat: 24.3 g
Chol: 81.9 mg
sod: 919.9 mg
carbs: 27.9
Fiber: 4.4 g
Protein: 27.6

We loved this as well. It is a little higher in calories so not something that we will have everyday. Erik suggested adding green enchilada sauce, which I will try next time. I don't think it adds that many more calories so it might make it better.

Easy Lasagna

1 lbs ground turkey
1 med onion
1tsp oregano, basil, salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sugar
2 cups canned diced tomatoes
2 cups fat free cottage cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella finely shredded
1 6oz can tomato paste
1 cup water
8 lasagna noodles
1 egg beaten
1 tbs dry parsley
2 TBS Parmesan

Cook meat, drain: stir in seasonings, tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. simmer 15 - 20 min

Mix eggs, parsley, Parmesan cheese and cottage cheese.

In 9 x 13 pan layer 1 cup sauce, 4 dry noodles, and have the mixture. continue layering finishing with sauce on top. cover and bake @350 for 50 to 60 min (until noodles are tender) sprinkle with cheese and serve. Serves 12

Nutritional Information
Calories: 244
fat: 10.5
Chol: 53.8mg
sod: 451.8 mg
Carb: 19.1 g
fiber: 1.7 g
Protein: 17.3

I made this the other night and Erik loved it. We had left overs for the next few days and we were completely happy about that. Very good and not to many calories.

Creamy banana Ice Cream

2 bananas
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp water or cream

1. Peel and freeze bananas (1/2 day)

2. Blend in processor, add cream to help chop banana

After Creamy and smooth add vanilla. makes 1-2 servings

(I have added frozen strawberries and that is a really good addition)

Nutritional Information
cal: 131.1
Fat: .7 g
Chol: 0
Sod: 1.5 mg
Carbs: 32.2 g
fiber: 3.2 g
Protein: 1.3 g

This is a nice treat when you have a sweet tooth. I will blend it up and put it back in the freezer for a half our. With strawberries it tastes like strawberry banana sorbet.

Healthy Snack Pack

3 Cups Almonds
1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup dried cherries
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup dried pineapple

Mix and eat

This is a really good homemade trail mix. I like to have this when I am on the go or play in an all day Volleyball tournament.

Greek Turkey Burger

Yogurt Sauce
1/2 cup non fat plain yogurt
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped cucumber
*refrigerate

Burger
1lb ground turkey
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Mix all Burger ingredients together. Make 6 patties and grill. Place on whole wheat flat buns (100 calories) topped with the yogurt sauce.

I made these last week and i LOVED them. If you like Greek gyros you will love this. It was so tasty and very low in Calories.

Nutritional Info
Cal: 228.2 per burger
Fat: 5.4 g
Chol: 53.3 mg
Sod: 76.1 mg
Carb: 3.7 g
fiber: .2 g
Protein: 16.4 g

Cabbage Soup

1 small med head cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
5 small red potatoes, quartered
1/2 lb greens
2 Tbs. Extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. butter
1tsp each: ground cumin, ground coriander seed
1/2 tsp each: gr. turmeric, garam masala, Italian seasonings, cayenne
1tsp salt and 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 box (32 oz) Swanson chicken broth
5 cups water
1 can dark red kidney beans
2 cups mushroom slices

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil and then saute onion, garlic, celery, and potatoes about 5 min. stirring often. Add butter, and then stir in cumin, coriander seed, turmeric, garam masala, Italian seasoning and cayenne continue to heat and stir about 1 min. and then add chicken broth and water. Bring to a low simmer and cook about 15 min. add cabbage, greens, kidney beans, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, and mushrooms. Bring to a low simmer and cook about 10 to 15 min. do not over cook. Allow setting about 1/2 hour for seasonings to blend. Serve hot.

I have made this soup twice and I love it. My mom tried it and did not like it as much. It is probably a preference thing. I don't have the calories and nutrition on this one but it should be pretty good for you by what is in it.

Tortilla Pizza

Whole Wheat Tortilla
1 1/2 Tbs. of Pesto sauce
2 oz. Italian Seasoned Turkey
1/2 tomato sliced
3/4 cup spinach chopped
2 Bella mushrooms sliced
2 TBS. Feta cheese
1/3 cup of Mozzarella Cheese finely shredded.

Spread Pesto sauce on the tortilla top with the cooked Turkey. Top with spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Then add the mozzarella cheese and feta cheese. cook for 10 min in oven at 350 or until it is hot and the cheese is melted.

Calories: 495 or 247.5 for half