Sesame Turkey (Crockpot Recipe)

Sesame Turkey (Crockpot)

Serves: 8

So I've slightly obsessed with finding recipes on Pinterest to try out. This is the most recent one I've tried. I made it tonight and it came out SO good!

INGREDIENTS:
2 packages Shady Brook Turkey Cutlets (the original recipe calls for 3 lbs turkey tenderloins)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce (I only had the regular stuff on hand)
1/4 reduced sodium chicken broth
4 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp water
sliced green onions
toasted sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place turkey in slow cooker and season with pepper and cayenne. 
2. In medium bowl combine soy sauce, chicken broth, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and garlic. Pour over turkey in slow cooker. 
3. Cook on low 5-6 hours or high for 2 1/2 - 3 hours (I cooked on low).
4. Remove turkey from crockpot and place on serving platter, covering it to keep warm.
5. Strain liquid into saucepan and heat over medium. 
6. Mix together cornstarch and water until smooth and add to the sauce on the stovetop. Whisk to combine. Continue to cook and stir until the sauce has thickened to desired consistency. 
7. Pour sauce over turkey on serving platter, sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds to serve.

NUTRITION:

(per serving)
Calories: 145

Fat: 3

Protein: 26

Sugar: 0

Sodium: 840 (would have been lower if I had the low sodium soy sauce!)

Fiber: 0

Jalepeno Popper Chicken

Jalepeno Popper Chicken

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS:
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese
2 medium jalepeno peppers, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced or chopped
1/4 shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Spray casserole dish with cooking spray. 
3. In a medium bowl mix together the cream cheese, jalepeno, garlic and cheddar. 
4. In each chicken breast cut open a pocket in the meat. Be careful as to not puncture through the other side.
5. Evenly stuff each breast with cream cheese mixture and place chicken breast cut side up in pan. 
6. Season with salt and pepper. Bake 45 minutes to an hour.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 348

Fat: 17

Protein: 53

Sugar: 1

Sodium: 294

Fiber: 0

Irish Cream Whoopie Pies

In honor of St Patrick's Day I felt the need to share one of my favorite recipes of all time. It's not healthful. It's not packing punches of nutrients anywhere. It does, however, contain lots of Bailey's Liquor. That should count for something, right? So make sure you allow yourself a small indulgence this St Patrick's Day and make these for the BIG leprechauns you know.

Irish Cream Whoopie Pies

Serves: 12 (makes approx 12 whoopie pies)

INGREDIENTS:
Cookies:
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup Bailey's Liquor
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:
1 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
12 Tbsp Unsalted butter, softened (1.5 sticks)
2 Tbsp Bailey's Liquor

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. To make cookies: In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a standing mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg and continue to beat until fluffy and pale. Reduce speed. Begin to incorporate cocoa mixture slowly until well combined.
4. Add Bailey's and vanilla. Combine well, scraping sides and bottom until well mixed.
5. Scoop spoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire racks.
7. Once all cookies are cooked and cooling begin to make your filling.
8. Using standing mixer again, beat butter, confectioner's sugar and Bailey's together until creamy. 
9. Using a butter knife spread filling on bottom of one cookie and top with other cookie to make whoopie pie.
   
   NUTRITION:
   (you don't realllllly wanna look here, do ya??)
   Calories: 481
   Fat: 22
   Protein: 4
   Sugar: 37
   Sodium: 427
   Fiber: 2
   

Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Potato 'Frosting'

Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Potato 'Frosting'

Serves 12

INGREDIENTS:
2 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
1/2 cup egg beaters/egg substitute
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup dry seasoned breadcrumbs
1 packet McCormick Meatloaf seasoning - Lower sodium

6 medium white potatoes
1/2 cup skim milk
2 Tbsp Light Butter

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare meatloaf according to packet directions.
2. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray (such as Pam or Smart Balance)
3. Take a handful of meat mixture and shape into a ball. Place each ball into a muffin cup.
4. Bake for 45 minutes.
5. Meanwhile peel and quarter potatoes and boil until fork tender.
6. Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add butter and mash. Slowly add milk and mash or whip to desired consistency.
7. When muffins are done cooking remove from muffin tin and put on large plate/serving platter. Place mashed potato mixture into a large zip loc bag and cut about 1/2 inch piece off corner. Pipe potatoes on top of muffins like you would do if frosting a cupcake. 

NUTRITION:

(Meatloaf muffins)

Calories: 164

Fat: 7

Protein: 20

Sugar: 2

Sodium: 412

Fiber: 0

(Potato 'Frosting')

Calories: 43 

Fat: 1

Protein: 1

Sugar: 1

Sodium: 0

Fiber: 1

Banana Nutella Eggrolls

Woah, guys. WOAH.

I was messing around on pinterest and saw something similar and decided to make due with what I had on hand.

**WARNING: THIS IS NOT HEALTHY. In fact, it's probably incredibly terrible as far as a snack goes. But for a simple dessert it isn't AS bad as other things (aka that cheesecake I had last night).

Banana Nutella Eggrolls

Servings: 8 (1 eggroll)

INGREDIENTS:
8 Nasoya Eggroll Wrappers
8 Tbsp Nutella
1 small banana, cut into slices
1 tbsp butter, melted
Cinnamon Sugar, for dusting
small bowl of water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. In the center of each eggroll wrapper spread 1 tbsp nutella. Then place slices of banana (approx 3 slices per eggroll). Roll up as you normall would an eggroll or burrito, folding in ends, and use your finger to seal the seam with water. Place seam side down on cookie sheet.
4. Once all eggrolls are on cookie sheet, brush or spray butter onto each one and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 
5. Bake 10 minutes or until desired crispness/browning. 

Best served WARM.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 208

Fat: 9 

Protein: 3

Sugar: 15

Sodium: 168

Fiber: 2

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Serves 8

This recipe is amazing! And it rings in at a tender 111 calories PER BOWL so you can enjoy without the guilt that ordering a box of tacos would normally bring. Also note the high protein and low fat and sodium content, too!

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken, cubed
32 ounces Progresso reduced sodium chicken broth
28 oz petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients except cilantro in crockpot/slow cooker. Mix well. 
2. Cook on low 8 hours.
3. Stir in cilantro and serve immediately.

NUTRITION:

per serving

Calories: 111

Carbs: 11

Fat: 2

Protein: 14

Sugar: 3

Sodium: 41

100 Days of Determination

After a particularly stressful couple of weeks I am feeling defeated and almost out of steam. Almost.

 Between my dental woes, problems at home, getting my period and the fact that my weight had jumped up and wasn't moving at all I felt like giving up. But I still pushed through my workouts and still watched what I ate.

 After doing some research I found that antibiotics DO cause some weight gain. And I took my last dose yesterday. Did my workout routine as usual this morning despite the fact that my bed was oh so warm and it's snowing outside. Jumped on the scale before my shower and low and behold I am back down to where I was before the meds. Figures. And by Friday I should be done with my period. So I may just reach a mini goal by the 25th (to be in the 130's officially) after all. Huzzah!

 The problems at home? Well. It's complicated and I won't get into it. But it's been quite stressful and it's been hard to focus on anything else. Hoping that things will begin to get better soon. *fingers crossed*

 Thing is, I usually give up by now. If something goes awry I simply say 'screw it' and go eat a cheeseburger. Like last night I went to Dunkin Donuts to get myself an iced coffee as a 'treat' and when the lady over the speaker said "will that be all today?" I hesitated and nearly said "And I'll have a glazed donut, too." But I didn't. I hesitated and then said "yes, that will do it." I said to my daughter "wow, that was close... I almost ordered a donut!" She said "yeah I heard you pause... proud of you, mom."

But this time I'm NOT giving up. I'm not going to let my emotions rule my actions. I'm thinking before I DO things (which is very unlike me). I mean... I got notified that I have logged on to MyFitnessPal for 100 days. That's 100 days of better eating and moving more. And I've been rewarded with a 19 lb loss. It might not be much to some but it means a whole lot to me. Instead of watching that number increase and do nothing about it, I vowed to make a change and I did it. And I'm gonna continue to do it. Regardless of what horrible day I am having or how cold it is outside.... no excuses! I will finish this and I will come out feeling better than I ever have!

Here's to 100 more days! I honestly cannot wait to see where I am when that 365th day comes up.