Mesquite Broiled Pork Chops

Ingredients:
1.3 lbs boneless pork chops, thin sliced ( I had about 9 small chops and mine were about 1/4 inch thick)
9 tablespoons Lawry's Mesquite Marinade

Marinade chops in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to broil (or you can grill, your preference really!)
I cooked mine @ 500 degrees for about 10 minutes. Easy enough, tender and tasty!

1 serving = 1.5 chops @ 3 Points+

Watermelon Fruit Boat

There are ideas all over the internet for how to do this. The original idea was from something my sister in law did for the 4th of July, then there were ideas of sprucing it up a bit. Easy enough and you can fill it with whatever fruit you want and fancy it up however you want.

We used:
1 largeish seedless watermelon
2 lbs strawberries, stems removed and hulled if centers white, sliced

Start by figuring out how you want to shape your melon. We were having this at a babyshower, so i did a basic bassinet shape. You can either cut it straight, or if you are lucky like I was with Lorin's melon baller, you will have a "v" shaped end you can notch the front out of. I didnt really get super great step by steps, but if you google it, you will find tons out there.

So you notch out the section to be removed and gently pull to separate. Use melon baller to remove all the yummy insides of the watermelon and place in a separate bowl. Toss the melon and berries together to mix, then refill melon. Chill til ready to serve.

Enjoy!

0 Points+

Linked @ Fit and Fabulous Fridays

Pink Duckie Punch

So you don't HAVE to make it pink, and you don't HAVE to put duckies in it....but come ON NOW!!
Look at it!!!

We had this at my BFF Lorin's baby shower and it was a HIT! Easy and not so bad for you either!

makes two batches totaling about 20 cups

1- 8 serving container of raspberry sherbet

1- 3 liter ginger ale, cold( you could use diet to cut back on the PPV if you want)

2 quarts prepared Crystal Light (we used Strawberry Banana Orange)

In a punch bowl, pour in 1 quart of the prepared crystal light. Scooping out in chunks, put about 1/2 of the container of sherbet in the crystal light. Now pour 1.5 liters of the ginger ale SLOWLY over the sherbet (this is what creates the bubbles). Drop in your ducks and you are ready to go! Once punch is depleted most of the way, repeat these steps!

Tada!

makes 20 1 cup servings @ 2 Points+ each

or 40 1/2 cup servings @ 1 Points + each.

recipe idea from:

Tidy Mom

Peanut Butter and Jelly Swirl Sandwich

HELLO! I should start by saying the name sounds so much more fancy than it really is. I was making a PB&J the other day and realized how hard it is to portion out, since it just doesn't seem like enough. So here is what you do:

Take 1 serving of your jelly/preserves ( mine is 1 tablespoon apricot preserves)
1 tablespoon Peanut Butter/PB2/Other Nut Butter

mix them up in a small container. Once combined, smooth over sandwich bread, deli thin, bagel or other bread of sorts. It smooths on so much easier and seems to look like more on the bread AND it tastes good.

Using what I had on hand, my sandwich was 6 Points+, not super low but much better than not measuring! =)
AWESOME.
Pics later!

And I am leavingggg on a Jet Plane!

If by Jet Plane you mean my car, then this would be mostly accurate. I am stepping away for a few days to make a long weekend visit and see some super Amazing people!
So, If you are around and say nice things, and I don't comment back, please don't take it personal. I will be back home to hubby and posting foods sometime Sunday 06/26/11.
Hooray Birthday Weekend! Hooray Baby Shower for Lorin! Hooray Visiting with people I Haven't seen in a few months! The only thing that could make it better would be
A) A poofer machine, so I didnt have to drive
b) my hubby coming with me
c) $1 million :)

Blueberry Strawberry Banana Oat Bread

Variations.. what a LOVELY thing!
You basically make this:
http://successful2gether.blogspot.com/2011/06/blueberry-banana-breakfast-oat-bread-in.html

And add in some strawberries :)

YUM!

And I made it in a pretty bowl that Stacy gave me as an early birthday present!

Country Fried Steak

I have made this many times in the past and Ed and I both really like it, so I figured it was time that I posted here! I suppose beef cubed steak would work just as well as the pork, but I just normally get pork. Try and find cubed steaks that are light pink in could with out much fat or dark meat in it. You will get a more lean steak with better flavor that way! The batter I make is quite flavorful, so feel free to experiment with the spices some :)

Ingredients:
.67 lb pork cubed steak (cut in to 4 steaks)
60g (1/2 cup) white flour
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon diced onion
1 teaspoon powdered chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 to 1 cup water
3 tablespoons olive oil

White Gravy From here (or your choice!)


Mix all of your dry ingredients together using a fork or a wisk, until well blended.
Heat your oil over medium heat in skillet. While oil is heating, add water to your flour mix until desired consistency is reached. (you want a thick, almost pancake batter consistency). Dip your steaks in the batter and fry until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes on each side)

We served ours with green beans and canned sliced new potatoes (with some rosemary seasoning)
Each pork steak is 7 Points +, Gravy is 1 Points+ green beans are 0 and the potatoes are 1 Points+
AWESOME yummy dinner!

Linked @
Hunk of Meat Monday
In the Kitchen with Jenny

Blueberry Banana Breakfast Oat Bread (In the Microwave)

I have frozen bananas, LOT AND LOTS of frozen bananas! I have baked with them before, but really wanted to try them in my Oatmeal Pancakes. So here is what happened. And the result is FABULOUS!

You start with blending up:

Blueberry Banana Ice cream for One

Or: 

45g (or Palm full) of fresh blueberries, stems removed and rinsed
1/2 frozen banana
(you may need some water or milk, but mine didn't!)
Put them in the food processor and give it a whirl.

2/3 cup oats

1 egg

( I did not add these this time, but I will next time)

Cinnamon

a few drips of vanilla

( I PROMISE I was going to make some Pancake but the batter looked to loose and I didn't want to go adding a bunch of other things)

Mix the above ingredients in a microwave safe dish ( you can spray with pam if you want, I didn't and it turned out just fine!)

Heat on high, starting with 1 minutes, then adding 30 second increments, checking the consistency of your bread. It took mine a total of 3 minutes and 30 seconds but I would not recommend heating for the entire time at once. I can just envision the explode-y things in your microwave.

CAREFULLY remove the bowl from the microwave and let it sit for a minute so you don't burn your fingers. Flip out on to a plate and serve!

If you wanted to eat the whole thing, One serving is 7 Points+

Or you could half it at 4 Points+ for each half. 

I sprayed a tad bit of spray butter and 1/2 oz light cream cheese to mine (not included in the PPV information)

YUM!

linked up @
Recipes to Run On

Blueberry Banana Ice cream for One

I kind of forgot I wanted to do this till  I started blending up ingredients for something else!

45g (or Palm full) of fresh blueberries, stems removed and rinsed
1/2 frozen banana
(you may need some water or milk, but mine didn't!)

Put them in the food processor and give it a whirl.

YUM!

0 Points+

WEIGHT WATCHERS GRILL AND CHILL Event: Greenville, SC

This event was just announced and I wanted to share it with any locals who might be interested!

Greenville Center
July 16  8AM - 12NOON
 
Grilling demonstrations
Cooler Packing Demonstrations
Cool give aways.....including the grand prize of a grill
Vendors and much more!!!!!!!!




The Greenville Center is located (thanks http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/mtf/index.aspx)

CROSS POINT SHOPPING CENTERMap 832 WOODS CROSSING RD STE 7 GREENVILLE , SC 29607 Regular Meeting times are as follows:

SUN 2:00pm	MON 6:15pm	TUE 10:00am   12:15pm	WED 9:30am   12:30pm   5:00pm   7:00pm	THU 10:00am   12:15pm   5:30pm	FRI 8:15am   10:30am   12:15pm	SAT 8:00am   10:00am
					2:00pm – 4:00pm	7:30am – 4:00pm

 

•  In addition to the Meeting times listed, this location is open for drop-in hours - you can visit during this time to weigh in, buy products, or talk to a staff member.

• See schedule of meeting times by Leader

Meeting leaders at this location: EUNICE M., TRUDY P., CAROLYN M., MARLON M., PAUL H., MELISSA T., DEBBIE R., DENISE E., SHERI C., MARGARET F., DAISHA L. H.

Blueberry Vanilla Oatmeal Pancakes

I am in love with  Oatmeal Pancakes!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup quick oats
70g fresh blueberries, rinsed1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
enough water to get desired batter consistency
1 packet of splenda


Mix the blueberries, splenda, cinnamon and vanilla together, and then smush the berries. (by hand, blender, food processor) Let that sit for about 5 minutes (or longer if you are like me and forgot about it!)

Mix this with the oats, and eggs, add water if needed. Cook in a preheated skillet, sprayed with PAM.

Serve and Enjoy!

4 Points+. I topped mine with light cream cheese bringing it to 7 Points+!

Loving this new photo layout. Hopes for more in the future
Click for larger view!

Steak, Egg and Cheese Scramble with White Gravy

With the cooking I have done over the past few day, I had some RANDOM left overs in the fridge, so I figured I would toss them together for dinner. The result was actually VERY tasty. It made up two portions, and I plan to make Ed eat some when he gets home from school tonight.

2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheese of your choice)
1 serving left over steak (From this recipe)
1 serving left over gravy (From this recipe)
1 eggplant patty (left over from this recipe)


Preheat skillet over medium heat.
In a microwave safe dish, warm the steak for about 30-45 seconds
do the same with the eggplant patty, chop in to small pieces
Put beaten eggs in to skillet that has been sprayed with PAM.
spread the steak and chopped eggplant patty over top, then sprinkle the cheese over the top.
Cook til eggs are done, stirring occasionally.
While eggs are cooking reheat gravy in microwave safe dish
Remove from heat,  mix gravy with eggs and meat.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve and Enjoy!!

makes two servings @ 9 Points+ Each

Mexican Pasta

Ingredients:
1/2 lb ground turkey, browned
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, or whole tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons chopped dried onion
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon diced jalepenos
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
Dash Cayenne pepper
Dash black pepper
2 cups water
6 oz Ronzoni Garden Delight Rotini Pasta


In a skillet, brown your turkey. While that is browning, in a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes and above spices. mix well. Once turkey is browned, stir in tomato mixture, water, and pasta. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally til pasta is done.

Make 4 servings @ 7 Points+ each (depending on the meat you use, it could be less!)

The Secret Recipe Club: Eggplant Patties

I was so excited when I stumbled upon The Secret Recipe Club! You can sign up and are assigned a blogger to go and recreate one of their recipes, then we all have a posting party to see what everyone else has made, and who made what from your own blog! This is my first time participating, but I know this will be a great experience.

This month, I was assigned to Trisha's blog, My Hobbie Lobbie. She cooks a lot differently than I normally do, so it was great to have the chance to look over her recipes and find something unique and different to try!

I was glad to have come across her recipe for Eggplant Patties, as I just so happen to have an eggplant that needed to be used up.

Eggplant Patties
(Makes 6)

1 eggplant, approx 350g 
1/2 egg
1 cup bread crumbs, approximately
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
Crushed black pepper corns, to taste

3 tablespoons olive oil

Cut the stalk of the eggplant, wash and cut into 4-6 large chunks and cook in salted boiling water until just about soft. ( I diced mine)

Mash it and add the breadcrumbs, egg, ginger, garlic, salt, cumin powder, chilly powder, crushed black pepper and mix well. You will need to adjust the quantity of bread crumbs used, based on how wet the batter is. The batter needs to be stiff enough to shape into round patties.

Dampen you hands with a little water so that the batter doesn't stick to it. Shape into round patties. 

Heat  oil in a pan and shallow fry the patties till they are a lovely golden brown.

Serve hot.

4 Points+ for each patty! These were GOOD. Ed ate one then asked if he could take one to work with lunch tomorrow! :) I am ever so please and glad I was able to participate in the Secret Recipe Club. Until next time.... =)

Linked up :
Meat Free Monday

Habanero Lime Crusted Tilapia

Mom and I were shopping yesterday and I found some Habanero Lime Potato chips for cheap and I knew Ed would LOVE them, so being a good wife, I bought him a bag. Welllllllll, I figured I would crush some up and use them as a crunchy topping for some tilapia fillets I had. The result was pretty Tasty!

hooray bad lighting!

Ingredients:
3 - 4 oz tilapia fillets
1 oz crushed chips ( I used habanero lime)
1 teaspoon olive oil

Preheat oven to 400.
Rinse and pat your fillets dry with a paper towel. Place on a baking sheet, sprayed with PAM, flat side down. Brush 1/3 of oil on each fillet and sprinkle chip mixture over top, pressing slightly to coat. Bake for 8-11 minutes or until cooked through. Serve and Enjoy!

The spicyness from the chips didnt pass too badly to the fish, so I will add some extra spices next time. It was a nice combination, have the crunchy chips on top of the tender fish. Ed and I both enjoyed it.

1 tilapia fillet with 1/3 oil and 1/3 chips = 4 Points+

Linked at:
Recipe of the Week: Hot and Spicy

Coffee Cheesecake Pudding

3 simple ingredients. Ever so good.


1 box sugar free, fat free cheesecake pudding mix (4 serving size)
2 cups 1% Milk
1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee, finely ground


Mix the coffee granules with the milk, stir til combined.
Mix the milk mixture with the instant pudding mix and wisk for about 2 minutes. Refrigerate til set.

Bad lighting in my kitchen!

Enjoy as is for 2 Points+
Or crush up 1/2 a graham cracker and make a mini pie for 3 Points+

I have linked up over at
Sweets for Saturday
Sweet Indulgences Sunday