Cannellini Beans with Kale/ Peanut Butter Sundae Sandwich

I made this meal yesterday for my Meatless Monday lunch Cannellini beans with Kale and a  Peanut Butter Sundae  Sandwich to go with it.

Peanut Butter Sundae Sandwich =3 Points Plus

2 slices Sara Lee Whole Wheat Bread
1 Tbsp. Better N Peanut Butter ( Trader Joes)
1/2 Banana
2 or 3 Large Strawberries.

Spread Peanut Butter onto bread slices. Spray underside of  one slice  with cooking spray and place into heated skillet. Top with banana and strawberries. Top with other slice of bread and grill till brown, flip brown other side. Enjoy



I have been having this sandwich at night as a snack. It is so good. I also made it with Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges one night instead of the Peanut Butter. Just as tasty. I hope you enjoy.

The Cannellini Beans with kale was amazing. I will make this recipe again and again. In fact I'm going to make up a pot of it today. I don't have any Cannellini beans so I'm going to use Pintos. I bought the kale this past week after our discussion about fruits and veggies we hadn't eaten. I had never cooked with Kale but had eaten it in soup at Olive Garden. This soup was better than Olive Gardens.

Having a great week this week. Eating breakfast out on my patio and enjoying the birds singing, watching the humming birds drink from their bird waterier and enjoying the squirrels scamper around.  I hope you to are getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather and nature. I got into a winter rut of hibernation and eating and not doing the activity I needed to and with the great weather we have been having I realize I want to get out and do something. Enjoy a walk around the neighborhood, go to the farmers market, enjoy an evening with friends. My success is in my hands and I AM in control of the choices I make. Whether they are food , activity or just taking the time to enjoy my success. I deserve the best I can give myself so should YOU.



Cannellini beans with kale

Classic Italian beans and kale recipe uses bacon to add flavour to the beans; this meatless version still achieves great taste due to the combination of far healthier herbs.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (440 grams) fresh kale, stems removed, coarsely chopped
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cups cooked cannellini or navy beans, or 2 15-ounces cans of beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 large onion, cut in thin half-rings
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp dried sage
• Salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and let them cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
2. Increase the heat; add kale , mixing it in batch by batch; cook until it is bright green for 2 to 4 minutes.
3. Reduce the heat, add beans and spices and cook stirring often, until well heated. Serve warm.

Yields 4 servings= 4 Points Plus

Say goodbye to feeling guilty after eating emotionally. Say hello to feelings of empowerment that come from making conscience decisions about what and when you eat.

Split Pea Soup with Canadian Bacon Weight Watchers Recipe Ratings (33) 8 PointsPlus Value Prep time: 25 min Cook time: 75 min S e r v e s . 6 Creamy and rich. Smoky and loaded with vegetables. This soup will keep you satisfied for hours. Ingredients 1 Tbsp olive oil, extra virgin A 3 rib(s) (medium) uncooked celery, chopped A 3 medium uncooked carrot(s), chopped j k . 2 medium uncooked leek(s), white and light green sections, chopped A 1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped 1/4 tsp table salt 2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced 6 oz uncooked Canadian-style bacon, diced A 64 oz reduced-sodium chicken broth *. 1 pound(s) dry split peas, rinsed and sorted (about 2 1/4 cups) 1 leaf/leaves bay leaf 1 t sp rosemary, fresh, chopped 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground Instructions In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add celery, carrots, leeks, onion and salt; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 10 minutes. http://www.weightwatchers.conVutil/prt/RecipePage.aspx?Type=l&RecipeID=332891 4/22/201 Split Pea Soup with Canadian Bacon Page 2 of Stir in garlic and bacon; cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Add broth, peas, bay leaf, rosemary and pepper; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until split peas are softened and soup has thickened, about 1 hour. Remove bay leaf before serving. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving. Notes If time is an issue, use a food processor to coarsely chop the vegetables. Just pulse a f ew times until no large pieces remain. © 2012 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2012 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved. WEIGHT WATCHERS and PointsPlus® are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes with Yogurt Topping

Apple Cinnamon Pancakes With Yogurt Topping

Developed by Joy Bauer, RD, for Everyday Health

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour, whole-wheat

• 1 cup milk, fat-free

•

1 egg white

• ¼ cup yogurt, plain, fat-free

•

1 tablespoon honey

•

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•

1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, fresh

•

½ teaspoon baking soda

•

1 cup apples, peeled and diced (preferably Golden Delicious)

•

Oil spray

• 8 ounces flavored yogurt, fat-free or low-fat, any preferred flavor (for topping); avoid

“fruit on the bottom” varieties as they may contain seeds.

Note: If you’re experiencing a flare-up, use all-purpose flour. Substitute lactose-free milk or soymilk if you are

having difficulties digesting lactose.

Preparation

Combine the flour, milk, egg white, yogurt, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking

soda in a blender and blend until smooth, or thoroughly mix ingredients by hand. Stir in

the apple.

Spray a griddle or large frying pan with non-stick cooking spray. When the pan is hot, ladle

about 2 tablespoons batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook until small bubbles form

around the edges, 1-2 minutes. Flip the pancakes, and cook about 1 minute longer, until the

centers are cooked through and outsides are golden brown. Serve immediately with fat-free

yogurt topping of choice, or allow to cool, and freeze in an airtight container

Friends

You can't go through life alone, so you might as well find a friend to walk this journey with you.


Found this inspiration and thought it is so true of WW. We are so lucky to have such amazing members and Kim is the best. Thank you Kim for making our WW meetings so interesting. You and all the members make me want to come, even when I don't want to.

Thank you all for being my friend.

Chocolate Anyone?

Friday, April 20, 2012

Chocolate Anyone?

Today I'm being creative, but not in a paper way....there is a paper napkin, does that count? I guess I could also say, I'm using snippets....Di, really pieces and parts....So, here's what the dessert is, and it's single serving, so all of us weight conscious folk can have this. If you're a Weight Watcher member you'll know what this means. It's a total of 3 Points Plus...Oh, Yum!

Yesterday at our Weight Watcher Meeting, Kim talked about a 3-2-1 cake. None of us knew what it was, but the key word cake got us all excited. And then when she gave us the points value, we were hooked.

Several of us went home and made one. This is what I made. It's chocolate, it's raspberry, it's whipped cream and it's drizzled in chocolate. Who ever could ask for anything more. Want to know more? Here's what I did:

The first two ingredients won't make sense until you read the entire recipe. Start with:

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix - any brand will do.
1 box Any Flavor Cake Mix - I used Chocolate

Mix these two ingredients together in a large bowl. Now...pour all of it into a sealable container. and store. I don't think it matters if it's stored in the cupboard or the refrigerator. My son will laugh, he says I put everything in the refrigerator.

OK...here it comes 3-2-1

In a small bowl, put 3 TBL of the cake mix. To it add 2 TBL water. Stir until very well combined. I then pour the mix into a 8 oz coffee cup that has been sprayed with PAM.

Ready for #1.... put it in the microwave on high for 1 minute.

I layered raspberries that were crushed on top of the cake, put a dollop of Fat Free Whipped Cream and drizzled a tiny bit of chocolate sauce over the cake. I garnished with whole raspberries.

Can you say HEAVEN!

Here's some ideas..... Lynda made her cake using only the angel food mix. Patti made her's with angel food and a box of strawberry cake mix. Anyone up to THANK YOU to Kim for sharing her 3-2-1 cake!

If you want more ideas for healthy meals and inspiration, check out my buddy Lynda's blog page. She's a Weight Watcher buddy who's lost 70 pounds....I'm so proud of her! You can find Lynda here.

That's it from me today. Enjoy your weekend. I think my next post just might be from Chicago!

Hugs to everyone!
Mary AKA: GlitterGrammy

Mary thank you for such an amazing picture. You are such an inspiration. Have fun in Chicago. I will miss you.

Veggie Recipes- My Fridge- Thursday Meals

Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups With Herbs and Cheese Recipe - Health.com
2 Points Plus

                                       


 Calypso Turkey Salad = 8 Points Plu

• 1 pound cooked turkey breast, cubed
• 1 1/2 cups organic celery, diagonally sliced
• 1 cup organic seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 large organic tart apple, cubed
• 1/2 cup organic plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chutney, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon curry powder
• loose leaf lettuce, as needed
• 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Preparation
Combine turkey, celery, grapes, raisins, green onions and apple in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, chutney and curry powder.
Pour dressing over turkey mixture and toss well to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour to blend flavors.
Serve on lettuce leaves and garnish with peanuts.
Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Makes 6 servings

Mary went home from our meeting and made the Cole Slaw recipe that Linda shared with us. Here is how she made it. It sounds great.

                                  Cole Slaw= 0 Points Plus

I used fat free Miracle Whip. 1 tbl was 0 points. I multiplied it by 4 and it was still 0 points ( that's 1/4 cup, which is a lot) , then I put in 1/8 tsp Apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of Truvia. I wanted to put Carraway seeds in, but didn't have any, so I used Coriander Seeds which were ground. Then I started adding the broccoli cole slaw. I used about 1/2 bag, which was not enough for the dressing I made. So, I added more slaw. I added the Coriander seed at the end, and not knowing how much to use, I just added it to taste. This was really good.

Here are some more ideas for using broccoli slaw. I like putting it into 1- Spring Roll Wrapper along with 1 oz. shrimp, a little cilantro, and green onion. Serve with 1 Tbsp. Trader Joes Spicy Peanut Dressing. = 2 Points Plus

I also stuff it into my pita sandwiches, fish tacos, I add Newmans Own Sesame Ginger Dressing and serve as a salad, I add to stir frys, mix into Shiratake Noodles with some grilled chicken and a wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese. These are just a few ideas for the very versatile Broccoli Slaw.

Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa Recipe - Health.com   = 6 Points Plus

Turkey Reuben Recipe  = 9 Point Plus


Arugula Pear Salad = 3 Points Plus
Ingredients

• 4 cups arugula
• 1 half of a small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup toasted almond slivers
• 1/4 cup reduced fat blue cheese crumbles (I used the kind by Treasure Cave)
• 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp sugar

Toast almonds by placing in a small, un-greased skillet over medium high heat. Toss every few minutes until almonds brown, about 6 minutes. Set aside.

1. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, sugar and white balsamic vinegar.
2. In a large bowl, combine arugula and onion, and add in the dressing. Toss well.
3. Top with the almonds and blue cheese crumbles.

4 Servings= 3 PP

                                     



                            Cauliflower Broccoli Raisin Salad ( I love this salad)
2 1/2 cup cauliflower chopped small
2 1/2 cup broccoli chopped small
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup raisins
2 Tbsp. Hormel bacon bits
1/2 cup Kraft Free mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. white vinegar
2 Tbsp. Splenda
Mix all  ingredients  together in bowl. Cover and  chill in fridge for 2 hours. Stir to mix and serve.  2/3 cup = 2 Points Plus

                                        Green Beans and Caramelized Onions

                                               Serves 6- 1 Points Plus

 1 tablespoon margarine, or butter                 

1 1/2 cup(s) onion(s), chopped 1 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar, balsamic, or red wine vinegar                 
1/2 ounce(s) pepper(s), red sweet, roasted, drained and finely chopped
1/4 cup(s) olives, pitted, ripe, quartered                 
2 tablespoon basil, fresh, snipped
1/4 teaspoon salt                 
1/4 teaspoon pepper, black                 
1 pounds beans, green, cut into 2-inch lengths                 

1. In a large heavy skillet heat margarine or butter over medium heat until melted. Cook and stir onion and sugar in margarine or butter about 10 minutes or until the onion is very tender and golden brown. Stir in vinegar. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more or until liquid evaporates. Stir in the roasted red peppers, olives, basil, salt, and black pepper. Remove skillet from heat; keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook the green beans, covered, in a small amount of boiling water about 10 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. To serve, stir caramelized onion into green beans

                            
                                           

                              About the meeting and my week:

I really liked the meeting today. It  was nice to get ideas of  varieties of fruits and veggies  that I haven't tried. I also enjoyed looking for ways to use fruits and veggies in recipes. I haven't tried the recipes above but I did do the  points on them  and  I look forward to hearing from you if you try any of  these. 

Below I've included pictures of my fridge. I thought the story Kim told us about the leader from Redding doing this was very interesting.  I also intend to take my measurements this week and see how many inches I have lost.  Sometimes I forget how far I've come. This will be a great reminder.

My week this week was not successful on the scale because I discovered you don't lose weight eating 2 bags of 75% off Easter jelly beans, potato chips and ice cream sandwiches in the evening from 8- 10pm 3 nights out of 7.  My biggest struggle still is my night time eating. I have tried going to bed early, staying busy on the computer , reading, you name it. About 75 % of the time I can over come this bad habit but the other 25% gets me  in trouble. I know this is something I will change as I continue on this journey. Like all new habits it just takes time to figure out what I can replace this bad habit with.  I hope you all have a wonderful week and don't forget to try some kind of fruit or veggie that you have never eaten before. With the wonderful weather we are having and all the great spring fruits and veggies now available, how can we go wrong.

                                           MY FRIDGE

                                               MY THURSDAY VEGGIE/FRUIT FILLED DAY


           Thursday Breakfast
Subway 5 Points Plus Sandwich. Whole Wheat English Muffin, 1 slice bacon, Egg White, loads of veggies. Thanks for sharing breakfast with me Sara.


 Thursday Lunch

1 whole wheat tortilla, 3 oz. turkey breast, lettuce, zucchini, radishes, carrots, bell pepper, laughing cow cheese  wedge, 1 Tbsp. fat free ranch= 6 Points Plus                  

                                    Dinner                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

1  WW Smart One Macaroni and Cheese , broccoli, green-yellow-red bell pepper, mushrooms=
                                         8 Points Plus

Snacks: Apple with Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Wedge,  Banana with Trader Joes Better N Peanut Butter = 3 Points Plus


DESSERT
I made the 1-2-3 cake recipe that Kim told us about. I took 3 Tbsp. Angel Food Cake mix, 2 Tbsp. water . Mix thoroughly in small bowl, place into microwave and bake for 1 minute. It was just enough to serve with my strawberries and reddi-whip. 3 Points Plus

The recipe Kim gave us:
 Single Serve Cakes = 3 Points Plus
1- angel food cake mix
1- any flavor regular cake mix
 Combine these 2 mixes together with a whisk. Store in zip lock bag. When ready to use shake bag to mix well.
To make cake:
3 Tbsp. cake mixture
2 Tbsp. water
Mix in small bowl, micro-wave for 1 minute. Enjoy

Great minds think alike. Got an email from Mary M and she also went home and made the single serve cake. She used a chocolate cake. She made it in an 8 oz. cup.  After it cooled she topped with crushed raspberries, cool whip and a 1/2 tsp. chocolate syrup. Mary said it was HEAVEN.

Dare to accomplish the things you've only dreamed about doing. If you can dream it, you can do it!

— Denise

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my Doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take a aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But by the time I got my leotards on the class was over.




Not dressing up the meal with color is like sending someone out of the house without clothes.
                                        
                             See You All On Thursday

Enjoy, I did.

Inspiration

If you recline, you decline. If you sit, you quit. If you don't use it, you lose it. Keep going for your goals! — Denise All you can ask of yourself is that you try your very best. — Denise Save

Creamy Lemon Pie

Deb made this WW recipe for Easter. She said it is very good.



Creamy Lemon Pie

10 servings, 5pp per serving


6 whole reduced fat cinnamon graham crackers

2 Tbsp salted butter

11 oz sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grind crackers in a food processor until crumbs form. Or place crackers in a resealable plastic bag and crush with rolling pin. Place crumbs in small bowl.

Melt butter in microwave and pour over graham cracker crumbs, mixing with a fork until completely moistened. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom of 9-inch pie pan;
place crust in refrigerator while preparing lemon filling.

In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk and eggs, mix until smooth. Add lemon juice and zest; stir until incorporated and pour into prepared crust.

Bake pie for 15 minutes. Cool completely and for best flavor, serve well chilled. Yields 1 piece per serving.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

SparkPeople Funnies

10 Ways You CAN Exercise At Home without Any Equipment

Posted in: Exercise, Exercise Strategies, Exercise Tips, Tips

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to afford all of that fancy equipment used in the gyms? Well, as nice as it sounds, it just isn’t an option for most people. And since exercise is so important, you need to find exercises that are effective and don’t require any equipment at all.
To make these exercises even more fun, you can blast music while you’re doing them. Some you can even do while watching TV.
See: 10 Ways to Exercise While Watching TV
Now you have no more excuses! Here are 10 great exercises that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment:

1. Walking – If the weather is nice, it’s wonderful to get outside and enjoy the scenery around you while you exercise. However, if the weather has other ideas, you can just as easily get an effective walking workout at home. If you have a flight of stairs, go up and down them a few times. (You could even grab a load of laundry as you’re going that way anyway!) This will help to tone up your legs, while getting some low impact aerobic exercise as well. If you don’t have any stairs available, just walk around the house a few times – it may not be very exciting, but it will do the job!See: How Many Calories Burned Walking 3.0 mph
2. Jumping Jacks – These are always fun, as they bring back memories of being a kid! Who hasn’t done jumping jacks for fun as a child? Well, surprise – they are also great cardio exercises, and good for warming up, too.
3. Pushups – These are probably not the most favorite exercise of many people, but while they can be hard to do, you can find easier ways to do them. You don’t need to pretend you’re “Rocky”, and do them with one hand; just do what works for you. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles in your chest area.
4. Leg Lifts – These are great for building up strength and muscles in your legs. If you find it hard to do the exercises with your legs straight, try bending them slightly.See: 10 Minute Workout for Your Butt, Hips and Thighs
5. Crunches – The best exercise for building up and strengthening abdominal muscles. When you’re just getting started, don’t worry about getting your head all the way up. So long as you’re going up until you feel the stretching of the muscles, you will see some benefit.See: 1000 Crunches a Day and Still No Abs!
6. Jogging In Place – Jogging is a great exercise for your heart. You can jog in place at home while watching TV or listening to music. The only equipment you will require is a good pair of shoes, to eliminate any stress to your legs.
7. Squats – These are wonderful exercises for your legs and buttocks. You can even just try these by sitting and standing up again from a regular chair, if you’re finding them to be too difficult. As long as you’re able to do a few repetitions, you will be providing some benefit to your body.
8. Light Weight Lifting – No, you don’t need to go out and buy expensive weights for this! Just use whatever you can find in your house. Start out with something lighter, such as a can of peas, and work yourself up to heavier items. You can use milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles or even water jugs.
9. Dancing – Dancing is a wonderful exercise, which is great for your heart. Not only that, but it can lift your spirits as well, and give your overall feeling a boost.
10. Step Exercises – Using the steps in your home, you can do repetitions which will tone your leg muscles. (Just remember to be careful!)

Getting some exercise is important, but you don’t need to go out and join a gym, paying a large amount in membership fees each month. You don’t even need the expensive equipment in order to give your body an effective workout. Use what you have in your house, and work out in the comfort of your home. You will be more likely to keep up with the exercises when you’re comfortable, so just get up and start exercising!

Arugula Pear Salad Recipe with Blue Cheese

 

This fabulous gourmet Arugula Pear Salad Recipe is not only delicious, but very diet friendly at just 3 Points + per serving. It makes a wonderful healthy lunch idea or add some chicken or salmon and make it a meal.

Ingredients

• 4 cups arugula
• 1 half of a small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup toasted almond slivers
• 1/4 cup reduced fat blue cheese crumbles (I used the kind by Treasure Cave)
• 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp sugar

Instructions

1. Toast almonds by placing in a small, un-greased skillet over medium high heat. Toss every few minutes until almonds brown, about 6 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, sugar and white balsamic vinegar.
3. In a large bowl, combine arugula and onion, and add in the dressing. Toss well.
4. Top with the almonds and blue cheese crumbles.

4 Servings= 3 PP

From LaaLoosh      If you click on the link it will take you to many amazing WW Points Plus recipes.

Green Beans and Carmelized Onions

Ingredients = serves 6- 1 PP

• 1 tablespoon margarine, or butter
• 1 1/2 cup(s) onion(s), chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar, balsamic, or red wine vinegar
• 1/2 ounce(s) pepper(s), red sweet, roasted, drained and finely chopped
• 1/4 cup(s) olives, pitted, ripe, quartered
• 2 tablespoon basil, fresh, snipped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, black
• 1 pounds beans, green, cut into 2-inch lengths

Preparation

1. In a large heavy skillet heat margarine or butter over medium heat until melted. Cook and stir onion and sugar in margarine or butter about 10 minutes or until the onion is very tender and golden brown. Stir in vinegar. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more or until liquid evaporates. Stir in the roasted red peppers, olives, basil, salt, and black pepper. Remove skillet from heat; keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook the green beans, covered, in a small amount of boiling water about 10 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. To serve, stir caramelized onion into green beans

Meals I made this week.

Just a few of the great meal items I made this week. I think I have posted all the recipes on the Blog in earlier blogs.

Lavosh Pizza

One serving of Lavosh Pizza = 8PP

Pumpkin Spice Cake with berries and tea 3 PP

Crockpot Clam Chowder with Cornbread=10 PP (with 1 Piece cornbread=7PP)

New Items from Trader Joe's

Veggie Pizza made from Trader Joe's Spicy Spinach Pizza and Broccoli Slaw with Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette=6 PP

Veggie Breakfast Burrito made with Trader Joe's 1 PP tortilla.=2PP

Cake made with diet soda

PointsPlus®value | 3 Servings | 24 Preparation Time | min Cooking Time | min Level of Difficulty | Easy cakes | Use any prepackaged cake mix flavor with any diet soda! The variations and possibilities are endless!

Ingredients

• 1 package(s) regular white cake dry mix
• 1 serving(s) diet soda (any flavor)

Instructions

• Mix cake mix with 12 oz of diet soda! Stir until cake is completely mixed in, some lumps will remain. Bake cake or cupcakes to box instructions (using the least amount of time recommended). Some recommendations for flavor combinations: diet root beer + spice cake = my favorite diet 7up/sprite + any flavor cake diet cherry coke/pepsi + devils food or chocolate cake diet cherry 7up + white cake diet orange soda + white or chocolate cake for toppings/frosting (points plus not included) I recommend using some powdered sugar with the same flavor of soda for a "light" glaze or using a small amount of store bought frosting, but don't forget to count the points plus for it!

Tomato Asparagus Salad

 

This might be something light to start you Easter Meal off with

Replenish your body with vitamin C, B vitamins and Vitamin K in this refreshing side salad. Have it with lean chicken, beef or beans you'll absorb more of the iron in these foods. You need enough iron to deliver oxygen to your muscles.

Ingredients 1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed 8 cups romaine lettuce, torn 1/3 cup low fat Italian salad dressing 12 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, shredded

Preparation (Serves 6) Cook asparagus in boiling water 5-6 minutes or until crisp-tender; plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Divide lettuce between 6 plates, arrange asparagus and tomatoes on top and drizzle with Italian dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and chill 1 hour before serving.

My Meatless Monday Meals

Breakfast: 1-High Fiber Tortilla =1PP
                  1 Tbsp.- Better N Peanut Butter= 1PP
                  1 Banana- 0PP
                  1 Cup Fat Free Milk=2PP
                  TOTAL = 4 Points Plus

Lunch: Pluto's in Chico (First time there. 2 Thumbs Up)
            Spinach
            Mushrooms
            Onion
            Sweet Potato
            Carrots
            Orange
            Pineapple
            Bell Pepper
            1 Tbsp-  Fat Free Raspberry Walnut Dressing= 1 PP
            TOTAL= 1 Points Plus

PLUTO'S MENU   Green Salads:

Our produce is purchased daily and each salad is tossed to your liking by our salad chef. Each salad comes with your choice of freshly baked Sourdough, Wheat, or Foccacia bread. Have our fabulous Caesar Salad, Farmer Greens or Baby Spinach.

Step One – Choose Your Lettuce
Farmer's Greens	Romaine	Baby Spinach

Step Two – Choose the Size
Side Salad	Main Salad

Step Three – Choose Your Seven Salad Fixings
Broccoli Cucumbers Red Onions Beets Jicama Peas Carrots Mixed Seeds	Grilled Fennel Sweet Walnuts Plum Tomatoes Green Beans Navel Oranges Sweet Corn Garbanzo Beans Seasonal Toppings	Crunchy Croutons Parmesan Cheese California Raisins Granny Smith Apples Sautéed Mushrooms Caramelized Onions Crumbled Blue Cheese Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Step Four (Optional) – Add Meat or Vegetarian Option To Your Salad
Grilled Herbed Chicken Breast Herb Roasted Sonoma Turkey Grilled Spice Rubbed Tri-Tip Steak Aidells Poultry Sausage	Crispy Chicken Asteroids Grilled Portobello Mushroom

Step Five – Dress Your Salad with One of Our Homemade Dressings
Balsamic Vinaigrette Gorgonzola Vinaigrette Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette	Caesar Dressing Low Fat Yogurt Based Honey Mustard Seasonal Dressings  (Fat Free Raspberry Walnut )

Meats & Sandwiches:

Every day we carve our own oven-roasted poultry and grilled meats. Have it carved on a plate or as a grilled sandwich on our freshly baked breads.

Step One - Choose Your Meat or Vegetarian Option
Herb Roasted Sonoma Turkey Grilled Herbed Chicken Breast Grilled Spice Rubbed Tri-Tip Steak	Aidells Poultry Sausage Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Roasted Red Peppers
*If you would like your meat carved on a plate, you can skip to Veggies & Sides.

Step Two – Choose From Our Freshly Baked Sandwich Bread
California Sourdough Herbed Foccacia	Rustic Ciabatta Roll Wheat

Step Three – Choose Your Condiments
Low-Fat Garlic Mayonnaise Sierra Nevada Honey Mustard Caramelized Onions	Plum Tomatoes Baby Greens

Step Four (Optional) - Choose Any Extras
Pluto's Homemade BBQ Sauce Roasted Red Pepper Jarlsberg Swiss Buffalo Sauce Basil Pesto	Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce Tillamook Cheddar Sorrento Provolone Pepper Jack Pepperocini's

Stellar Sandwich Specials:

Celestial Sandwich of the Week A weekly special sandwich featuring a variety of freshly prepared meats & spreads Lunar Dip Our version of a French Dip! Tri-tip steak with horseradish mayo & provolone cheese Mozzarella Moon Fresh mozzarella with basil pesto, balsamic vinaigrette & tomatoes Chicken Comet Grilled chicken breast with BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes & jalapeño mayo

Veggies & Sides:

Accompanying the meal is a full range of freshly prepared vegetables and potatoes from which to choose.

Smashed Spuds of the Day Pan Cooked Vegetable Galaxy Seasonal Veggies Neptune's Stuffing – Thanksgiving all year round Mushrooms of the Moment Saturn's Garlic Potato Rings – Better than fries Orbital Onion Rings with Pluto's BBQ dipping sauce Crater of Orbital Soup Martian Mac N' Cheese Solar Sweet Potato Fries

Sweets:

Our sweets are homemade and scrumptious. We offer a delicious variety of:

Big Cookies Pecan Bars Rice Krispies	Cheesecake Brownies Double Fudge Brownies Carmelitas	Lemon Bars Peanut Butter Cookies ...and many more
Check out our daily delights, which will satisfy any sweet tooth!

Quenchers:

We offer free refills on all sodas, coffee and tea drinks.

Freshly Brewed Coffee Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite & Other Sodas Freshly Brewed Regular or Flavored Iced Teas or Kettle of Hot Tea Flavored Bubbly or Still Water California Micro Brews California Wines Thomas Kemper Root Beer, Original or Diet 2% Milk Harney Bottled Juices Vitamin Water

 Dinner: Trader Joe's Spicy Spinach Pizza = 4 PP
               28 gm Mozzarella Cheese= 2 PP
                Bell Pepper=0 PP
               2 Tbsp- Pizza Sauce =0 PP
               Broccoli Slaw tossed with  2 Tbsp. Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Dressing= 2 PP
              Baby Carrots with 1 Tbsp. Trader Joe's Hummus Dressing =1 PP
               TOTAL: 9 PP

 Trader Joe's Pizza--Broccoli Slaw with Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Dressing







New Products from Trader Joe's

Last night I made a Pizza with the Spicy Spinach Pizza. Only 4 PP and it was Wonderful. I made a salad with Broccoli Slaw and 2 Tbsp. of the Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette. It was very good. I served baby carrots with the Hummus Dressing. I have decided I'm not a Hummus person. Its fun to try new things even if they are not to your taste. I will keep trying to figure something  out I can use the Hummus Dressing on. Any Ideas? 

For breakfast I used a 1 PP tortilla, spread with 1 Tbsp. Better'N Peanut Butter and microwaved for 10 seconds. Wrapped around a Banana for 3 PP. Quick and Easy on the go Meal.  Tomorrow I plan on making one of the 2 PP waffles topped with Mixed Berries and 1 Tbsp. Greek Yogurt. MMM

Deb and Terry thank you for sharing your Trader Joe's food finds. It's worth the trip to Trader Joe's to pick up some of these incredible finds.

Todays Inspiration

Approach difficult tasks with a positive attitude — you'll inspire others and feel better about what's ahead! — Denise

Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Photo: Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute Recipe

Rated 5 stars out of 5

 Yield:

4 servings

Save ToSelect Folder:All My Recipes

Or Create New Folder

Please limit to 20 characters

Your Name

Your E-Mail Address

Friends' E-Mail Addresses

Separate multiple e-mail addresses with a comma.

Maximum 20 e-mail addresses.

Your Message

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut in half
• Coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 portobello mushroom caps, halved and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup dry sherry       (I would use chiken broth)

Directions

Simmer green beans in salted boiling water 5 minutes. Drain green beans and return skillet to moderate heat. Add oil and butter to the pan. Add onions and saute 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Saute mushrooms 3 to 5 minutes with onions, add green beans back to the pan. Heat green beans through and add sherry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer green beans and mushrooms to a serving plate.