Cheesecake Recipe, Quick & Easy (No Bake)

My mom & sister picked up the ingredients for me to make two cheesecakes for the Church Christmas party tonight, so I made these last night only to find out that the pastor had already bought some! :) Oh well, they certainly won't go to waste around MY house!

Chocolate-Banana Filled Crepes

This is Paula Deen's recipe. My 15 yr old son loves this and makes it for all his friends (and neighbors! ;o)

Egg Drop Soup

Had a craving for this today:



Atkins variety:



I added Chow Mein noodles for a crunchy topping. Of course, while I sitting there enjoying my soup my sister & mother called inviting me out to the Breakfast Bar at Shoney's! (But I was already full! ;o)

Panini Breakfasts

Panini grills are becoming more and more popular for cooking fast, delicious, and easy simple meals at home. One simply warms the grill, put in the sandwich, and (checking for desired browning) in about 3 minutes (depending on brand) a yummy treat is ready to eat. It’s fun to experiment with different breads and fillings, but here are three recipes sure to please.

Preheat grill per manufacturer instructions.

Each of these tasty recipes makes one grilled panini sandwich.
Best French Toasted Breakfast Panini

This super easy recipe makes a delicious breakfast sandwich filled with cream cheese and favorite preserves and dusted outside with sweet powdered sugar. These are pretty and special enough for guests.

Ingredients:

* 2 slices French bread, sliced thickly (about 1 inch)
* Cream cheese (roughly 3 tablespoons)
* Preserves or jam (roughly 3 tablespoons of favorite flavor)
* Butter to coat outside of sandwich
* Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Lay out French bread slices
2. Mix cream cheese and preserves (try apricot, strawberry, blueberry or orange marmalade)
3. Spread cream cheese/preserve mixture on one side of a slice of bread and then top with remaining slice (sandwiching mixture)
4. Spread the outside of bread with butter
5. Place in grill
6. Grill as desired (see manufacturer’s instructions)
7. Remove sandwich from grill and immediately dust with powdered sugar

Variations:

Rather than preserves, add cinnamon and raisins to cream cheese.

Fill with cream cheese only. Eat as French toast, topped with syrup.
Morning Omelette Panini Recipe

A yummy mix of cheese, ham, eggs and peppers; a whole breakfast in one sandwich.

Ingredients:

* 1 hoagie roll or hearty bread of choice
* 2 slices mild cheddar or American cheese
* 4 slices deli ham
* 4 slices sweet roasted peppers
* 2 eggs, scrambled
* Butter or margarine

Directions:

1. Cut roll open or lay out thick bread slices
2. Lay cheese, ham, peppers, and eggs inside sandwich
3. Close sandwich and butter outsides
4. Grill in panini press per manufacturer instructions or to preference

Yummy Breakfast or Brunch Panini Sandwich

Egg, avocado, ham and cheese make this a hearty and healthy breakfast one can grab on the go.

Ingredients:

* 2 slices hearty bread
* 1 egg, fried
* 1/2 avocado
* 2 slices cheddar cheese
* 2 slices ham

Directions:

1. Spread avocado on bread
2. Add cheese, ham, and fried egg
3. Close sandwich and place in panini maker
4. Cook around three minutes and serve

Variation:

Leave out the ham to make it vegetarian.

http://breakfast-recipes.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_great_breakfast_panini_recipes

Delicious Panini Sandwich Recipes & Recipe Ideas

I bought an electric grill press or panini maker yesterday and I've already done chicken in it (for White Chicken Chili) and sausage for breakfast. So, I started looked for recipes/ideas and came across this:

How to Make Grilled Sandwiches and Easy Meals Hot off a Panino Maker
© Janienne Jennrich

A panini sandwich grill, press or panini make is a must-have small appliance for today’s semi-gourmet kitchen. At reasonable prices from about $35 and up, panini makers are within most family budgets. A panini grill is a fun party idea, too. One would also make a terrific family Christmas gift.

Following, find starter ideas for stuffing your choice of breads to make fabulous meals. Feel free to improvise these panini sandwich cooking recipes and experiment with cooking taste combinations that are delicious, elegant, and enticing. Be sure to read appliance instructions for grilling times & tips.

Quick and Easy Basic Panini Recipes for a Sandwich Grill Press

• Pizza Panini: Fill Italian bread slices with favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings.
• Turkey Club Sandwich Panini: Sliced turkey, swiss cheese, bacon slices (pre-cooked), tomato slices, and mayo, grilled on bread of choice.
• Shaved Smoked Ham, Cheddar Cheese, and Tomato Panini: Pile above and add mayonnaise and/or mustard into sourdough bread and grill.
• Ham or Turkey and Pepperjack Cheese Panini: Pile above into English muffin or sourdough bread and grill.

Vegetarian Panini Grilled Sandwich Recipes (including milk and egg products)

• Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Panini: Layer thinly sliced ingredients inside bread of choice (ciabatta is a good choice). Add favorite spreads or drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and a sprinkle of garlic, if desired, before grilling.
• Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Havarti Cheese Panini: Add mayonnaise if desired or drizzle with Italian dressing. Grill on Italian bread and serve with a variety of olives.
• Grilled Veggie Panini: Lightly grill veggies of choice (onions, mushrooms and thinly-sliced zucchini for instance) and fill bread of choice with the veggies and cheese or tofu.
• Good Ol’ Grilled Cheese Panini: Just like it sounds. Experiment with favorite varieties of cheeses. Crispy and delicious.

Vegan Panini Sandwich Ideas for a Panini Press

• Grilled Veggie Panini: Prepare as above, omitting or substituting vegan cheese. Add bread and condiments of choice.
• Grilled Mushroom, Tomato, and Onion Panini: Add bread and condiments of choice.

Yummy Dessert Panini Recipe Ideas:

Begin with a sweet bread or even day-old sliced cake. Try experimenting with fillings such as:

• Cinnamon, sugar, and butter
• Cream cheese and strawberry jam
• Pie filling (such as apple with cinnamon or cherry)

Read more: http://lunch-recipes.suite101.com/article.cfm/tasty_panini_sandwich_recipe_ideas#ixzz0RZFddHcH

Also see A+ Yummy Breakfast Panini Recipes, Panini Sandwich Party Recipe Ideas, and Easy Vegetarian Panini Recipes.

For more good ideas, see the websites Panini Sandwiches and How to Make Pizza Dough.

A panini is a delicious crisp grilled sandwich, fast, easy and elegant meal good for anytime. Ideas to make quick food on a panini sandwich grill, press or maker.

A panini sandwich grill, press or panini make is a must-have small appliance for today’s semi-gourmet kitchen. At reasonable prices from about $35 and up, panini makers are within most family budgets. A panini grill is a fun party idea, too. One would also make a terrific family Christmas gift.

Following, find starter ideas for stuffing your choice of breads to make fabulous meals. Feel free to improvise these panini sandwich cooking recipes and experiment with cooking taste combinations that are delicious, elegant, and enticing. Be sure to read appliance instructions for grilling times & tips.

Quick and Easy Basic Panini Recipes for a Sandwich Grill Press

• Pizza Panini: Fill Italian bread slices with favorite pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings.
• Turkey Club Sandwich Panini: Sliced turkey, swiss cheese, bacon slices (pre-cooked), tomato slices, and mayo, grilled on bread of choice.
• Shaved Smoked Ham, Cheddar Cheese, and Tomato Panini: Pile above and add mayonnaise and/or mustard into sourdough bread and grill.
• Ham or Turkey and Pepperjack Cheese Panini: Pile above into English muffin or sourdough bread and grill.

Vegetarian Panini Grilled Sandwich Recipes (including milk and egg products)

• Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Panini: Layer thinly sliced ingredients inside bread of choice (ciabatta is a good choice). Add favorite spreads or drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and a sprinkle of garlic, if desired, before grilling.
• Marinated Artichoke Hearts and Havarti Cheese Panini: Add mayonnaise if desired or drizzle with Italian dressing. Grill on Italian bread and serve with a variety of olives.
• Grilled Veggie Panini: Lightly grill veggies of choice (onions, mushrooms and thinly-sliced zucchini for instance) and fill bread of choice with the veggies and cheese or tofu.
• Good Ol’ Grilled Cheese Panini: Just like it sounds. Experiment with favorite varieties of cheeses. Crispy and delicious.

Vegan Panini Sandwich Ideas for a Panini Press

• Grilled Veggie Panini: Prepare as above, omitting or substituting vegan cheese. Add bread and condiments of choice.
• Grilled Mushroom, Tomato, and Onion Panini: Add bread and condiments of choice.

Yummy Dessert Panini Recipe Ideas:

Begin with a sweet bread or even day-old sliced cake. Try experimenting with fillings such as:

• Cinnamon, sugar, and butter
• Cream cheese and strawberry jam
• Pie filling (such as apple with cinnamon or cherry)

Read more: http://lunch-recipes.suite101.com/article.cfm/tasty_panini_sandwich_recipe_ideas#ixzz0RZF5uMKm

Biggest Loser - Recipes - Frozen Gramwiches

LISA ANDREONE'S FROZEN GRAMWICHES

Ingredients:

2 whole low-fat graham crackers
¼ cup light or fat-free frozen whipped topping (any flavor)

Instructions

Break each graham cracker in half to get four halves. Spread two of the halves evenly with the whipped topping. Top with the remaining cracker halves to make sandwiches. Transfer to an airtight plastic container. Cover tightly and place in the freezer. Freeze for at least 2 hours or up to 1 month. Serve frozen.
Makes 1 serving

Per serving: 150 calories, 2 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 polyunsaturated fat, 0 monounsaturated fat, 0 cholesterol, <1 g fiber, 150 mg sodium

http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2006 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Biggest Loser - Recipes - Chicken Salad

TRUDI'S CHICKEN SALAD A LA SUZY

Ingredients:

4 small (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of visible fat
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon hot-pepper sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice, preferably fresh-squeezed
- Olive oil spray
10 cups (about 10 ounces) spring mix salad greens
1 bell pepper (any color), sliced into strips
1 large cucumber, seeded and sliced into bite-sized chunks
32 baby carrots
1 cup alfalfa, broccoli, or mung bean sprouts
4-8 tablespoons light balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions:
In a large, resealable plastic bag, combine the chicken, Worcestershire sauce, hot-pepper sauce, and lemon juice. Seal the bag. Shake until the chicken is coated. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

Preheat a grill to high heat. Remove the chicken from the bag. Discard the marinade bag. Lightly mist the chicken with oil spray. Place the chicken on the grill. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Remove the chicken to a plate. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

To prepare the salads: Cut the cooled chicken breasts into bite-sized strips. In each of four large, resealable plastic bags, combine about 2 1/2 cups of salad greens, one-quarter of the bell pepper, one-quarter of the cucumber, one-quarter of the carrots, one-quarter of the sprouts, and one-quarter of the reserved chicken. Seal the bags. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Before packing for lunch, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to each bag. Seal the bag/s.

Just before serving, shake the salad to toss with the vinaigrette. Pour into a serving bowl or eat from the bag.
Makes 4 servings

Per serving: 258 calories, 32 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, <1 g saturated fat, <1 g polyunsaturated fat, trace monounsaturated fat, 66 mg cholesterol, 8 g fiber, 463 mg sodium

http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2008 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Biggest Loser - Recipes - Stuffed Mushrooms

STRENGTH-BUILDER'S STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Ingredients:

Olive oil spray
4 medium button mushrooms
2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1½ tablespoons crumbled fat-free feta cheese
½ teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly mist a small baking dish with oil spray.
Pull the stems from the mushrooms by gently twisting the stem until it comes loose and pulls from the mushroom top. Mince the stems and place in a small mixing bowl. Place the caps in the reserved baking dish stem-side up.

Add the parsley, cheese, oil, and cayenne to the bowl. Stir to mix well. Spoon the mixture evenly onto the reserved mushroom caps. Divide the remaining mixture evenly among the mushroom caps, mounding the filling on each cap.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are tender. Let the mushrooms stand to cool slightly before serving.
***Makes 1 serving

Per serving: 48 calories, 4 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, trace saturated fat, trace polyunsaturated fat, 2 g monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, <1 g fiber, 157 mg sodium.


http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2008 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Biggest Loser - Recipes - New Orleans Rubbed Chicken with Apricot-Mustard Sauce

NEW ORLEANS RUBBED CHICKEN WITH APRICOT MUSTARD SAUCE

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon dried thyme
½ tablespoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne, to taste
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 small (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of visible fat
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup apricot 100% fruit preserves
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

Instructions

Preheat the grill to high heat.

In a small bowl, combine the thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne to taste, and salt. Mix to blend.

Place the chicken on a large plate or platter. Drizzle with the oil. Rub to coat the chicken evenly with the oil. Sprinkle the reserved seasoning mixture over the chicken. Rub to coat evenly. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes for the seasonings to flavor the chicken.

Meanwhile, spoon the preserves into a small microwaveable bowl. Cook on low power in 15-second intervals, or until melted. Stir in the mustard until well blended. Set aside.

Place the chicken on the grill and reduce the heat to medium move away from direct heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until no longer pink and the juices run clear. Serve each breast with 2 1/2 tablespoons of the reserved sauce spooned over the top.
***Makes 4 servings

Per serving (1 chicken breast + 2 tablespoons of sauce): 197 calories, 26 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, <1 g saturated fat, trace polyunsaturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 66 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 245 mg sodium





http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2008 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Biggest Loser - Recipes - Bacon & Egg Burrito

ENERGIZING BACON & EGG BREAKFAST BURRITO

Ingredients:

Olive oil cooking spray
3 large egg whites
1 strip nitrate-free turkey bacon, chopped
¼ cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons seeded, chopped fresh tomatoes
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour, 96% fat-free tortilla (8” diameter)
2 tablespoons (1/2 ounce) finely shredded Cabot® 75% Light Cheddar cheese

2 teaspoons red taco sauce

Instructions

Coat a small microwaveable bowl with cooking spray. Add the egg whites. Set aside.

Set a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it is hot enough for a spritz of water to sizzle on it. With an oven mitt, briefly remove the pan from the heat to coat with cooking spray. Set over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes. Add the onion. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp.

Add the tomatoes. Cook for about 1 minute, or until just heated. Remove the bacon mixture to a bowl. Cover to keep warm. Place the tortilla in the pan and return to medium-high heat. Cook for about 30 seconds per side, or until just warm.

Meanwhile, microwave the egg whites on low power for 30 seconds. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until they are just a bit runny on top. Stir them with a fork, breaking into large pieces. If they are still undercooked, cook them in 10-second intervals until just done. Stir in the reserved bacon mixture.

Place the tortilla on a serving plate. Sprinkle on the cheese leaving about 2” bare on one end, in an even strip (about 3” wide) running across the center. Top with the reserved egg white mixture and drizzle on the taco sauce. Fold the bare end of the tortilla up over the filling, and then fold the sides of the tortilla over the middle. Serve immediately.
Makes 1 serving

Per serving: 251 calories, 24 g protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat, <1 g saturated fat, trace polyunsaturated fat, trace monounsaturated fat, 28 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 630 mg sodium



http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2008 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Biggest Loser - Recipes - Pancakes

BETTER BLUEBERRY PANCAKES

Ingredients:

½	cup reduced-fat buttermilk
½	cup whole grain oat flour
1	large egg white, lightly beaten
½	teaspoon baking soda
¼	teaspoon vanilla extract
¼	teaspoon salt
½	cup fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries
Sugar-free, low-calorie pancake syrup (optional) 100% fruit orange marmalade spread (optional) Instructions: Preheat the oven to 200°F. In a small mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, flour, egg white, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Whisk just until blended. Stir in the blueberries. Let stand for 10 minutes. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until it is hot enough for a spritz of water to sizzle on it. With an oven mitt, briefly remove the pan from the heat to mist lightly with cooking spray. Return the pan to the heat. Pour the batter in 1/8-cup dollops onto the skillet to form 3 or 4 pancakes. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until bubbles appear on the tops and the bottoms are golden brown. Flip. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until browned on the bottom. Transfer to an oven-proof plate. Cover with aluminum foil. Place in the oven to keep warm. With an oven mitt, briefly remove the pan from the heat to mist lightly with cooking spray. Return the pan to the heat. Repeat the procedure with the remaining batter to make 8 pancakes total. Place 4 pancakes on each of 2 serving plates. Serve immediately with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® Spray and/or syrup or fruit spread, if desired. Makes 2 servings; eight 3” pancakes. Per serving: Each 4-pancake serving has: 140 calories, 8 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, <1> http://www.biggestloserclub.com/ © 2008 Rodale Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Easy Nachos

1 can campbells fiesta cheese soup
1 can campbells cheddar cheese soup
1 can green chilies
Some browned hamburger
Black olives
Maybe some salsa…

Chips!

Atkins Day 2 - Herbed Scrambled Eggs

Woke at 7am. Walked a mile before breakfast, with weights.

Breakfast:

2 Sausage Patties
3 Herbed Scrambled Eggs


I ate both in a low-carb tortilla as a breakfast burrito...

Felt bad. Took a nap from 11am-2:30!

Walked Nitro 10 blocks. No lunch. Was going to load up the lawnmower to have it repaired, but my mother & father-in-law called and said they would send Larry over to fix the roof, so Devyn and I went and got a snow-cone.

Danny & Larry showed up to fix the roof. Skipped lunch. Bathed, washed my hair because my sister called inviting us all to dinner at Ihop! I'll eat eggs and bacon or something there... ;o)

Danny is working on the lawnmower with Devyn!

Atkins Day 1 - Cheddar Cheese Soup

I seem to have stalled on my weight loss (even with all the exercise), so I'm taking up Atkins Induction again to give it a boost.

Went back to the Atkins.com website to look at the 2 wk meal plan and discovered:


This was so good that I had it twice: once for lunch and once for dinner (with 5 shrimp added).

I had sausage for breakfast and lots of cheese during the day (string, cubed).

Some sites I found looking for a photo of cheddar cheese soup: The Country Cook, Ordinary Recipes Made Gourmet.

A site I found while researching Atkins Induction: Low Carb Confidential and a list of recipes sites that she recommends:

http://www.lowcarbist.com/
http://www.atkins.com/Recipes.aspx
http://solitarydancer.wordpress.com/
http://cleochatra.blogspot.com/
http://lowcarbohydrate.blogspot.com/

You could spend the rest of your life with just these sites.

Traditional Black Beans & Rice

1 Tbs olive oil
¾ c. onion, chopped fine
½ c. green pepper, chopped fine
1 c. tomatoes, diced
1 can (15 oz) Bush's Seasoned Recipe black beans, drain & reserve juice
½ tspn thyme
1 tspn garlic salt
3 Tbs cider vinegar
½ tspn hot pepper sauce
**Optional: lime wedge or slice mango

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Cook onion & green pepper until tender. Stir in tomatoes, beans, thyme, and garlic salt & cook for 3 min.
Add vinegar, pepper sauce, and reserved juice, and continue to cook 5 min.
Serve over rice.
Garnish with lime wedge or sliced mango.

Marinated Chicken Alfredo

Marinated Chicken Alfredo

Marinate two boneless/skinless chicken breast in Ken's Steak House Asian Sesame with Ginger & Soy over night or for several hours. Cook chicken on grill or broil til done. Sauté in light olive oil with small amount of finely chopped onions & finely chopped pepper (as most kids don't like onions & pepper), in sauce pan. Add chicken and 1 jar Alfredo (I use the Walmart brand...it is excellent and much cheaper), stir everything together and simmer.

Boil 1 box of bow tie pasta or your choice. I add some frozen peas to the bow ties just before I drain. Mix your bow ties/peas/Alfredo mixture in baking dish. Top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees.

Submitted by Tammy Hines

Chicken Ranch Tacos

1 box (4.7 ox) taco shells - Old El Paso Stand 'n Stuff
3 c. cut up deli rotisserie chicken* (from 2-2½ lb chicken)
1 pkg (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
½ c. ranch dressing
1½ c. shredded lettuce
1 med. tomato, chopped (¼ c.)
1 c. shreddred Cheddar cheese (4 ox)
¼ c. sliced green onions
**Additional ranch dressing, if desired.

Heat oven to 325°F. Heat taco shells in oven as directed.
Meanwhile, in a medium microwavable bowl, place chicken. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix; toss gently to coat. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2-3 min or until hot. Stir in ½ cup dressing.
Spoon warm chicken mixture into heated taco shells. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and green onions. Drizzle with additional dressing.

Serves 5 (2 tacos each).

*Any diced, cooked chicken will suffice.

Beer Grilled Chops

4 bone-in pork chops, about ¾-in think
¼ c. soy sauce
2 Tbp brown sugar
2 tspn grated ginger root
1 c. beer

Place chops in a self-sealing plastic bag; add remaining ingredients & seal bag.
Gently massage bag to evenly distribute marinade ingredients.
Refrigerate 4-24 hrs.
Prepare medium-hot coals in kettle-style grill.
Remove chops from marinade & discard marinade; place on grill directly over coals, cover grill & grill for 10 min, turning once.

Serves 4.

Serve with pasta salad & grilled vegetable kabobs.

See also: Grecian Goddess Grilled Chops

Snow Pudding

1 Pkg (10 oz) marshmallows
½ c. milk
1 c. (½ pint) whipping cream, whipped
½ c. pecan pieces
1 Tbs lemon juice
½ tspn vanilla extract

Combine marshmallows & milk in a saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until marshmallows are melted; cool.
Fold in remaining ingredients.
Pour into a greased, 8 in square pan.
Chill until firm.

To serve: cut into squares and top with fresh berries or fresh/canned peaches. Makes 9 servings. Refrigerate leftovers.

Easy Grilled Chicken Teriaki

This looks good:

Country Fried or Chicken Fried Steak

My mother brought by some goodies that she found on sale at the grocery. (My mother is a thrifty shopper. It's amazing some of the stuff she finds.) One of those items was cubed round steak. I only know of one way to fix cubed, round steak so I made Country Fried Steak with white gravy & steak fries.


The meat was kind of tough - that's sometimes what you get when you buy stuff on clearance... :(

I also found this interesting recipe by Paula Deen and this history lesson about Chicken Fried steak.

Homemade Baked Macaroni & Cheese

My sister got this from a friend of hers and said that it was so good that she will probably never eat box macaroni again! I changed the name of my blog, made her an author and STILL couldn't get her to upload this recipe! (I always have to do everything...)



While looking for mac-n-cheese photos, I cam across a lot of potentially good recipes: Southern Plate; multiple choices from HubPages (one made with truffle oil).

Veggie Burrito

One of my buddies on Facebook said: "I just made the BEST veggie burrito!!! I love my new recipes! ...wild rice, black beans, couple of differnt kinds of cheese, and fresh veggies from the garden- onions, few different peppers. Topped with sour cream and fresh salsa with cilantro and lime." Sounds good! :)

Tender Chuck Roast

My girlfriend said that I should "try a can of cream of mushroom and a can of coke and cook [my chuck roast] in the crock pot" and that would make it sweet and tender and the meat would just "fall apart". I'll have to try that next time!

Spinach & Cheese Lasagna Rollups

My sister called this morning looking for this recipe on my blog. I couldn't believe that she remembered the name of my blog! So Joanie, here's the recipe.


As we discussed on the phone, I've also changed the name of the blog to Huntley-girls.blogspot.com so that you can contribute to this endeavor as well! The green hummingbird that just flew up to my window must approve! ;o)

Now, I expect that mac-n-cheese recipe to appear here shortly!

♥♥♥P.S. I love you. Thanks for being there for me & my family. I do appreciate you even if I get angry & have a hard time showing it sometimes... ♥♥♥

Cream Cheese Basil Sauce with Fettucini

Chicken Pecan

I was craving nuts one day and bought a package of pecans. I ate them over several days and it was only when I went to throw the package away that I noticed a recipe on the back. It sounded good, so I decided to try it sans pecans. It was really good, so I made it twice that week. I made it without celery, peppers, pecans or toasted muffins, but I bet it would be delicious if I had those ingredients... The 2nd time I made them, it seemed that I had a bunch of sauce so I dumped in some pasta shells. I really liked the outcome, but my family just scarfed it down as they were on their way to a concert.


I didn't take a photo. I figured they would be on Fisher's website, but for some reason they don't have that recipe. Although they do have a bunch of others that looked good...

Almond Danish Swirls - Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Paula Deen made these and I think with just a few substitutes to the recipe that they would make great Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (or Almond Danish Swirls ;o)

This recipe is also on this website.

Easy As Pie

Spent the weekend with my aunt & uncle and my cousin's son made these two delicious pies:

Tang Pie

INGREDIENTS:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip
1 sm. can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 graham cracker crust

DIRECTIONS:
Blend together first three ingredients. Add 2 to 3 drops vanilla flavoring if desired. Mix well. Fold into crust and chill.


Key Lime Pie

INGREDIENTS:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip
1 sm. can frozen limeade
Green food coloring (opt.)
1 graham cracker crust

DIRECTIONS:
Blend together first three ingredients. Add 2 to 3 drops food coloring if desired. Mix well. Fold into crust and chill.

My cousin doubled the recipe and had pies for each day. Not knowing that I had to run back to the store for 2 more crusts! But, it all worked out. My brother-in-law's grandfather died, so I had something to take them.

Atkins Induction - Day 3

Breakfast:
2 Oopsie Mock French Toasts
Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper




















Lunch:
Sugar free Black Cherry drink
Tuna Fish Sandwich (w/Oopsie Buns)















Snack:
Sugar free vanilla pudding















Dinner:




FYI: This was the first time that I've made Oopsie stuff. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but they were easy to make and are a great alternative to EGGS or WRAPS. This is what the batter on the pan looked like:

Sourdough Recipes

I found a recipe on Low Carb Recipes for Sourdough Waffles, but it didn't give the exchange information. So I googled around and found this one, but it has 30g of Carbs!

I also found a recipe for Sourdough Chocolate Cake (no exchange info there either).

The both sound interesting. Perhaps I can make them when I'm thinner (or I fall of the wagon - whichever comes first! ;o)

Atkins: Thai Coconut Soup

I think I'm going to run to the store and get some coconut milk and have this for lunch today. I hope it's good...


UPDATE: Well, it was pretty good. You can really taste the cilantro. But unless you're getting a bite of shrimp with each spoonful it's not very filling. This is definitely something that only skinny people could eat and call a meal!


I reheated some for a bite with my chicken, and I didn't care for it the second time around. Perhaps I was just REALLY hungry at lunch. ;o) I just don't have a taste for the exotic.

Speaking of coconuts, I found an original food blog called Cocounut&Lime. Looks promising.

Atkins Induction - Day 2

Breakfast:
3 Scrambled Eggs
Sugar free Black Cherry drink

Lunch:
Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
Sugar free Black Cherry drink

Snack:
Sugar free chocolate pudding

Dinner:
I'm thinking of having the Broiled Orange-Chili Chicken Breasts. It sounds easy & delicious.


I found a Low Carb Recipes website that also had this recipe on it. Can't wait to see what else they have.

Snack:
Oooh, this sounds good - Basil Deviled Eggs. (I ♥love♥ Basil!)



Exercise:

Gulf Coast/Cajun

I found a recipe last night for Simple Crawfish Etouffe and another for Crunchy Fried Shrimp Dinner.

Indian Food

I found a great blog with Indian Food recipes. One of the interesting ones is Chicken-Peanut-Mango Curry: (Thai Style).

Then I found Curried Parsnip Soup with Blue Stilton on another site, which looks really good.


I also found a Pizzeria menu that I really like.

Atkins Induction - Day 1

Breakfast:
3 boiled eggs
Coffee w/Splenda & sugar-free Hazelnut creamer

Lunch:
Wraps - lunchmeat w/cheddar cheese slices
Crystal Lite sugar-free drink (Tangerine-Strawberry)















Dinner:
Salad w/shrimp
Diet Cherry Dr Pepper















Snack:
Sugar free chocolate pudding

Breakfast Recipe #1: Southwestern Omelet



Breakfast Recipe #2: Cheese Baked Eggs






My Day/Stats on AtkinsDietBulletinBoard.com

A blog I found for low-carb eating.

Atkins Induction - Acceptable Food List

I'm going to try and (re)start Atkins today, so I went to the website and copied their Acceptable Foods List and am highlighting the foods that I like, since I'm very picky.

I really like their new Two Week Meal Plan! As long as you like everything on the menu, it's a great resource.

Phase 1: Induction - Acceptable Foods List

Most fish, poultry and meat don't contain carbs so you can feel free to enjoy them, but be sure you're also getting your 12 to 15 grams of net carbs in vegetables as well.

All fish including:

• Flounder
• Herring
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Sole
• Tuna
• Trout

All fowl including:

• Cornish hen
• Chicken
• Duck
• Goose
• Pheasant
• Quail
• Turkey

All shellfish including:

• Clams
• Crabmeat
• Mussels*
• Oysters*
• Shrimp
• Squid

*Oysters and mussels are higher in carbs so limit to about 4 ounces per day.

All meat including:

• Bacon*
• Beef
• Ham*
• Lamb
• Pork
• Veal
• Venison

Some processed meat, bacon, and ham is cured with sugar, which will add to the carb count. Also steer clear of cold cuts and other meats with added nitrates.

Eggs are one of nature's most nutritious creations. That’s why eggs are a staple breakfast in the Atkins Nutritional Approach.

Feel free to get creative with your eggs: Add mushrooms and onions, or even green pepper. Top the dish off with feta cheese or add basil, oregano and other herbs.

Eggs in any style, including:

• Deviled
• Fried
• Hard-boiled
• Omelets
• Poached
• Scrambled
• Soft-boiled

Keep in mind that cheese does contain carbs, about 1 gram per ounce. You may have about 3 to 4 ounces of cheese per day. An ounce is about the size of an individually wrapped slice of American cheese or a 1" cube.

Cheese including:

Type	Serving Size	Grams of net carbs
Blue cheeses	1 oz	0.7
Cheddar	½ cup	0.0
Cow, sheep and goat	1 oz	0.3
Cream cheese	1 oz	0.8
Feta	1 oz	1.2
Gouda	1 oz	0.6
Mozzarella	1 oz	0.6
Parmesan	1 tbs	0.2
Swiss	1 oz	1.0

Vegetables:

You should be eating approximately 12 to 15 grams of net carbs per day in the form of vegetables, which is equivalent to several cups depending on the actual carb content of the veggies you select.

1 cup is roughly the size of a baseball. Measure the following salad vegetables raw.

Vegetable	Serving Size/Prep	grams of net carbs
Alfalfa sprouts	1 cup/raw	0.4
Argula	½ cup/raw	0.2
Bok choy	1 cup/raw	0.8
Celery	1 stalk	0.8
Chicory greens	½ cup/raw	0.6
Chives	1 tablespoon	0.1
Cucumber	½ cup	1.0
Daikon	½ cup	1.0
Endive	½ cup	0.0
Escarole	½ cup	0.0
Fennel	1 cup	3.6
Jicama	½ cup	2.5
Iceberg lettuce	½ cup	0.1
Mushrooms	½ cup	1.2
Parsley	1 tablespoon	0.1
Peppers	½ cup/raw	2.3
Radicchio	½ cup/raw	0.7
Radishes	10/raw	0.9
Romaine lettuce	½ cup	0.2

The following vegetables are slightly higher in carbs than the salad vegetables listed above. They also provide important nutrients and add variety to your daily foods. Make sure you stay within the 12-15 grams of net carbs. Unless otherwise noted, measure these veggies after you cook them.

Vegetable	Serving Size/ Prep	Net Carbs
Artichoke	¼ of medium	4.0
Asparagus	6 spears	2.4
Artichoke hearts	1 canned	1.0
Avocadoes	1 whole (raw)	3.5
Bamboo shoots	1 cup canned	1.1
Broccoli	½ cup	1.6
Broccoli raw	½ cup	1.0
Broccoli rabe	½ cup	1.3
Broccoflower	½ cup	1.4
Brussels sprouts	¼ cup	2.4
Cabbage	½ cup (raw)	2.0
Cauliflower	½ cup (raw)	1.0
Swiss chard	½ cup	1.8
Collard greens	½ cup	4.2
Eggplant	½ cup	1.8
Hearts of palm	1 heart	0.7
Kale	½ cup	2.4
Kohlrabi	½ cup	4.6
Leeks	¼ cup	1.7
Okra	½ cup	2.4
Olives green	5	2.5
Olives black	5	0.7
Onion	¼ cup (raw)	2.8
Pumpkin	¼ cup	2.4
Rhubarb	½ cup (unsweetened)	1.7
Sauerkraut	½ cup (drained)	1.2
Peas	½ cup with pods	3.4
Spaghetti squash	½ cup	2.0
Spinach	½ cup (raw)	0.2
Summer squash	½ cup	2.0
Tomato	1 (raw)	4.3
Turnips	½ cup	2.2
Water chestnuts	½ cup (canned)	6.9
Zucchini	½ cup	2.0

Salad Garnishes
Crumbled bacon	3 slices	0.0
Hard-boiled egg	1 egg	0.0
Grated cheeses	(see above carb counts)
Sautéed mushrooms	½ cup	1.0
Sour cream	2 tbs	1.2
Herbs and Spices (make sure they contain no added sugar)
Basil	1 tbs	0.0
Cayenne pepper	1 tbs	0.0
Cilantro	1 tbs	0.0
Dill	1 tbs	0.0
Garlic	1 clove	0.9
Ginger	1 tbs sliced root	0.8
Oregano	1 tbs	0.0
Pepper	1 tbs	0.0
Rosemary	1 tbs	0.0
Sage	1 tbs	0.0
Tarragon	1 tbs	0.0
Salad Dressings - Any prepared salad dressing with no added sugar and no more then 2 grams of net carbs per serving (1-2 tablespoons) is acceptable. Or make your own.
Blue cheese	2 tbs	2.3
Caesar	2 tbs	0.5
Italian	2 tbs	3.0
Lemon juice	2 tbs	2.8
Oil and vinegar	2 tbs	1.0
Ranch	2 tbs	1.4

Fats and Oils

There are no carbs here, but keep in mind that the serving size is approximately 1 tablespoon.

1. Butter
2. Mayonnaise – make sure it has no added sugar
3. Olive oil
4. Vegetable oils – Those labeled “cold pressed” or “expeller pressed” are especially good and olive oil is one of the best.
   • Canola*
   • Walnut
   • Soybean*
   • Grape seed*
   • Sesame
   • Sunflower*
   • Safflower*

*Do not allow any oils to reach overly high temperatures when cooking. Use olive oil for sautéing only. Use walnut or sesame oil to dress cooked veggies or salad, but not for cooking.

Artificial Sweeteners

• Splenda – one packet equals 1 gram of net carbs

Beverages

• Clear broth/ bouillon (make sure it has no sugars added)
• Club soda
• Cream, heavy or light.
• Decaffeinated or regular coffee and tea*
• Diet soda (be sure to note the carb count)
• Flavored seltzer (must say no calories)
• Herb tea (without added barley or fruit sugar added)
• Water – at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day including...
  • Filtered water
  • Mineral water
  • Spring water
  • Tap water

* You may have 1 to 2 cups of caffeinated tea or coffee if you can tolerate caffeine without experiencing cravings or symptoms of hypoglycemia. If you are truly addicted to caffeine, it's best to break the habit during the Induction.

Alcohol:

Alcohol is not allowed during the first two weeks of Induction. If you remain on this phase longer, you can have a glass of wine, a low-carb beer, or a small amount of spirits mixed with water or club soda, but be sure to avoid mixers that contain carbs, including fruit juices and tonic water. Understand that consuming alcohol may slow your weight loss.

Biggest Loser Finale

Wow, Jerry! The only person who looks better than Jerry does tonight is Allison Sweeney! She looks HOT! It's hard to imagine that she recently had a baby.



So, I'm sitting here eating my sugar-free Jello pudding in a recycled Beneful container. (These are great - they are small enough for 2 servings of pudding. The pudding doesn't get watery this way because they're small and have Ziploc/Tupperware-like lids. I love the different colors they come in to.) I use my plastic lunchmeat containers the same way for larger items like shredded carrots. I was thinking for recycling the yogurt containers for my sugar-free pudding or jello, but I've only washed a couple and never actually tried to fill them.

I found a person online who uses her Beneful containers to plant seeds in. From there they go in her raised beds she built. (Looks like the raised bed design from Bonnie Plants.)

Time to get back on my Gazelle. These people are SO inspiring. I voted for you, Ron! You rock!

Baked Tortilla Maker

I found these at Sav-a-Lot for $2.89 (set of 2). So we had Taco Salads with our lunch.


Honestly, they weren't as good as the FRIED version from Taco Bell or a good restaurant, but if you used a low-carb tortilla, then these would be perfect for someone on a diet. I did try baking a corn tortilla basted with olive oil, but I don't think I got the edges coated well enough or let them bake long enough because the center didn't taste good and the edges were browned and hard, but the sides of the shell tasted pretty good.

Paula Deen - Southern Generations

My husband said he didn't know who Paula Deen was (when I rave about something I saw on her show), so I called him as he got out of the shower to see her show. She made Herb Crusted Fresh Ham with lavender, Red Potato Salad with Bacon, Herbed Monkey Bread, and Virginia's Green Bean Provencal. He really wanted me to try the potato salad. I wanted to try the gravy made from the ham, but it wasn't on the website.

I also found a Blackeyed Pea Salsa that I would never eat, but might be a nice dish to take to church...

My 15 yr old son was watching Sandra Lee with me and exclaimed that she was "hot", so I went to her website & Wikipedia to (accurately) state how old she was and found her recipe for an Orange Smoothie which my daughter now wants to make.

Biggest Loser Recipes - Day 1

Three sample menus from the Biggest Loser Cookbook.

Breakfast:

The Biggest Winner Sausage Patty recipe:

Lunch:

I actually tried these for lunch today, but I substituted turkey breast since I didn't have any roast beef. They were pretty good. However, I have no idea what chili garlic sauce is so I put basil and bacon bits in my cream cheese. ;o)


Dinner:


I found the photo for the Baked Ziti on this site and now I really want to try THEIR Baked Ziti Neopolitan! (Not to mention that it's a beautiful site.)

Biggest Loser Recipes

Click here for 6 recipes from the official site. Here are recipes from Prevention magazine's site. Some of these are repeated on WeightWatcher's Recipe site.

Bananas, Bananas, Bananas!

My mother had a little recipe book on her table one day while I was over there and she suggested that I take it home and look at it - particularly if I was going to make something out of it and invite her over! ;o)

The book is "All-Time Favorite Banana Recipes" by Dalmatian Press with photos and recipes provided by Dole Food Company.

My daughter went shopping with me and we bought bananas, mangoes, blueberries, yogurt, etc. (She wanted to try the smoothie recipes - and she hasn't quit!) I wanted to try out my new food processor (that I got for Christmas and hadn't opened yet).

Her favorite, so far, is the Tropical Blueberry Smoothie. I tried the Island Shake and the Banana Honey Shake. My sister would probably like the Paradise Freeze (because it has cranberry juice). We've been threatening to try the Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Shake...

We made Banana S'mores and they were pretty darn good!

I made the homemade Banana Pudding, but it turned out TOO icky sweet and the bananas turned brownish in the oven (but I think I used a baking dish that was too large and shallow).

Today we had a sweet surprise: hubby/daddy showed up for lunch. So, for a snack to take with him I made the Banana Caramel Quesadillas. He liked them, the animals liked them, but nobody else did! I used cheddar cheese instead of Monterey Jack, but I don't think that would have changed the flavor too substantially!

The list of recipes in this little 48 pg book are:

Ambrosia Banana Muffins
Baker Beach Salad
Banana Apple Betty
Banana Blueberry Coffee Ring
Banana Blueberry Muffins
Banana Brunch Coffee Cake
Banana Caramel Quesadillas
Banana Chocolate Mousse Parfait
Banana Energy Balls
Banana Holiday Cookies
Banana Honey Shake
Banana Jewel Cake
Banana Lemon Bread
Banana Muffins
Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Banana Pudding
Banana Raisin Pancakes
Banana Raspberry Smoothie
Banana S'mores
Banana Tot Pops
Calypso Black Bean and Fruit Salad
Caribbean Caesar Salad
Choco-Banana Bites
Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Shake
Chunky Banana Spread
Cocoa Raisin Muffins
Double Chocolate Banana Cookies
Fruit Dessert Pie
Fresh Fruit Taco
Gingerbread Banana Cookies
Honey Lime Fruit Toss
Island Shake
Paradise Freeze
Quick Breakfast Rolls
Springtime Waffles
Teriyaki and Fruit Salad
Tropical Blueberry Smoothie
Tropical Waldorf Salad

Most of these are on Dole's website, but a few which sound really good aren't in the book:

Fruity Breakfast Burrito (hmmm...)
Banagel
Grilled Chicken and Pineapple
Mahi Mahi with Pineapple-Apple Salsa
Mango Cranberry Relish
Mexican Pineapple Relish
Pineapple Chicken Packets (hey!)
Easy Aloha Chicken
Mango Salsa (how do you peel a mango anyway?!?)
Easy Banana Tiramisu (we don't like Tiramisu, so I don't know why I'm including this...)
Fuzzy Banana Navel (beverage)
Easy Aloha Smoothie
Fluffy Orange Punch
Fruity Poolside Cooler (beverage w/chocolate chip yogurt!)
Creamy, Dreamy, Sunshine Orange Smoothie
Jay & Dan's Spicy Salsa
Mandarin Chicken Rollups
Pineapple Chicken Tenders
California Chicken Ciabatta (sandwich)

Well, I'm gonna stop! I could go on forever. Who knew Dole.com had such a large selection of recipes?!? My husband said that one of his clients sets aside Thursday nights as the day she tries new recipes. He joked that maybe the family should limit me to one night a week. I rejoined that maybe I could quit cooking for them altogether! Oh, wait, maybe that wasn't a joke! ;o)