Calorie Counting, new recipes and more!

I am on a mission.  My mission is to continue cooking and baking........to lose weight.......AND to get healthy!  So, can they all be accomplished together?  I am starting to find out the answer is YES.  I don't think that just because something is considered healthy, that it has to taste bad.  I am trying all sorts of new recipes, which is nothing new.....but just trying to learn portion control and keeping an eye on my calorie intake.  I am also working out at the gym on a regular basis.  So, with that being said. I am still obsessed with Pinterest.  It is my go-to for any new recipe or any new idea/craft/etc to try.  I have found so many good, new recipes to share.  I will try to start putting the calories on some of the things I make in case you are curious or are also keeping an eye on the calorie count.  Here are some of my favorites to add to the list....

1) Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes - These are so delicious!  And, they actually aren't that bad for you - they end up being 170 calories per mini cake.  They are less that most candy bars and are totally worth the splurge. 

2)  My favorite new recipe to share!!!  Hungry Girl's Sassy Wonton Tacos.  These were a big time winner in my book!  I loved these!  I accidentally deleted my pictures off my phone so I had to use the picture from the Hungry Girl website to show what they look like.  They are only 96 calories for 2 tacos.  You can serve them for a nice appetizer or eat them for dinner.  I ate four for dinner one night and they kept me full.  They are smaller than the normal taco but they have a good combination or flavors and texture. These are a must try!

3)  A Baking Belle original and a great soup to make if you aren't feeling well.  This is my recipe for Homemade Chicken Soup.  My boys were all battling a cold so I mixed this up for them and added some ingredients that had Vitamin C to help knock it out!  It's also 64 calories per 1/2 cup serving.  Also, I used my pressure cooker to do the chicken, carrots, onion and celery...then put in a slow cooker for 4 hours because I was short on time.  I suggest throwing all ingredients (frozen chicken breast okay and uncooked rice) in a slow cooker for 8 hours on low.  This is how I would do it next time I make this. 

Baking Belle's Chicken Soup
2 chicken breasts
1 teaspoon butter or substitute
1 cup chopped carrots
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup fresh chopped spinach
4 cups chicken broth (I used the 99% fat free)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup white rice

Throw all ingredients except the uncooked rice (frozen chicken breasts) in a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.  One hour prior to serving, add the uncooked rice in and cook on low for additional hour.  Once it is done, shred the chicken and add back to the soup.  You can add additional chicken broth to achieve your desired consistency.  ENJOY!



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Baking Wishlist!

Toffee Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars via Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

The Chocolate Cola Cake via May Flaum's blog

Big Girl Smores Pie via Cookies & Cups blog
** I live in a household of S'mores Lovers!  This one is a 'must try'!

Oh, yes, I DID! I tried them ~ Oreo/Brownie/Cookie Bars!!

Do you like Oreos?  Yes.

Do you like brownies?  Um, yes.

Do you like chocolate chip cookies?  Well, of course. 

Well, how about all THREE, in one bite?  Yes, I will take one of those, PLEASE!

This is a recipe I found on Pinterest Yes, I am a tad bite obsessed with Pinterest and my new found love of the recipes I find on there and have gained a tad bit of weight from this obsession but we shall move on.  I am sure everyone around me is enjoying this obsession as well because the good thing is....I share.  :)

I made this recipe for my Mom's birthday and it is great!  Not as rich as you would imagine..not an overbearing richness...just simply perfect. 

Here is the recipe via Kevin & Amanda

kevinandamanda Ultimate Chocolate-chip-cookie-n-oreo-fudge-brownie-bar Recipe

A layer of cookies followed up with a layer of oreos..

Here comes the brownie batter....

Ready to bake. 

End result!

Now, check out the inside!

EAT!

Top with ice cream and enjoy!

Fall Celebrations!

I love Fall...I love every season really, but I love all the holidays in fall because it gives me a reason not that I really EVER need one to bake and cook.  With all the Halloween parties - school and our neighborhood parties - I got out the recipe books and my new and favorite guilty pleasure - Pinterest!  I found a recipe for a cookie icing that I wanted to try.  It is really easy to paint on and it dries really pretty so I used it to decorate cookies for my son's class.  I used my sugar cookie recipe that was passed down through family members.  My mother-in-law shared it with me and it really is the BEST sugar cookie recipe I have every tried.  I will have to ask permission to share that one publicly.  ;)

I also did another cute idea from Pinterest.  You take Nutter Butter cookies, dip with in white chocolate and add two mini chocolate chips for eyes. They were really good and cute! 

Here is the recipe for the icing:

sugar-cookie-icing-recipe

Here is the end result!

My little ghosts!

...and pumpkins!



Nutter Butter Ghosts

Nutter Butter Ghosts

French Toast Overnight Casserole ~ Breakfast!

I am always looking for new breakfast recipes.  One of my kiddos is obsessed with pancakes, which means the rest of the family has been eating them every morning of every weekend.  We, even the original obsessed, are burnt out!  So, I am always exploring to find something new. 

I came across this recipe through Pinterest.  It was from the blog, The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Here is the recipe:
Overnight French Toast Casserole

I don't know if I did something wrong, but next time ** this is a good sign since it means I will make it again **I am going to try to pour everything on top of the bread versus pouring the brown sugar mixture in the bottom.  I think it would be better if it could soak it all up.  You have to keep in mind I have a MAJOR sweet tooth.  It was nice to wake up, pop this in the oven and have breakfast ready!!! 

Spring Birthdays ~ Triple Blueberrry Cake with Lemon Curd Filling & Banana Pudding

This weekend we celebrated three birthdays!  Will and Jack had two birthday parties on Saturday and then, we celebrated my husband's birthday yesterday.  I wanted to make a really good cake ~ and a new recipe ~ for his birthday.  He's not as big of a fan of chocolate as I am so as hard as it was, I overlooked all the chocolate recipes.  I ended up going with a recipe I have been drooling over and which happened to be on my Baking Wish list. 

Here it is:
Triple Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake

I found this recipe from a fellow blogger @ Pretty.Good.Food.

I also decided to make Mother-in-Law Belle's banana pudding recipe ~ talking about YUM.  It is for sure one of my all time favorites! 

Mix all the dry ingredients together

Add 1 tbsp of the flour mixture to coat the blueberries

Mix together

My stations - squeezing lemons!

Mixing and adding in the eggs for cake batter

Fold in the blueberries

Right out of oven, cooling....

This is the bottom view ~ check out all those blueberries!

Making the homemade lemon curd

Lots of whisking ~ actually about nine minutes...thanks to hubby for stepping in to take a turn

Finished lemon curd

Making homemade whipped cream ~ 2 cups whipping cream/1 cup confectioners sugar

After whipping at high speed ~ you get this!

I folded the lemon curd into the homemade whipped cream for the filling

Now, for the icing....

Staking the cakes and putting the filling on

The cake ~ in the making!

And, the finished product!

I was so anxious to cut this cake!

AND, the first piece is for the BIRTHDAY BOY!

 Now, here is the banana pudding!  It is always a hit!  It's from a recipe that was given to me by my Mother-in-law.  You use REAL, homemade whipped cream! 

Banana Pudding

5 cups whole milk

10-12 bananas

2 boxes Vanilla wafers

Large box of Vanilla instant pudding mix

16 oz sour cream

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

3 cups heavy whipping cream

chocolate syrup

chopped pecans

Start by making your homemade whipped cream.  Whisk at high speed ~ 3 cups heavy whipping cream & 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar.  Set aside.  Then, mix your pudding mix and 5 cups milk.  Add the sour cream to the mixture.  Once done, fold in 1/2 of your whipped cream into the pudding mixture.  Then, start your building ~ vanilla wafer, bananas, pudding mixture.  Continue until all done and top with the reserved whipped cream, chocolate syrup and chopped nuts.  Enjoy!

Make the homemade whipped cream ~ 3 cups whipping cream & 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar - combine and whisk on HIGH speed

Whipped Cream

After making the pudding mixture, start your layering.....wafers, bananas, pudding...continue

This is what you will get!