Wednesday, February 8, 2012

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!







Pin It

Monday, December 12, 2011

Favorites!! ~

Okay, I know....I am a big slacker on my blog.  But to my defense...it is the holidays, I do have a full time job and I am a wife and a mother to two.  AND I have still been cooking & baking.  Since I have not been good about doing my normal photo taking while cooking/baking....I am going to share my final pics and some of my favorite recipes I have tried lately. 

1)  Butter Pecan Cake by Bake or Break.  This has been my favorite new recipe I have tried.  This was a hit and I am even thinking about making it AGAIN for Christmas.  The cake part is very moist and the icing is yummy, too.  The only thing I can advise in making this cake is that I didn't brown the pecans nearly as long as it said in the recipe and they were still on the verge of being burnt.  Next time I will do the pecans on low and only for approximately 5 minutes. 


Butter Pecan Cake

2)  Creamy White Chicken Artichoke Lasagna ~ a Kraft recipe.    This one was a new favorite of mine, also.  I really liked the combination of flavors.  I didn't have any sun dried tomatoes so I skipped those in my lasagna.  I will definitely make this one again! 


Creamy White Chicken Artichoke Lasagna

3) BEST BISCUITS EVER.  EASIEST BISCUITS EVER.  I was so shocked when I saw this recipe and it said - 4 ingredients.  Then, I read the ingredients and I was convinced there was no way these would turn out right.  Well, they did and they are incredible.  Here is the recipe for the 7-Up Biscuits. 

7-Up Biscuits

4) Cheeky Kitchen's White Chicken Chili.  This is another good one!  I love using chicken versus beef in all different sorts of recipes that everyone has been making for years.  It adds a new twist on an old dish.  This one has a kick to it and is great.  I use the recipe and throw everything in the Crock pot for the day. 



White Chicken Chili
5) Family Bites ~ Fudgy Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars.  I made this bars for Thanksgiving to have something chocolate to be able to snack on while cooking.  These are rich and delicious!   A little bit of all sweet flavors in one little bar. 



Fudgy Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
 5)  Glorious Treats ~ Rolo Pretzel Bites. These are super easy and they taste similar to homemade caramel turtles.  These are great to make for parties, etc. 

Rolo Pretzel Bites
6) Six Sisters Stuff ~ Butterfinger Blondies Recipe. I made these for Jack's birthday.  Wowza!  They are rich and a lot of butterfinger. If you want that sweet taste minus the chocolate....these are the way to go!


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

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



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:


Here is the end result!

My little ghosts!

...and pumpkins!




Nutter Butter Ghosts

Nutter Butter Ghosts

Chicken Spaghetti ~ Pioneer Woman Recipe

This is BY FAR my favorite new recipe that I have tried lately and it was a hit in our house.  It is from the Pioneer Woman.  Every recipe I have ever tried from her website has been DELICIOUS!  Here is the recipe from her website:

The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti Recipe


I followed her recipe except I used a rotisserie chicken for a quick week night meal.  It was supposed to be a quick meal...unless......you have an evening like I had last night.  I mixed everything up, popped it in the oven AND forgot the chicken.  So, I pulled it BACK out of the oven, added the chicken and put it BACK in the oven for 45 minutes.  I went to get it out and I FORGOT to turn on the oven.  I had a definite case of mamma brain last night.  Geez!!  On a normal evening...this is a fast fix and it is so good!!  Try it and let me know what you think.

You just mix everything together.

Add noodles and mix.  Cook @ 350 for 45 minutes! 



  • Then EAT! 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

LONG time, no POST!






Okay, okay...I am guilty as charged.  I am guilty of BLOG NEGLECT!  I WILL get caught up on here and I HAVE been cooking.  Fall festivities have taken over my spare time!  So, stay tuned......here's a little sneak peek of what I have made in the past few months.