pan-seared brussels sprouts with cranberries & pecans

http://rachelschultz.com
This is a stock photo. I had my Brussels sprouts with the yogurt/Parmesan chicken, new roasted potatoes and roasted California mix vegetables.  I am not a fan of Brussels, but these were awesome. I didn't make enough for seconds or I would have had some.

• 1lb Brussels sprouts. ( used the frozen kind and just defrosted them in the microwave a bit).
• 2/3 cup cranberries (they are out of season now so I got the low sugar dried ones and put them in a bowl of boiling water for 30 minutes).
• 1/3 cup Gorgonzola cheese
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper
• evoo

1. Combine salt pepper, cranberries and Brussels sprouts in a skillet with evoo and let cook for about 10 minutes.
2. Add vinegars, syrup and pecans and toss to coat.
3. Top with cheese and mix it up.

Enchiladas

Black bean and ground turkey enchiladas

• 1lbs ground turkey 
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can mild enchilada sauce (my kids and husband do not like anything spicy)
• 1 scallion
• 1tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

1. For the taco seasoning I used my own spices since the packet ones are too spicy for the family but you can use a taco seasoning packet.

• chili powder
• paprika
• minced onion
• cumin
• garlic powder 
• salt and pepper

I didn't measure anything.

You could top yours with sour cream, avocados and salsa.

Crock pot chicken, potatoes and carrots w/ peach cobbler

1lbs chicken, 6 red skin potatoes cubed and 1 bag baby carrots with 1 bottle Newman's own light Italian dressing and 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

Cook on low for about 8-9 hours in the crock pot.

Delightedmomma.com
Three ingredient peach cobbler.

•  2 cans peaches in light syrup
• 1 box yellow or angel food cake
• 1 stick butter, melted.

1. Pour peaches into greased glass baking dish.
2. Add entire bag of cake mix and spread on top.
3. Pour melted stick of butter on top.
4. Bake 450 for 50 minutes.

Oven baked stuffed cabbage

Simplefarmsteadcooking.blogspot.com.

• 10 cabbage leaves 
• 1lb raw ground turkey
• 1/2 cup frozen onions and peppers
• 1 1/2 cups cooked brown/wild rice (I used Near East)
• 1 cup shredded low fat cheddar jack
• 15oz tomato sauce
• salt and pepper for taste

1. Boil a pot of water and add cabbage for 5 minutes. Take the cabbage out and gently peel back the leaves. I had to place the cabbage back into the boiling water once more to get the leaves softer inside the cabbage. I got 10 leaves.
2. In a bowl combine cooked brown rice, raw ground turkey, onions and peppers, 1/4 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
3. Add 1/3 cup mixture into each cabbage leaf and fold all sides.
4. Put 1/4  cup sauce on the bottom of the greased baking dish and put the cabbage seems down. 
5. Top with the rest of the sauce and the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
6. Bake covered for 45 minutes and uncovered for 15.

Lightened up banana/egg pancakes

I lightened up my previous banana/egg pancakes.

• medium banana
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• capfull vanilla extract and pinch of cinnamon

Mash them all together and cook over low heat. I topped mine with sliced almonds and strawberries. No syrup needed. The pancakes are very soft and sweet. 

Baked pierogies casserole

Ourtableforseven.com.

• 1lb Golden all natural potato & cheddar pierogies
• 1/3 cup fat free cream cheese
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup shredded white cheddar
• chopped green onions and 6-8 slices cooked bacon (I did not include these in my recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a glass baking dish and arrange frozen pierogies in the dish.
2. In a sauce pan, mix together the broth and cream cheese until melted. 
3. Pour on top of the pierogies and sprinkle with cheese.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. You can garnish with onions and bacon when your done if you want to.

Had this with some herb crusted pork chops and mixed vegetables.
Found this on eat-yourself-skinny.com.

• 1lbs boneless pork chops, thin cut.
• 2Tbsp Billybee honey mustard
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• Parsley, thyme and pepper (any amount you want)

1. Rub the chops with honey mustard and dip in the breadcrumb and seasoning mixture and sear in a pan for 2 minutes on each side.
2. Bake in a glass baking dish for about 12-15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Butternut squash mac and cheese

MarthaStewart.com.

• 8oz Tru roots- ancient grains elbow pasta
• 8oz frozen butternut squash
• 1/2 cup nature's promise vegetable broth
• 3/4 cups silk unsweetened almond milk
• 2Tbsp panko crumbs
• 1Tbsp shredded Parmesan
• 4oz shredded cheddar cheese- white
• 1/4 cup fat free ricotta cheese
• 1 pinch nut meg
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• a few pinches pepper

1. Combine butternut squash, broth and milk and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
2. Add shredded cheddar, spices and ricotta cheese and either mash or puree (which is what I did with a hand mixer).
3. Combine the Parmesan cheese and panko crumbs.
4. Add cooked elbow pasta and combine. 
5. Put into a greased baking dish and top with the Parmesan and panko crumb mixture.
6. Bake at 350 degrees covered for about 15 minutes and uncovered for 10 minutes.

This recipe served five people, but you can easily double and adjust cooking time if needed. I had it with a side of baked tilapia and steamed cauliflower.

Red velvet truffle cake

2brokecooks.com. I totally messed up the recipe but it still turned out okay. Next time I'm going to follow the recipe exactly.

• 1 box red velvet cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
• 1/2 cup Woodstock butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 6Tbsp apple sauce (the original recipe said to use vegetable oil)
• 1 package oreos, crushed
• 1 package cheesecake pudding mix
• 8oz package fat free cream cheese
• 8oz dark chocolate chips (I used 12oz and it was WAY too much)
• 2oz chocolate chips for the top

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a large bowl mix together cake mix, butter, eggs, pudding mix and apple sauce.
3. spray the glass dish and then flour it and pour the batter in it and spread evenly.
4. Bake about 20 minutes until a tooth pick or knife comes out clean.
5. Take the cake out and let it cool completely.
6. while cake is cooling nuke the cream cheese to make it softer. Take the oreos in a bag and crush it. Leave it a bit chunky. Then mix the two together.
7. Once cake is cooled spread the mixture on top of the cake.
8. Melt the 8oz chocolate chips in the microwave and then pour over the oreo mixture evenly. 
9. Top with remaining 2oz chips and let the chips set into the cake in the fridge for about an hour.

Crock pot cabbage rolls

 Filling

• 10-12 cabbage leaves
• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa (you could use rice, wild rice or what ever else you would like)
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1/4 cup unsweetened original almond milk
• minced onion flakes
• 1 clove garlic
  a few dashes of salt
• 1tsp pepper
• 1lb lean ground turkey

Sauce

• 1 can no salt added tomato sauce
• 2Tbsp brown sugar
• 2Tbsp lemon juice
• 2tsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Boil a pot of water and add cabbage for 5 minutes. Take the cabbage out and gently peel back the leaves. I had to place the cabbage back into the boiling water once more to get the leaves softer inside the cabbage. I got 11 leaves.
2. combine quinoa, egg whites, milk, onion flakes, garlic, salt and pepper with ground turkey. Spoon about a 1/4-1/3 cup into each leaf and roll and tuck the ends in and place into crock pot.
3. Mix together all the sauce ingredients and pour over the cabbage rolls and cook on low for 8 hours.

Next time I'm just going to try to bake these so I will have to cook the turkey and quinoa or rice.

Greek yogurt/ranch chicken w/ new roasted potatoes and baby carrots

I used this picture from the website I got it at because I forgot to take a picture of our meal. Things have been busy so I haven't been taking picture but will get back to it tonight. I've been making more recipes though! This recipe I found on theenchantedcook.blogspot.com. I tweaked it quite a bit actually to make it healthier but this was the source.

• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt/ranch mix (first I bought a 16oz chobani plain Greek yogurt and mixed it with simply organic ranch dip. We use this to dip our vegetables. I got the idea to use this mix instead of the mayonnaise that was called for in the original recipe)
• 1/2 cup Sargento Parmesan cheese
• About 2lbs of chicken breast cut into thin slices. I just took a break and cut it length wise to make it thinner or you can buy chicken cutlets. 
• 2Tbsp seasoned panko crumbs
• pepper

1. Mix together the yogurt/ranch ad Parmesan cheese together and spread over the chicken breast. I did not use parchment paper as it shows in the picture.
2. Top with panko crumbs and bake 425 degrees for about 35 minutes.

I did these with a side of new potatoes and baby/crinkle cut carrots. I will share the recipes below.  Roasted new potatoes:
http://lifeisbetterwithlime.blogspot.com.

• 5lb bag of red skin new potatoes
• 1Tbsp EVOO
• 1Tbsp Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add potatoes. Boil for 10 minutes.
2. Place potatoes in a bowl and add EVOO and seasonings and toss together.
3. Place potatoes on a cookie sheet and bake 425 degrees for 35 minutes. 

I made those two together in the oven.
 Easy brown sugar baby carrots: http://barkleyrosehill.hubpages.com.

• 16oz frozen baby carrots and 16oz frozen crinkle cut carrots
• 2Tbsp earth balance soy free butter
• 2Tbsp light brown sugar
• pepper

Put carrots into a deep skillet and add sugar, butter and pepper. Cook until tender.

Brownies

Found this on allrecipes.com. They are called Best Brownies. Not healthy at all, but they were good. I took them, to a cook out.

• 1/2 cup Woodstock unsalted butter
• 2 cup Woodstock pure cane sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2tsp vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2tsp salt
• 1/2tsp baking powder
• 2oz dark chocolate crushed

1. Melt butter in the microwave and add to bowl. Add eggs and beat together. Add remaining ingredients. Mix and spoon into a greased 9x13 baking dish and add crushed chocolate chips on top. Bake 25-30 minutes. I didn't add the frosted topping to mine. 

My lunch today: salad mix, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers and radishes, grape tomatoes with sliced almond, 1 hard boiled egg whites and 1Tbsp yogurt ranch dressing.

Almond meal pancakes

Delightedmomma.com.

• 1 1/2 cups almond meal
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup water
• 2Tbsp coconut oil
• 1tsp raw honey
• 1/2tsp cinnamon
• 1 cap full vanilla extract

Mix all together. Measure 1/4 cup batter and pour onto pan sprayed with cooking spray. Makes six pancakes.

I had one pancake, sliced strawberries, 1/2Tsbp pure maple syrup with a side of spinach and 1/2 cup egg whites.

The boys had theirs with 1/2 a banana, pure maple syrup and a few dark chocolate chips crushed on top.

Spinach lasagna roll ups/ desert

My lunch today: Grilled chipotle pepper chicken salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, petite carrots and 1Tbsp unsalted pumpkin seeds and 1Tbsp unsalted sunflower seeds with 1Tbsp Bolthouse yogurt ranch.

Budgetbytes.blogspot.com.

• 1lb brown rice Tinkyada lasagna noodles
• 15oz fat free ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
• 1 egg
• 10oz frozen spinach (thawed and drained very well)
• 1 jar Newman's own sausage and peppers marinara sauce
• black pepper

1. Boil lasagna noodles 2-3 minutes shy of what the directions say. You don't want them to be too soggy or they fall apart.
2. While noodles are boiling, combine ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, egg and pepper in a bowl. 
3. Once noodles are done I placed them on some parchment paper and spread the mixture evenly on each noodle and then rolled them up.
4. Place noodles on a glass baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil spray and then top with marinara and Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Had steamed broccoli on the side.

 Jujugoodnews.com.

• 6Tbsp Woodstock unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 
• 1/3 cup unsweetened Hershey's cocoa
• 1 1/4tsp baking powder
• 1tsp salt
• 1/4tsp baking soda
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• walnuts for topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and ling 8inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a small sauce pan heat up the butter and chocolate chips and melt. 
3. In a bowl stir together brown sugar, apple sauce, egg and chocolate mix. 
4. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda and combine.
5. Top with walnuts and bake for 40-45 minutes.
6. Lift parchment paper out and cut into 16 squares. I put cool whip on mine.

Slow cooker tacos

Sixsistersstuff.com.

• 1 can newsman's own black bean and corn salsa.
• 1/2 a packet low sodium taco seasoning
• 2lbs chicken breast.

1. Throw everything in crock pot and let cook on low for about 6-8 hours.

I had mine over a salad with some shredded cheddar and a bit more salsa. My boys had it over brown rice. 

Chicken pot pie over buscuits

Lovelylittlesnippets.blogspot.com.

• onion flakes (you can use onion)
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1tsp poultry seasoning
• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
• 1 small red skin baked potato
• biscuits 

1. In a sauce pan, saute onion and garlic then add cans of soup, milk and seasoning and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer 10 minutes on low and then add chicken and diced baked potato and heat through.
3. Spoon over biscuits.

Biscuit recipe: Blog.kitchenmage.com.

•  2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4tsp salt
• 1tsp sugar
• 4tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup very cold Woodstock butter
• 1 cup very cold unsweetened almond milk

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place flour, salt, sugar and baking powder in food processor and pulsefor a few seconds to combine.
3. Cut butter into very small pieces and add into food processor and pulse about a dozen times.
4. Pour flower mixture into a bowl and add cold milk. Toss together gently until combined. 
5. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead until it forms a ball.
6. Roll dough into a rectangle that is about a 1/2 inch thick and cut into 10 portions.
7. Bake at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Cauliflower crust pizza

 I found this recipe on skinnymom.com but made a few adjustments so I'll share the ingredients and directions I used.

Pizza crust

• 1 bag frozen broccoli
•  2 cups reduced fat mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup turkey pepperoni
• 1 egg
• 1tsp oregano
• 1tsp basil
• 1tsp garlic powder
• 1tsp salt 

Pizza sauce

• 8oz no salt added tomato sauce and then I added in some Italian seasoning, onion flakes, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper. 

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Microwave cauliflower with 2Tbsp water for 10 minutes
3. Place cauliflower in food processor and pulse a handful of times until it is a consistency of rice. Make sure not over process as it will be harder to spread.
4. Place cauliflower on a paper towel to draw up any remaining moisture.
5. In a bowl mix together cauliflower, 1 cup cheese, egg and spices.
6. Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray.
7. Spread cauliflower starting from the outside in. Make sure to spread as thin as possible but not too thin so you don't have any holes.
8. Bake dough for 25-30 minutes.
9. Remove crust from oven and top with 8oz pizza sauce (I made my own), 1 cup mozzarella and the pepperoni.
10. Place back in the oven and bake about 20 minutes. Just check it every five minutes after it has baked for about 10 minutes since all oven are different.

Low carb pasta/meal ideas

I don't eat this stuff too often just because I'm not a huge fan of the texture but once in a while I like to mix it up. It's very low in calories and carbs. I still love my brown pasta the best though.

I rinsed and then boiled the tofu spaghetti noodles. While those were boiling I shredded some cooked chicken breast and added 1/2 a jar of left over pasta sauce to a pan and heated those up. Make sure the pasta is dried off completely before adding it to the sauce mixture. Then I topped it with some feta cheese. Next time I'll make some garlic bread with it. This is half of the serving. The bag makes 2 servings.

This is a breakfast idea: 1 whole egg, 1/3 cup egg whites, spinach and chopped up cooked chicken sausage. I'll have a piece of fruit with it.

This morning I had 1 whole egg, 1/3 cups egg whites with spinach and a side of turkey bacon with a banana.

 To cut out carbs I like to take my lunch meat and put a wedge of laughing cow cheese in about six slices and roll them up and have a piece of fruit with it.

This is what my son had. His sandwich had laughing cow cheese, Swiss and Italian salami. Sometimes if I want a sandwich, I will use 1 slice Ezekiel. Basically I just try to get most of my carbs from fruits and vegetables. 1-2 meals a day I will add healthy whole grains. My favorite varieties are Ezekiel, brown rice pasta, quinoa, brown rice and red skin potatoes.

Meal ideas

The same pancakes but this time I topped it with 2Tbsp Crazy Richards peanut butter, 1tsp flax meal and 1tsp raw honey mix.

Romaine salad mix, capri and grape tomatoes, 1Tbsp unsalted sunflower seeds and 1Tbsp unsalted pumpkin seeds, fat free ranch croutons, grilled chicken, sliced cucumbers and 1Tbsp Bolthouse yogurt ranch dressing.

Breakfast with family

I had my mother/father and grandmother in law over for breakfast. It was not very healthy at all and I definitely won't make it often. Maybe make it a Christmas morning tradition or something.I'm going to look for ways to make it healthier, as well.

Yes lots of butter! Got the recipe from food.com but changed a few things.

•  8Tbsp Woodstock unsalted butter
• 10 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 4Tbsp water
• 2tsp cinnamon
• 16 slices hearty whole wheat bread
• 8 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 4tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4-1/2 cup diced walnuts

1. Melt butter in large skillet and add apples.
2. Cook and stir for 10 minutes.
3. Add brown sugar, water and cinnamon and continue to cook for 20 minutes.
4. Spoon mixtures into two baking dishes.
5. Beat eggs then add milk and vanilla extract.
6. Dip bread into milk mixture and place on top of the apples.
7. Pour the rest of the milk mixture over the bread.
8. Cover and refrigerate over night.
9. While preheating to 375 degrees top the casseroles with walnuts.
10. Bake uncovered 35 minutes. Next time I will bake for 45-60 minutes.
11. Let stand 10 minutes and then flip over on a cookie sheet and cut.

I didn't get a picture of the finished product but there are some left overs in the last picture. I also made a turkey sausage, spinach, shredded swiss and cheddar cheese and egg casserole.

I cooked 2lbs of turkey sausage links the night before. Chopped them in smaller pieces and placed in a baking dish. Wilted the spinach and placed that on top of the sausage. Topped with some Swiss and cheddar. Added 12 beaten eggs and topped with more Swiss and cheddar cheese. Baked it at 375 for 45 minutes.