Sweet Tooth Satisfyin' Grapes!!!

I saw on Pinterest a recipe for sour patch grapes.  I have been meaning to make them for quite some time now, but kept forgetting!  I am not a produce expert, but I do not think grapes are really in season as I have not seen them at the store much.  Anyway, I bought some black cherry sugar free Jello and some red grapes.  I got into them last night when I was craving a Skinny Cow (if you have not had they are amazing).  The grapes are sooooo good.  Tastes better than a sour patch and they don't stick in your teeth!  I am excited to dig into them tonight :)  You can do any flavor combination you want, I am sure it will taste good no matter what, so have fun and experiment!

Ingredients:
One container of grapes
1 package of sugar free jello of your flavor choice

First, wash the grapes and remove from stems.  Do not dry grapes as they need to be wet for the Jello to stick.  I tried to follow the instructions from puresugar.net, however, I thought it was too difficult.  The sugar was not coating well and I was getting it all over my hands.  So,  I just dumped the grapes into Tupperware and poured the Jello over the grapes in thirds, mixing the grapes around each time.  When the Jello was gone I put the lid on the grapes and shook.  It coated the grapes well and was quite easy.  Let refrigerate for at least an hour and keep in refrigerator :)  Enjoy!!! 

Beach Themed Wedding Table Numbers

I am getting married on April 6th on the beach in Florida.  The theme of the wedding is beach inspired, as you may have guessed.  Last weekend I was half asleep around 3 am when I got the idea for how to make table numbers for the reception!  I did not want to just frame numbers, as that is kind of boring.  The place cards, which I have not done yet, will be sand dollars and starfish.  I wanted something that went along with the beach theme.  So, below is what I created.  It was very easy and inexpensive.  I cannot wait to see these on the table at the reception :)

Supplies Needed:
Wood numbers
Craft paint in one of your wedding colors (tan is one of the colors)
Shells
Hot glue gun

I went to JoAnn's this past weekend because they had a 20% total purchase coupon that I could use.  I bought two bags of shells to save for future projects, the paint and 4 numbers for $18, including sales tax of over 9%!

I first painted the letters. Once they were dry (only takes about an hour depending on how much paint you use) I poured out the shells.  Then I looked through and played around until I liked what I created.  Then I just hot glued the shells on.  SUPER EASY!!! :):):):) I am in love...

200 Calorie Spaghetti

Do you love spaghetti but hate the carbs?  I avoid Italian food in general because of the carbs and fat in all of the food (generally).  But, when I do want some spaghetti I go for Shirataki noodles, which are tofu noodles.  You can find them at your grocery store in the refrigerated section.  I have found them with the tofu products and by the  ravioli/tortellini pastas.  I chose to make my own pasta sauce by roasting the tomatoes. But, when I am in a hurry I just use a good jar sauce.  You can have a yummy meal in less than 5 minutes if you jar sauce!  Not to mention VERY healthy with 200 calories and 30 g carbs. 

Servings: 1 LARGE portion
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hr and 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 package Shirataki noodles
2 cups halved tomatoes
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp EVOO
1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning 
5 to 8 basil leaves
1 oz feta cheese 

Cut tomatoes hot dog way.  Put into bowl with EVOO and seasoning.  Place cut side up on parchment lined baking sheet along with garlic cloves.  Bake for 1 hour at 260 degrees.  

When the tomatoes are almost done, rinse noodles and cook according to package.  I recommend using kitchen scissors to cut the noodles while they are in the pan.

When tomatoes are done place into blender or food processor and puree.  Place noodles, sauce, basil and feta into bowl.

Bon Appetite! 

Momma Susie's 6 Ingredient Peppered Steak

Lately, I have been craving some of my favorite dishes from my childhood.  I was very lucky to grow up with a mother that had a home cooked meal on the table every night.  It was nice to sit with my family at dinner time and share a delicious meal and talk about our days; I look forward to this tradition with my own family.  Last night I made one of my favorite dishes, peppered steak.  My mom always served it over rice, but I chose quinoa (it is always my substitution for rice).  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did!

Servings: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 to 1 1/2 lbs of round steak
1 pepper
1 can fat free cream of celery soup
3/4 can water
1 tbsp Kitchen Bouquet
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
Pepper

In large skillet, cut up round steak into strips.  Set timer for 30 minutes.  Brown for a few minutes on medium heat.  Add can of soup.
 

Let cook a few more minutes.  Then using cream of celery can, fill 3/4 full with water and pour into skillet.  Mix well.  Start quinoa according to directions on package.

Cover skillet and let simmer.  While simmering, cut up your pepper.  Make sure to stir every few minutes to prevent any sticking.  When there are about 15 minutes left, add Kitchen Bouquet.  If you want it darker, you can add more.  I also added some pepper.  With 5 minutes left add pepper, cover and let simmer to thicken.

Once it is done serve over quinoa :)

4 Ingredient Asian Sesame Crock Pot Chicken

Tonight for dinner I made my NEW favorite chicken recipe.  It was SO easy and has SO much flavor.  We had some left over frozen quinoa mixture from Trader Joe's to eat, but some quinoa or rice and broccoli with this chicken and the sauce would be heaven in your mouth!  Seriously! :) Enjoy!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours on high in crock pot

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken
• 1 1/2 cups lite Asian Sesame dressing
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 minced garlic cloves (I use the frozen kind in picture)

Cut chicken into cubes.  Whisk rest of ingredients together in a separate bowl (if you use frozen crushed garlic like I did then put that directly into pot).  Pour on top of chicken.  Cook on high for 3 hours.  Look at that juice!  Yummy on rice with some veggies!  Note: I added red pepper flakes :)

Game Day Food

We got home just in time for me to make some yummy food for the big game!  We settled on nachos and Philly cheese steaks.  However, I has just eaten way more bread than I care to admit the night before at dinner.  So, to try to reduce the carbs we had cheese steaks without the hoagie roll.  We also got the "reduced guilt" chips from Trader Joe's.  They are still tortilla chips, but it tell me I should not feel so guilty for eating them, so naturally I believe it :)  We may have also had some Maker's Mark to complete our game day experience, but you can omit that hehe.

Serving Sizes:

Nachos: 2 if really hungry, otherwise 4 to 6

Philly Cheese Steaks: 2 

Nachos:

1 package ground turkey 

1 red onion (can reduce if you do not like onion as much as we do)

1 orange pepper (or color of your choice)

1 tbsp taco seasoning (Make your own! Omit the salt)

2 jalapenos 

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

1 bag tortilla chips (10 oz)

1/2 package Lite Mexican cheese

Cook ground turkey on medium low and add taco seasoning.  Drain grease from turkey.  While turkey is cooking cut up pepper, onion and prepare other ingredients.  Make sure to wear gloves or something over your hand when cutting jalapeno!  Burning fingers are not fun!  Set oven to broil.  Put foil or parchment paper on cookie sheet.  Lay chips and 1/3 of rest of ingredients.  Repeat twice to use all ingredients.  Put nachos in oven for about 8 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

Philly Cheese Steak:

Above is the link that was my inspiration

1 large pepper (I chose yellow because we did not have green available) 

1 medium onion 

EVOO

12 oz flank steak

4 slices Provolone cheese

Worcestershire Sauce

Garlic Powder

Seasoning Salt

Pepper

Heat oven to broil.  Place steak on baking sheet lined with foil and apply last four ingredients.  Broil for 4 to 5 minutes.  Remove from oven, flip and repeat with last four ingredients.  Let it cool for a few minutes and then slice into thin strips.  Reserve juices.

While steak is in oven, coat pan with EVOO and saute pepper and onion.  Add the reserved juices to the pain and then the steak.  Lay cheese slices over the top of the mixture, reduce heat and cover with lid.  

Dig in once cheese is melted!!!

Peanut Butter Oreos

I am several days late on this post!  This weekend we were going to visit my fiance's great aunt and uncle.  I wanted to bring something yummy for them.  I searched for something on the healthier side and easy to transport.  I settled on Chocolate Covered Katie's homemade peanut butter Oreos.  I went to Whole Foods to get a few of the ingredients I did not have.  I bought spelt flour, soy milk, coconut sugar and cocoa powder.  I had coconut oil, but did not have coconut butter.  It was $12 for a jar of coconut butter, so I decided to use Katie's alternative.   There are a few things I would do differently.  Katie does not specify how thick or big her cookies are.  I used the top of my cooking spray and that was probably too big.  I also would buy the coconut butter as I do not think the filling had enough moisture.  I am really not sure how you can roll out the dough without using flour as it is so sticky.  However, I think using the flower to roll out the dough made the cookies brittle.  So, the cookies were good, but I am a little disappointed.  I definitely recommend giving them a try!!!

Serving Size: Mine only made about 14 sandwiches, not the 20 to 25 Katie suggests

Cookies:

• 3/4 cup spelt flour 
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp dutch cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 3 tbsp milk of choice
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup

Filling:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter 
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• a few tsp milk of choice  (I found that it absorbed the milk very quickly)

Combine first 5 ingredients, and stir well.

In a separate bowl, combine all liquid ingredients for the cookies.  Make sure to MELT the coconut oil.  I just microwaved mine on high for 15 seconds (about 45 seconds total).  Mix wet into dry to form a dough, then refrigerate 30 minutes before baking. 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Put dough in a plastic bag, and smush into one big ball. Remove from bag, roll into a thin dough, and cut flat circles using a circle cutter or a circle-shaped lid. Bake on a greased cookie tray for 11-14 minutes (depending on whether you want softer or crispier cookies). 

For the filling I just combined the ingredients into a bowl and mixed together with my hands.  I do not have a food processor, but if you did it would probably make it easier to create.

Here is the finished product! (not the best photo, sorry!)