commenting

A couple of friends have mentioned they've tried to leave comments on my blog but weren't able to because they don't have an account with blogger or google... Well, I changed it so that everyone (account or not) can comment if they'd like, and here's how:

-Scroll to the bottom of selected post, click on "COMMENTS"

-Type your comment in provided box

-Select "Name/URL" from drop down menu

-Type your name [you may leave URL blank], press continue

-Select "Post Comment" and it will give you the option to edit your comment and ask you to type a word verification. Do this and again select "Post Comment" and it should appear!

It's not as difficult as it may seem... do it once and it'll be a breeze the next time. Thank you all so much for your support, it means so much! More posts coming soon! :)

chicken tortilla casserole - day 5!

I had to use this dish as the last of the 5 posts because it's one of my faves...you know I can't go a whole five days without my [wannabe] Mexican food! This dish is so tasty, without all the extra calories. In fact, when you see it come out of the oven, it's hard to believe it's only 203 calories per serving!

Of course, I found this recipe on one of my favorite sites: Spark Recipes. I followed the recipe exactly, but when I make it again, I am going to use more spices and flavors like onions and garlic! 

Well, I hope you've enjoyed my 5 days of healthy dinners! I'm open to suggestions for another themed blog roll! And don't forget to leave comments or I won't know that I have followers. Your comments keep me encouraged and posting! :) 

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

1 can cream of chicken soup [98% fat free]

1 can diced green chilies [4.5 oz]

4 oz sour cream, fat free

1/2 cup fat free milk

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed or shredded COOKED

6 cor tortillas, medium [approx 6" dia], torn into bite size pieces

1/2 diced green bell pepper

1/2 cup diced tomatoes, no salt added

6 oz reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese [use a little more for extra flavor, being mindful of addtl. calories!]

Heat oven to 350F. Spray glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix soup, chilies, sour cream and milk until blended. Stir in chicken, tortilla pieces and bell pepper. Stir in tomato and 1 cup cheese. Spoon and spread mixture in baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake uncovered for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

beef goulash soup - day 4!

Well, it's not exactly 'boeuf bourguignon', but I'm no Julia Child! :) It sure is tasty, however, and rolls in at a whopping 188 calories per serving! 

This Better Homes and Gardens recipe is published on recipe.com and has a unique ingredient that contributes to it's hearty flavor - cocoa powder. [Weird, I know, but trust me on this one...] For 188 calories, you can have two or three bowls! 

TIP: If you are a fan of game, use venison instead of top sirloin. It's quite lean and when soaked in milk and tenderizer turns out to be an excellent substitute! 

Beef Goulash Soup

6 ounces boneless beef top sirloin steak

1 t. olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion [one medium]

2 cups water

1 14-oz can beef broth

1 14 1/2 ounce can low-sodium tomatoes, undrained and cut up

1/2 cup thinly sliced carrot

1 t. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup thinly sliced cabbage

1 oz. dried wide noodles [about 1/2 cup]

2 t. paprika

1/4 cup light dairy sour cream

snipped fresh parsley [optional]

additional paprika [optional]

Trim fat from steak. Cut steak into 1/2-inch cubes. In large saucepan cook and stir steak cubes in hot oil over medium-high heat about 6 minutes or until beef is brown. Add onion; cook and stir about 3 minutes more or until tender.

Stir in the water, broth, undrained tomatoes, carrot, cocoa powder, and garlic. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until beef is tender.

Stir in the cabbage, uncooked noodles, and the 2 teaspoons of paprika. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 7 minutes more or until noodles are tender but still firm. Remove from heat. Top each serving with some of the sour cream. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and additional paprika.

pulled chicken sandwiches - day 3

These are just perfect for a Friday night meal! Forget going out to eat tonight, whip this dish up and save yourself  $$ and calories all while pleasing the hubby and kids. They won't even know it's low-cal! That's my little secret anyway...

I found this recipe at hearthealthyonline.com  The calorie content is 284 calories/serving! Unbelievable.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

8 oz. can can tomato sauce

2 T. tomato paste

1 T. Dijon-style mustard

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. honey 

I T. olive oil

2 cups shredded chicken

6 whole wheat hamburger buns, split

red onion slices

dill pickle spears

Prepare barbecue sauce: In medium saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion, cook 3 to 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and honey. Bring to a boil, reducing heat. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes or until desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Combine barbecue sauce mixture with shredded chicken and distribute on hamburger buns. Top with red onion slices [optional] and garnish with dill pickle spears. I added a side of pinto beans for more fiber and fill!

honey garlic pork chops - day 2

These are so simple that I wonder why I can't just think up recipes like this on my own? They have an awesome tangy flavor I think you are going to love. Food like this makes losing weight a breeze!

The recipe comes from Spark Recipes, which is an awesome resource for healthy recipes! LOVE it.

There are approximately 6 servings @ 215 calories per serving...

 Honey Garlic Pork Chops

1/4 + 1/8 cup honey
3 T. soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 pork loin chops, boneless, trimmed of excess fat, 4 oz. each

In a shallow dish, whisk together honey, soy sauce and garlic. Coat chops in mixture. [Reserve left over honey mixture for basting]
Place chops on greased skillet over medium high heat, cover and cook through. Baste 2 times.   

let's get healthy! day 1...

Hey friends and followers! For the next 5 days I am going to post one "low-calorie" dinner recipe per day. [With summer coming up, we are getting serious about watching our waist lines...] Here are a few dishes I've tried and are hubby-approved. Who says eating right has to taste bad or leave you hungry? NO, it's just about the choices you make. Hopefully these recipes will help make it as easy for you as it did for me! :)

I'm starting day one with one of my very favorite foods: Lettuce Wraps!

The recipe is very loosely adapted from Eating Well's Five-Spice Turkey & Lettuce Wraps recipe and has approximately 285 calories per serving. TIP: Prepare the filling ahead of time for a quick week-night dinner!

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

1/2 cup brown rice

2 T. sesame oil

1 lb. 93% lean ground turkey

1 T. minced fresh ginger

1/2 diced red bell pepper

1/2 diced green bell pepper

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

4 T. hoisin sauce

1 head Romaine lettuce [or any lettuce that is thick enough to hold the filling]

1 large carrot, shredded

handful fresh cilantro

salt & pepper to taste

Spices [I used]: rosemary, basil, thyme,oregano, and palm-full of Tony's

Cook rice and set aside.

Heat oil in large pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey and onion, and fresh ginger; cook, crumbling with wooden spoon until turkey is cooked through. Stir in cooked rice, bell pepper, broth, hoisin sauce, cilantro and spices. Cook until peppers have softened and the broth has been absorbed.

Serve by spooning portions of the turkey mixture onto lettuce leaves. Top with extra herbs [optional] and carrots. Roll into wraps and enjoy!