Some yummy favorite recipes of mine

Favorite Recipes that I have found.
Grilled Fuji-n-Chick 'Wich 7 pointsplus
Too-EZ Mac 'n Cheese 6 pointsplus 

Chicken and Apple Panini 8 PointsPlus

This yummy panini was modified to be lower in PointsPlus Values.  Only 8 for this delicious light lunch. Chicken and Apple Panini
INGREDIENTS: 1 Oroweat® 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins® roll 2 oz. chicken breast, skinless and boneless 1 slices reduced-fat Swiss cheese 4 slices apple (any variety), thinly sliced 1 tsp. non-fat mayonnaise 1/2 c. baby spinach leaves Serving size: 1 sandwich NUTRITIONAL INFO: (per serving) 374 calories • 7g fiber • 38g protein 31g carbs • 12g fat • 386mg sodium PointsPlus Value:  8	DIRECTIONS: Preheat a nonstick griddle or skillet to medium. Grill each side of the chicken breast for 5 to 7 minutes, making sure chicken is thoroughly cooked. Spread one side of the Sandwich Thins® roll with reduced-fat mayonnaise. Assemble the sandwich by layering a slice of cheese, apples, chicken, baby spinach and the remaining slice of cheese. Grill the sandwich about 90 seconds on each side, weighing the sandwich down with a small skillet as it cooks.

Baked Cheese Balls

The following recipe was found at LaaLoosh.  I recommend this website to anyone looking for a healthier alternative to their diet needs.  
When your craving hot fried cheese sticks..... you are going to love this baked version.  Costing only 5 PointsPlus Value, and the whole recipe makes 1 serving.  Yummy!!  

Baked Cheese Balls

Preparation Time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 7 minute(s)PointsPlus Value: 5
Serving: 1

Ingredients

• 2 sticks of light mozzarella string cheese
• 1/2 cup Fiber One cereal (or other high fiber cereal)
• 1/4 cup liquid egg whites
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Optional marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with non-fat cooking spray or with an olive oil mister.
2. Cut up cheese sticks into bite sized pieces.
3. In a blender or food processer, combine cereal, garlic powder, salt, parsley and oregano until they have a reached a breadcrumb like consistency. Empty into a small bowl or a Ziploc bag.
4. Dip cheese bites into egg whites, shake off excess, and then coat with Fiber One breadcrumb mixture.
5. Place coated cheese balls onto baking sheet and very gently mist with olive oil or non-fat cooking spray.
6. Bake for about 5-7 min, or until cheese begins to soften, but doesn’t melt into a puddle.
7. Let stand one minute and then enjoy!
8. *To avoid your cheese balls from melting into a puddle, watch closely when cooking and remove from oven just when balls are softened, and just starting to ooze. Also, Never Trust a Skinny Cook recommended freezing the cheese balls before baking and/or using fat free string cheese.

PER SERVING: 160 calories; 6g fat; 27g carbohydrates; 14g protein; 14g fiber

Read more: http://www.laaloosh.com/2012/04/23/baked-cheese-balls-recipe/#ixzz1t5henzlb

Online food diaries, which one to use?

Okay gals and gents, it's time to pick an online food diary.  I am on the weight watchers pointsplus plan.  Although I utilize their pointsplus tracker, there are some really good online food diaries.  You may want to check them out before you decide.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus Tracker

http://www.weightwatchers.com/  This is weight watchers very own tracking program.  They offer some excellent etools, recipe builder, weight tracking.  The list goes on and on.  You also have a great variety of resources available to you.  It is a paid site, and you have the options of becoming a meetings member with etools for free, or you can utilize the site only.  It is a great site, but it comes with a price.  

I utilize weight watchers and love it but not everyone can afford the cost of the program.  There is a neat website that allows you to calculate your points and pointsplus values.  Calculate your weight watchers points or points plus values.  It is not endorsed or supported by Weight Watchers, however they have provided an online calculator (due to shortage of the buy your own option).  Currently it is free and separate from the etools for paid members.  You may want to check it out here.

The Daily Plate

This is a robust feature full site.  It empowers members to reach a healthier lifestyle.  Members can search from a library of more than 1,638,900 foods and 1,500 fitness activities.  They offer a free online food diary, in which members are able to track caloric intake and calories burned.  The diet programs are personalized in order to achieve optimum success.  If you need a lot of support to stay on plan, this just might be the site for you.  

Calories Count

Want a printable hard copy of your food journal?  Just not that technically inclined?  Then Calories Count is a good option for you.  The site allows users to enter their food data, and print it out to include in their own notebook, or journal keeping system.  Included is a diet assessment tool, diet meal planner, food calorie calculator, and other expected tools to aid you in your weight loss journey.

FitDay

FitDay tracks more than calories. On a low carb diet?  Watching Fat Grams?  FitDay tracks calories, carbohydrates, protein content, and fat grams.  A comprehensive listing of foods, with complete nutritional content can be found at this site.  One unique feature is the option to track your emotions in your food journal. This feature is often overlooked and plays a big part of weight loss success or failure.

myfitnesspal

Check out myfitnesspal.com.  Incredible database of foods, in fact it has an average 5 star rating with over 80773 ratings in the iPhone store.  Making it the #1 free application under health and nutrition, and yes it is free.  I am giving it a whirl at the moment, and it does appear to be one of the fastest if not the fasted nutrition tracking application in the iPhone store.  They also have applications for iPhone Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry, and iPad as well as the web based tracking tool.   

Missing your favorite, leave a comment posting your favorite online food diaries.  I might find a new favorite myself.  :)

Send in your recipes

Got a great recipe you know I will love?  Send it in, I'll convert it for weight watchers points plus value.  Once converted I'll share your delightful dish with my readers.  Keep them coming!

Send me your dish!

BBQ Chicken Pizzas

What are you cooking for Dinner?

BBQ Chicken Pizzas 

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time: 7 minutes Serves: 4 PointsPlus Values: 6

Ingredients

	2 spray(s) cooking spray
	4 medium whole wheat tortilla(s)
	1 cup(s) (chopped) cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast(s), or shredded
	1/2 cup(s) barbecue sauce
	3 oz gouda cheese, smoked or regular, shredded (about 3/4 cup)
	1/2 small uncooked red onion(s), cut in thin slivers
	1/2 cup(s) cilantro, fresh, chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat 1 or 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
  
• Place tortillas on prepared pan(s).
  
• In a small bowl, toss chicken with barbecue sauce; divide among tortillas and sprinkle each with 3 tablespoons cheese and 2 tablespoons onions. Bake until cheese melts and bottoms of tortillas are lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  
• Remove from oven and sprinkle each pizza with 2 tablespoons cilantro. Slice each pizza into 4 wedges and serve. Yields 1 pizza (4 wedges) per serving.

Notes

• Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

So easy and it is chocolate!!!!  Let me know how you like it.

Chocolate Marshmallow Fudge

Yes I know that looks soooo yummy and on the points chart it comes in at a super low 3 points.  Yes, pass me the chocolate please.

Prep time: 10 minutes  Cooking Time: 5 minutes   Serves 36  Points plus value of 3.

Ingredients

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	1 2/3 cup(s) sugar
	2/3 cup(s) fat-free evaporated milk
	2 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, or light butter
	12 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
	14 large marshmallow(s)

Instructions

• Coat an 8- X 8-inch pan with cooking spray.
  
• In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, evaporated milk and margarine (or butter); bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.
  
• Stir in chocolate and marshmallows; remove pan from heat and stir until smooth.
  
• Pour mixture into prepared pan and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Cut into thirty-six 1 1/3-inch squares and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes

• Store fudge in refrigerator. Or freeze for a firmer consistency.

Battle of the Bulge

It's time to make a change. You know you need to lose weight; you have read all the health benefits. What is stopping you? Late night snacking, salty snacks, food for comfort... the list goes on and on.

Only you can make the change. Only you can win the battle of the bulge. So come join me in my efforts to fight this waging war. I am a single mom of three beautiful kids and like you, I need to sitck around for a while. I have won the battle before. After, having my babies, I was successful in shedding 100lbs and kept it off for over six years. I reached that mid-life time, yes the dreadful 40s and slowly watched it all creep back on. "Give yourself something to work toward - constantly" Mary Kay Ash, this is especially true with weight loss/management.

Welcome to the first day of your new life, hopefully a healthier, happier, you!