Cranberry Kale Salad

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Cook's Note: I had a craving for anything KALE and settled on a salad. I found this wonderful recipe on Pinterest via Gimme Some Oven and thought I'd give it a try on my own. I varied this recipe to make my own version (see below) - but this was a hit in my household and I will be making it again and again. You just can't get any healthier than KALE!

Thanks to Moonfire Orchards for the awesome organic KALE!!

What You Will Need: 

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 green onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

1 cup dried cranberries

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

juice and zest of half a lemon

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 bunch kale, very thinly sliced

1/4 cup glazed pecans (such as: Emerald Pumpkin Pie Pecans)

(optional) 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese 

Directions: 

Heat 2  Tbsp of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add green onion and saute for 3- 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and continue sautéing  for 1 minute. Next add cranberries, red wine vinegar and lemon juice/zest, and stir to combine well.

Season with salt and pepper.

In a large mixing bowl, toss the kale with olive oil and an extra pinch of salt, and massage kale with your fingers for 1 minute until tender. Add in the cranberry/green onion mixture and nuts. Toss to combine. Serve topped with crumbled cheese if desired.

This "Pinspiration" comes from: Gimme Some Oven

ENJOY! 

Weight Watchers Friendly - Apple Cheese Honey Wrap

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Cook's Note: If anyone follows our Pinterest board, then they know that one of us is doing Weight Watchers because I feel like I sit on Pinterest all day looking for healthy weight watchers recipes to make. I need variety and quick because I get bored easily! 

I ran into this GEM of a recipe and tweaked it to make it my own. This is absolutely delicious and low points (7 Point Plus per serving) - what a great lunch, appetizer or dessert. I find that many Weight Watchers recipes are actually great for people NOT doing the program - these recipes are just healthier options that are still YUMMY!

What You Will Need: 

1 Apple of your choice, thinly sliced

1 high fiber tortilla/wrap (I used LaTortilla Factory Low Carb High Fiber Wraps)

1 wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (Light Creamy Swiss)

1/8 cup of Sargento Mild Cheddar Shredded Cheese, Reduced Fat

1 tablespoon honey

1 tsp of Cinnamon

Directions: 

Slice the apple thin and set aside. Take tortilla wrap and spread laughing cow cheese on it. Place the apple on half of the tortilla wrap and drizzle with honey and sprinkle a few dashes of cinnamon. Fold over  place in greased  pan (use non-stick cooking spray or coconut oil) and cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes each side. Cut into wedges and enjoy!

SERVES: 1

7 Points Plus Per Serving

This "Pinspiration" Comes from Hungry Girl Por Vida

Devil's Food 3-2-1 Mug Cake - 4 Points Plus

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Cook's Note: I really don't have much to say here. This recipe CAN NOT be any easier! This is a Weight Watchers Recipe, however - this is a great quick dessert whenever anyone gets a craving for a cupcake and you don't have any. It takes exactly 2 minutes or less to make!

What You Will Need: 

3 TBSP Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake Mix

2 TBSP Water

Directions: 

Mix ingredients really well in a coffee mug and microwave for 1 minute. 

You will be astonished at how good this tastes. You can top with a dollop of fat free whip cream from a can and a few chocolate sprinkles or even sprinkle in a few chocolate chips before microwaving. 

Let cool about 2-3 minutes before eating. You can eat in the mug or place it in a plate or bowl. This is similar to a cupcake and just as good.

This entire mug is 4 Points Plus (WEIGHT WATCHERS) per serving 

Weight Watchers Crockpot Chicken Tacos 2 Points + Per Serving

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Cook's Note: For anyone who is currently following me on Pinterest, they are probably sick of the amount of Weight Watchers recipes I have pinned. I have decided to give Weight Watchers a try and during this fun adventure, I plan on sharing many of the recipes I try with all of you! ENJOY! 

What You Will Need:

3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 cup Frozen Bell Pepper Strips

1/2 Onion, diced or chopped

1 Package of Taco Seasoning

Toppings – such as fat free sour cream, salsa, shredded low fat Mexican cheese, diced tomatoes and lettuce.

For the Shell: Crunchy/Hard Corn Taco Shells (such as Old El Paso) or High Fiber Tortilla Wraps

Directions:

Place the peppers & onions in the slow cooker. 

Next, place chicken on top of the pepper/onion mix.

Sprinkle taco seasoning on the top of this. 

Cook on low for 6-8 hrs (or high for 3-4)

When it's done, just shred up the chicken and then mix in the juices from the bottom. Serve on crunchy corn taco shells or high fiber tortilla wraps and any low fat toppings you can!

Yields 6 Servings for the Chicken Mixture and 2 Points + per serving. 

Old El Paso Crunchy Corn Taco Shells 3 Points + for 2 Shells

Baked Ham and Cheese on Garlic Toast

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Cooks Note:  Not much to say here. Five ingredients, 30 min start to finish, super delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 T yellow mustard (unless you want more)

8 slices Garlic Texas Toast

1 lb Ham (thicker the better)

6 slices Swiss

1 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Spread mustard in the bottom of a 10x13 inch baking dish

Place 4 toasts on top of mustard

Top each toast with Ham

Top each toast with 1 and 1/2 slices of Swiss cheese

Top each toast with second slice of toast

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over all sandwiches

Bake 350 degrees for 25 min or until hot and bubbly

Going into the oven

Feast your eyes on these babies, oozing with cheesy goodness....

This Pinspiration comes from Oh Bite It!

Southern Ambrosia Salad

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Cooks Note: Ambrosia is a classic side dish. It is sorta desserty, sorta salady, sorta fruit salad, but no matter how you serve it, it is fantastic. I have not had ambrosia for a long time....at least 10 years. But when discussing what to bring to Easter Brunch, Ambrosia just popped into my head as a perfect side. Everyone loved it, of course, and not because of my stellar cooking skills (wink wink), but because it has marshmallows and cool whip,duh. I have made this 3 or 4 times since Easter and we have yet to grow tired of it. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cans very cherry fruit cocktail, drained well
1 small can of pineapple tidbits, drained well
1 can mandarin oranges, drained well
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
1 Cup Cool Whip

Directions:

Drain canned fruit
Add all fruit to a bowl
Combine with sour cream and Cool Whip
Stir in marshmallows
Chill several hours or overnight for best taste

This Pinspiration came from family recipes

Gooseberry Patch Chicken Tetrazini

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Cook's Note: I made this on Christmas Eve for our family dinner (I know I am posting it really really late huh?). I had never made this recipe before and took a chance on it. I got this recipe from the Gooseberry Patch Merry Christmas cookbook (page 137). Let me tell you, if you aren't familiar with Gooseberry Patch... then get with it PEOPLE! Their recipes are pretty much a NO FAIL and can always be trusted. This recipe was really phenomenal and I have made it 2 times this year already. My family truly loved it, even the kids. 

It's fairly easy to make and the taste combination is out of this world. This is by no means a light recipe, but a great recipe nonetheless. I didn't change anything here and give full credit to Gooseberry Patch. I am adding this to my dinner rotation and recipe box to make again and again. I hope you will enjoy!  

What You Will Need: 

2 cans of Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup

1.5 cups of Milk

2 Chicken bouillon cubes

12 oz package of wide Egg Noodles, cooked according to pkg directions.

1 small onion, chopped or diced

3 cups Chicken Breast (2-3 breasts), cooked and diced

1.5 cups of Sourdough Croutons, cut into squares/cubes

3 Tbsp Butter (melted)

3 cups Shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese

Directions: 

First and foremost: Cook your chicken. Typically, for recipes that call for already cooked chicken, I will take the chicken breasts and boil them for 25 minutes, then drain, rinse, cool and dice the chicken and set aside. 

Next, cook the noodles according to package directions. Once drained, set aside. 

Peel and dice onion, set aside. 

For the Sourdough Croutons you can either buy those already made in the store bakery, or make it yourself! If you want to make it yourself its very easy (see my recipe below!) If using store bought croutons, toss croutons with melted butter (as indicated in the above ingredients) in a small bowl and set aside.(If you follow my below homemade crouton recipe, then you won't need more butter!)

In a small saucepan - mix soup, milk and bouillon cubes and cook over medium heat until warmed. 

In a large bowl, combine noodles, onion, chicken and soup mixture and stir until well combined. Place mixture is a greased 13'x9' glass baking dish. 

Sprinkle shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese over the noodles and top with croutons.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.  Serves 6-8.

Homemade Sourdough Croutons

1 loaf of Sourdough Bread from your local grocer's bakery

3 tbsp Italian Seasoning

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

2-3 Tbsp butter (melted) 

Directions: Dice the bread up into squares, toss with Italian seasoning, cheese and butter. 

This "Pinspiration" comes from Gooseberry Patch - Merry Christmas Cookbook

Cowboy Caviar

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Cook's Note: I bought Cowboy Caviar once at Costco and LOVED it, but never tried to make it myself. I was looking for a "healthy" dip to take to a family get together and decided to give this a try. It's chocked full of vegetables and its very light. Let me tell you - this dip was gone in less than an hour. Everyone loved it. I should change the name of this dip to the "Disappearing Cowboy Caviar". It's really delicious and has a real kick to it. ENJOY!

What You Will Need: 

1 can corn, drained & rinsed

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes, with juice

2 ripe avocados, diced

1/2 of a red onion, chopped

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. cumin

a few dashes of TEXAS Pete or Tabasco 

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir gently. It really is best if you make it the night before (or several hours before) serving because it gives the juices time to marinate. Place in the fridge until ready to serve. 

Serve with Tostitos SCOOPS chips or your favorite Blue Corn Chips for true deliciousness ! 

This "PINSPIRATION" comes from Bebe A La Mode Designs