Apple Oatmeal Muffins 4 WW Smartpoints

 

 

Cook's Note: Being on the new Weight Watchers Smartpoints program, I have to look for recipes that will work. I thought these sounded yummy and I modified the recipe slightly from the original recipe to make it lighter. I made these muffins over the weekend and they were pretty good.

They are 4 SmartPoints per Muffin and make for a yummy breakfast, paired with some fresh fruit and an egg.

 

 

What You Will Need:

2 cup apple, peeled and finely chopped (about 2 small apples) 

1 1⁄2 cup whole wheat  flour 

1 cup quick oats 

2⁄3 cup Truvia brown sugar blend

1 1⁄2 tsp baking powder 

1⁄2 tsp baking soda 

1⁄2 tsp salt 

1⁄2 tsp cinnamon 

1⁄2 cup skim milk 

2 tbsp natural apple sauce 

 

Directions:

 Mix all ingredients together in a stand mixer (or hand mixer) and gently fill one 12 slot muffin pan, and bake for 15-18 minutes at 375°F or until brown.

Servings: 12

Serving Size: 1

4 Weight Watchers Smartpoints per serving

 

This  "Pinspiration" comes from KitchMe

 

 

Weight Watchers Pumpkin Fluff 3 Smart Points per serving!

                              

Cooks Note: Full Disclosure: I'm trying the new Weight Watchers Smart Points plan- so you will see lots of new recipes/ ideas for lighter options! We are not professionally affiliated with Weight

watchers - just trying out their recipes and/or recipes we've found on Pinterest it other places across the web. 

This one is an easy dessert, super yummy & only 3 points per serving! I added in a cookie stick (Pirouline wafer stick and that made it more points ...those are an additional 2 sp per stick - but a nice little addition!)

What You Will Need:

• 8oz container of 

  Cool Whip Whipped Topping, Fat Free (thawed)

  
  
  16 oz can (or 2 cups) canned Pumpkin

  
  
  1 package of fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding

  
  
  Pumpkin Pie Spice to taste
  (If you don't have this you can use a little dash of nutmeg and dash of cinnamon!)
  
  
  Directions:
  mix all ingredients together and divided into six servings!
  
  
  ENJOY!!
  
  
  This Pinspiration comes from Chef This Up http://chefthisup.co/recipe/16283/weight-watcher-pumpkin-fluff/

Christmas Home Tour

The countdown is on! As we approach the big day we are enjoying time off with family and friends, and it is during this time that I really enjoy our holiday home decor. The lights are always on and the Christmas music is always playing. This week is time to wrap the gifts, bake the cookies, and for me, make my extensive grocery list for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners! Here are a few photos of my 2015 Christmas home for you to check out, Send us some photos of your Christmas decor too. 

Christmas Teacher Gift - Tea & Jam Plate

We were at a Christmas craft show in November and got this idea for a gift & we ran with it and made it out own. It was easy and fun to buy all the stuff to make it.

Here's what's in the gift:

Small dessert Plate

Small Jar of Jam/Jelly

Chocolate

Tea Bag

Spreader

Make it!! 

Small dessert plate. This time of year you can buy cute Christmas plates everywhere & usually in packs of 4 or more. We found these at Homegoods.

Next we add items of your choice on the plate ....we chose a small jar of gourmet Jam or Jelly, a chocolate, a tea bag & a cute holiday themed spreader. Tea & Jam plate!!

How cute is this? You could add anything on this plate really ...just use your imagination! Include a gift card too for a really nice gift!

Now, just wrap in clear wrapping paper with a cute Christmas design, tie it up with pretty ribbon and tie on a cute gift tag!

Voila .... You are DONE!! The teachers will most likely think this is cute & unique.

I had to make 6 of them ...BOO! But they turned out soooo cute!

The Adventures of our ELF ON THE SHELF

If you've come to this blog post, I will guess you are a parent that has an Elf on the Shelf. Congratulations, Mom & Dad - you have to remember to move your elf every single night for the next 24 nights (if you start on December 1st, that is!) It can be a hassle - right? But - its mostly fun for you and your children. Make the MOST OF IT!

Like you, we scour Pinterest for ideas for our Elf and come up with some of our own on the fly. 

My Elf is not overly mischievous. Our Elf is more cute and kind - we keep it simple. Our Elf also brings small gifts whenever my child has been really good the day before. It give my little one something to look forward to. 

REMEMBER THESE IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT YOUR ELF ON THE SHELF: 

• Your child won't be this little for long, so enjoy the Elf as much as they do! The magic of Christmas lives strong in your child's heart. 
• It's only for one month a year (actually less than a month) that you have to move the Elf around. One day your child won't believe anymore and you will actually MISS this. 
• Make it fun for you and your child ... there are so many ideas out there that are simple and enjoyable. 
• We advise to stay away from the "naughty" Elf activities that you may see on Pinterest. There are some REALLY bad ones on Pinterest that are FUNNY, but also DISTURBING! 

Here are some of our ELF Adventures..... we will add more as the season continues...

The First night that our Elf came - she brought an ADVENT calendar !

Our Elf got into the Reese's Pieces!

Our Elf likes to ride the Rocking Horse at night!

 Our Elf leaves little gifts - like these window clings for my little one to decorate! 

We hope that we've given you some ideas......More Elf adventures to come!!! 

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Find it On Pinterest

Cook's Note: I saw these adorable cookies on Southern Living's Facebook page and thought to myself "Wow, my child would LOVE to make this with me!" It looked too easy to pass up. We enjoyed making these and will serve them at Thanksgiving for a kid's dessert. You can't get any easier and cuter than this!

What You Will Need: 

1 package of Fudge Stripe Cookies

1 package of Miniature Reese's Cups (unwrapped) 

1 small package of Reese's Pieces 

Icing

Directions: 

Lay each Fudge Stripe Cookie face down, place a dollop of icing on top and place the Reese's Cup on top and push to spread the icing. Place a small dot of icing on a Reese Pieces and push the candy on the side of the Reese's cup.

There you have it! A simple and fun dessert that the children at your Thanksgiving feast will LOVE! 

This "Pinspirations" comes from Southern Living

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

 Find it on Pinterest

Cooks Note: Today was our first really cold day of the season. I am talking 24 degrees for the low, so the kids were ready for some hot chocolate when they arrived home from school. I saw this on Pinterest and I am not going to lie, I thought why would you make it from scratch when you can have it done in 2 minutes from the microwave or the Kuerig? Well, now I know why. This is very simple to put together, but you have to make sure to think ahead, because it takes 2 hours to cook. But, when it was done it was the most decadent, smooth, creamy, delicious hot chocolate I have ever tasted, hands down. My sister said she felt like she was drinking a chocolate chip cookie. The kids loved it, and I know you will too. This is now the only HC we will ever drink. 

Note: I added a small packet of Truvia to the mix since I used semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 1.5 Cups whipping cream (I used half and half)
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (I used the lite version)
• 6 Cups milk (whatever you prefer, I used 1%)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 Cups chocolate chips (Milk or Semi-Sweet, whichever you prefer)
• I added one small Truvia packet

Instructions:

• Stir together the cream, milks, vanilla and chocolate chips in the crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips have melted. Stir again before serving. Garnish as desired. 

TIP: To change it up a bit, you could always use white chocolate chips or add a little mint extract for a chocolate mint flavor. 

This Pinspiration came from mrshappyhomemaker.com

Broccoli Slaw Chicken Salad

Find It On Pinterest

Cook's Note: I love broccoli slaw and I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try - I wanted something yummy, healthy and DIFFERENT and this seemed to fit the bill. I really liked this recipe and hope you will try it! This is similar to our Chinese Ramen Noodle Chicken Salad recipe, the only difference is that this recipe uses broccoli slaw instead of cabbage and also a different oil. Who doesn't love salad?
 

What You Will Need:

2 Packages of Ramen Noodles (Chicken Flavor)

2-3 Small Chicken Breasts (cooked and chopped or shredded)

1 package Broccoli Slaw

1/2 cup Slivered Almonds (toasted in a pan)

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1/2 bunch of green onions, finely chopped

1/2 cup Sugar

3/4 cup Vegetable Oil

1/3 White Vinegar
 

Directions:

In a large bowl (with lid) ....crush the ramen noodles in the package by squeezing and breaking the pieces. Open the package and dump the crushed up noodles in the bowl (take out the flavor packs and set aside - you will use only ONE package of the flavoring). Add in chicken, broccoli slaw, almonds, sunflower seeds, green onions.

 

In another bowl mix together one packet of the chicken flavor, sugar, vegetable oil and vinegar. Stir well and pour over the salad and mix thoroughly.

 

This salad tastes better if it sits for at least 30 minutes and even better overnight (it marinates better).

 

This "PINSPIRATION" comes from Food.com

 

ENJOY!