Baked Oatmeal - WW style

Another healthy and delicious recipe for you to try...from my cookbook.  I just had to include this enjoyable dish.

If you don't make any changes to the recipe, it's only 2 Weight Watchers points for each good-sized serving.

I love a bowl of oatmeal anytime of the day..but since I was recently told my cholesterol is a bit high....I am eating more oatmeal than usual to try to bring it down.  I don't take any RX drugs and I don't want to start, if I can help it.

This is an easy dish to put together on the weekend for the week ahead.  Then your breakfast is all ready for you.

It only takes a few everyday ingredients...

I had some apples that needed to be eaten, so I chopped them and added them to the oatmeal, along with some raisins. 

My grandma always plumped raisins for our oatmeal when she came to visit, and it's something that has stuck with me.

I even order raisins for my oatmeal when we eat out. I also love toast with my oatmeal too.

Soooo give it a whirl (or a whisk=) and let me know what you think, or if you have any ideas for options.  Adding any dried/fresh fruit would be good too, but of course, would change the WW points for each serving. 

This is a picture of my first helping - I enjoyed it with a little bit of leftover eggnog. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!  *-*

BAKED OATMEAL

2 c. dry oatmeal, uncooked

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 - 1/2 c. sugar of Splenda (I used part brown sugar Splenda as I like the richness it adds)

1 c. fat free skim milk

1/2 c. Egg Beaters (or use egg whites) (I used 3 extra large egg whites)

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp. vanilla extract or maple flavoring (I used 2 Tb. sugar free pancake syrup)

1 Tb. ground cinnamon (can use part nutmeg if you prefer)

Preheat oven to 350. Coat an 8" square baking dish with cooking spray. In large (or medium) bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In another bowl, combine wet ingredients, then stir the two together.   Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes.  Yield: 6 servings

Serve warm with milk or cream.

Linked to Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Recipe of the Week
Weekend Potluck

Weight Watchers Snickers Pie

OK - it's time for a healthy dessert recipe!!

This one is awesome because you won't even know you're eating lowfat! (or sugar free as the case may be!)   This definitely tastes like MORE! (as in 'I want MORE'=)

I was given this recipe by a good friend (Thank you Cathy!) a while back and I have made it often.  And it's already typed into my 'upcoming-someday' #2 cookbook.

Now that I know what to expect about putting a cookbook together, it should be a little easier, but I don't plan on having it in my hand for atleast a couple of years. I want to take my time and not rush it...and leave out a recipe I had planned on...as happened with my first cookbook. =( (OOPS - sorry Rosie!)

(And I have plans to help 'nudge' a friend, getting her going with her own cookbook, and feel VERY honored I can help at all=)

I was ready to make this pie this week, but couldn't find the frozen non-fat yogurt called for, so I got the sugar-free vanilla ice cream that was availble (Prarie Farms brand is very tasty...of course, this may change the WW points)

It only takes a few simple ingredients!! 

After allowing the ice cream to sit on the counter and soften, this goes together very quickly. 

I like to leave ripples of the peanut butter showing instead of blending it smooth.

It gives me something to bite into when I'm enjoying it!

Pour it into a pie plate and smooth top. Cover tightly and freeze for atleast 2 hours.  Remove from freezer 10 minutes before ready to serve. Swirl the chocolate over the top and you are ready to chill...so to speak!

This post has been linked to Sweets for a Saturday - check it out!

This post has also been linked to Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

This post has been linked to Foodie Friday

 

We have certainly enjoyed every bite of this tasty dish. Trust you will too!

SNICKERS PIE

1 pint (2 cups) vanilla non-fat frozen yogurt softened

2 TB. chunky peanut butter

1/2 pkg. (1/4 cup) sugar free dry instant vanilla pudding

1/2 cup fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed

lite chocolate ice cream syrup

In large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Mix well - pour into 8" pie pan.  (I spray a couple quick sprays with Pam...just to make it easier to get out of the dish). Cover tightly and freeze until set. 

Before serving, drizzle 2 tsps. lite chocolate syrup over entire pie.

Serves 8 - each serving = 2 WW points  (in their older program anyway - using the nonfat frozen yogurt)

Linked to Lark's Made it on Monday

          Ingredient Spotlight - Peanut Butter

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BONUS!! 

Did you know today is 'Hugging Day'?  Be sure to hug someone - then hug a few more!  It's good medicine for our souls! Check out this link - HAPPY HUGGING DAY!

Linked to Foodie Friday

Easy and Delicious Hot Cocoa

I love chocolate!  And making hot cocoa from scratch is such a delight.

So when I read my good friend Angie's post at A'lil Country Sugar  - about making hot cocoa, I got up from my chair and went right to the kitchen to give it a try.

How can you go wrong melting a chocolate bar in warm milk to drink?  Oh my!!  To die for!

(Of course, enjoying it from a cutsie mug helps too - I received this one as a Christmas gift.  It just seems to make everything taste better. *-*)

This is Angie's version -

Hot Chocolate With Marshmallow Creme

8 oz. 2% milk

2 oz. heavy whipping cream

2 TBS light brown sugar

Heat on medium heat until the mixture bubbles around the edge.

 Remove from heat and add 2 oz. finely chopped chocolate of your choice.

Whisk gently until the chocolate is melted and well combined. You can adjust your chocolate amount to your liking. If you need to add more than 2 oz. add more.

Top hot chocolate with marshmallows or marshmallow creme and chocolate shavings.

The changes I made were....I used 1% milk, fat free half and half instead of whipping cream, and used this special dark chocolate candy bar. 

After all - dark chocolate is healthy for you - how can you go wrong with this healthy treat?

You can't!!!

(I was fortunate to have two of these candy bars and used 1-1/4 - they are 1.45 ozs each)

It was wonderfully delicious and I enjoyed every sip.  I used mini marshmallows because I didn't have the creme.  I'm not a big marshmallow fan, but when these puppies melt in the warm cocoa, I just LOVE them.

It feels like such an indulgence!

And that's always a good thing when you're trying to stick with healthy eating.  I think it's a very good thing to splurge now and then. 

Good for the mind, AND the soul...not to mention the body.

Especially on a cold snowy winter's day.  One terrific way to warm up!

From my "365 Reasons to Eat Chocolate" calendar....

If you are planning to start an exercise program, you will need the extra energy that chocolate brings.  If you are not planning to start an exercise program, you probably don't need an excuse to eat chocolate.   (Or drink it either)

MAKES SENSE TO ME!!

Keep smiling!!

Burrito El Grande Made Over

HA CHA CHANYA!

(A favorite saying of my father who spent time doing

missionary work in Haiti and New Mexico)

I was so excited to try this wonderful recipe from Kraft Foods

Maybe I was just really hungry the evening I made these, but

I couldn't believe how awesome they were.

We each had 1-1/2 and I woofed down my 1/2 before

we sat down for dinner! 

OHHHH SOOO TASTY!

Give this a try - it goes together quickly and easily.

By using the X-tra lean ground beef, 2% cheese,

whole wheat tortillas and light sour cream, you

save 330 calories & 16 grs. fat per burrito!

We will definitely be having this again soon.

BURRITOS EL GRANDE MADE OVER

1/2 lb. extra-lean ground beef

1 (16 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed

(I used black beans)

3/4 c. thick 'n' chunky salsa

1/2 c. mexican style 2% shredded cheese

6 whole wheat tortillas (10 inch), warmed

1/2 c. reduced fat or light sour cream

1-1/2 c. shredded (romaine) lettuce

3 tomatoes (1 lb.), chopped

Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat.  Stir in beans and salsa; cook 3 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in cheese.

(I added cheese to each burrito...doesn't really matter, I'm just sayin)

Spoon meat mixture down centers of tortillas; top with remaining ingredients.  Fold in opposite sides of each tortilla, then roll up burrito style.

Take a big bite & enjoy!!!! This would be great along side one of those

soup recipes I shared last week.

Nutritional info:

Cals. each: 340; Total fat: 10 gr; Saturated fat: 3.5 gr.

Cholesterol: 35 mg. Sodium: 790 mg.

Carbohydrate: 46 gr. Dietary Fiber: 9 gr. Protein: 21 gr.

Linked to Mandy's Totally Tasty Tuesdays

Feature Friday

Good-for-you Orange Creamsicle Smoothie & Weight Loss Tips from WW

Need a little 'pick me up'?   This is a healthy and filling drink that you're sure to enjoy.  It tastes like a creamsicle in a glass! It's great for breakfast or an after school snack. 

I was sorting through a old pile of recipes and this one crossed my path, so...I made it for hubby and me to have an after-dinner treat and it was so delicious.  He wanted more, but it was gone.  I'm sure we will try it again soon.  I always have these ingredients on hand.

Try it, you'll like it.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE SMOOTHIE

1 cup skim milk

1 (6 ozs) container (Greek) low/non-fat vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, partially thawed

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

5 ice cubes, crushed

Combine milk, yogurt, orange juice concentrate and vanilla in blender.  Blend 15 seconds to combine ingredients. Add ice cubes and blend about 20 seconds longer until frothy.  Serve immediately - serves 2.

Nutritional info per serving: (using low-fat yogurt) 198 cals., 1.5 gr. fat, 10 gr. prot., 38 gr. carbs, 1.5 gr. fiber, 128 mg. sodium

This recipe is linked to Sweets for a Saturday

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Sometimes I just need a little pumping up to keep me on the right track headed toward weight loss, so when I came across these

7 tips from Weight Watchers to help you slim down

I just had to share! Hope they give you inspiration also!

1.A spoonful of sugar can add up over the course of a year. Add one less teaspoon of sugar (15 calories) to your cup of morning and afternoon coffee each day and you'll save about 10,000 calories—the equivalent of about 3 pounds per year.

2.Slim down that bowl of cereal: Switch from 1 cup regular whole milk to 1% milk (about 50 calories less per cup) every day. Once your taste buds adjust, you'll be thrilled! That's a tad more than 5 pounds lost by this time next year.

3.Take the scenic route. Park your car as far as possible from the entrance to your office, the shopping mall or a restaurant and get those legs pumping. Ten minutes of daily moderate paced walking (five minutes each way burns about 20 calories) can take off over 4 pounds a year.*

4.Get your vitamin C boost with a whole orange (60 calories) instead of a cup of juice (110 calories) each day. Your 12-month weight loss: 5 1/4 pounds.

5.Go calorie-free by switching from regular to diet soda (150 versus 0 calories per can). If you drink one can per day, that's nearly 16 pounds lost in a year.

6.Flavor your sandwiches with very low-cal condiments like mustard or vinegar instead of calorie-packed mayo. Leave off 1 tablespoon (100 calories) every day and you're looking at close to 10 1/2 pounds a year.

7.Downsize, don't super-size, fast food meals. Opt for a small McDonald's French fries (250 calories) instead of a large order (570 calories) at your weekly fast-food meal. You'll enjoy the same great taste all year long but with an added bonus: almost 5 pounds lost.

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
                 Breakfast Ideas Monday
           Ingredient Spotlight - Yogurt