Top 4 'Most Viewed' for 2012

I have really enjoyed seeing other bloggers post about their "Best" recipes for 2012.  

This lovely dish is the 'HIGHEST ALL TIME HITS' recipe...and it's wonderful! 

ONLY 3 INGREDIENTS! And it's a Weight Watchers recipe - you can't go wrong. 

Serve it to anyone and they will never know it's one of those 'healthier' dishes.

It's gorgeous too...just look. 

Weight Watchers Cherry Pie Fluff




Another recipe using 3 main ingredients....plus food coloring....
oh how fun!

Peanut Butter Pumpkins




This one had the most Pinterest hits..

Oven-Fried Bacon




Simple cleanup and very tasty....

Simple Crockpot Brownies



ENJOY!!!!!!!!

Tasty Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup (Weight Watchers)

Welcome to the first post of 2013 at The Better Baker!

WOW!  Did we ever imagine when we were kids we'd be writing (not to mention living in!) the year 2013? 

Trust you enjoyed a lovely holiday season.  It's such a busy time of year!
I really enjoyed my break and only got about half the things done that I had hoped to...but I missed ya'll!

It was definitely a time when I really overdid myself making dishes and indulging in them too!
(ARGH!)

Are you making any new resolutions or setting any goals for the new year?

Trying to be more organized?  I know there's lots of helpful hints on the web.  I have a closet and a few cupboards that need to be organized and cleaned out too. 

I also want to drink more water, move/exercise more, try to slow down as I'm always on the run, and I am excited that my daughter and I hope to published atleast 2 eCookbooks this new year! Always fun to dream isn't it? 

I'm thankful for a new beginning...to be able to 'turn over a new leaf' and get back on track to healthy eating.  I plan to share a number of 'healthier options' this month as I get focused on eating more veggies, fruit and fewer processed foods. 
I'm going to try a sugar-purge also.  I need to do that one badly!
{'skuse please if that's improper English!}

I have quite a few soup recipes in my drafts, but I decided I'd start out with this popular soup recipe that was a 'hot' one (pun intended=) in 2012! 

This Cheeseburger Soup is fabulously tasty and even includes WW points!

Even if you're not following that plan (I'm not either) it gives you a guideline. 

When I am in a rush, I will make it on top of the stove, but it's awesome making it in the slow cooker...letting it simmer while you're busy doing other things.  
Note that it does only take 2 - 3 hours in the slow cooker. 

SLOW COOKER CHEESEBURGER SOUP

2 sprays cooking spray

(I used a little olive oil too...WW wants you to have oil daily, soo)

1 medium garlic clove, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium stalk celery, chopped

1 lb. uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)

2 Tb. all purpose flour

(I used 3 because I like it thick)

3 cups canned chicken broth, divided

1 cup low-fat evaporated milk

8 ozs. Velveeta 2% reduced fat cheese, cubed

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

baked lowfat tortilla chips, crumbled

I also added a can of fire-roasted tomatoes - it gave it great ZIP!

Coat large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over med-high heat for about 30 seconds.  Add garlic, onion, and celery; cook, stirring frequently, until veggies are tender, about 5 - 10 minutes.  Coat a 3-qt. or larger slow cooker with cooking spray; spoon in vegetables.  (A crockpot liner would work nicely too).

Place same skillet over medium-high heat and brown beef; breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 - 6 minutes; pour off any liquid and add meat to slow cooker.

In small cup, combine flour and 1/2 c. broth; stir until lump-free.  Pour flour mixture into same skillet; add remaining 2-1/2 c. broth.  Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits in bottom of skillet with wooden spoon, then pour into slow cooker; stir in evaporated milk, (tomatoes), cheese, paprika, salt and pepper.  Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 2 - 3  hrs. Serve soup topped with crumbled chips. 

Yield: 8 servings - 3/4 c. of soup and 3 Tb. of chips per serving

Weight Watcher points per serving: 5  (Prior to Points Plus)

And without my revisions...

Linked to Mop it up Monday Foodie Friends Friday GBP Roundup - Lightened Up Meal Plan Monday Whatcha Crockin Wednesday

Happy New Year!

CAN WE EVEN BELIEVE IT???

2013 is really here!!!! 

My best wishes to all of you in the new year.

Thanks again for your faithful support and love....

Oh how I look forward to spending time with you in the new year. 

Big Hugs! 

Marsha XO 

(a.k.a. - The Better Baker)

And a very Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours!

LUKE 2:11 - FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD!

JESUS! 

May you and yours enjoy a blessed CHRISTmas season and all the best to you in the new year!

Thanks a million for all your comments, love and support throughout the year.  It means more than words can express. 

I'm taking a break...will be back in my kitchen on January 2, 2013! Looking forward to spending time with you then....

Leader Enterprise - Dec. 19, 2012 - Crockpot Helper

As we celebrate the REASON FOR THE SEASON and prepare to enter a new year, I think it's a great time to put your crockpot to work. I love that a dish can be cooking, with little attention, while preparing the rest of the meal, or delivering goodies across town. (Or maybe after seeing these yummy recipes, you'll want to add a crockpot to your Christmas list?)

Cranberry Sauerkraut Meatballs - recipe below

This pudding cake is full of gooey goodness. You can choose to add chocolate chips, peanut butter, or butterscotch - whichever your family prefers. Your friends and family will be impressed and may say 'M-M-MORE please'! This recipe does not use eggs.

CROCKPOT HOT FUDGE (PEANUT BUTTTER) PUDDING CAKE

1-1/2 c. packed brown sugar, divided

1 c. all purpose flour

6 TB. baking cocoa, divided

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. milk

2 TB. butter, melted

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 c. semisweet chocolate (or peanut butter) chips

1-3/4 c. boiling water

vanilla ice cream for serving

Coat a 3-qt.crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl, combine 1 c. brown sugar, flour, 3 Tb.cocoa, baking powder and salt.  In another bowl,combine milk, butter, and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Spread evenly into prepared crockpot. Sprinkle with chocolate (or peanut butter) chips.In a bowl, combine remaining brown sugar (1/2 c.) and baking cocoa (3 TB.); stir in boiling water. Pour over batter; DO NOT STIR. Cover and cook on high for about 4 hours or until a toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean. Allow to set 15 minutes, covered,before serving. Serve warm with ice cream. Yield: 6-8 servings (Hint:lay a couple of paper towels over top of crockpot before placing on lid to catch any moisture).

This is an easy chocolate-y, caramel-y candy to make in the crockpot when you have plenty else to do. Feel free to substitute your favorite nuts for the peanuts.

CROCKPOT CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CLUSTERS

1-16 ozs. pkg. chocolate bark
4 ozs. block of German chocolate

1-12 ozs. bag butterscotch chips

1-16 ozs. jar salted peanuts

1-16 ozs. jar unsalted peanuts
10 Kraft caramels (the individuals from a bag)

Break the chocolate bark into blocks and place in crock pot. Now break up the German chocolate block and put in crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Place a paper towel on top of the crock pot before placing the lid on. Turn the crock pot on low and cook for two hours. DO NOT remove lid. I know it's tempting, but it's very important to not remove it. After two hours, carefully remove lid and paper towel. Stir mixture to incorporate everything well. Drop by the spoon full onto waxed paper and let them set up well. Share (if you can bring yourself to do so) and ENJOY!

It's always great to have room in the oven for other things, while the side dish cooks in the crockpot.

CROCKPOT CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

5# red potatoes, chunked

1 Tb. minced garlic, or to taste

3 tsp. chicken bouillon, or 3 cubes

1 c. (8 ozs) sour cream (lite or fat free)

1- (8 ozs)pkg. cream cheese, softened (lite)

1/4 c. butter

salt&pepper to taste

In large pot, cook potatoes, garlic and bouillon until potatoes are tender, but not mushy (about 15 minutes). Drain, reserving water. In large bowl, mash potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese, adding reserved water as needed for consistency.(Potato texture will soften in crockpot).Transfer potato mixture to crockpot; cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Stir in butter, season with salt and pepper just before serving. 

CROCKPOT MAPLE BROWN SUGAR HAM

7-8 pound spiral-cut ham (bone-in or boneless)
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. maple syrup
2 c. pineapple juice

Use a 6-7 quart crock pot. Unwrap ham from wrapper; discard the flavor packet. Place ham inside crock pot, flat side down. Rub the brown sugar over all sides of the ham. Then pour on the maple syrup and pineapple juice. Cover and cook on low heat for 4 - 5 hours. Baste ham with juices an hour or so before serving. When cooking is done, carefully remove ham from crock pot and place on a cutting board. Let rest 15 minutes before carving.

These meatballs are terrific as an appetizer or an entree. Even folks who don't like sauerkraut, are wild about these.I've been told adding sauerkraut to the cranberry sauce puts this dish 'over the top'! 

CRANBERRY SAUERKRAUT MEATBALLS

1 - (14 ozs) can whole-berry cranberry sauce

(jellied works fine too)

1 - (14 ozs) can sauerkraut, rinsed and drained well

1 - (12 ozs) bottle chili sauce

2/3 c. brown sugar

1 - (2 #) pkg.frozen fully cooked original meatballs, thawed

In 4-qt.slow cooker, combine cranberry sauce, sauerkraut, chili sauce, and brown sugar. Stir in meatballs; cover and cook on low 4-5 hrs.or until heated through. Yield: 5-1/2 dozen delicious meatballs!!

Here's a wonderful idea I saw on the internet: Start the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. On New Year's Eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year. Super great way to keep things in perspective.

May you & yours enjoy a safe and happy Christmas and New Year's. I look forward to being here with you again in 2013!