Tasty Tuesday: 15-Minute Vegetarian Chili

Today’s recipe is an “old” tried and true Weight Watcher recipe.  I have made it many times AND love it reheated.  It is actually one of hubby’s favorites too.

Prep time: 7 minutes      Cook time:  8 minutes     Serves: 4

7 PointsPlus Value

 

Ingredients

• 1 tsp canola oil
• 1 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
• 15 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 14 1/2 oz canned stewed tomatoes
• 15 1/4 oz canned yellow corn, drained
• 15 oz canned tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp chili powder (Or substitute Pigs Can Fly seasoning)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (eliminate if you use ^^ seasoning)
• 1/4 cup(s) dehydrated onion flakes
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 4 Tbsp low fat shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat.
2. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, about 2 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, onion flakes, and pepper; stir well.
4. Increase heat to high and bring to boil; cook, stirring frequently, until chili is thick and flavors are concentrated, about 5 minutes.
5. Spoon into serving bowls and sprinkle with cheese.
6. Yields about 1 1/4 cups chili and 1 tablespoon cheese per serving.

I LOVE using spice mixes from Wicked Good Spice Mixes Company.  The combination of spices is perfect and I only have to have a few things in the cabinet instead of a zillion bottles of spices only I only once or twice.  Pigs Can Fly is made for all things pork…but not too shabby on chicken or beef! Makes mouth watering chops, lip-smacking ribs and scrumptious roasts!  Ingredients: cumin, hot chili powder, allspice, brown sugar, black pepper, kosher salt.  Be sure to add a little at a time so you don’t set your mouth on fire!  LOL.

My all time favorite thermal anymore is the Around the Clock Thermal. I have been using this one lately for my craft/vendor shows.  I can hold LOTS of snacks and bottles of water to last me for the whole day.  It is one of Thirty One’s most versatile totes, the Around The Clock Thermal is great for lunch or snacks anytime, anywhere—work, school, festivals, road trips, pool, beach, golf course, boating or sporting events. The water-resistant thermal lining keeps contents cool and makes cleanup easier. A removable shoulder strap means you can carry it any number of ways, including crossbody for hands-free movement. An interior mesh pocket and exterior front zipper pocket provide separate storage options when needed. Makes a great gift for friends, neighbors, kids, teachers and everyone else on the go!

Have a blessed day!

Tasty Tuesday: Beef and Arugula Stir-Fry

Thank you Alene Brennan for today’s recipe.  This is from Terry Wahl’s MS Protocol cookbook but it definitely yummy for everyone!

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes    Cooking Time: 15 minutes     Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound beef sirloin, cut into thin strips (organic grass fed is the best)
• 2 tablespoons of oil (I use Wicked Good Spice Mixes Garlic Oil)
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 medium red peppers, cut into thick strips
• 1-2 bunches arugula, well washed
• 2 teaspoons kuzu (a root – optional)
• 2 tablespoons tamari (a Japanese sauce)
• 2 tablespoons rice or cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Stir-fry beef in pan with 2 teaspoons of oil over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until browned.
2. Remove beef with tongs or fork, allowing excess oil to drip off and set aside.
3. With remaining oil, stir-fry ginger and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes and then add bell peppers. Cook another 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Mix together fresh arugula and bell pepper mixture in a serving bowl.
5. In a small bowl, combine kuzu, tamari, vinegar and water.
6. Place mixture into skillet and cook over medium heat until sauce starts to thicken.
7. Return beef to skillet and cook for 1 minute, just enough to warm up beef.
8. Add beef to serving bowl with arugula and bell peppers.
9. Mix and serve warm.

There are always leftovers in our house…..I usually cook for 4 – 6 people despite the fact there are only two of us and then hubby gets meals for work. One of my favorite Thirty One thermals is the Thermal Tote which is the perfect-sized lunch bag for work, school, play dates, sporting events, golf outings, fishing trips or travel. The thermal lining and zipper closure help keep your food cool or warm, while an exterior pocket is the perfect place to keep your cell phone, wallet or other important small items. Also makes a great gift for your kids’ teachers, tutors and babysitters, or your coworkers, neighbors and friends!

Have a blessed day!

How to Simplify Your Morning

The school year is underway and for some the transition has been smooth sailing while for others, they are still trying to figure out the hectic morning routine.  I can barely remember those hectic mornings or getting Belinda out the door and me to work but I’m sure they were anything but smooth.

I know hitting the snooze button was always an option but when I rolled back over to eke out five more minutes of sleep I knew it was going o be a crazy morning.   The rest of the morning would fly by in a blur as I quickly got dressed, fed Belinda (who was not a morning person) and got out the door before being late to work.  Thankfully, I never had to punch a time clock or I would have definitely been in trouble!

Did you know by making a few simple tweaks to your morning routine, you can start every day off on the right foot. Give ’em a try if you’re ready to reclaim your morning sanity and actually feel joyful about the day to come.

1. Map out your morning menu

Skipping breakfast was always an option in our house since neither one of us were big breakfast eaters…. BUT they say it is the most important meal of the day and it is brain food, right?  Most kids and their tiny tummies wake up hungry, and they naturally all want something different to eat. By making note of what you (and your family members) will be eating each morning, it eliminates the chaos which comes with trying to throw something together at the last minute.

2. Steer clear of your cellphone

Electronics PERIOD!  That means your laptop, tablet or any other tools and toys. It’s no secret social media is a giant time-sucker, but tethering yourself to any technology in the morning eats away at minutes you could be spending in more productive ways. Remove it from the equation and you may be surprised at how much time you free up — enough, let’s say, to wash and style your hair before heading to work.

3. Make a checklist

It’s one thing to make mental notes of what you need to accomplish. It’s another thing altogether to have a physical list staring you in the face, practically begging for you to check off its items. The sheer satisfaction you’ll get from making it down the entire column of tasks should be incentive enough to keep your morning cruising down the right track.

4.Prepack your lunch

Meal planning makes life easier.  I just can’t seem to get the hang of planning for dinner.  I don’t know if it is an MS thing or if I just never had the skill.  We always did meals on what we “felt like” eating at the moment.  Lunch was always easy to pre-pack especially when I started on Weight Watchers.  When you wait until the eleventh hour to pack your lunch, you’re leaving a lot to chance — you won’t feel too rushed to grab something, you won’t forget, you’ll pack something relatively healthy… you get the gist. When you front-load your time and forethought into packing your lunch the night before, you can breeze through the morning with the peace of mind something yummy is waiting for you in the fridge.

5. Plan your daily pick-me-ups

If you’re anything like me, you need a little sumthin’ to look forward to in order to get through the day especially if I am spending lots of time in the car.  It doesn’t have to be a huge deal, just something simple to keep me motivated enough to keep pushing — and it’s gotta be a treat that doesn’t take a lot of morning prep time.  Plan it or always having a snack in your purse, it will definitely help.

6. Utilize double-duty products

This doesn’t mean to go out and stock up on mega-bottles of shampoo-plus-conditioner hybrids (I’m not a fan of these). It is more about two-for-one beauty products. Think a tinted moisturizer which also has your a.m. dose of SPF or a “stain” you can use on your lips and cheeks. It may not seem like much, but these double-duty beauty products can shave valuable minutes off your morning routine.  I’m more of the moisturizer, bronzer and some mascara kind of gal…. quick and easy.

7. Consider a capsule wardrobe

You’ve probably heard a hundred times how laying out your wardrobe the night before makes mornings much, much easier. There’s a reason for the repetition — it’s true, and it’s true largely because we all have more clothes than we really know what to do with. Simplifying your closet to create a capsule wardrobe, though, means you’ll spend less time fussing over what to wear. What is a capsule wardrobe you ask? It’s when you cut your options way, way down to some basics that are easy to mix and match. You may think having more clothes to choose from is the way to go, but it actually makes things more complicated — and any time we can make things less complicated, it’s a joyous occasion. For real — you’ll be surprised how much happier you will be through the rest of the day when you don’t start your morning with a closet war.  I’m working on this but I can’t seem to get it down…. just when I do, I find something I really like and I’m off buying some extras.

What is your morning routine like?  Do you have some tips you can add to this list?  Share with us your best tip….

Have a blessed day!

Tasty Tuesday: S’mores Icebox Cake Recipe

Thank you Delish for this yummy recipe.  The marshmallow whipped cream is everything.  I am going to try and recreate it with some changes since dairy and gluten are out of my diet…..

PREP TIME:  30 minutes     TOTAL TIME: 6 hours 30 minutes     YIELDS: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2 c. cold milk
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 7 oz. marshmallow crème
• 1 sleeve graham crackers
• 1 package mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS

1. Line a 9″-x-5″ loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing overhang on all sides.
2. In a large bowl, whisk pudding and milk until fully combined. Let cool completely.
3. Make marshmallow whipped cream: In a large bowl, beat heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold in crème and set aside.
4. To loaf pan, add 1 layer of graham crackers, breaking crackers up when necessary to completely fill bottom. Spread 1/3 chocolate pudding on top of that, then add an even layer of mini marshmallows (about 1/2 cup). Spread on 1/3 marshmallow whipped cream mixture, then repeat process 2 more times, ending on marshmallow whipped cream. Refrigerate overnight.
5. When ready to serve, invert cake onto flat serving platter and peel off plastic.
6. On a baking sheet, add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows. Using a kitchen torch or broiler, toast marshmallows until golden brown. Once cool enough to handle, place on top of cake. Serve immediately

Want to take this YUMMY recipe to the next barbecue? Why not try Thirty One’s Perfect Party Set. The Perfect Party Set expands to hold two 9” x 13” casserole pans inside 2 interior water-resistant thermal compartments. Handle grips make it easy to carry, while the exterior zipper pocket can keep additional items like utensils, baking instructions and additional ingredients secure during transport. It’s the most convenient way to take your favorite casseroles, desserts, appetizers and more to your next family picnic, neighborhood cookout, celebration or camping trip!

Have a favorite recipe?  Share it with us and if I use it in the blog, you will receive some “happy mail” from me….

Have a blessed day!

Tasty Tuesday: Cinnamon Muffin Recipe

Thank you to “The Staten Island Family” for today’s recipe.  These yummy muffins are only TWO points on the Weight Watchers (WW) program.  You are definitely going to want to give them a try.  I’m still working on a gluten free version.  I need to find a Kodiak-like mix which is gluten free.  If anyone knows of one, please let me know!

Despite the newest health struggle and the restriction AGAIN to more things, I am trying to stick with my points.  My goal is to get back to Weight Watchers soon (maybe by mid-June).

Ingredients

• 2 cups Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Protein packed whole grain buttermilk flapjack and waffle mix 19 Points
• ¹⁄₄ tsp table salt 0 Points
• ¹⁄₂ tsp baking powder 0 Points
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon 0 Points
• ¹⁄₄  cup Sugar-free syrup, maple flavor 1 Point
• 3 eggs 0 Points
• 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk 1 Points
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 0 Points
• 5 sprays Cooking spray 0 Points

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350 
2. In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients.
3. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
4. Pour batter evenly into the 12 muffin cup tins
5. Bake for 17 minutes.

Once they are all done, you can freeze them individually for a quick easy on the go breakfast.  Just take them out the night before OR zap them in the microwave to warm them up.  You can drop one in ThirtyOne’s Cool Zip Snacker and take with you as you head out the drop.  These are food safe and reusable.  This cute thermal pouch  has a zipper top and adorable critter design! Choose from our fun Pink Flamingo, snappy Crabby Claws or magical Mermaid Tail, plus our popular Shark and Unicorn! Snack in style all season long.  They will only be available till the end of the month so be sure to grab yours NOW!

Let us know how you like the recipe.  AND if you have a favorite recipe you want to share, if we use in our blog……….YOU will receive some FREE happy mail from ME!  Share as many as you want, as often as you want.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!