Tasty Tuesday: Oatmeal Raisin Bites

Tasty Tuesday is courtesy of Jen at THE HAUTE MOMMY HANDBOOK.  I LOVE oatmeal raisin cookies.  Maybe it is because I can trick myself into believing they are healthy.  I mean oatmeal is good for you, right?  The funny thing is I can remember NEVER wanting to eat oatmeal as a child.  In fact, I didn’t even put milk on my cereal.  Who wants to eat soggy Frosted Flakes?

When I joined Weight Watchers many years ago, oatmeal was a staple on my shelf.  I used to love to make Hungry Girl’s GIGANTIC Oatmeal Bowls for breakfast filled with any combination of apples, bananas, blueberries or cinnamon.  I have even changed them up since I am gluten free and dairy free………they are still YUMMY!

I am still working on making these bites gluten free.  Despite many attempts, I can’t seem to get the almond flour right.  I feel like I should be using less.  Who is a pro at “alternate” flours, I would love some input.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup + 6 Tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
3 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

• Heat oven to 350° F.
• In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy.
• Beat eggs and vanilla in separate bowl, then add to large bowl. Beat all wet ingredients well.
• Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, and mix well with wet ingredients.
• Add oats and raisins. Mix well.
• Drop rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and fork inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets, then move to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 4 dozen of bite size cookies.  They don’t spread when baking.

If anyone makes a batch and needs a taste tester, I’m available!!!

Why not make a batch and “boo” someone?  Grab one of Thirty One’s Little Carry Alls, fill it with yummy treats and leave it for a friend as a surprise. These are  the perfect solution for organizing the little things in your life. From office supplies to eating utensils and cosmetics, this caddy helps keep your life in order by keeping everything right at your fingertips. Great for gifts, small toys, crafts, office desks, candy and seasonal home décor.

Have a blessed day!

Tasty Tuesday: American Pie

YIELDS: 8     PREP TIME: 30 minutes      COOK TIME:50 minutes 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 refrigerated pie crusts (unbaked)
• 5 c. strawberries
• 3 c. blueberries
• 1/2 c. cornstarch, divided
• 3/4 c. sugar, divided (plus more for sprinkling)
• 1 lemon (zest and juice)
• egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbs. heavy cream)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Make the base. Roll out the base of the pie dough into a large rectangle, about 15 x 12-in. Transfer the dough into a 12 x 9 x 1-in baking sheet or jellyroll pan. Gently press the dough along the edges. Fold the edges under and crimp. Transfer to refrigerator while you prepare the other crust.
3. Make the stars and stripes. Roll out a second piece of pie dough. Use about 1/4 of the dough to cut out stars with a small star cookie cutter. Using a paring knife (or pastry wheel), cut long 1-in thick stripes lengthwise using the rest of the dough. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Make the fillings. In a medium bowl, add blueberries, 1/4 c. sugar, 1/4 c. cornstarch and the juice and zest of 1/2 lemon. Stir to combine. In a separate bowl, add strawberries, 1/2 c. sugar, 1/4 c. cornstarch and the juice and zest of 1/2 lemon. Stir to combine.
5. Make the pie. Fold aluminum foil into a thin strip, about 1 1/2-in wide. Then fold the strip into a right angle about 5×4-in. Remove the base crust from the refrigerator and place the foil into the upper lefthand corner of the crust to form a small rectangle. Spoon the blueberry filling into the foil-lined rectangular portion. Then spoon the strawberry filling into the rest of the crust. Remove the foil.
6. Assemble and bake! Then place pastry stars on top of the blueberry mixture. Lay the stripes lengthwise across the strawberry filling, leaving about 1-in between each stripe. Brush the egg wash onto the pie crusts and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 50 minutes, until pie crust is golden and the filling is bubbling. Let cool for at least an hour before serving.

Taking this AMAZING pie to a tailgating party or a barbeque?  Why  not use Thirty One’s Perfect Party Set to get it there safely?  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 you want to share?  Send it to me and if we use it, you will receive a FREE gift from me.

Have a blessed day!

Tasty Tuesday – Slow-Cooker Veggie Soup

I LOVE this healthy recipe from Hungry Girl.  It is worth the 10 minutes event the night before to get everything ready in the crock pot BEFORE you leave for a busy day.  When you come home, you have dinner just add some rolls or garlic bread…I know that kills the “low cal” and “no points” but it is yummy!

Prep: 10 minutes           Cook: 3 – 4 hours on high or 7 – 8 hours on low

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. each salt and black pepper
2 bay leaves
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
14 oz. (about 2 medium) zucchini
4 cups roughly chopped spinach leaves
Optional seasonings: additional salt and black pepper

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a slow cooker except zucchini and spinach. Mix well.

Cover and cook on high for 3 – 4 hours or on low for 7 – 8 hours, until veggies have softened.

Once soup is almost done cooking, use a spiral vegetable slicer to cut zucchini into spaghetti-like noodles.  If you don’t have a spiral veggie slicer, peel zucchini into super-thin strips, rotating the zucchini after each strip. (This can be done when you are prepping and placed in the refrigerator)  Roughly chop for shorter noodles.

If cooking at high heat, decrease heat to low. Remove and discard bay leaves. Stir in zucchini noodles and spinach. Re-cover, and cook for 10 minutes, or until zucchini noodles have slightly softened and spinach has wilted.  Just enough time to cook some of that garlic bread maybe even melt some cheese on it!  🙂

MAKES 6 SERVINGS: 1/6th of recipe (about 1 1/3 cups): 56 calories, 0.5g total fat (0g sat fat), 701mg sodium, 10g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 3g protein — SmartPoints™ value 0*

 

Tasty Tuesday – Balsamic Roasted Beets & Brussel Sprouts

Today’s recipe is courtesy of “inspiralized.com“.  Since I am on this new eating plan, I am loving checking out other option vegetable options…

The only beets that I remember having were canned or mixed with vinegar and onions courtesy of my grandmother.

I have heard that roasting beets is the best way to cook with a hint of balsamic vinegar! They become tangy, which works really well with the salty taste of the brussels sprouts, which are roasted in soy sauce.

As for the hummus dressing, I like the sounds of this as an alternative since there are so many things I can’t have right now. If you’re making this as a side dish for dinner, omit the dressing. But, if you’re making this for lunch or a starter salad to a meal, keep the dressing! The hummus dressing with lemon is a recipe direct from Martha Stewart.  That lady knows her stuff!

It saves well in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days!

Prep time:  15 mins     Cook time:  15 mins      Total time:  30 mins

 Serves: 2

Ingredients

For the brussels sprouts:

• 1 heaping cup halved brussels sprouts
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce, low sodium
• pepper, to taste

For the beets

• 1 medium beet, peeled, noodle thin
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper, to taste

For the hummus dressing:

• ¼ cup hummus
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ tablespoon water
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. On one of the baking sheets, lay out the brussels sprouts. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil and soy sauce and drizzle over the sprouts. Toss the sprouts to combine and then season with pepper. Roast for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the beets. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic powder.
4. On the other baking sheet, lay out the beet noodles and drizzle with the balsamic mixture. Toss the noodles together until combined and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 7 minutes or until al dente.
5. While the beets and brussels sprouts roast, combine all of the ingredients for the dressing into a small bowl and whisk together to combine.
6. Divide the beet noodles and brussels into two bowls and top with hummus dressing.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:   Weight Watchers SmartPoints*: 7 points

Fat: 14g; Carbohydrates: 16g; Fiber: 6g; Sugars: 5g; Protein: 6g

*These points were calculated using the official Weight Watchers SmartPoints calculator. We are in no way affiliated with Weight Watchers, we are providing this information based on popular demand.

 

Can’t wait to hear what you think….

Tasty Tuesday – Two Easy Snacks

Mini Stuffed Peppers Entire recipe (4 stuffed peppers): 104 calories, 1.5g fat, 241mg sodium, 15.5g carbs, 5.5g fiber, 5.5g sugars, 11g protein — PointsPlus® value 3* Fill your peppers with vegetarian taco meat for adorable snacks loaded with protein, fiber, and flavor! They’ll make your mouth proud to be attached to a person who feeds it so well… Prep: 10 minutes      Cook: 15 minutes Ingredients: 4 sweet mini bell peppers (each about 2 1/2 inches long) 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like the kinds by Boca and MorningStar Farms) 1/4 tsp. taco seasoning mix Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Slice off and discard the stem end of each pepper. Remove and discard seeds. Place peppers on the baking sheet. Bake for 4 minutes. Flip peppers. Bake until soft, about 4 more minutes. Meanwhile, bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Cook and stir onion until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add soy crumbles, and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Cook and stir until onion is soft and crumbles are hot, about 2 more minutes. If needed, blot away excess moisture from peppers. Fill with soy crumble mixture. Eat up! Asian Peanut Slaw 1/4th of recipe (about 1 heaping cup): 89 calories, 4.5g fat, 198mg sodium, 9g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 5.5g sugars, 3g protein — PointsPlus® value 2* It’s too darn easy to make this yummy scoopable snack — only four ingredients, people! Prep: 5 minutes Ingredients: 4 cups bagged cole slaw mix 1 cup chopped sugar snap peas 1/3 cup low-fat Thai peanut salad dressing or sauce (like the kind by Litehouse) 2 tbsp. chopped peanuts Directions: In a medium-large bowl, combine all ingredients. Toss to coat, and enjoy! MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Thank you Hungry Girl for two more awesome recipes.  They might even fit into my no gluten, no dairy and no sugar regime.  If you make them, let me know what you think.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!