Berry and Carrot Juice

I have come to LOVE making my own juice out of fresh fruits!! This one is definitely a winner.

Ingredients
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 cup blackberries
5 strawberries
1 kiwi
1 cup "15 calorie Peach Juice"
Ice

Blend it all together and enjoy!!

Summer Peach Smoothie

One word: yummy!! This smoothie makes me want it to be summertime like nobody's business! It is thick and creamy and packed full with vitamins and all natural sugar. Perfect for a snack on a warm day (or a cold day like this one!)

Ingredients
1 peach
1/2 frozen banana
1/4 cup mixed frozen fruit
1 cup 15 calorie fruit juice

PP+ 1

Blend it all together and try not to give yourself a brain freeze!!

Jumbo Fruit Muffins

These are not your run of the mill Saturday morning breakfast muffins!! They are rich, moist and ooey gooey deliciousness. I could have eaten all of them, but luckily self-control kicked in before that happened! This is also a great way to sneak some extra veggies and fruit into your kid's breakfast! You can't taste the zucchini at all.

Ingredients
1 pouch Betty Crocker Triple Berry muffin mix
1 banana, chopped into small pieces
1 zucchini, finely grated
1/4 cup water (add 1/4 cup more for less dense muffins)

Makes 4 jumbo muffins
PP+ 6 per muffin

Preheat oven to 375. Spray your muffin pan with cooking spray.
Mix together the muffin mix, banana, zucchini and water. Fill 4 muffin tins 3/4 way full with the mixture, then cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown on top.

For an added crunch, add 1/2 Tbsp of chopped pecans on top of each muffin before baking! (this adds PP+ 1 to each muffin!)

I ate my muffin with a bowl of fruit for the perfect breakfast!!

Zucchini Bread Oatmeal

(recipe is adapted from the post here!)

I made this oatmeal on a cold night and it was perfect! Nice and warm, it filled me up and was the perfect ending for the day. 

Ingredients
1/3 cup rolled oats
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I used Silk)
1/2-1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup packed finely grated zucchini
1 tbsp ground flax
1 tbsp chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
A couple of sprays of "I Can't Believe it's Not Butter" spray

Makes 1 serving

PP+ 7 per serving 

In a medium sized pot, heat the oats, almond milk and cinnamon to a boil and then simmer over medium heat for about 4 minutes.

Then add the zucchini, flax, half of the pecans and brown sugar. Continue cooking for 5-6 minutes, adding any extra moisture when needed. Remove from heat then stir in the vanilla. Place the oatmeal in a bowl and add the rest of the pecans on top along with the butter spray. 

Now sit back, put on a snuggie and enjoy this oatmeal from Heaven!

Basil, Tomato and Olive Oil Pasta

This pasta is the perfect spring and summer time meal! It is light and refreshing, yet filling at the same time. The fresh herbs were perfect, along with the acidity of the tomato. A winner winner chicken dinner!! Pair it with some Texas Toast garlic bread (PP+ 3 or 4) for the perfect meal.

Ingredients
6 oz spaghetti pasta
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
3 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste

Makes 3 servings
PP+ per serving: 7

Cook the pasta according to the packaging. While it is cooking, dice up the tomatoes, the basil leaves and the garlic clove. Once the pasta is ready, drain and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook over heat for another few minutes until the flavors are able to integrate.
Remove from heat and enjoy!

Margherita Pizza

Mmm Mmm Good. 
I love this crust... It's pre-made, but I don't think I've found one that tastes as good as this one! As a bonus, it's only a few dollars for 3 crusts- so a budget saver along with portion control!! 

Ingredients
1 Mama Mary's original personal size crust (pre made)
1 Tbsp pizza sauce or 1 tsp olive oil
1/2 roma tomato, sliced
2 Tbsp fat free mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp fat free cheddar cheese
1/2 diced garlic clove
oregano, basil, salt and pepper to taste
PP+ 9 (for the whole pizza!)

Pre-heat oven to 350.
Spread out the pizza sauce or olive oil onto the pizza crust. 
Then add the cheese, tomatoes, garlic and spices evenly around the pizza.

Bake in the oven until the crust is a golden brown and the cheese is melted (around 7-10 minutes). 
Remove from oven, let it cool then DIG IN. 

Nutella and Strawberry French Toast Stack

So I decided to make something yummy and very unhealthy for my boyfriend this Valentines! I came over for breakfast and cooked him this delicious meal. And hey, it's Valentine's Day! So we don't worry about just how many points it is (but I guestimated it at around PP+ 10 for one stack).

Ingredients
3 ciabatta rolls (sliced in half like a sandwich)
2-3 eggs
2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp powdered sugar
3-6 Tbsp Nutella
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
heart shaped cookie cutter (optional)

Beat the eggs in a flat bottomed bowl or container (I used a small skillet), then add the almond milk, cinnamon and 1 Tbsp powdered sugar. Mix them together until they form an even consistancy.

Cut the bread (that has already been pre-sliced) with the cookie cutter, then dip them into the egg mixture. Make sure you have both the bottom and top covered before placing them on a pre-heated (to medium heat) and "oiled" (with cooking spray) skillet. Cook both sides for about 2 minutes, or until they reach a golden brown color. Remove from the skillet and set to the side. Repeat for all of the bread.

Next begin your stack! It goes like this: french toast, 1/2 Tbsp Nutella, strawberries, sprinkle of powdered sugar, french toast, 1/2 Tbsp Nutella, strawberries, sprinkle of powdered sugar, french toast, 1/2 Tbsp Nutella and one strawberry (cut into the shape of a heart), then a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar.

This will give you a stack with 3 french toast hearts, 1 1/2 Tbsp Nutella and strawberries and sugar. Feel free to be generous with your measurements!

My boy loved them!!

Grilled Marinated Mushrooms

One word: mouthwatering.

(from this recipe)
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
1/2 tsp chili powder (optional)
8 oz baby portabello mushrooms, in halves
3 bamboo skewers (presoaked)

PP+ 4 (for the whole recipe)


Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and spices in a medium size bowl. Place the mushrooms in the bowl and stir around until they are all evenly coated. Let it marinate for about 30 minutes.

Then slide the mushrooms onto the skewers and cook in either a preheated oven (at 350) for 10-12 minutes or on the grill for 5 minutes per side, or until the mushrooms are tender and juicy.

Serve and eat warm!!
I enjoyed it with a delicious baked potato topped with butter and fat free cheese.

Vegetable Quesadillas

So I was scrolling through pinterest yesterday when I came across a vegetable quesadilla recipe that inspired the one I came up with! It turned out delicious.

Ingredients:
1/2 onion (chopped)
2 garlic clove (chopped)
1/2 green bell pepper (sliced)
3 small sweet peppers (I used red, yellow and orange- sliced)
1 tsp olive oil
2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp taco seasoning (I made my own from this recipe)
1 large tortilla (I used Mission's Carb Smart large tortilla)
*optional 1/3 mashed avocado and 1/4 cup refried beans*

Makes 2 servings
PP+ 4 per serving

Cook all of the pre-cut vegetables with the olive oil. When vegetables are almost tender, add the water and taco seasoning, stir and continue cooking until the water is gone and vegetables are tender.

Then place the vegetables on one half of the tortilla, along with the cheese and fold the tortilla in half.

Spray both sides of the tortilla with cooking spray, then either cook on a grill or in a skillet until the tortilla is browned and the cheese is melted.

 Remove from the heat and serve with avocado and refried beans (if desired!)

Veggie Pesto Pizza

Tonight I decided to try my hand at making some pizza! It turned out SO good, and I am in love with the pesto I used. This is a good meal to eat when you plan for it, not something for every night (even though I'd like that!) since it turned out to be around 10 points. It was worth it for sure, though!!

Ingredients:

1 Mama Mary's original personal size crust (pre made)

1/4 cup Classico Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

1/2 cup grilled veggies (I used some left over from lunch today- zucchini and squash)

1/3 cup mushrooms

1/3 cup fat free mozzarella cheese

PP+ 10

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. 

Cook the mushrooms in a skillet with some cooking spray until tender and "juicy". 

Assemble the pizza- crust, pesto, veggies and cheese, then place it into the oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the crust is browned. 

Remove from the oven and let it cool, then feast on your delicious healthy pizza!!

Compare to:
Pizza Hut 6" Personal Pan Pizza Veggie Lovers- PP+ 14
Domino's Pizza Pacific Veggie, Thin Crust (1/8 of medium pizza)- PP+ 9
Papa John's Garden Fresh Pizza for One- PP+ 20