Sunday, December 30, 2012

Meal Planning Monday December 31, 2012

Wow where has this year gone?!  This is my last meal plan of 2012, I can't believe it!  This week's meal plan will start off not so healthy -we all need to celebrate New Year's Eve with a little indulgence right :)?  Then we will get into some healthy eating again.  The past few weeks have been very hard on my eating habits and energy levels.  I know they are directly related it has just been SO HARD to eat right when so many yummy treats were calling my name!  So now it's time to fight those temptations.

On a side note, over the next few weeks you will notice an increase in the number of gluten free recipes in my meal plans.  I am attempting to reduce the amount of gluten we consume to see if it improves my overall digestive health and Little A's focus and attention.

Monday: Heading out for NYE and taking a few appetizers with us: Mozzarella Tomato Basil Skewers and Skinny Taco Dip

Tuesday: Skinny Sesame Chicken (sub gluten free flour and gluten free chicken broth) 7Points+/serving

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos  3 Points+/serving without toppings

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Cauliflower Crust Pizza 3 Points+/serving 1 serving is half a pizza!!

Saturday: Eat Out

Sunday: Cranberry Apple Pork Roast 5 Points+/serving

Breakfast: Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats 4 Points+/serving Very simple base recipe.  You can top with fruit, nuts, honey, cinnamon, anything that tickles your fancy :)

Lunch: Lemon Dill Salmon for salads 3 Points+/serving

Desert: Fudge Babies Cinnamon Spiced Cocoa (Hot Cocoa recipe add: 1tbs cinnamon, .5 tsp ground ginger, .5 tsp ground cloves)

Kid Friendly Korner: Gluten Free Mac and Cheese

Happy Eatin! :)

Linked up at:

A Dose of Dannie
Mop It Up Monday 
Mangia Mondays 
Mix It Up Monday

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Heathier Christmas Cookies

Merry Countdown to Christmas!  If your house is anything like mine, these next few days are going to filled with hustle and bustle.  I unfortunately am re-buying several gifts as UPS lost them.  Luckily Amazon refunded my money, but that doesn't help with the fact that I am out gifts for several people.  Oh well, tis the season haha!  So instead of dealing with the crowds tonight I decided to focus on something much more fun and share with you all a few of my less guilt inducing holiday sweet treats.  I hope your Christmas (if you celebrate) is filled with joy, love and time with friends and family!  For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I hope you are enjoying this holiday season in a way that is meaningful to you and filled with loved ones.


Before I share the recipes, one disclaimer: these are healthier cookies but I do not claim they are health food.  You still shouldn't eat a whole batch unless you want to feel pretty stuffed with sugar (and if you're anything like me, a healthy dose of guilt would accompany that sugar!)  The goal of these cookies is to allow you to eat 1-2 (or maybe even 3) and still be okay :)

Skinny Magic Bars

Healthy Nutella No Bake Cookies 

Rolo Cookies  
(1 egg, sub applesauce for oil, 1/3c mini rolos mixed into batter before scooping)



 (Use hot cocoa recipe listed on the page and stir in 1/4c Andes peppermint chips)



 (cut white sugar to 1/4c, your cookies will still be plenty sweet!)






Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Eating! :)

Linked Up At:

Mangia Mondays





Monday, December 17, 2012

Meal Planning Monday December 17, 2012

Sorry for the delay in this post, I have not been feeling well and could not stay awake to write this yesterday.  Here is this week's menu with a lot of easy meals as I trudge through the last week before winter break at much less than 100% :)


Monday: Slow Cooker Corned Beef with potatoes, carrots and celery

Tuesday: Laughing Cow Mac and Cheese

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Eat Out

Sunday: Slow Cooker Cranberry Ribs

Breakfast: Muffin Tin Omlettes with Egg Whites

Dessert: none this week to save up for Christmas Cookies :)

Kid Friendly Corner: Chicken Nuggets (with gluten free flour and breadcrumbs-plan to bake not fry)

Happy Eating! :)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Meal Planning Monday December 10, 2012

Hi all!  This week's post is using up a lot of what is in my freezer and pantry because there was no time to shop this weekend, so please excuse any repeats :)


Monday:  Catalina Chicken

Tuesday: Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs (using Jennie-O Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey)

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Turkey Taco Stew (new recipe)

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza at my Parents house

Saturday: Little A's Christmas Party for Daycare making one of my favorite cookie recipes to take :)

Sunday: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dressing

Breakfast: Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats

Dessert: Fudge Babies (changes/additions: walnuts=almonds, add .5c peppermint chips) I am in LOVE with this recipe and this blog Chocolate Covered Katie!

Kid Friendly Korner: Burger "Tacos"

Happy Eating! :)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

These are a few of my favorite...Christmas Cookies!

Today I am sharing my top cookie recipes for Christmas, the holiday season and pretty much any other time I can justify yummy, sugary cookies :)  If you are looking for low fat, these recipes are definitely not for you, but I promise a post of my favorite healthy cookie recipes later this week.  In fact you will even see some of these deliciously decadent recipes redone in a more nutritious way in my healthy cookie post because I just can't give up my Magic Bars!

 Magic Bars: I use 1c chocolate chips and 1c butterscotch chips because that's how my Grandma made them and I think it ups the flavor to a whole new level of deliciousness!  Also, I pour the milk over the top after layering all the ingredients, not just on top of the graham cracker crumbs.  If you pour it just over the crumbs the bars don't stick together very well.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies: When making these, unwrap the PB cups and place on a plate in the freezer while your dough bakes.  Then you can quickly place the frozen PB cups into the dough without them melting before you can get them pushed all the way into the dough.

Chicago Public Schools Butter Cookies: We have been making these for years (CPS teachers run in my family haha) and you just can't find a better butter cookie!

Oatmeal Cookies: I add 1c chocolate chips to mine, but you could also add nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, etc...to suit your family's tastes.

Turtle Cookies: The gooey center makes these!  My only advice, make sure the dough is wrapped all the way around with no holes or you will lose all your caramel.

Peppermint Patty Cookies: The minty, melty center makes these!  As with the Turtle Cookies,  make sure the dough is wrapped all the way around with no holes or you will lose all your minty filling.

Chocolate Chip: The key to this one is the Crisco, it is SO much better than butter in this recipe!  (You could really use any brand of shortening, I just use Crisco because I like the flavor best.)

Sugar Cookies: A classic :)  So much fun to make shapes and add sprinkles with my little man, I am really looking forward to these this year!

Hope you enjoy a few on my favorite things!

Happy Eating! :)


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Meal Planning Monday December 3, 2012

Happy December all!  It certainly does not feel like winter here though, it was 60 degrees in Chicago today.  I am  definitely not complaining about the temps as I am very much a warm weather girl, but it is quite strange to not be freezing and breaking out the thermals yet haha!


This week meal plan has a few new items and a few old faves.  There is also a SUPER yummy zucchini cookie recipe inspired by our box from Door to Door Organics.  I am in love with this service!  Great produce on my doorstep when I get home, what more could a girl need :)


Oh, if you have any great kid friendly dinner ideas, feel free to share in the comments as we are kind of in a kid food rut at our house right now.

Monday: Leftover Cinnamon Chicken

Tuesday: Catalina Chicken

Wednesday: Italian Turkey Meatloaf with Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza at my parents

Saturday: Eat out

Sunday: Family Party

Breakfast: Pumpkin Pie Spice Baked Oatmeal (see below for recipe)

Dessert:  Zucchini Cookies (with a few changes: 1c sugar=1/4c sugar, 1/2 banana, butter=coconut oil, add 1/2tsp vanilla)

Kid Friendly Korner: Corn Dog Muffins

Happy Eating! :)

Baked Pumpkin Pie Spice Oatmeal:
Ingredients:
2c oats
2c fat free milk
1/2c unsweetened applesauce
1/4c almonds
1/2c dried cranberries
1tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2tsp salt
Topping options: maple syrup, honey, whipped cream, milk, brown sugar, fruit etc…

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Pour into sprayed 9x13 baking dish.  Cover with foil and bake at 350 for ~30 minutes (if uncovered the surface will get very crunchy). 
*There is no sugar added to this recipe.  If you are looking for sweet oatmeal you can add 2Tbs maple syrup or honey to the ingredients or top with a sweet topping.*






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