Eating My Way Back: October 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Microwave Potato Chips

For a side dish with dinner last week we made microwave potato chips.

When my husband ate one he said, "I LOVE these!"

To say he loves them is quite something as the usual comments are as follows:

"We can have this next week." or

"I am going to have some more."

I know he likes something if he asks for it again or wants seconds, but LOVE!

These were really tasty and low fat!

Microwave Potato Chips

adapted from thekitchn.com

What you will need:

Potatoes (I used Russet)

Non-stick spray

Steamer (I used my trusty tupperware steamer)

Microwave

What you will do:

Peel (or not, your choice) and slice potatoes as thin as you can.

Spray your steamer with non-stick spray and place potatoes in the steamer, laying them flat, not overlapping.

Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then microwave on half power for 3 minutes.

Remove from microwave and flip them over.

Put back in the microwave for another 3 minutes at half power.

Sprinkle with salt and serve.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Friday Night Dessert Night: Candy Popcorn Balls

My original plan was a dessert with apples but the day got the best of me and I didn't have time to make anything.

We were too busy having fun at the Pumpkin Patch with our cousins.

How is it possible that not even one kid is looking at the camera?

Anyway, instead of something with apples, we went with something I saw on Debbie Does Dinner Healthy's Friday Favorites list of yummy links.

I had some leftover candy from making Monster Mix and I wanted it gone, so this was the perfect thing!

Candy Popcorn Balls

recipe adapted from A Duck in her Pond

Ingredients

1 bag popcorn, popped

1 1/2 cups candy corn

1 cup mini M&Ms

1 10 oz. bag mini marshmallows

1/4 cup butter

non-stick spray

Directions

Pop popcorn and set aside.

Spray a large pot with non-stick spray and melt butter in the pot.

Add marshmallows and stir until butter and mallows combine.

Add in popcorn and stir to coat.

Add in candy corn and stir completely.

Sprinkle with M&M's and only stir a few times (they start to melt, which is fine, but it looks prettier if you can still see some of the candy shell!).

Spread out on parchment paper and separate into 10 or so pieces and roll into balls.

Eat up!

I am sharing this recipe with...

Sweet Tooth Friday

Seasonal Inspiration

Weekend Wrap Up Party

Sweet Saturday

Sweets for a Saturday

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Friday Night Dessert Night x2

For the last two weeks we have definitely made dessert on Fridays but I have yet to post about it!

Two weeks ago Abby had a slumber party with her best friend/cousin, Radley and we had a tea party with mini pumpkin pie cupcakes. They were delicious!

They thought they were pretty funny drinking their "coffee," aka chocolate milk.

We also made a cute little pumpkin craft from some things they collected on a nature walk, plus some things we had around the house.

This last Friday night, we made Chocolate Caramel Apple Pops.

They were delicious and pretty easy to make.

I got it all ready (too hot for Abby to help)

and away she went dipping the apples!

We made a huge mess, some were pretty, some were not, but all were delicious!

What's on the menu?

I am not really making that many new main dishes this week but I am revising a few so hopefully they turn out tasting great.

I am making a few new quick side dishes that sound delicious! I can't wait to try them.

And we went to Oak Glen in search of apples this weekend so our Friday Night Dessert Night will be all about the apples!

Here's what's for dinner...

Sunday

Healthier Sloppy Joe's (revising)

Microwave Potato Chips (new)

Monday

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza

Salad

Taco Tuesday

Tacos

Salad

Wednesday

Leftovers

Thursday

Orange Chicken (new)

Brown Rice

Veggies

Friday

Meatball Sandwiches (Crock Pot)

Dessert: Apple pie baked apples (new) or

Apple Rings (new) or both!

Saturday

Turkey Burgers on the grill

Fruit Salad

Low-Fat Potato Salad (new)

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

I found this smoothie recipe yesterday on Pinterest.

It was such a great start to our morning

and because of the peanut butter, it kept me full for a long time!

*An added bonus is that this smoothie has only about 320 calories in it!

For something sweet, chocolatey and peanut buttery...that's awesome!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

recipe from The Glitter Guide

Ingredients

1/2 banana

1 cup almond milk

2 tbsp peanut butter

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

ice

Directions

Blend until smooth and drink up!

I was in such a hurry that my pictures aren't great

but you can tell it was a delicious smoothie

by looking at this little one's face!

I am sharing this recipe with...

Full Plate Thursdays

DIY Thrifty Thursday

Sweet Tooth Friday

Friday, October 14, 2011

Jacob's 1st Birthday: Popcorn Cupcakes

My little nephew turned 1 all the way back in August.

He had an adorable carnival theme party!

I made these popcorn cupcakes to go along with the theme!

What you need:

Your favorite chocolate cupcakes (box or from scratch)

Frosting (I used buttercream)

Small marshmallows

Yellow food coloring

What you do:

Bake the cupcakes and make the frosting.

Frost cupcakes generously once cooled.

Put marshmallows in a large bowl and turn cupcakes upside down to dip in the bowl.

The whole cupcake will not be covered so fill in where marshmallows did not stick the first time.

Mix a tiny bit of yellow food coloring with 1/4 cup water and using a paint brush (clean of course!) brush on some yellow.

I made these minis to go along! The kids loved these the most!

I am sharing this idea with...

Sweet Tooth Friday

Weekend Show Off Party

Monday, October 10, 2011

Nacho Casserole

The Taco Salad that is always a hit at our house is very similar to this recipe.

But I thought this would be a nice change and we actually liked it a lot more than the usual!

Nacho Casserole

adapted from Blog Chef

Ingredients

8 tostada shells*

1.25 pounds ground turkey

taco seasoning packet

1 1/2 - 2 cups low fat mexican cheese

1 15 oz can fat free refried beans

1 cup salsa

The following are all optional toppings:

tomatoes

olives

green onions

avocado

*The original recipe calls for tortilla chips but tostada shells have less fat and calories than chips. You could also used crunched up taco shells which also have less fat and calories.

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 and coat a 9 by 13 with non-stick spray.

Prepare ground turkey with taco seasoning packet as directed.

In a medium saucepan heat beans and then mix in salsa and 1 cup cheese.

Crunch up four tostada shells and sprinkle on the bottom of the pan.

Spread bean mixture over the shells.

Sprinkle meat mixture on top of the beans.

Crunch up the other 4 shells and sprinkle them on the meat.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup - 1 cup cheese on top.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Dish out and serve with desired toppings!

I sharing this recipe with...

Make a Food-E-Friend Monday

Mangia Mondays

Sharing Mondays

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays

Made From Scratch Tuesdays

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Friday Night Dessert Night: Chocolate Dipped Pumpkin Scones

Honestly, I started this cookie recipe and quickly realized I did not have everything I needed.

White sugar! Cinnamon!

Who runs out of white sugar?

How was I also out of cinnamon!?!

So I made some changes and these cookies took on a the role of scone instead.

We dipped them in some chocolate and enjoyed!

Chocolate Dipped Pumpkin Scones

recipe adapted from Pumpkin Snickerdoodles at Greens and Chocolate

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

sprinkle of all spice

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

melting chocolates (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients and set aside.

In a large bowl, or a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugar until fluffy.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Add pumpkin and vanilla and mix.

Slowly add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture.

Scoop out large balls of dough (I used a large cookie scoop)

and with a damp hand roll the dough into a ball.

Place them on the cookie sheet two inches apart and flatten tops slightly

with the back of a spoon (get it a little wet so the dough doesn't stick).

Bake for about 10 minutes or until light brown on the edges.

Allow to cool and then prep melting chocolate according to package directions and dip away!

Abby used the leftover green chocolate and sprinkles from the Monster Mix we made earlier this week.

We ran out of green so I dipped the rest in melted down chocolate chips!

We ate them for dessert but these would make a delicious breakfast too!

I am sharing this recipe with...

Sweet Treat Saturday

Strut Your Stuff Saturdays

Sweet Tooth Sunday

Sundae Scoop

Think Pink Sundays

Sweet Indulgences Sundays

Weekend Wrap Up Party

Seasonal Inspiration at Crumbs and Chaos

What's on the menu?

I have had a busy weekend.

My husband was out of town.

Need I say more?

I will eventually post about our

Friday Night Dessert Night: Chocolate Dipped Pumpkin Scones

at some point this week!

But for now...

Our Weekly Menu

Sunday

Nacho Casserole

Salad

Monday

Turkey Burgers

Zucchini Fries

Tuesday

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Salad

GF Rolls (from my freezer stash!)

Wednesday

Leftovers

Thursday

Light Mac N Cheese

Green Beans

Friday

Chicken and Rice

Veggies

Dessert: Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Saturday

Crock Pot Lasagna (Gluten Free!)

Salad

Friday, October 7, 2011

"Boo" a neighbor with Monster Mix

Some of you may know the cute tradition of "Booing" your neighbors with cute Halloween treats. They in turn "Boo" some more neighbors and so on and so on.

This year when I saw Monster Mix I knew this would be the perfect treat for "Booing."

Monster Mix

adapted from Craftomaniac

Ingredients

1 bag of popcorn

1 cup mini M&M's

1 cup candy corn

1/2 cup Halloween sprinkles

half of a bag of lime green melting chocolate

Directions

Pop the popcorn as directed and spread out a cookie sheet.

Melt the chocolate as directed and drizzle over the top of the popcorn (you can use the whole bag and completely coat the popcorn but I was making this for 3 year olds and trying to avoid a complete sugar melt down!).

Sprinkle the chocolate covered popcorn with sprinkles, M&M's, and candy corns.

Toss it and allow it to cool.

Place in bags with a little note attached and "Boo" your neighbors!

I found these mini water bottles at Walmart for 94 cents so

I couldn't resist throwing these in with the treats!

*If you have never heard of "Booing" and you want to start it with your neighbors, here is the poem to start the fun (mine is not "secret" because we are too young to understand that around here and plus, I tell them they can't have treats from strangers!)

The air is cool, the season fall,

Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore…

Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,

In fact a spook brought this “Boo” to you!

Please join the fun, the season’s here.

Just spread these “Boo’s” and Halloween cheer!

You have been BOOED!

Here is what you do:

Within 2 days, make 2 copies of this note and make 2 treat bags.

Deliver them to some of your friends.

Maybe the one who you “Boo”

Will give you a “Boo” too!

I am sharing this post with...

Sweet Tooth Fridays

Sweet Saturday

Weekend Show-Off Party

This Week's Favorites

A fun, yummy snack...

MIcrowave Potato Chips

thekitchn.com

Some desserts...

Caramel Apple Pops

The Cake Dish

Maple Cookies

SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl

A healthy dessert (always a bonus!)...

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

Chocolate-Covered Katie

Some dinner ideas...

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

Mama Loves Food

Nacho Casserole

Blog Chef

Hope you find something you like!

I am sharing this link with

Friday Favorite Finds at

Finding Joy In My Kitchen!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Low Calorie Milk Shake

So once again I was watching the Hungry Girl on TV and she had a version of a low calorie milk shake that I had a feeling I could make with the ingredients I already had.

It was a success!

What you will need:

Light Vanilla Soy Milk

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

Lite Hershey's Syrup

Fat Free French Vanilla Coffee Creamer (weird I know! but this makes it oh so much better!)

Directions

In a blender (I prefer Bullet) mix together about 1 cup frozen yogurt with 1/2 cup soy milk, a couple tablespoons of creamer and as much chocolate sauce as you want. Blend...

and DRINK UP!

*Give it a taste test and add more soy milk if too thick, more frozen yogurt if too runny, etc. I just eye-ball the measurements.