Slow Cooker White Bean Chili (WW 7 Plus Points)

Sadly we have had some sick people here at the house, husband with his teeth and my youngest with a flu bug. So it's soft foods and comfort foods at what better says that then a chili! I found this recipe on Slender Kitchen of Slow Cooker White Bean Chili. It was an easy recipe that everyone loved.

Ingredients

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast

20 oz canned white beans, drained

1 onion, minced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno (seeded for less heat), diced

2 poblano peppers (seeded for less heat), diced

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

4 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 Salt and pepper

1 lime

Directions

1	Option 1: Add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Add back in and serve.
2	Option 2: Add the onions, garlic, jalapeno, poblanos, cilantro, cumin, oregano, and 2 cups broth to a blender. Blend until smooth. Add this salsa, the chicken, beans, and remaining broth to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours and shred chicken when finished.

ALEXIS NOTES: I did the slower cooker version. I also like a thicker chili so I added a little cornstarch mixed with water to thicken it up. I also did some green chilies instead of poblano peppers.

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Skinny Mini Deep Dish Meat Lovers Pizza

Sorry gang I haven't been around a lot this past two weeks. I'm just slammed with an event we are hosting at work and my husband is having tooth problems and ended up in ER (he thankfully is doing better but it's slow). SO I don't have time for fancy meals or to do up a post like I would like!

Cole did have a buddy spend the night so I wanted to find an easy meal but also something that they would enjoy. I found Mini deep dish meat lovers pizza recipe on Drizzle Me Skinny, this has become a new favorite website for skinny and weight watcher meals. NOW I don't do WW but I try to do light meals and since their meals have all the calories etc figured out for me it makes it easy when I'm watching calorie intake.

NOW mine got left in the oven a little too long ... YUP I got a little busy but they were still tasty!

Ingredients

• 1 package of pillsbury pizza dough
• ¼ cup pizza sauce
• ⅓ cup light shredded cheese
• 36 slices of pepperoni
• 4 oz cooked lean ground beef
• 4 slices cooked low point bacon
• 1 chicken sausage, cooked

Instructions

1. Cook your ground beef, sausage and bacon, drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400F, spray a 12 hole regular size muffin tin.
3. Roll out your pizza dough and cut into 12 even pieces, stuff into each muffin cup trying to pull dough up the sides. Pre-bake dough for 6 minutes, remove from oven. Turn oven down to 375F. Now you can shape the dough a little better, careful it will be hot but try to shape each into a muffin cup.
4. Dice up your chicken sausage and add to your ground beef, chop up your cooked bacon and mix into your meat mixture.
5. Spoon about 1 tsp of pizza sauce into the bottom of all 12 cups. Divide your cheese into the bottom of your 12 pizzas.
6. Divide your meat mixture up and then top with 3 slices of pepperoni onto each.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Serve immediately. Makes 12 mini pizzas at 4sp or 4pp each.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used Turkey Bacon and Turkey Pepperoni.

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Skinnytaste's Cheeseburger Casserole

I have been a little crazy at work so not a lot of time to post so a quick post of dinner last week! I've been working out at the gym and trying hard to pre-make dinner and have it in the oven on delay start!  I have been trying to do healthier meals that fill us but still not filled with calories and fat. I love Skinnytaste's website, she is in my top 3 that I go to for meal planning. This Cheeseburger Casserole needed a little extra flavoring for my boys taste but it was an easy and filling dinner.

 

Ingredients:

 

2 cups (6 oz) uncooked rotini pasta

2 tsp olive oil 

1 1/2 cups onions, finely chopped 

1 garlic clove, finely chopped 

1 lb lean ground beef (95% lean) 

3/4 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp black pepper 

2 tbsp tomato paste 

28 oz diced tomatoes 

2 tbsp Dijon Mustard 

2 cups reduced-fat grated cheddar cheese 

1/4 cup chopped dill pickles 

 

Directions: 

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente and drain well. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the beef and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture bubble gently until it is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Toss the meat mixture with the pasta and spread it into the prepared dish. Top with the cheddar and bake until the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped pickles over the top and serve. Makes about 9 cups.

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Kid Friendly Meals ... Octopus Hot dog Meal

More play with your food meals here! I made these fun hot dog octopus's a while back for the kids! This was another fun meal! Again I found several versions of this on blogs so I don't have one person to credit, if you were the creator of, let me know and I'll give you credit.

Ingredients:
Hot Dogs
Mustard 
Sharp knife

Directions:
Cut hot dog in half length-wise, leaving about 1" intact at the end.

Cut each of the long sections in half (lengthwise), then in half again - these are the legs.
Boil until legs' curl up and hot dog is cooked through.

Add a little dots of mustard for they eyes.

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Kid Friendly Meals: Ocoto-Dog (Spaghetti & Hot Dog Version)

I like to do fun kids meals every once in a while for kids. I saw this on FB and I think almost every blog has posted about it so I don't have one that I can find created this idea. IF you are the one that made this up please let me know and I'll credit you!

What you Need:

Dry Spaghetti

Hot Dogs

I use turkey dogs here and cut up each do into 4 to 5 pieces. I then took the dry spaghetti and put through a hot dog. I placed 4 to 5 pieces of spaghetti per hot dog. You then get your water boiling, drop the dogs/spaghetti into the boiling water. Drain and serve! You can serve with a marinara dipping sauce or just add a little butter and they are a hit. My boys were so amazed that I got the spaghetti through the dog, I told them I'm magical .. lol!

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

No Bake Double Peanut Butter Bars

Before the New Year my bestie posted on FB a recipe for No Bake Double Peanut Butter Bars, and I just had to give them a try! I went to a Seahawks party 2 weeks ago and made these to share. I love bringing treats, I get my baking needs in and then I take the items out of my house so I don't eat the whole pan! (Don't judge I can do .. lol).

These are simple to make and tasted great, NOW I have always had a hard time with white chocolate melting (this is why you see I use Wilton Candy Melts for everything) and this was no exception, it was not smooth but still tasted great!

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup  + 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, divided
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Line a 9x13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Place melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup peanut butter in a large bowl. Mix by hand until combined. Press firmly into prepared pan.
3. Place white chocolate chips and remaining 2 tablespoons peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Pour over bars and spread with a spatula to evenly coat.
4. Chill for at least 1 hour to set, slice into bars. **It’s best to slice them at room temperature so your chocolate doesn’t shatter.**
5. These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator, depending on how warm your house is. The chocolate will get melty if it’s too hot, so use your judgement on where you should store them.

ALEXIS NOTES: I lined with wax paper to make it easier to come out of the pan. I did cut mine when they were not room temperature so they did shatter. IF your not in a hurry like I was let them be room temperature. 

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Happy New Year .. Healthy Me to come

Most of you that have followed me have followed me during my journey with weight. I have battled weight for as long as I can remember. I went on a crazy protein diet and lost 105 lbs, well as life goes I've gained some of that back (uhmmm 45 or so lbs). I have been working out and changing my food that I intake. This year I'm really focusing on me being better.

I have a great gym buddy that goes with me and all my ideas on trying new things. We have a new plan of 2 days a week of HIIT, 2 days on the machines (elliptical and weight machines) and 1 day a week of MixxedFITT. I'm eating better, but still need to real in my sweet tooth. Here's to pushing it and moving forward!

Happy New Year!

Hope this year brings you many blessings!!

Disney Descendants Cupcakes

A friend in my woman's group little girl was having a birthday party. For my gift I asked to make the cupcakes. I asked what the theme was and was told Descendants. Ok so I totally had to Google Descendants, to find it's a Disney movie. I found a few cupcake designs and went with one I found on MKG's Teen Entertainment Guide. They did the whole topper by chocolate pipping. I wanted to make things a little easier to so I did it my way.

What you Need:

Apple w/ Bite Cookie Cutter (Amazon $7.50)
Purple Cupcake liner (Hobby Lobby $1.99)
Green Gel Coloring (Hobby Lobby)
Red Modeling Chocolate (recipe below)
Yellow Modeling Chocolate (recipe below)
Yellow Candy Melts
Pipping Bags
Wax Paper

Frost your cupcakes (in purple liners) with your green frosting. 

For the Apple: 

Roll out your red modeling chocolate, cut with your apple cutter. For the vine roll out your yellow modeling chocolate like a snake. Make a point at the end like an arrow. Make one larger that goes on the top of the apple and one with a smaller arrow on the bottom of the apple.

To make the classic Disney D. I printed out the logo for Descendants. I melted the yellow candy melts in a pipping bag. I then pipped the yellow melts to make the D's. I let them dry then added a little water to hold onto the apple.

When the Apple Logo was all done I then placed on top of the frosted cupcake! I guy cupcake holders from amazon that I use to deliver to the charity I work for and used to deliver her cupcakes also.

Here is a break down of the making of cupcake and logo!

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Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Modeling Clay / Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts (In Color you need)

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

TMNT Cupcakes (Modeling Chocolate)

I signed up to donate my decorating skills to make another cupcake for a Birthday Dreams. They bring birthdays to homeless kids (living in shelters and temporary housing). They are an amazing charity if you're looking for a place to help out, 90% of donations go right back to the homeless. I've done a few TMNT cupcakes in the past, so I wanted to find a new design. I picked up a new cookie cutter on Amazon (cld Cute TMNT Cutter). I first bought the 4 inch which was way too big, so I ordered the 2 inch thinking it would be just perfect. The size was ok but it was too small if you wanted to use the circle cut out's for the eyes. So my lesson to you is to buy the 3 inch cutter .. lol!

Cute TMNT Cookie Cutter (Amazon)

What you need:

Modeling Chocolate (Green, Red, Orange, Purple and Blue) - see recipe below
Wilton Candy Eyes

TMNT Cookie Cutter (Amazon)
Frosted Cupcakes
Cupcake Holder

Roll out your green modeling chocolate, I like mine to be on the thick side. I then cut out the face's using the cookie cutter (I made 24 total). I set these aside on some parchment paper and got to work on the mask. I made all 4 characters so I needed 6 mask total of each color. I rolled out each color and used the cookie cutter using the mask cutter. For the eyes it comes with two circles to make a white and black. My cutter was too small so I used the smaller of the two cutters to make holes to add candy eyes. I then dabbed a little water to the back of mask and attached to the green circle. I then used mouth cutter to make the smirk. 

I let them sit out a while to harden up then attach to the top of my cupcakes! And your done!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Modeling Clay / Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts (In Color you need)

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

Sesame Street Cupcake (Modeling Chocolate)

As many of you know I donate my decorating skills to make cupcakes for a charity that brings birthday to homeless kids (living in shelters and temporary housing). Birthday Dreams is an amazing charity if you looking for a place to help out, 90% of donations going right back into the business. I recently signed up for a cake for a Sesame Street party. I searched the internet and found a design made on Etsy by Taleen Shop. I took her design and made my own. I must say this is my 2nd favorite cupcake I've done so far (Angry Bird's were my favorite so far, hard to top those).

Modeling Chocolate / Modeling Clay recipe on the bottom if you've never made.

What you need:

Modeling Clay (Red, Dark Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, Red, Orange, Purple and Light Blue) 

Large Scallop Circle Cutter

Small Circle Cutter

Medium Circle Cutter

Small triangle Cutter

Candy Eyes
Brown Candy Melt (for Cookie Monster Cookie)
Brown Candy writer (for chip on Cookie Monster Cookie)

Frosted Cupcakes

Cupcake Box (I bought mine on Amazon)

Big Bird

Cut out your head in yellow ( I made 6 since I had 4 characters and needed 24 cupcakes). I used my scallop circle cutter. For the nose you take orange modeling chocolate and make a triangle (I couldn't find my cutter so I formed by hand). I added candy eyes (Large from Hobby Lobby), attached with water to the yellow modeling chocolate. For the eye lids I made a circle and cut in half for purple and then blue, make sure your purple is a little larger then the blue). Attach to a frosted cupcake.

Cookie Monster

Cut out the blue with your scallop circle cutter (again made 6). Add large candy eye's with water, for Cookie Monster his eyes are always crazy so put one up and one down. Medium circle for the black, cut in half for the mouth. I then took a light brown candy melt, took my melon baller to make the teeth marks. I then took a candy writer and made the chocolate chips. I took a little water and added to the moth along with a few of the crumbs.

Elmo

Take your scallop cookie cutter to the red modeling chocolate (made 6). Add large candy eyes, attaching with a little water. For the nose I took a little orange modeling chocolate and rolled into a ball. Medium circle for the black, cut in half for the mouth.

Oscar The Grouch

Take your scallop cookie cutter to the green modeling chocolate (made 6). Add large candy eyes, attaching with a little water. For eye brows take a strip of black cut in half and place on top of the candy eye's. Medium circle for the black, cut in half for the mouth. Add a tongue by taking small circle cutter and cut in half, attach with water.

 

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Modeling Clay / Chocolate

12oz Candy Melts (In Color you need)

1/4 Cup light corn Syrup

Melt your Candy Melts in microwave (mine takes about 2 minutes). Stir them to become smooth and add the corn syrup.  It will become thick and form a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit out and dry.  Takes a few hours or over night is best. (Alexis note: I found to roll this out use a little powder sugar (like you would do with flour), also you have to kneed it a little like you would dough to make it easy to roll out).

Reindeer Cookies Featured on Creative Ways Link Party & DIY Crush Crafty Party #13

My favorite cookies I've done so far with royal icing where featured on Creative Ways Link Party #86. I was so excited to see my Reindeer Cookies. I'm so excited to be featured, I'm just starting to get this royal icing thing down and I'm thrilled to be noticed.

Have a GREAT weekend!