We Wrap the Week with Pasta

I’m a little off with my recipe post the past few weeks.  So I thought why not end this week with a yummy recipe!  And let’s hope I get back on routine next week … lol.

I found this very yummy recipe for Bacon Ranch & Chicken Mac & Cheese on the Weight Watcher Website.  It was a very simple recipe to make and the boys loved it.  We actually even had it for left overs the next nigh with is UNHEARD of here at the house.  My boys (including the big one) think left overs are no no’s.  I used a few different things which may bring the points down  little bit.  I used Reduced Fat Cream of Mushroom, Red Fat Cheese, Turkey Bacon and whole wheat macaroni.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), Cut into 1/2 inch pieces  
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour  
• 1 can(s) canned condensed cream of mushroom soup  
• 2 serving(s) Lite Shredded Cheese Blend TJ's  
• 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese  
• 1/2 tsp onion powder  
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder  
• 1 tsp dried dill weed  
• 1/2 tsp sea salt  
• 1/2 cup(s) Kraft Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese  
• 3 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon  
• 7 1/4 oz uncooked macaroni  
• 2 Tbsp regular butter  
• 12 oz low-fat milk

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done.

3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until sauce cools to 155. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken.

4. Preheat broiler.

5. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Cooking Light, MARCH 2010

Enjoy I promise you will and everyone you serve will enjoy this one!  Have a wonderful weekend!  I’m hoping to have a nice relaxing one.

Manic Monday Meals ~ Where’s the Beef? Well here of course silly!

As many of you may have guessed while I’ve been trying to cut down on calories and watching what I serve the family.  So beef has not been on the menu for sometime.  The lean beef is always so spendy so I buy turkey instead.  After SEVERAL comments from Rick that he wanted beef I did some searching and found these.  Very yummy and not to bad on your push on the muffin top either!

Rick LOVES meatloaf so I made this HG's Big Beef 'n Bacon Meatloaf.  I just love her site!  And for you pig lovers (Amy) I used turkey bacon!

And these Healthy slow cooker fajita were a perfect meal that was easy to put together.  You can serve as a stew or on some corn tortillas.  I had FF sour cream but I skipped it and it was just as yummy .

Happy Monday everyone , I’m still sick but starting to feel better!  Hopefully soon my head and nose will go back to normal!  Hope you find something you like!

And my BFF Poser Amy had her baby boy Tyler John early this weekend.  Stop by and say congrats to her and why not wish her a early happy Birthday also!

Manic Monday ~ Comfort Food for this SICK :( Blogger

Sunday AM I woke up and thought I shoved a pillow up my noise and throat!  I can’t breath and my throat feels like a cat scratched it and left me it’s fur along the way.  Let’s just say I’m not too motivated and moving around that much.  I sadly had to cancel a playdate.  I would have love to gone just to let the kids play so I could slouch in a car but I couldn’t even make it to the car . UGH

So while I’m sitting her not able to breath or sleep I thought I’d post some comfort food.  It’s been rainy and cold here in the PNW so these have been perfect.  I know some of you are in a heat wave but Washington is proving to be a rainy state .

First off we have Cream of Chicken Wild Rice Soup, that I loved.  Rick not so much (I know as usual), the kids liked it.

And I made these for dinner, I know they are technically a breakfast but I love doing these little cupcake ideas for dinner.  Plus the boys love eggs anytime .  Broccoli-and-Bacon Egg Cups were super easy and yummy! 

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you enjoy these recipes.  I’ll try to be around Monday night if I’m still breathing.

Still trying to eat healthy but NOT loose the taste :)

I hope you all aren’t getting sick of the healthy foods, because to be honest everyone here hasn’t complained yet so we forge on with the low fat but tasty way of life. I can’t say it enough, I LOVE Skinny Taste’s Website.

This was a great dinner but of course you can have it for breakfast also . Move over pub food for this Western Omelet Potato Skins.

Rick loves Baked Chicken Parmesan and I usually stay clear of it because of the high calories but then I found on my favorite site this recipe and tada here we go .

And of course we had some wild rice left over from last week so I did a search and came across Chicken Rice Soup.

Happy Tuesday everyone I hope you enjoy something yummy!

Make sure to check my friends Dolly & Lorie for Thursday Recipe Swap!

We Continue Our Ground Turkey Journey

Happy Tuesday, well I'm not so sure it's happy but well it's another day. My little negative voice (aka person who drives me nuts) is trying to now work others around me to I swear make me loose my mind! One day they will get it that commenting on my weight! UGH, I'm inserting my head in the oven now :). So onto food because that helps keep my skinny ... hehe.

First off is a super yummy recipe! Debbie does healthy did one version and I went with the original roll version from Once a Month Mom. I'm in love with these meatloaf rolls!

Last on my list was a Cheesy Broccoli Rice. Come on don't let the name fool you I used brown rice, ground turkey and 98% FF Cream of Mushroom. Now take that hater!!!

I'm linking up to: Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday,Tuesday at the Table,Delectable Tuesday, Delicious Dishes , Totally Tasty Tuesday, Hearth and Soul and Thursday Recipe Swap Meet.

We interrupt your daily sch with SNOW and NO School!

I have sick boys (yes all 3) and now it snowed so no school! I think I may loose my mind today! So I'm sorry my dears no Must Watch Thursday, BUT don't leave me so early since the Oscars are on Sunday I figured I would share some yummy recipes you can take! Hope you have a warm day!

I found this recipe on Allrecipes, I tweaked it a bit using turkey bacon & turkey smokies (which I didn't know they made until now). I think Cole ate almost the whole batch and no one had a chance to eat one ... lol. Next time I'll make a double batch.

(REMEMBER TO CLICK ON RECIPE TAB)

Next on the list was Pizza Puffs I found on Cottage Sisters and tweaked it a bit. These were very yummy but if your going to take to a party like I did they did get a little cool by the time I got there.

And we must end with a yummy dessert and low fat :)

Manic Monday Meals ~ For the Love of Ground Turkey

I love putting veggies in our meals and the boys actually love broccoli & spinach and these recipes were amazing :).

I found this yummy and so beautiful recipe on For the love of Cooking. This was a HUGE hit all 12 muffin meatloaves were gone before I could put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. The boys both had 3 helpings and Rick was popping meatloaves in his mouth like candy. I will be making this one again!

Remember to click the recipe button to see the recipe.

The next on our ground turkey list with a super yummy! This one didn't even make it to next day for seconds. I found this one on Park Avenue, tweeked it a bit and this is what I came up with. The recipe called for Alfredo Sauce & Pizza Dough I made my own (Click the name for the recipes I used).

Remember to click the recipe button to see the recipe.

What to do with left over Pizza Dough why you make Chocolate Calzone's!

Remember to click the recipe button to see the recipe.

Happy Tuesday, hope you find something you may like to make!

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf & Pumpkin Spice Latte

YUMMY town here this week talk about overload of yummies!! Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

First off Meatloaf ... go figure here I HATED it as a child but love it as a grown up that is with lot's of flavor. And this sure did deliver just that!

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

by Paula Deen (Food Network)

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chuck
• 10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 (8-ounce) package sharp Cheddar, grated
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs, toasted
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1 (3-ounce) can French fried onions

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck and next 8 ingredients, mixing well.

In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mustard. Stir 1/4 cup ketchup mixture into meat mixture, reserving remaining ketchup mixture.

Press meat mixture into a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan, or shape into a loaf and place on a rack in a broiler pan. Spread remaining ketchup mixture over loaf. Bake 40 minutes. Top with French fried onions; bake another 10 to 15 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used my fav turkey bacon, ground beef instead and Olive Oil mayo.

Next was one I saw today at my girls Amy's site that she adapted from Kathie's Kreations. I of course had to love love this one!!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Hot

1 c milk

2 tbsp canned pumpkin (don't use the canned pumpkin pie mix!)

2 or 3 tbsp sugar (or use appropriate amount of sugar substitute)

1 tbsp vanilla (yes, 1 tbsp not tsp)

1/2-1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1-2 shots espresso or 1/4-1/2 c really strong coffee*

whipped cream or cool whip (optional)

Directions

1. Place the milk, pumpkin, sugar and spices in a pot and heat until the milk is hot, the pumpkin has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

2. Pour into a blender and blend for a minute or two.

3. Brew espresso or coffee.

4. Pour your espresso/coffee into a tall mug and add the blended mixture.

5. Top with whipped cream or cool whip and some pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or freshly ground nutmeg.

ALEXIS NOTES: Make sure you READ the directions about blending! I got excited ran over to the ingredients and made. Let's just say you don't want to get a clump of pumpkin spice seasoning in your mouth! But that didn't stop by from having TWO cups!!! I used 2% milk, sugar substitute and my famous BLACK coffee. No Whipped cream for this girl :(

I'm linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays and Tasty Tuesdays.

Chicken Bacon Broccoli Alfredo Pizza

So it's Round Robin Time at My BFF's Amy's house, so I went threw my old post and found one of my favorite recipes that is perfect for fall and well it's been my favorite I've made in a while. Hope you enjoy!!!

On my quest to find a new pizza for each week I used my favorite search tool Google and up popped this recipe. Yet another yummy food blog pops up into my world Casse Craves, you must check her out.

Chicken Bacon Broccoli Alfredo Pizza

by Cassie Craves

This called for a premade pizza dough, but you know me :) I must make it myself. Check out this recipe I promise you'll keep using it!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pizza Dough for Thin Crust Pizza

found on food.com

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (may substitute whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the all-purpose)
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water
• 1/2-1 tablespoon olive oil
• cornmeal, for sprinkling

1. 1Mix a little sugar into the warm water.
2. 2Sprinkle yeast on top.
3. 3Wait for 10 minutes or until it gets all foamy.
4. 4Pour into a large bowl.
5. 5Add flour, salt, olive oil.
6. 6Combine.
7. 7Knead for 6-8 minutes until you have a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (add a bit more flour if you need to).
8. 8Cover and let rest for 20-30 minutes.
9. 9Lightly grease two 12-inch pizza pans.
10. 10Sprinkle with a little bit of cornmeal.
11. 11Divide dough in half.
12. 12Place each half on a pizza pan and pat it with your fingers until it stretches over the whole pan.
13. 13Try to make it thicker around the edge.
14. 14If desired, pre-bake at 425 F for 10 minutes (I don't always do this).
15. 15Then spread with pizza sauce and use the toppings of your choice.
16. 16Bake at 425 F for 10-20 minutes longer or until bubbly and hot.
17. 17Makes 2 12-inch pizzas.
    ALEXIS NOTES: I used whole whole for the whole recipe and added a tablespoon of honey. This was the BEST dough I have made to date! Caden kept sneaking bites of the dough.

Chicken Bacon Broccoli Alfredo Pizza

1 12-inch pre-baked thin Italian pizza crust
1/2 cup alfredo sauce (purchased, or you can get fancy and make your own)
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
2 cups shredded mozzarella or Italian-blend cheese
6 strips of bacon, diced
1 cup cooked broccoli

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cook bacon over medium heat to desired crispness; set aside on paper towels to drain.

2. Place pizza crust on cookie sheet. Stir together chicken and alfredo sauce in a small bowl; spread over crust, stopping about one inch from the edges. Top with cheese.

3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizza is thoroughly heated.

4. Top with broccoli and bacon.

ALEXIS NOTES: Again I used my homemade pizza dough, Ragu Roasted Garlic Parmesan & Turkey Bacon (again the whole pack but it taste so good). Thanks to dad for the cut up rotisserie chicken. This was the BEST pizza I've ever had, Rick of course picky boy didn't like it but I love it!!!

I'm linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays and Tasty Tuesdays.