Easy Like Sunday Morning

Hi all!

I've been up for a while, I made my delicious banana nut loaf ...but I decided to make it in my cute new muffin tin that is actually in the shape of a pumpkin. It turned out SO cute and so yummy!

My sister headed home yesterday afternoon, her boyfriend came up to visit. So I did the housewife workout, got things ready. Tomorrow is the start of a new week, which is always a source of stress. But everything will work out fine. Just taking it one day at a time! I just have to find where I put that darn schedule!

With a week chock full of work and on a beautiful fall day, crock potting is fun! Great recipe with a spicy meaty flair the whole family will love!!

Jambalaya
Servings: 12 (1 cup per serving)

Ingredients

1 pound Polish Sausage (Cut into 1/2 inch rounds)
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast (Cut into 1 in cubes)
1 can (14.5oz) low fat, low sodium beef broth
1 can (14.5oz) low sodium diced tomatoes, undrained
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/3 cup tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon cayanne pepper
1 pound cooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups cooked brown rice

Directions

1. In a 5 quart slow cooker, combine Polish sausage, chicken, beef broth, diced tomatoes, celery, tomato paste and spices into the crock pot.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until chicken is cooked through.

3. Stir in cooked shrimp and rice and cook on low for another 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Nutritional Breakdown

YUM!! Enjoy!

Craaaazy Day

Today was soooo long. I had several admissions and a recertification which take about 1-2 hours each, then a crazy run around with doctors. Bleh. I am exhausted. Friday is going to be another long day...I cannot WAIT for the weekend!!!

Anyway since today is a crazy one, I am going to do another delicious crock pot recipe! YUM!

Lovin' the cool down. Last night we had explosive thunderstorms the likes of which I have never seen. I'm talking lightning every second, thunderboomers that were shaking my house and the sky sounding like it was cracking and falling down. WOW. It woke me up out of a dead sleep and I watched a bit of its beauty...at 2am.

How am I still going? I don't know.

Anyway, ENJOY! Today's recipe!

Cajun Chicken and Rice
Servings: 4

Ingredients

3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Creole-style seasoning to taste
1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium stewed tomatoes (with liquid)
1 stalk celery, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

Serve over 1/2 cup cooked brown rice per serving.

Directions

1. Place chicken breasts a 4 quart slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, and Creole-style seasoning to taste. Stir in tomatoes with liquid, celery, bell pepper, garlic, onion, mushrooms, and jalapeno pepper.

2. Cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours, or on High for 5 to 6 hours.

3. Cook rice according to package directions. 1/2 cup brown rice per serving! (INCLUDED IN NUTRITIONAL BREAKDOWN)

Nutritional Breakdown

Enjoy!

Labor Day Recipe!

Happy Labor Day!!!!!

I've been laboring away...on the beach. Haha, but I think I deserve a break after all the toiling away I do. Work work work!

But when I'm not working, I'm working on losing weight...which also feels like a full time job! But I'm enjoying it anyhow. This recipe isn't exactly Labor Day oriented...but it is delicious! I love chicken and so we have...

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA
Serves: 2

Ingredients

4 ounces linguine pasta
6 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into thin strips
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 scallion, minced
1 1/2 cup Fat Free Evaporated Milk
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguini pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

2. Meanwhile, place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl, and toss to coat.

3. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add green and red bell peppers, sliced mushrooms and green onions; cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat, and stir in evaporated milk. Season the sauce with basil, garlic powder and ground black pepper, and heat through.

4. In a large bowl, toss linguini with sauce. Divide and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Breakdown

This tastes JUST like the Cheesecake Factory Louisiana Chicken Pasta...I swear. And let's compare nutrition!!

                                                              Calories     Fat    Sodium  Carbs

Louisiana Chicken Pasta

1,401

38

1,259

130

I'll take the lighter version any day...

September Recipe #3

Is it already the 3rd of September? How did that happen?

Hope all are having a relaxing labor day weekend! Maybe you're having friends over or just enjoying these last summery days! If you hadn't noticed yet, I am a spicy freak! And I loooove Jalapeno poppers. I don't, however, love the calories and fat! Here is a DELICIOUS jalapeno popper that you don't have to feel guilty about!!!!

JALAPENO POPPERS
Serving Size: 2 Halves (1 whole pepper)

Ingredients

12 medium sized jalapeno peppers
4 slices uncooked turkey bacon
1/2 cup light whipped cream cheese (I like the weight watchers brand)
1/2 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese

Directions

USE EXTREME CAUTION WORKING WITH FRESH JALAPENO PEPPERS!

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Slice off top of jalapeno peppers then cut in half, remove ribs and seeds using protective gloves and eye wear.

2. In a small bowl mix together cream cheese and cheese mixture.

3. Use approximately 1-1/2 teaspoons of cheese per half of jalapeno, spread it inside the half. Placing on a nonstick baking sheet.

4. Cut the turkey bacon into 3 equal pieces. Lay on top of the pepper

5. Cook for approximately 10-15 minutes at 375, check the peppers often!

Nutritional Breakdown

Can you really argue with that? YUM!

Compare to ONE regular store bought Jalapeno popper:

More than twice the fat and calories! YIKES!!! Enjoy this delicious spicy treat, maybe serve it to labor day guests! Hope you're enjoying your day!!