Meatball Soup

This is a good one that is healthy and LOW FAT.


Meatball Soup

1 beaten egg white
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper
8 ounces lean ground beef (turkey is hard to use dries out and crumbles, feel free it try, it may work better for you)

3 1/2 cup water
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian style stewed tomatoes
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tsp instant beef bouillon granules
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/4 cup tiny bow tie pasta
3 cups Fresh spinach

In a medium mixing bowl combine egg white, bread crumbs, onion, garlic powder and pepper. Add ground beef; mix well. Shape meat mixture into 36 3/4 inch meatballs, small!!

Spray a large skilled with nonstick coating. Cook meatballs over medium hat about 8 minutes or till no pink remains, turning occasionally to brown evenly. Cover and keep warm over low heat.

In a large saucepan stir together, water, garbanzo beans, undrained tomatoes, mushrooms, bouillon granules, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Add pasta. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 - 12 minutes or til pasta is cooked. Stir in spinach and meatballs. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes more until spinach is wilted.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ok I got this from Oprah. I have recently broke up with Oprah. It was a nasty break up. I am free and happy now!! I feel like a ton of bricks has been lifted off me. I joined the anti Oprah group on facebook. What I did get out of our relationship this awesome cookie recipe that is low fat.

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup raw cane sugar (Turbinado)
3 ripe medium bananas, mashed
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour ( I use half white half wheat flour)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat over to 350. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and applesauce and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar, bananas, eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Gradually add the flour and baking soda. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips until incorporated. Drop the dough by teaspoon onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7 - 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool!!

Thai Peanut Noodles

Another great one from Our Best Bites. LOVED it and even the kids ate it. It didn't make TONS so I would probably double the recipe especially if you want leftovers. Ben loves leftovers!!

1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
1 -2 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce (1 is mild, 1.5 medium, 2 hot)
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh minced ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
8 oz linguine noodles
chopped green onions
chopped cilantro
2 limes, cut into quarters
chopped peanuts
3 breasts - chicken :)

Cook noodles in salted water. In the meantime, combine chicken broth, peanut butter, chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat. I actually didn't mean to but got mine to a very quick, low boil and it thickened it up which was good. I would do that again.

Toss cooked noodles with sauce and divide among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with green onions, cilantro, chopped peanuts and garnish each serving with 2 lime quarters. Before eating, squeeze lime juice over noddles and stir to combine.

The recipe didn't call for chicken but I need protein. I just used olive oil, soy sauce and garlic and just pan fried really thin slices of chicken.

Healthy Banana Bread

I know some of you may be shocked to hear this especially after watching me eat but I do like to eat healthy. I LOVE how I feel when I eat healthy, not bloated, tired or feeling hungry.

I got this from a recipe swap a couple of weeks ago. I tried it and it was really good. Tastes just like a normal banana bread recipe that has a lot of flour, oil and eggs.

HEALTHY BANANA BREAD

1 ½ cup all purpose flour
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
2 slightly beaten egg whites
1 cup mashed banana (3 medium)
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup cooking oil

Lightly coat an 8x4x2 inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl stir together the egg whites, banana, sugar and oil. Add flour mixture all at once to banana mixture. Stir just until moistened (the batter should be lumpy). Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 oven for 45 – 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Crockpot Chicken

Ok who does not have this recipe? I swear everyone has this recipe, it is in every recipe book on this side of the Mississippi. Ok in Utah!!

CROCKPOT CHICKEN

4 chicken breasts cut into chunks
1 pkg. good seasons Italian dressing mix
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. butter

Put chicken and butter into crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dressing mix. Cook for 3 - 5 hours on low stirring occasionally. About 1/2 hour before serving add:

1 can cream of mushroom soup
6 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp dry onions (can be omitted if you aren't into dried onions)
I beat these together before putting in crockpot, something about chunky cream cheese that makes me, blah)


Cook on low 30 minutes or until creamy. Serve over rice

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

I got this out of a recent family circle mag and we actually really liked it. Low calorie!!

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

1 pound penne (whole wheat)
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
7 medium size ripe tomatoes (about 2.5 pounds), peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Cook Pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

While pasta is cooking, heat 2 Tbsp of the olive oil in a medium -size saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant.

Add tomatoes, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and tomato paste to pan and turn heat to medium high. Cook for about 10 minutes or until tomatoes have begun to lose their shape. Stir in remaining tablespoon olive oil and basil.

Place pasta in large bowl and stir in sauce and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread


3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. baking powder
2 cups peeled and grated zucchini
3 eggs, beaten
½ cup chopped nuts (optional) (yuck)

Mix flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and baking powder together. Set aside. Beat eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla. Slowly mix in dry ingredients. Blend in grated zucchini and nuts. Pour into 2 greased and lightly floured 8 x 4 loaf tins. Bake at 325 degrees for 60 – 70 minutes. I like to use the cupcake pan for this and it makes it easy for the kids to get themselves.