Blackbean Burgers

I've been trying to make at few vegetarian meals a week. This is a great alternative

What you need:

1 can black beans drained & rinsed
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 pepper chopped
2-3cloves garlic chopped, or already chopped in a jar
1 tb chili powder
1 egg
1/2cup plain bread crumbs
Salt & pepper

Mash beans in bowl, added all ingredients and mix well. Cook until both sides are crispy.

I like to top mine with Lettuce/Tomato/Onion/Ketchup. Yum!

Updates of sorts

Well I decided to restart my food blog, I really enjoy trying new recipes. I have more time now since I no longer work weekends or Holidays. I'm very thankful for my new job. Things are going very well for Mr J and myself. We couldn't be happier. :)

Orginal Pants from 2005

My weight loss journey is still going. I'm still down 4 pant sizes and 2 shirt sizes.











I continued with the gym until I started school in April. I have since switched schools and will take one class at a time one night a week. This I can handle. I have decided Mon/Wed/Friday mornings are my gym time, and this is the first week I've completed all 3 days. Yes!!!

Anything is possible if you stick with it, I know when I started Weight Watchers in 2005 I thought I would be at my goal weight by now, and I am not. BUT I feel so much better with my change of lifestyle.

I enjoy working out at the gym, doing 5k walks with friends and just being active.

Pizza PotPie

Pizza Pot Pie

1 roll refrig pizza dough, cut in 4 squares---(+) the dough.
Pizza or spaghetti sauce
Cooked turkey italian sausage or other pizza meat of choice
Slices of mozerella cheese
Slices of brick or montery jack cheese
other pizza toppings as desired-onion, pepper, olive, etc. I also put a sprinkle of parm on crust before baking.

Spray 4 oven safe indiv serving bowls (I used corning 500 ml-about the size of a soup bowl) with cooking spray.

Place slices of the cheeses on bottom & sides, covering most of the bowl. Put in cooked meat, top with sauce.

Take square of dough & fit it into bowl, making sure it covers the top. Bake 400 degrees about 15 min or until dough is lightly browned.

Remove, let sit for about 5 minutes, flip over onto plate

S’mores Cookie Bars

S’mores Cookie Bars
Recipe courtesy of Lovin from the Oven blog
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt.

Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick.

Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).  

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Oven Beef Stew

Yield: 8 Servings

1 lb Beef Stew Meat

10 3/4 oz Healthy Request Tomato Soup

10 3/4 oz Healthy Request Cream Of Mushroom Soup

2 md potatoes, Peeled, Cut Into Cubes

1 c Carrots, Sliced

1 md Onion, rough chopped

salt & Pepper

Mix everything together and put into a covered casserole dish and

bake at 350 for 2 hours until meat is tender.

Per Serving: 250 Cal (39% from Fat, 31% from Protein, 29% from Carb);

11 g Tot Fat; 2 g Fiber;

Monster Bars

Ingredients

1/2cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2cup peanutbutter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
4 1/2cup oatmeal
2 cup chocolate chips
2 cup m&ms

How to make it

---

• Preheat oven to 350º F.
• Cream the butter and sugars together.
• Add eggs and peanut butter and mix.
• Stir in vanilla, baking soda and oatmeal.
• Stir in chocolate chips and M & M’s.
• Put in an ungreased jellyroll pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Do not over bake.

Homemade Mac & Cheese

This recipe is delicious, very easy to make and cheesy!

Ingredients:

3 cups elbow macaroni uncooked ( I used ronzoni)
1/4cup plus 1 tablespoon butter ( I used cant believe its not butter)
1 medium onion finely chopped
1/2cup Gallo family Vineyards Chardonnay ( I used white cooking wine)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cups milk( Skim)
1 tsp salt
4 cups(16oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided ( I used reduced fat)

1 1/3 cup cream-style cottage cheese ( I used fat free regular)
2/3 cup sourcream( I used fat free)
1 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/8 tsp paprika
3 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled ( I used real bacon pieces from the bacon bits aisle)

Cook macaroni noodles, drain and place in greased baking dish. In small sauce pan melt 1 tbs butter and saute onion. Add wine and simmer until mixture is reduced by half.

Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in large saucepan, whisk in flour until smooth, gradually whisk in milk, bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2minutes or until thickened. Stir in salt and 2 cups cheese, continue to stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat, stil in cottage cheese & sourcream. Pour over macaroni, mix well.

Combine remaining cheese, breadcrumbs, paprika and bacon if desired, sprinkle over cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly.

I came out to 10 points per serving(weight watchers), serves 8.

  

7 layer bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 (14 ounce) can fat free Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch-flavored chips
• 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped nuts ( I used walnuts)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for glass baking pan). 
2. In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. ( or pour melted butter in pan & sprinkle crumb mixture on, it soaks it up.)

1. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with remaining ingredients; press down firmly with fork. ( OR you can put all your layers on and pour condensed milk over everything at the end, which I did.)
2. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.
3. Makes 24 pieces.