Yummy Spinach Chips!

Spinach Chips! No more potato or Kale chips for me.  These are super yummy and SO good for you too! 

Spinach Chips

 

2 cups (Big, Healthy leaves) Spinach Leaves

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Italian Seasoning Blend (To Taste)

Salt (To Taste)

GETTING READY

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.

MAKING

3. In a bowl, put the spinach leaves. Put olive oil and mix it well without breaking or tearing the leaves.
*If they don't crisp up, reduce Olive Oil amount
4. Sprinkle salt and Italian blend and mix well till all leaves are coated.
5. Take the foil lined baking sheet and arrange the leaves in a single layer without any overlaps.
6. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it sit on the baking sheet for another 2 minutes.
7. Using a spatula, transfer them into a bowl or plate.

Servings 2          Calories Per Serving 78

Crunchy Baked Chicken!

This is so good and satisying! My hubby and I LOVE IT! Only 228 Calories per serving!

Crunchy Baked Chicken

 

(2) 5 oz Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breasts

1/4 Cup Itatlian Bread Crumbs

2 Tbsp Grated Parmesan Cheese

3 Tbsp Melted Butter (I used Country Crock)

1 tsp Thyme

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a shallow baking dish.
2. Combine 1 tablespoon melted butter with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and thyme in a bowl or ziplock bag; and shake or cover entire Chicken breast. Set Chicken in baking dish.
3. Take some of the bread crumb mix with a spoon and additionally sprinkle over each chicken breast. 
4. Take remaining 2 Tbsp butter and drizzle it lightly over each chicken breast.
5. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully move chicken to a plate with a spatula.

 Super yummy and a great replacement for fried chicken!

Servings: 2 Calories: 228

Crockpot Chicken Yumminess!

I love my crock-pot Chicken because it's super simple...tastes great and is low calorie!

Ingredients:

(2) 4 oz Skinless, boneless chicken breasts (Adjust number of breasts for your family size)

4 cups Veggie Organic Broth

4 oz can of mushrooms

2 Tbsp Cornstarch (I use Argo)

1/4 c cold water
Pepper to personal taste

Wash and put chicken breasts in crock-pot.  Cover with Veggie Broth and add mushrooms.  Cook slow for 7 to 8 hours. Once done....mix Cornstarch with 1/4 c cold water in a cup or small bowl.  Pour veggie broth and mushrooms into a sauce pan and heat to boiling. Turn off heat and pour in Cornstarch and mix until thickened. Spoon evenly over each Chicken Breast and serve.

*Don't make the gravy and save even more calories! It's still super yummy! 

Servings: 2   Calories Each Serving: 214 (*no gravy = 184 Calories a serving)

Cucumber Yumminess!

I love Cucumbers! So here is my #1 go to snack! Quick and easy and it's SO yummy!

Peel and Slice half a Cucumber and sprinkle a little pepper and Paprika!  This makes 1 serving. Sometimes....I'll add just a small amount of my Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing to each slice for a nice extra kick!  Yummy goodness anytime throughout the day or night! =)

1 serving = 23 Calories!

Slow Cooker 4 bean Veggie Soup!

I just love this recipe! Super yummy! This is my lower calorie version without noodles and without Parmesan cheese.

6 cups vegetable broth 

1 (28 ounce) can crushed or diced tomato

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained

1 (15 oz) can White or Cannellini Bean

 1 (15 oz) can Black Bean

1 (15 oz) can Pinto Bean

1 large onion, chopped

1 (15 oz) can drained cut Carrots (or 2 fresh carrots)

1 (15 oz) can green beans

1 small zucchini

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 Tbsp salt

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper

Drain and rinse all beans.  Put all ingredients into Slow Cooker and cook for 7 to 8 hours. 

Makes about 5 servings at only 312 calories each! 

I freeze half in ready to heat bowls and keep 3 in frig for my lunches each day.  When I get to my 3rd day of lunch....I pull out the other two! Super yummy and filling!

White Bean Soup!

 I made this for my lunch today for the first time and it was so yummy !  It made me feel super full and satisfied! This is defiantly a keeper for me!  

This recipe makes about 5 servings....great to make ahead of time and just heat it up for a quick and healthy lunch or add a dinner roll and have it for dinner!

White Bean Soup

4 cups canned White or Cannellini Beans

1 teaspoon thyme

6 cups vegetable broth

salt and freshly ground pepper

Put two cups of the beans in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. In a saucepan combine all four cups of beans both pureed and whole, vegetable broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors are combined about 15 minutes. 

3 servings.   240 Calories a serving.

Great Tasting Ranch Dressing!

I love my ranch dressing but hate how unhealthy it is so I searched for a realistic replacement that my pallet would accept.  I finally found it! Super simple to make and tastes better than the real thing!

1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt

 and about 1/4 Packet Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Seasoning (or season to taste)

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Mix these together in a small resealable bowl and it lasts for about 4 days in the frig...just simply stir it with each use! Oh it's just so good!

Simply the BEST Peanut Butter Cookies!

Ok y'all....these are the greatest! Not only are these Peanut Butter Cookies easy to make but they only take 4 ingredients! No Flour and No Butter! Gluten Free!

1 cup peanut butter,

1 cup sugar,

1 egg, and

I teaspoon vanilla.

350 degrees at 10-12 min. When they come out of the oven they are REALLY soft so let them cool before you try and take them off your cookie sheet.  Once cooled...they are easy to remove from sheet and they melt in your mouth! Super Yummy!

*Lightly wetting a clean fork helped it not stick when making the cross marks on the cookies.

That's it! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Makes 24 cookies.  98 Calories each.

Baked Zucchini Pizza!

My husband LOVES....and I do mean LOVES pizza....but I'm not a big fan so I'm always on the lookout for an alternative for myself to enjoy. Boy did I find another great choice!

Baked Zucchini Pizza!

I'm super excited about this Pizza alternative! It's so yummy!

Slice the zucchini in half. Slice off the bottom to keep it stable. Brush with olive oil and top with garlic or garlic powder. Top with sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese or mixed blend.. Bake 375 for 20 to 30 minutes until soft.

  

Another Low Calorie, Gluten free Pizza choice! 

40-50 Calories each!

Guilt and Gluten Free Spaghetti!

Ok people....I just LOVE pasta but I know it's got to get out of my life.  What does a person like me replace that enjoyable pleasure with?  SPAGHETTI SQUASH! OMGoodness! YUMMMOOO and only 186 calories for HALF of the Squash (Squash only...add calories for any sauce).  So here's how to do it....it's SUPER EASY! 

Ingredients:

1 Spaghetti Squash

2 Tbsp Olive oil

Italian seasoning or fresh basil

2 cloves crushed garlic

Salt and Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 425.  Cover a baking dish or lipped cooking sheet with foil and lightly spray with a little non-stick spray. Cut Squash in half (Lengthwise down).  Use a spoon and take out the seeds.  Brush Olive Oil on each half. Sprinkle salt and pepper, Basil/Italian Seasoning, and crushed garlic onto each half.  Bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes until soft.  Let squash sit for a few minutes and then use a fork to shred out the soft squash. Cover in whatever sauce you choose (just add those calories to the total).

Super yummy! My husband loved it so much he has even requested it for all future pasta dishes! If you knew my hubby....you'd know how UTTERLY AMAZING that really is! HA! He's a straight shooting Meat and Potato kind of guy! It really is super delish with none of the Pasta calorie guilt! PERFECT! Enjoy! =)

186 Calories!

Guiltless Portobello Pizza!

Made these for lunch today and OMGoodness! YUMMMMOOOO!!! 

Ingredients:    1 cup Mozzerella Cheese

                     1/2 Yellow Onion Chopped

                     1 can or 3 Fresh Diced Tomatos

                     4 Portobello Mushrooms

                     2 Green Onions Chopped

                     2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

                     4 Cloves Garlic

                     2 Tbsp Olive oil

                     (I added a half can Black olives...Yum)

Chop and Mix all the Ingredients accept the Cheese...save that for later.  Add Olive Oil to pan and bring to a Med-High heat.  Add the Mix and boil for 5 minutes.

While that is boiling....take a spoon and GENTLY scrape out the middle of the Mushrooms.

Cover Baking sheet or Casserole dish with foil (make sure Baking sheet has at least a 1/4 inch edge or the liquid will escape into your oven) and lightly spray with Non-stick spray or homemade Olive oil spray.

Fill the mushrooms with the heated mixture and sprinkle evenly with the cheese.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 12 minutes. 

Let cool and ENJOY!!  Two of these are plenty and are only 303 calories but if you really want more...have all four for only 606 calories TOTAL!! I will never eat another normal Pizza again! This is SO YUMMY and SO filling! AMAZING!! =)


2=303 Calories, 4= 606 Calories!

Guilt Free Banana Ice Cream!

I made me some super YUMMY Guilt-Free Banana Ice Cream today! So here's how ya do it! Great replacement for that need for an Ice Cream fix!

Ingrediants:

4 Small Ripe Bananas

2 Tbsp Creamy Peanut Butter

1 Tbsp Dutch Cocoa (I used 1 Tbsp of Hot Chocolate mix)

First...Peel and freeze bananas for about an hour. Best to use bananas that have just started to spot. 

Take out of the freezer and cut Bananas into Food Processor or Blender (I used my Processor) and blend until it looks like this:

Add Organic Peanut Butter and Cocoa. Blend until everything is mixed well.

Eat right away for a soft serve ice cream or put in freezer for a scoopable ice cream later!

I am thinking about adding maybe fresh strawberries or blueberries next time...maybe even some farm fresh peaches! OMGoodness! YUMMO! =)

2 Servings.  280 Calories each!