My mom

I know that I have a great group of followers out there and I wanted to tell you why I haven't posted and why it might be a little while before I do again. My sweet mom passed away suddenly from Acute Leukemia on Friday. We had no idea,there were no warning signs and when we found out, it was too late. It still doesn't seem real and I can't believe that this is happening. I love her so much and miss her more than words can describe. She encouraged me to do a food blog. She is the one who taught me how to cook. She made the best food, healthy and delicious and is famous for her cookies. I know it will take time to heal, I know that we will be together again someday and I know that families are forever. My life is better because of her and she made me the woman, wife, mother and person that I am.

I know that life will go on, we will be strong as a family and I will have the desire to make yummy food and share it all with you. Please don't give up on me, I am here and will be back soon.


Hiking in Scotland. I was pregnant with my first little girl. I always wanted to be a mom, just like her. I love you mom.


Making her yummy salsa last summer. I will make it always.

Craisin White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

I received this recipe years ago when I was first married from my sister-in law, Shana. I altered it a bit to make them low fat and they turned out great!! So good! I tested them on my friend, hubby, and brother and got thumbs up from them all! They have a slightly crunchy out side with a soft chewy inside. YUMMY!



Ingredients:

1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups oatmeal (I used quick cooking oats)
1 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup craisins

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Combine applesauce, sugars, egg whites, and vanilla. Add in flour, baking soda, salt and oat. Stir in white chips and craisins.
3. Using a scooper or spoon drop onto cookie sheet and gently press them down so they are sightly flat. This way they cook even. Sprinkle sugar on tops of cookies (makes a sweet crunchy top). Bake for 10-11 minutes.

*You want to be careful not to over cook them. When the centers aren't doughy in the middle pull them out. Because there isn't butter in these cookies, sometimes you have to play with the cooking time. You don't want doughy cookies, but also you don't want hard cookies. So after 10-11 minutes pull them out, they should be perfect!

Lazy Chicken

This is a Rachel Ray recipe and it is sooo good! I have made this on several different occasions for company and everyone loves it. There is hidden zucchini in this but it tastes so wonderful that no one will ever know!



Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite size chunks
2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
Steak seasoning
1/2 chicken stock
1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 14oz. can crushed or petite diced tomatoes
10 basil leaves, coarsely chopped (I used 1 tbsp. dried basil)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1. In a deep skillet (oven save) brown the chicken on med-high heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper while it cooks. After a few minutes, remove chicken. Set aside.
2. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan. Add a layer of thin sliced potatoes and onion. Sprinkle the potatoes and onion with steak seasoning. Let potatoes and onions cook turning occasionally but maintain a thin layer until the brown all over. Add a little broth to the pan. Spread a thin layer of zucchini across the top of potatoes and onion. Sprinkle zucchini with steak season as well.
3.Top with chicken making an even layer over the veggies. Dump the tomatoes evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle with herbs. Cover and cook until chicken is done and veggies soft, about 10 minutes.
4. Next sprinkle with cheese and place pan under broiler or a minute until cheese melts and begins to brown. Serve from the hot pan at the table and add a green salad, rolls or muffins! YUM!!

Orange Cran-Apples

Sorry it has been way to long! Been busy having fun with my sister down here, but I will do much better! Ok, now onto the food! Here is a quick side dish that I LOVE!! If you love cranberries, you will love this! Great with any ham, turkey,or chicken dish!




Ingredients:

2 apples (anything but granysmith and golden delicious)
1 can whole berry cranberries
rind from one orange
dash of cinnamon

1. This is so fast! Ok, slice (or dice) your apples and put them into a sauce pan on medium/low heat. You want to soften them a bit first before adding the rest. You can add about a teaspoon of water if you need to help the apples along, but they should start to create apple juice once they warm.
2. After a couple of minutes add your can of cranberries, orange rind, and cinnamon. Stir all together. Let your apples soften and once they are, you are done!! That easy and so good! Fat free too!

Chicken Parmesan Pasta Toss

I came up with this one as kinda a spin off of chicken Parmesan, which I love!! It is a little quicker and super tasty. Great with fresh Parmesan cheese and garlic bread!



Ingredients: (4 servings)

1/2 box spaghetti
1 (14oz) can petite diced tomatoes
4-6 chicken tenders or 2 chicken breasts, thawed
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
fresh Parmesan to grate on top
salt and pepper to taste

1. Get a big pot of water boiling for the pasta and preheat your oven to 425. You are going to make everything while your pasta cooks so while your water is warming you are going to prep everything else. Lets go!
2. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Take each piece of chicken and toss in bread crumbs until coated and place on cookie sheet. If you are using chicken breasts, you might want to cut them into tender size pieces for quicker cooking. Set your cookie sheet off to the side. You will put your chicken in when your water starts to boil.
3. Next chop your garlic and onion. Open your can of tomatoes.
4. When water is boiling toss in your noodles, put chicken in oven and set timer for 13 minutes. Lets make the sauce.
5. In a non-stick skillet, drizzle a bit of olive oil and get your onions and garlic in the pan. When they have started to soften after a couple of minutes pour in your tomatoes. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes and taste. Add salt and pepper to your liking.
6. When your pasta is done check your chicken to make sure that it is done. Drain your noodles and toss into your sauce. Toss to coat. Pull your chicken out and cut into thinish slices. To plate : first pasta and sauce then grate some fresh Parmesan, and top with sliced chicken! SO GOOD! Serve up with steamed broccoli or a side salad and garlic bread. YUM!

Brownie Cheesecake Pie

This is the best of both worlds! Cheese cake and Brownies with a chocolate crust and fudge topping, yes please!! I promise people, you can eat good, I mean really good, I still eat low fat! Read and be amazed! Oh, I promise this won't last long at your house :)




Ok, there are three parts to this baby. Not hard to make but you do want to make this in the morning because it takes hours to cool so unless you don't mind eating dessert at midnight, make it in the morning or afternoon.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chocolate Graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted tub butter, I use yogurt based tub butter
8 oz. fat free cream cheese
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 egg whites, beaten
Pillsbury brownie mix (this is the best when you are making brownies low fat from a mix. The other mixes don't turn out, believe me I have tried :)
OR homemade brownies *Recipe at bottom

1. OK, lets put the crust together. Mix your crushed graham crackers, sugar and butter in a bowl and mix with hands until all moist. Press into a greased pie dish. Set aside. Cheesecake time :)
2. Put cream cheese in bowl and mix with hand mixer until nice and smooth. NO LUMPS! Then add the sugar, vanilla, and egg whites. Set aside. Brownie time :)
3. Mix up your brownie mix substituting egg whites for eggs and applesauce for oil. Or make the homemade brownies*.
4. Grab your pie dish with crust. Pour half your brownie mix (about 1 cup) into prepared crust. Carefully pour/drizzle your cream cheese mixture evenly over brownies. You may need to use a spoon or rubber scraper to get it out to the edges.
Pour the rest of your brownie over the top and put it into a 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. Just check it with a toothpick. LET IT COOL! I know it will be hard, but let it cook and get nice and fudgy :)

*If you want a chocolate drizzle over top you can use chocolate sauce or make a quick ganache by melting 1 cup chocolate chips with 1/3-1/2)cup fat free half and half over low heat(depending how thin you want your sauce). Drizzle and enjoy!

* Homemade brownies (Hershey Recipe, altered by me:)
1. Mix 1/2 cup applesauce, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 3 egg whites together. Add in 1/2 flour or whole wheat pastry flour, 1/3 cup cocoa 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bake as directed for above recipe or for an 8x8 pan of brownies bake for 16-20 minutes in a greased pan at 350.

Pork Chops with Maple-Apple Glaze

I am always nervous to overcook pork chops but these turned out great! Tons of flavor, a couple of ingredients and low in fat! Quick and prefect for any weeknight meal!


Ingredients:

1/4 maple syrup
1/4 cup apple butter
1 tablespoon ground mustard or spicy mustard
4 pork loin chops
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a small saucepan mix syrup, apple butter and mustard. Cook over low heat about a minute, stirring occasionally, until blended.
2. Sprinkle pork with salt, pepper and garlic. Brush one side with glaze. Place glazed side down on a skillet over medium heat. You don't want the pan too hot or it will cook the out side of your chops and the middle won't be done. So heat to medium! Brush glaze on top side and cover pan with lid. Cook 8-10 minutes and turn to cook other side. Cook for 8-10 more minutes. You can glaze as much as you want. I like it very saucy so I used lots of glaze. Keeping a lid on also keeps in moisture for a NOT dried out chop.
3. After your chops are cooked take out of pan and place on plates. There will be extra sauce that you can spoon over your cooked pork! All done! So good, enjoy!

* This dinner is great with baked apples. All you have to do is slice 3-4 apples and toss with a little cinnamon and sugar. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Cook for 20 minutes at 425 and done! So good!

* Along with apples, add a salad, steamed carrots, or steamed broccoli to finish! I made biscuits too!