Tasty Tuesday: Bubble Up Enchiladas

This recipe has been passed around Pinterest, but I was completely sold when I heard Ashley raving about it on Twitter. I was floored to find out that it’s a Weight Watchers recipe, because it’s delicious for being reasonably healthy.

Bubble Up Enchiladas



Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 can reduced fat refrigerator biscuits
1 1/2 cups shredded low fat Mexican Cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brown turkey and drain if needed.
3. Add can of enchilada sauce and can of tomato sauce and stir into meat mixture.
4. Cut the refrigerated biscuits into fourths and stir them in the meat mixture.
5. Grease 9x13 casserole pan add the mixture.
6. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Yields 6 servings. WW P+: 8 per serving

File this under easy weeknight meal, because it’s simple and sure to please everyone.

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday – Biggest Loser Enchilada Chicken

I decided to whip out the old Biggest Loser cookbook in search of the perfect, healthy chicken recipe. It was tender and full of flavor, which some healthy recipes lack. This one hit the mark without a doubt and I’ll definitely be making this again.



Ingredients:
4 (4-ounce) trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons salt-free Mexican or Southwest seasoning (I couldn’t find this, so I used one from Emril that unfortunately wasn’t salt-free)
Olive oil spray
4 tablespoons medium, mild, or hot enchilada sauce
2 ounces (1 cup) finely shredded Cabot's 75% Light Cheddar Cheese (any brand will do)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Season each chicken breast evenly on all sides with the seasoning.
Place a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over high heat (I used a regular pan and transferred it to a baking sheet).
When hot, lightly mist with the olive oil spray and add the chicken.
Cook, turning once, for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or just until the chicken is golden brown on the outside.

Remove the pan from the heat and top each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of the enchilada sauce, followed by one-fourth of the cheese and one-fourth of the cilantro. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside and the cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings

Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday – Cola Chicken

This is a Weight Watchers recipe and so delicious. I got it a long time ago from a co-worker. It’s quick and very easy.

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 cup ketchup
1 can diet soda (I used Diet Dr. Pepper)

Directions:
1. Put chicken in non-stick skillet
2. Pour ketchup and diet cola over the top
3. Bring to boil
4. Cover, reduce heat and cook for 45 minutes
5. Uncover, turn up the heat and continue to cook until the sauce becomes thick and adheres to the chicken

It turns into the most incredible BBQ sauce and it's only 4 points per serving.



I served this with broccoli in cheese sauce (Green Giant) and polenta.

Enjoy!

Good night

I have a cold that I’ve been fighting since the weekend and so far the cold is winning. On the bright side, there is nothing like a mid-week ladies night to lift your spirits! Colleen came down tonight for pizza and pedicures. We went to our favorite spot, Alfredo’s for dinner and then went to the nail salon for pedicures (I got a mani too). There was a bridal party at the nail place and they were so cute. They brought in lots of food and wine and we’re playing party music in the salon. I felt like I was in the club, but we had a nice time. It was so relaxing and just what I needed (my favorite part is the massage and hot towels). I love catching up on girl time with Coll we always have a blast. I love that girl!



In other news and as of this morning, I am down 14.8 pounds over the past 10 weeks. I don’t talk about it much on here, because I don’t want to make a big deal of it. I thought I would post it to keep myself accountable and stay on track. I still have a long way to go, but I’m proud of what I’ve done so far. Maybe I’ll post another update at 20 weeks…

Tasty Tuesday – Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf

Last week, I made a recipe from the Biggest Loser cookbook. It was Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf and it was tasty! I added a little extra hot sauce to spice it up and give it a bit more flavor. It thought it turned out really well.



Ingredients:
Olive Oil Spray
2/3 c. Old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. Fat-free milk
2 1/2 Tbsp buffalo wing sauce, or more to taste
1 pound extra-lean, ground chicken breast
1/2 c. Finely chopped celery
1/4 c. Shredded carrot
1/4 c. Finely chopped sweet onion
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp. salt
2 oz. Crumbled reduced-fat blue cheese

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 9x5 loaf pan with olive oil spray (I use my misto for this).
2. Combine the oats and milk in a medium mixing bowl and stir to mix. Let standfor 3 minutes, or until the oats begin to soften.
3. Stir in the wing sauce until well mixed.
4. Add the chicken, celery, carrot, onion, egg whites and salt. With a fork orclean hands, mix the ingredients well.
5. Add the blue cheese and gently mix to combine.
6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread so that the top is flat. Bakefor 35 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through and nolonger pink. Cut into 8 slices and serve immediately.



I didn’t have a loaf pan, so I formed it the best I could with a baking pan. It was very filling and even with my mom over for dinner, we had plenty of leftovers.

Makes 4 servings

Per serving: 263 calories, 6 g fat, 74 mg cholesterol, 485 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 35 g protein.

Enjoy!

Thursday tidbits

I bought The Shred at Target on Monday and did it on Tuesday night for the first time. Jillian is no joke. I cannot imagine what Levels 2 and 3 will be like.

Gwen knows that I’ve been getting back into working out and just trying to be healthier. She sent me this sweet surprise in the mail with a card saying how I could use this for my gym stuff (keys, phone, etc.). It is perfect!



I saw on the news that Snooki from Jersey Shore got a makeover for a photo shoot. She looks so different.



We may be getting punched with another massive snowstorm over the weekend. I can’t take anymore!

Weekend recap

Friday was really chill. It’s been a long week and I needed a night of peace and quiet. I worked pretty late and then Geof and I just stayed in and relaxed.

Saturday, I taught skating and then Geof and I ran to Macy’s so I could take a peek at the new Lilly Pulitzer line at MAC. I looked at the colors online and heard great things about the Pearlmatte Face Powder. I think it will be a nice color for the rest of winter and will give me a nice glow. I also ended up getting the Lipgelée in Resort Life. It’s kind of nude with a light pink pearl shimmer. After Macy’s, we went to Planet Fitness and signed up. They seem to be popping up all over the place around us. We finally came home and had another relaxing night. My mom stopped over and Geof made burgers for us on the Foreman. Later I caught up on Grey’s Anatomy and Jersey Shore. Is it just me or is Grey’s getting a little boring?


New MAC goodies

Sunday, Geof and I went to Qdoba for lunch and then to the movies to see Daybreakers. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I really liked it. It’s definitely not anything like Twilight. Think of it more as a horror vamp movie. After the movie we came home and watched the Jets/Chargers game and then the Golden Globes.

Think pink!

October is a special time, not only because it’s my favorite month of the season or my anniversary. It is also Breast Cancer Awareness month and many companies come together to offer special items with a portion of the proceeds donated to charities that help fund research towards a cure or help patients coping with Breast Cancer.

Here are some items that I think are wonderful and donate a portion of the profits to charity:

Scout Original Dean-O Pink Gingham for Breast Cancer Awareness Tote from The Preppy Princess - $32

30% of the amount will be donated to raise breast cancer awareness

Carousel Cakes Pink Velvet Cake - $41.95

$2.00 per cake will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I have tried this cake before and it is delicious. Their traditional Red Velvet cake made the Oprah list a few years ago.

Coach Multi Floral Scarf - $38

20% of the retail proceeds from sales of this product in the month of October, 2009 will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Sonia Kashuk BCRF Brush Up on Pink 4-pc. Purse Set - $12.99

15% of the purchase price of this item going to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Conair Breast Cancer Awareness 1" Straightener - $19.99

$1 from each sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Clinique Limited-edition trio of Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 minis on a keychain - $18.50

$10 from each sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Zoe & Morgan Silver Swallow Pink Sapphire Necklace - $178.20

20% of each sale goes to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection Blush Pink Creamy Lip Color & Pink Crystal Glitter Lip Balm - $55

Bobbi Brown is contributing $35,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom Perfume - $55/1.7oz.

DKNY will make a donation of $15000 in connection with the sales of the DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Zak Nesting Bowls - $32/4

10% of sales go to the Continuum Cancer Centers of New York

OPI Pink of All Hearts Nail Polish - $7

OPI is donating $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure

I also like to buy Yoplait Yogurt during this time so that the lids can be saved and mailed in. Each lid counts for $0.10 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Weekend & Easter recap

On Friday, hubby and I had to get our taxes done. We’ve been procrastinating big time this year and finally got around to it. We had a 6:00pm appointment with H&R Block, got right in and were out of there by 7:00pm. That is great service if I do say so myself. Our tax professional was a nice lady who has been doing taxes over 15 years. I felt really comfortable with her and we will be going back to her next year. After taxes, we stopped at the pet store and they had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy that looked just like Chase. We had to play with him. Two dogs are all we can handle, so I don’t know why I even tempt myself. I also promised myself that after all of the negative press, I will never get another puppy from a pet store since most of them, if not all, come from puppy mills.

After we finished filing our taxes, we were off to dinner. We wanted to try a new place because we get sick of the same thing all the time, so we went to a restaurant called The Newtown Grill. It was honestly one of the best meals I have had in a long time and we had an excellent waiter. The restaurant is really nice, has a great atmosphere and we really enjoyed ourselves. For an appetizer we had cheese steak spring rolls and for dinner I had gorgonzola gnocchi and hubby had an aged New York strip steak with mashed potatoes. I also had a really great glass of Chardonnay from Pine & Post. I’m going to have to look for it next time I go to the wine store. After dinner, we went to the movies to see I Love You, Man. It was so funny and had me laughing out loud. I think Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are hysterical!

On Saturday, I taught skating and it went well. Now that the show is over, it is smooth sailing. I only have one week left and then I am on break until we start up next fall. One of the mothers of my students was so sweet and brought me a pot of gerbera daisies. I love them and think they’re so pretty. After skating, I came home and relaxed with hubby and the dogs. He made Fiesta Turkey Mini Tostadas out of The Biggest Loser Cookbook. It was delicious and really healthy. We watched The House Bunny, which I thought was cute and hubby thought was a “paint-by-numbers” teen comedy. We also played some Rock Band 2 and had an overall nice and relaxing night at home.

On Sunday, my mom gave hubby and me an Easter basket full of goodies. She orders homemade eggs from a lady that she goes to church with. They come with either butter cream or peanut butter filling and I look forward to them all year. After a quick sugar rush, we went to my aunt and uncle’s house for Easter, watched the kids have an egg hunt and had a great dinner full of ham, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, pineapple casserole, salad, corn, rolls, etc. After being fully stuffed we called it a day and I am home now relaxing with hubby and the dogs.

Our Easter basket

Me with 2 of my cousins. They're 2 of 3 of the triplets! 2 girls and 1 boy. I love these kids.

My baby cousin, Avery

The happy couple!

New favorite food finds

South Beach Living Fiber Fit S'mores bars

If you like chocolate, marshmallow and graham - this is the bar for you! It is so delicious and filling. It has 9 grams of fiber per bar and is only 2 Weight Watchers points. They hardly had any left on the shelf when I went. I was able to snag the last 2 boxes. This is a great snack for when I'm craving something sweet and need that feeling of being full.

Silk Soymilk Chocolate flavor in single-serve boxes


I bought a case of these at BJ's and cannot believe the rich chocolate taste. It's very satisfying and delicious. This would make a perfect afternoon snack and it reminds me of Yoo-hoo. One of these is 3 Weight Watchers points.

Weekend recap

Friday, Geof and I went to Alfredo’s for pizza to treat ourselves since we had been good all week. They have some of the best pizza around. We had mushroom as the topping and it was yummy. After dinner, we met up with our friends Merrick and Jill for some bowling. They had two of their other friends come along and we had a nice time. It was “glow bowling” night, so they had the blacklights on and the music pumping. I’m a terrible bowler, but I have so much fun being silly when I go. After bowling, we went to Barnaby’s (a.k.a. our favorite watering hole) for some drinks and met up with more friends. I met some nice people and we had a great night. My only regret was that I got home way later than I wanted to.


Me after I got my one and only strike of the night!

Saturday was the ice show and it went better than I could have even imagined. I got nervous because the practice before the show went a little longer than expected and I didn’t think we would start on time. Everything worked out, the kids did great, we had no technical issues with the music or announcements and I could tell the kids were really proud of themselves. We received many compliments on how well the show was put together from parents and guests. I felt so accomplished and relieved! I have been stressed over this for weeks. After the show, my mom, Geof and I went to Applebee’s and then my mom came over and we watched Sex and the City the movie. It was very nice to relax after such a long day.


Some of our students...so cute!


Rachel who I've taught since she was 11. She is graduating high school this year!

Sunday, our friend Cory and his girlfriend Laura came over and we all played Rock Band. I have finally figured out how to get somewhat coordinated to play the guitar. At last I can enjoy this game like the rest of the world. Now I can see why Geof spends hours in the man cave playing it. After our Rock Band extravaganza, I made BBQ Bacon Meatloaf out of our Biggest Loser cookbook. It was good, but I think it could have used a little more BBQ sauce.


Sunday night dinner

I got on the scale this morning and I was up 3 pounds from my 7 pound loss last week, which means I am still down 4. That is the optimistic side that I’m trying to view it from anyway. I think I may have overdone it some my first week and am trying to take it slow and steady. My goal this week is to lose 2 pounds, but I will be happy with even 1. I am still going to keep eating healthy, go to the gym and use Friday as my little reward/treat day.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a wonderful week!

Healthy BLT Burgers

First, sorry I have been blog M.I.A. the past few days. I have been so busy and got behind in all of my posting and reading. I’m trying to catch up as much as I can tonight!

Geof made BLT Burgers for us last night for dinner. We found the recipe in our new Biggest Loser Cookbook. It was so full of flavor and delicious! I was pleasantly surprised. He made the entire recipe which is 4 servings and we both brought the leftovers to work for lunch today.

Here is the recipe:

Though you might be tempted to try to save money by buying 93% lean ground beef instead of 96% lean, don’t. Though they don’t sound very different, 93% lean has almost twice the fat of 96%. One 4-ounce serving of 93% lean has about 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. The 96% lean has 150 calories and only 4 1/2 grams of fat.

Makes 4 servings

4 strips extra-lean turkey bacon, each cut in half

1 pound 96% lean ground beef

4 whole grain or whole wheat hamburger buns, split (we used WW whole wheat buns)

1 cup chopped fresh spinach leaves

4 large or 8 to 12 small thin tomato slices

4 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise

Preheat a grill to high heat.

Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon strips. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until crisp. Remove from the pan and cover to keep warm.

Divide the beef into 4 equal portions and shape into balls, packing them tightly as you do. Press each into a patty that is about 1⁄2" larger than the diameter of the buns.

Grill the burgers for about 2 minutes per side for medium rare, or until desired doneness (do not smash the burgers with a spatula). Place the bun halves, cut sides down, on the upper grill rack or away from direct flame until toasted, about 20 seconds.

Place each toasted bun bottom on a plate. Top with the spinach, tomato, patties, then 2 pieces of bacon each. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise evenly on each bun top, flip atop the patties, and serve.

Nutrition at a GlancePer serving: 295 calories, 29 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 70 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 547 mg sodium

In other news, I lost 7 pounds last week! I cannot believe it. I know the first week is always the biggest, but it is definitely motivating me to keep it up. I'll be very happy to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week.

Zumba!

My friend and co-worker, Meghan convinced me to go with her to a workout class this evening and it was good. It is called “Zumba” and it’s described as a fitness program that is inspired by Latin dance. We did the Salsa, Samba, Cha Cha and many other Latin dance moves. I haven’t been to a class in a long time and this was perfect for me. It was a little over an hour long and we didn’t stop moving the entire time. My heart rate was definitely up for most of the class. The instructor was great and very motivating. I like taking classes like this because I don’t get bored and the time flies. We would learn about 2-4 combinations per song and then put them to work with the music. I am sure that I looked like a fool for some of it, but it was fun.

I left feeling energized and wonderful. If this class if offered at your gym, fitness studio, etc., I highly recommend it. I am going to try and go on a more regular basis.