Dinner and Dessert!

Josh and I recently decided to start trying new recipes about once per week.  So I've decided to fill you in on our exciting adventures!  This week I got to try out "tenderizing chicken" to flatten it out.  I felt a little like I was killing the chicken a second time, but it did flatten out as desired.  We made a pizza stuffed chicken breast, and it was even better than I thought it would be.  First, I flattened the chicken out until it seemed like it would be able to be rolled up.  The stuffing was basically pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and seasoning!  Roll it up and bake it!  Add a few pepperoni and a little cheese to the top for some extra zest!

 I did put the pepperoni on before baking, but I'd recommend adding the sprinkle of cheese on top at the end.

 For dessert we tried a pumpkin mousse!  I was a little unsure about this recipe as it requires a heap of greek yogurt which I wasn't to sure I would like with the pumpkin.  It's a mix of greek yogurt, pumpkin, sugar free pudding mix, splenda, and skim milk!  Delicious with a bit of lite whip cream and shortbread cookies on top.  It is also very protein filled, so it's a great dessert when you need the extra protein and not so many carbs!

Dinner is served!  

We paired a lettuce salad with the chicken breast since I wanted to also try a healthy ranch dressing recipe!  Greek yogurt, dry ranch mix, and skim milk.  The flavor was definitely very good, but I need to figure a way to thicken it up a bit without getting to much greek yogurt flavor.  This is something I'm going to have to ponder.  Let me know if you all have any ideas! 

The lighting isn't great for this photo, but the chicken was outstanding!!

Once again, bad picture, good food!

Stuffed with protein and goodness!  Delectable dinner!

Trying Something New

Do you ever have one of those moments when you realize that the way you have always done things is just not working?  About a month ago I finally realized that the "healthy choices" I was making in my food choices combined with my workout regime was just not working.  I continued to gain and lose the same 10 pounds over and over.  In my frustration, I decided to download an iphone app called MyFitnessPal.  This little app has changed so much for me.  For all of my interest in diet and exercise, I truly had no idea how many calories were in even the little things I was eating.  The continuous revelations have led me to making some changes in the way I cook.  One being that I had to find some way to still be able to eat dessert and not feel like diabetes and heart disease were setting in the second I took one bite.  So for Easter, I decided to try a few new ideas.

 First we have a low calorie/low sugar frosting!  Goodbye butter and powdered sugar!  This creamy light frosting is to die for and not so bad for you.  Combine 1 small box of sugar free pudding, 1 16 oz container of cool whip, and 1 cup of skim milk and enjoy!  Add the pudding to the milk slowly, mixing the whole time to avoid lumps and then fold in the cool whip!  I got this idea from another blog I read called The Dashing Dish.  She has so many great ideas for "fixing" the health problems in traditional cooking.  

 Next I made a pineapple cake.  Mix one box of cake mix with 1 can of pineapple and some almond extract and bake.  No oil, no eggs.  This cake was one of the most moist cakes I have ever tasted.  Topped with some of that creamy frosting, it was delicious!  

 Who doesn't love a red velvet cupcake?  Combine one box of red velvet cake mix with 1 can of diet Dr. Pepper and bake.  I topped these with the same frosting, and it was a hit!

 And then...my first attempt at making homemade hummus.  I have intended to try this for so long.  2 cans of chickpeas, a little tahini, cumin, garlic, basil, ice water, salt, and olive oil.  Blend and blend and blend and blend and blend.  I thought my blender was going to go up in smoke!  

 Finally, I had something to show for it.

 It was not so very difficult.  However, I have a few recommendations for anyone going down this road.  First, use real garlic, not garlic powder.  Don't be afraid to use more water than the recipe states is needed.  Keep the salt handy, and there is a difference between plain cumin and ground cumin!      

Hummus is a great replacement for those of us who feel the need to dip everything we eat.  Also, you can find it in the store if you don't want to take the time to make it.  I hope this can inspire you all to make a few little changes where you can without sacrificing flavor!

Apple Pie Chai

It's difficult to figure a topic for a first post.  I feel like it should be something sensational and memorable, but I can't seem to think of a thing.  So, I'm just going to reflect on my current situation.  I sit pleasantly content on an unusually soft coffee house couch watching the downtown "rush hour" traffic pass by.  I just accomplished another successful day at the surgery office I just started working at and am waiting for 6:30 to roll around so I can hit up my local Bible Study and head home.  So 3030 Coffee it is.  I survey the menu and decide to try something new.  Alas, I have something sensational to write about.  The delicious cup of iced apple pie chai I have just acquired.  It's a light mix of Christmas and Spring all in one.  You'll notice a light hint of cinnamon and a touch of sweet apples.  Makes me want to close my eyes and sink into  peaceful dreams of picking apples and watching a bright blue sky pass by.  Stress and tension of a long day quickly melt away.  I am a child again with nothing better to do than sip a sweet glass of apple pie chai.