Leftovers Inspiration: Buffalo Pizza

Homemade pizza dinner instead of ordering in!  Much quicker then delivery, much healthier and without the guilt the next day...

Use what you have!  I had leftover homemade buffalo hummus, the 5 grain flax flatbread leftover and was craving pizza so I added the hummus to the flatbread, sprinkled some part-skim mozzarella cheese and a few dashes of buffalo hot sauce.  YUM!

It's so weird, years ago I didn't even like pizza, now I am pizza obsessed!  At least there are healthy alternatives.

Cut Costs & Cut Calories, Coffee Style

In today's economy I think most people are trying to find more and more ways to cut every day expenses.  With doing this we still want to be able to enjoy things that we love though.  We can't give up everything or life wouldn't be as enjoyable.  For me my favorite cost is Starbucks coffee.  It's something that immediately brightens my day.  As much as I know I could do without and I do do without it when it just can't fit it into my budget on certain tight months/weeks, sometimes you just need to have it.

"Coffee makes it possible to get out of bed, but chocolate makes it worthwhile."

My usual drink is a Grande Non-Fat Mocha (only one pump, no whip), this is the basic mixture of espresso and chocolate, two of my favorite things.  The normal grande size has four pumps of mocha (all flavored espresso drinks have four pumps at a grande size), but to cut calories I only get one because it's just enough to taste the mocha without it being overbearing.  Sometimes too much chocolate is too much, believe it or not.  You can do without all the pumps in all of their drinks if your thinking about your waistline.

A way to cut calories and also cost is to make your own espresso drink, but still with the taste of Starbucks signature espresso.  If you have a espresso machine, like I do, just purchase Starbucks espresso beans, but even with having a maker I rarely actually make it myself.  It's just easier and for me faster to just stop in the Starbucks I pass daily.  But I more recently found something for the Keurig that you can put in your own espresso beans, grounded already.  It's called a reuseable filter, check your local Kitchen product stores.  This is much easier and faster then using an espresso machine.  So purchase your favorite espresso beans, whether it's Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or wherever and enjoy brewed espresso from your home!

Today I decided to save some cash and instead of ordering my normal hot drink at Starbucks I made a hot chocolate k-cup at home with my Keurig.  This is made with water obviously so the lack of milk will save quite a bit of calories.  This is my substitute for the chocolate flavor.  Then I made an espresso k-cup with my Keurig, mixed them together, added a little cinnammon and creamer.  It was my very own Mocha.  Granted it's not completely the same and I will still enjoy my normal drink from Starbucks when I can, but it's good to know of other options.

Grande Mocha - $4.33

2 K-Cups & Creamer - About $1.60

That is $2.73 of savings per day!

Also, at the coffee shops they have great smelling fresh baked goods that may be hard to pass up.  By not being around them you could possibly save on unneeded calories!  Make something or grab a healthy breakfast bar from home.

My Very First Homemade Hummus

And it surely won't be my last!

Quick, easy, delicious homemade Buffalo Hummus.

I am never buying hummus again!  I will forever make it from now on.  Making hummus homemade helps you skip from consuming all the added preservatives that is in store bought.  It's fresh and you know what your eating without any questions.  All homemade hummus will have one main ingredient, CHICKPEAS!  Chickpeas are high in protein, fiber and other good nutrients.

This recipe was just a few ingredients.  It is made up of 1 can of chickpeas, about 3 tablespoons of buffalo hot sauce, 3 garlic cloves, a few dashes of cumin, some garlic powder, a couple splashes of olive oil and a little bit of water.  Blend them all together in a food processor and you have hummus!

Hummus is something you can easily make in a lot of different flavors.  Always use a can of chickpeas, some sort of liquid and whatever else you like!  You can make it your own and it tastes much better than store bought.

Healthy Sun-Day

Weekends make it tough sometimes to stay active and eat healthy especially for me, but since I have started to really make it a part of my lifestyle it's much easier.  I seem to have better control too.  I went grocery shopping last night and got a lot of healthy and clean eating items.  It's weird but I actually crave healthier foods now instead of the fattening foods filled with nothing good for your body.  At Wegman's last night I was surrounded by bagels, donuts and very sugary muffins, but I choose a multi-grain carrot and apple muffin.  Eating that and a cup of skim milk was a great way to start my Sunday.

I also bought some flatbreads at Wegman's which I have never seen before at Shoprite.  The brand is "Flatout".  They are only 90 calories, 5 grain flax, great source of fiber and 53% fewer net carbs.  They are small flatbreads that are a good shape so they can also be folded in half for sandwiches or panini making.  I highly recommend them.

After relaxing at home for a bit I decided to venture out, get some coffee and drive around looking at new hiking places.  I ended up stopping at the local farm to pick up a tomato so I could use it for my lunch.  Local produce is fresher, less likely to be contaminated, tastes better and helps support your local farmers.  Having farms close by is a huge plus, not only because of the fresh food, but also it's a great atmosphere.  I got to get some sun and see some animals that brightened my day...

The duck and roaster were both very vocal and cute.  The roaster was actually waking everybody up in this picture haha.  I also saw lots of goats, bunnies and an adorable pig.

The tomato I got at the farm was perfect for my flatbread pizza I made for lunch.  I put little bit of olive oil on the bread, added slices of fresh tomato instead of tomato sauce and then sprinkled some dried basil and part skim mozzarella cheese.  Delic!  Notice the shape I was talking about...

I headed to Shoprite after the farm because I forgot to get water last night.  I got a mini work out in by carrying the water to the car and up two flights of stairs.  Every little bit counts!  :) 

Have a happy healthy Sunday everyone!

Good Choices - Smoothies

Instead of ice cream last night I decided to have something similar that would feed my craving, but that was healthy and had a lot of good things for my body in it.  I posted about this last year when it started to get warmer out, but now I finally got a smoothie drink holder so I can travel with it and not just drink it at home.  This has 1 cup of skim milk, a bag of the frozen Yoplait smoothie mix and a touch of water.  Remember they are located in the frozen desserts section at the grocery store and there are many flavors to choose from.  There are a couple new flavors this year:  Greek Mixed Berry, Greek Strawberry Banana Orange & Chocolate Strawberry in addition to Chocolate Banana (pictured), Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple & Blueberry Pomegranate.  There's a smoothie for everyone!

Other things that could be added to them to make it your own are: fat free peanut butter for some more protein or protein powder, brewed coffee for an on the go breakfast, any additional fruit of your choice or Nutella for a treat.  You could also use less milk and more water to have it be an even lighter drink.  With the skim milk it is 130 calories a serving or about 280-300 calories for the whole blended mixture.  I think next time I want to try less milk, maybe 3/4 cup and then 1/4 cup of water instead or I may add just a 1/2 cup of milk and a 1/2 cup of brewed espresso so I can save some money on my morning coffee! :)

Friday Night Pasta

Simple.  Easy.  Delicious.  Healthy.

What more could you want?

This pasta dish is made up of just a couple ingredients that mostly everyone has at home.  Whole wheat pasta, olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, pepper and a little bit of grated parmesan cheese.  Watch your portion control, skip the bread and ENJOY!

Stuffed Peppers

The recipe calls for:

4 peppers

1/2 lb ground turkey, cooked

2 cups rice

1 can black beans

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 cup onion, chopped/cooked

1 tbs taco seasoning

1 15 oz jar of salsa

cooking spray

-- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

-- Cut the peppers in half and cut out the insides.  Disregard.  Spray cooking oil on both sides of the peppers, place in a baking dish and cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

-- In a large bowl mix together the turkey meat, rice, black beans, corn, onion, taco seasoning and the salsa.

-- Spoon the mixture into each pepper halve.

-- Bake in the oven for another 15 minutes.

The toppings I used were avocado and light sour cream, but cheddar cheese, cilantro and even some shredded lettuce are other good choices.  In you want to sprinkle some cheese on them bake the peppers for a little longer until the cheese melts.

These stuffed peppers are very healthy, filling and a good source of fiber, protein and vegetables.  I had some mixture left so I made some healthy whole wheat tortilla tacos.  Great leftovers for the next day!

Wow, My Day Is Made!

Bethenny Frankel is such an inspiration to me and I am a huge fan.  Seeing her reply to one of my tweets is amazing to me.  Thank you to her!  Having famous chef Fabio and Foodie Nick reply to tweets and even do an interview with me is one thing, but this is a dream.  So happy today, life is good.  Keeping positive thoughts.

Easter Deviled Egg Dip

Wondering what to do with all those colored hard boiled eggs the kids made?  Try this recipe out!

This isn't the healthiest recipe, but it's nice for a treat.  Sometimes you need to slurge a little and what better time then on a holiday, Easter being a perfect one since it's an egg dish.  I served it with mult-grain pita chips.

The recipe calls for:
1 dozen eggs
1 cup light mayo
1 tbs yellow mustard
2 tbs white vinegar
salt & pepper
paprika

--  Fill a pot with water so that the eggs are covered about an inch.  Add the vinegar.  Once the water is brought to a boil remove the pot from heat, cover and let sit for 15 minutes.  Run the eggs under cold water for awhile and then peel them.
-- Cut the eggs in half.  Put all but one half of each egg white into a food processor.  The other egg white half place into a bowl.
-- In the food processor blend the eggs, mayo and mustard.  Add salt and pepper.  Blend again and put the dip into a bowl.
-- Chop up the bowl of egg whites.  Add them to the dip and mix.
-- Top the dip with a sprinkle of paprika.

Creamy Avocado Sauce

The recipe calls for:

1 box of whole wheat pasta

1 larger sized avocado

1/2 of a lemon, the juice only

3 tbs olive oil

4 garlic cloves

salt & pepper

-- Bring water to a boil and cook the pasta per the box.  Approximately 8 minutes.

-- In a food processor blend the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic cloves.  I used a chopper because that's all I have.

-- Add the avocado and some salt to the food processor.  Blend until smooth and creamy.

-- Pour on top of the pasta, mix well and top with some pepper.

-- Serve immediately.

Other options for this recipe can be to add 1/4 cup of fresh basil to the food processor.  I love basil, but wanted to leave it out this time because my fiance it's a fan.  Next time I will definitely add the basil and serve this sauce over some healthy spaghetti squash instead of pasta.

Avocado doesn't reheat well so it's best to eat it fresh the day of making the recipe.

Little Things That Make A Difference

-- Do 50 jumping jacks before showering.
-- Wear a cute/comfortable outfit.
-- Eat breakfast.
-- Park farther away.
-- Bring your lunch instead of going out.
-- Take a couple 5 minute breaks for yourself.
-- Go for a walk before dinner.
-- Do something that makes you happy.

Leftovers Inspiration: A Different Kind Of Coleslaw

The recipe calls for:
10 oz coleslaw mix
1/4 cup jalapeño ranch dressing
2 tbsp taco sauce
few dashes of chili powder
few dashes of cumin
few dashes of garlic powder
dash of lime juice
dash of salt & pepper

-- Combine all the items for the dressing and then mix it well with the coleslaw mix.

Super easy and very tasty!








The only unhealthy part of this is the ranch dressing, but it's a great vegetable side dish and fun for summer BBQ's.  You could also use light dressing or 1/3 cup if you don't mind coleslaw with a little less dressing.

Jalapeño ranch dressing is hard to find, but you could use light ranch and then add cut up jalapeños which would be just as good.  I just used what I have so you can do the same and make it your own.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad

The recipe calls for:
1 thick chicken breast
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
salt
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, plus some for garnish
4 green onions, chopped

-- Cook the chicken however you like.  You can cut it up into cubes and cook it in a pan or you can do what I did.  I boiled the chicken for 30 mins and then shredded it.
-- Bring the water and quinoa to a boil then put it on low, cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes.
-- Whisk together the hot sauce, olive oil and some salt to make a sauce.
-- Cook the broccoli in pan with some olive oil for about 5 minutes.  You want the broccoli to soften a little, but still have some crunch to it.  Add the shredded chicken to the pan with 1/2 of the sauce.  Let the chicken soak up the sauce.
-- In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the quinoa with the chicken, broccoli and sauce mixture.  Add the carrots, cabbage, most of the onion, blue cheese and the rest of the sauce together.
-- Sprinkle the top of the dish with some onion and blue cheese crumbled.

Seriously, UH-MAZING!!!

My Basil Obsession Continues

You can go to an italian restaurant without the guilt!  I am a tomato fan, a mozzarella cheese fan and a huge basil fan.  I eat these thing sometimes at home separately and together, but never thought to order something like this when I am out to eat.  Usually when I am out to eat I don't think about calories and I just like to enjoy myself on a cheat day, but instead of getting a plain garden salad all the time that is high in bad fat because of all the ranch dressing I switched it up.  At the Macaroni Grill I saw a caprese salad on the pantry section of their menu.  It cost more then your normal side salad, but I just had to have it.

It was amazing!  So many good flavors, a lot of healthy vegetables and surprisingly filling.  Caprese salads are definitely something I will keep in mind when I am out at restaurants deciding what to eat.  This salad didn't just have your typical tomato, mozzarella cheese and basil, but it also had onions and a vegetable that I am not sure what it was.  It might've been a turnips or something along those lines, whatever it was it was delicious!

That inspired THIS...

Caprese Salad Pizza

The recipe calls for:
whole wheat pie crust
2/3 cup fresh mozzarella, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
2 cups fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

-- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
-- Blanch the basil leaves for 10 seconds in hot water and then immediately cool in an ice bath.  Squeeze out all the water and put the leave into a blender.
-- Add the oil, salt, pepper and garlic to the blender and blend until smooth.
-- Brush the basil oil on the pie crust, top with the slices of cheese and tomato.
-- Bake for about 10 minutes.

Skinny "Mac & Cheese"

The recipe calls for:
5 1/2 cups spaghetti squash
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 onion, minced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups skim milk
1 cup fat free chicken or vegetable broth
8 oz reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded
4 cups baby spinach
1/8 cups parmesan cheese, grated
salt & pepper, to taste

-- Preheat the oven to 375.
-- Cook the spaghetti squash, see post.
-- Heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes.  Stir in the flour, reduce the heat to low and stir continually for 4 minutes.  Add the milk and broth while whisking continually, raise the heat to medium/high until it starts to boil and become thick and smooth, about 2 minutes.  Season with some salt/pepper.
-- Remove the sauce from the heat once it's thick then add the cheddar cheese until, stir until it is fully melted.
-- Add the cooked spaghetti squash and baby spinach a little at a time while mixing it all together.
-- Pour it all into a baking dish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes.