Easter Egg Nests

Here is a simple recipe for a fun Easter treat.  We are still home trying to do our part to flatten the coronavirus curve.  So we need to fill our time with fun activities.  I mean you have to do something besides argue with your kids, right?  Just kidding.  Maybe.  Anyway....  

This is one we do almost every year, but this year we almost didn't make them.  Last time I was at Walmart I couldn't find the chow mein noodles.  Things just aren't in stock as they normally would be.  But as luck would have it, my daughter found some at the back of our cabinet and they weren't stale.  Good find!  

Easter Egg Nests

Ingredients:

One can or bag of chow mein noodles

One bag of butterscotch chips

Cadbury mini eggs (or jellybeans)

Melt butterscotch chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between.  Once chips are melted, pour in chow mein noodles.  Using two spoons, carefully scoop out mixture and place on wax paper or plastic wrap, creating a nest shape.  While the nests are still melty, place 1-3 eggs on top.  Let set for at least a half hour before eating.

Enjoy!

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Health and Beauty Roundup

Here's a post highlighting my health and beauty favorites.  Scroll down to see what you can make or use today!

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Make Your Own Deodorant

I've been turning to this DIY deodorant for about ten years now.  Think of that.  I've been saving my armpits from aluminum all that time!  It's the only deodorant I've used that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.  Bonus: it works!

Honey-Turmeric Face Mask

This mask is great for moisture and detoxification, especially at this time of year.  Super simple and easy to prepare, this mask won't let you down.

Nice and Spicy Melt and Pour Soap

Click above for an easy DIY project that you can put together in minutes.  This easily customizable project is great for everyday use or unique gifting.  Give it a try!

My Number One Must Have Beauty Product

Click the link above to see my favorite beauty product. This one is not a DIY, but I love it nonetheless.  It's a staple I turn to every day!

9 Practical Uses for Vinegar

This post does not focus specifically on health and beauty, but I'd be remiss to exclude it.  Look at numbers 8 and 9 for ideas on how to treat athlete's foot and sunburn.  This is good stuff!

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Series Page

Make Your Own Laundry Soap

Mom's Meatballs

I'm not what you'd call meatball snob.  I'll eat most any meatball served.  And most meatballs I've had are not bad.  Some have been bad, really bad, but most are decent.  Only three, however, have stood out as top tier meatballs.  One, obviously, is my mom's.  Another is my friend's family recipe.  She won't share it.  It's locked down and buried deep.  So I there's no hope of letting you in on that one!  The other one is a meatball my high school field hockey coach's mom made.  I had it and thought to myself, these are the same as my mom's!  They were an instant winner.

My mom's meatballs are pretty basic.  That's one thing I've learned, though. Your recipes don't need a thousand ingredients to taste good.  Just a few quality ingredients mixed in the right proportions will land you a winner most times.  With all that said, here's the recipe!


Mom's Meatballs

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 or 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (homemade or store bought)
2 eggs
2 half eggshells full of water
handful of parmesan cheese

Mix all ingredients together, adding enough breadcrumbs to make the mixture firm but not dry.  Start with a cup and go up as needed to get the consistency described.  Form into balls, the size of your choosing.  Broil a few minutes, just until browned.*  This is to drain fat, not fully cook the meatball.  Place browned meatballs in red sauce and simmer about 1 hour.

Meatballs can also be browned in the microwave starting at 3 minutes, then checking for doneness.  Once again, this is to drain fat, not fully cook the meat.

The slow cooker can be used to finish your meatballs in sauce, but I don't advise cooking them longer than 4-5 hours on low.  Any longer than that and you'll end up with over-cooked meat that tastes more like canned fare than delicious cuisine.  You don't want that!

Thanks for stopping by.  And as a reminder I'm participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge.


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What I Love About Fall

Some of the best things of the year happen in fall.  It's my favorite season.  Can you blame me?  I live in beautiful New England where we wait for fall all year.  There's apple picking, pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, pumpkin-flavored everything, crisp walks, jumping in the leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving and so much more!

Here's a roundup of some of my favorite activities and recipes that are just perfect for fall.

Brookfield Orchards

One of the things we do to kick off the fall season is a family day at the orchard.  Last year we spent time at a couple orchards, but this one is my favorite.  I buy apples here throughout the season and make many recipes with these tasty local fruits.  Click the link above to read about one of my favorite places of all time.

Apple Recipe Roundup

These recipes are time-tested and family approved.  Try any one of them and you surely won't be disappointed.   I'm always looking for new recipes, so if you have a good apple one you think I'd like, share it in the comment section below.  Healthy recipes are a bonus!  I may even do a recipe review and let you know if I like it!

Pumpkin Roundup

Not long after the apples have appeared pumpkins steal the show.  Unlike my recipes made with fresh apples, most of my pumpkin recipes call for canned.  I do cook with fresh pumpkins as well, but they are much more tedious to deal with than fresh apples.  Typically I start making pumpkin recipes long before we head to the pumpkin patch in mid October.  In fact, I made this bread just the other day!

Carving and decorating pumpkins is also one of our family's favorite traditions.  Here are the one's we made last year.  Can you guess who made each one?

Crochet

Autumn is the perfect time to crochet.  With a slight nip in the air, you can cuddle up with your current project on the couch.  Here's a blanket that works up quickly and easily, and could be done by Christmas with time to spare.  Follow this link so you can see how it's made.  If you've never crocheted before, fall is the perfect time to learn!

Try these for your Thanksgiving Feast!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I think it might be beat out by Christmas, but just barely.  We have some fun Thanksgiving traditions in our family.  Some are typical like turkey and pie.  Others are not so typical, like Bingo.  Everyone in our family has a great time on Thanksgiving!

Here in New England winter rolls around just about the time Thanksgiving finishes up.  Christmas gets me through the cold season and hopes of spring once the new year begins.  But fall in New England will always be my favorite.

Do you have any favorite autumn activities?  A favorite fall recipe to share?  Pumpkin spice or anything nice?  Share it in the comment section below!

Also, today is day two in the Ultimate Blog Challenge!  Check it out!  I think there's still time to join!

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30 Days 30 Recipes
Ultimate Blog Challenge
Ultimate Blog Challenge Facebook Group

30 Days 30 Recipes Wrap-Up

Spaghetti Salad

Deli Crab Salad

Herb-Roasted Green Beans

So, my 30 days have come and gone.  There were some good recipes and some bad recipes.  And I'll be honest, there were some good days and some bad days.  With all that I have going on in my life (don't we all!!), I wanted to quit the challenge on more than one occasion.  Yet, it was important to me to persevere, however small a goal it seemed.  I think holding through to the end taught me some important lessons.

One lesson I learned was that even when life is crazy, people still want to eat good food.  Resorting to take-out or chicken nuggets every now and then is no big deal.  But, using those things as staples is not ideal.  Having this challenge ahead of me urged me to serve a variety of food to my family and I think they, for the most part, really enjoyed it.

I also learned that I'm glad I have stuck to the old Weight Watchers FlexPoint plan.  The newer plans restrict your choices by giving "naughty foods" insanely high point values.  With smart points, sugar is "punished" so harshly that it limits some of my favorite things much more than I would like.  That's not a recipe for success in my book!  And besides, I'm doing just fine with the old plan.

Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff

Easy Tuna Casserole

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Another lesson I learned was not even food related.  It was that follow through is so incredibly rewarding.  At the time of this writing I have two blog followers and a handful of other people who stop by to read.  This was for them.  But it was totally also for me!  I proved that I could do it!  I issued myself a challenge and I completed it.  I've never been one to win the gold medal or first prize trophy.  In high school and college, my coaches were always telling me to reach for my personal best.  That seemed a little silly to me, but I get it.  If I can strive to meet the goals I set for myself while also having grace for my failures, I can become a better version of me.  And this simple recipe challenge helped me do that.  I set a goal and I did it.

Not only did I learn a few lessons, I also got some really great recipes.  I will definitely be adding a good number of these to my regular menu.  The Taco Soup was great.  The simple Deli Crab Salad was far better than I expected.  The Herb-Roasted Green Beans were amazing.  And I never thought I'd enjoy a Pumpkin Butter as much as I did.

I won't list them all now because you can read my reviews by clicking the links, but trust me when I say they were mostly good. 

Either way, I hope you enjoyed this challenge as much as I did.  And I hope it inspires you to challenge yourself to try something you think might be too big or too much for this moment of your busy life.  I bet you can do more than you think.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here often and in especially in October for another blog challenge!!

Taco Soup

Pumpkin Butter

Cauliflower Medley

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Parmesan Chicken Cutlets

Here are all of the recipes I reviewed.  You can click the links from the list, or the links under the pictures in this post.  

30 Days 30 Recipes

All orignial recipes can be found at: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

1. Mandarine Orange Mousse
2. Baked Oatmeal
3. Easy Cheese Lasagna
4. Low Fat Hummus
5. Meatballs
6. Cocoa Krispy Bars
7. Crockpot Sour Cream and Salsa Chicken
8. Teriyaki Chicken
9. Creamed Corn Pancakes
10. Chocolate Chip Cookies
11. Strawberry Pie
12. Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
13. Easy Mac & Cheese
14. Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
15. Honey Mustard Chicken
16. Cauliflower Medley
17. Roasted Red Pepper Dip
18. Peach Cobbler
19. Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff
20. Pumpkin "Pie"
21. Pumpkin Butter
22. Easy Tuna Casserole
23. Herb-Roasted Green Beans
24. Taco Soup
25. Spaghetti Salad
26. Deli Crab Salad
27. Hamburger Stroganoff
28. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
29. Zucchini Sticks
30. Faux Egg McMuffin

Strawberry Pie

Zucchini Sticks

Easy Cheese Lasagna

Faux Egg McMuffin - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 30

Sometimes it's the simple things.

You know, I would have never thought to write a recipe for an egg sandwich.  It's something I make all the time.  I've even made them just as this recipe suggests, so I already knew what to expect....yummy goodness.

I'm not a sweet-eater in the morning.  I prefer eggs, or even leftovers from last night's supper.  So this recipe is a great option for quick and easy morning fare.

I view this recipe as more inspiration than pure instruction.  You can take your own angle on it.  Use Swiss or American cheese.  Use ham or turkey bacon or nothing.  It doesn't matter.  It's all delicious!

On that note, I hope you enjoy this last recipe review in the 30 Days 30 Recipes Challenge!


Find this recipe on page 24: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

Taste Score - 10
Ease of Preparation Score - 10


Faux Egg McMuffin

Ingredients:

1 english muffin
1/4 cup egg beaters
1 slice 2% cheese
1 slice Canadian bacon (optional)

Place an english muffin in the toaster.  Spray a large mug with nonstick spray.  Place Canadian bacon on bottom of mug.  Pour 1/4 cup of egg beaters on top of bacon and microwave 1-1.5 minutes.  Remove from microwave and add cheese.  Once english muffin is toasted, remove and scoop egg, bacon and cheese onto muffin.

Voila!  Egg McMuffin a la home!


Nutrition Information
Serves 1
1 serving =
253 calories
5 grams fat
28 grams carb
2 grams fiber 23 grams protein


Weight Watchers POINTS - 5
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 6
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 7

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30 Days 30 Recipes

Zucchini Sticks - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 29

This recipe is a keeper.  While I don't think the flavor profile is quite perfect, it was a great way to serve zucchini.  Sometimes when it comes to this summer vegetable, I resort to the same old same old.  These zucchini sticks mixed it up just enough.  I ate almost the entire recipe myself for lunch if that says anything!  I do think that I would swap out the chili powder and use paprika like I did in the Parmesan Chicken Cutlets.  I also would probably just coat them in 1 teaspoon of olive oil and not the egg.  Just my two cents.  Those small changes would probably make these just perfect.

The original recipe can be found on page : 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score  -8


Zucchini Sticks

Ingredients:

1 zucchini
3 tablespoons Italian Seasoned bread crumbs
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
1 egg white
a few shakes of  chili powder
a few shakes of salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray.  Cut zucchini into sticks.  Coat with egg white.  Shake salt, pepper and chili powder onto zucchini.  Stir well.  Put bread crumbs in a baggie.  Put zucchini sticks in baggie, a few at a time and coat with bread crumbs.  Lay flat on baking sheet and sprinkle with parmesan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Broil for two minute to make crispy.



Nutrition Information:
Serves 2
1 serving =
105 calories
3 grams fat
11 grams carb
2 grams fiber
8 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 2
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 2
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 3


All nutrition information is approximate and calculated using caloriecount.com.


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Garlic Mashed Potatoes - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 28

This recipe said to add the garlic right into the pot with the potatoes.  I would never have thought to boil it that way, but it really did make a difference.  I would add salt to the water next time, but that's probably the only change.  For the low amount of fat in this recipe, there is definitely a lot of flavor.

I served these potatoes with the recipe I reviewed just yesterday, Hamburger Stroganoff.  I took liberty with that recipe, but this one I left mostly unaltered.  The original recipe did recommend using a mixer, but I saw no need.  A few lumps are just fine with me!

Try it out and see if you like it.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.


Find the original recipe on page 3: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score - 8


Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
2 tablespoons skim milk
1 tablespoon reduced calorie margarine
salt and pepper to taste

Place potatoes and garlic in a large pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce heat.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until tender.  Mash then add remaining ingredients.

Nutrition Information
Serves 4
1 serving =
184 calories
2 grams fat
39 grams carb
5 grams fiber
5 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 3
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 5
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 6

Nutrition information is approximate and calculated using caloriecount.com.

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30 Days 30 Recipes

Hamburger Stroganoff - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 27

Ok, so I concede that the title of this recipe is a bit deceiving considering I used ground turkey.  We had already had the Taco Soup earlier in the week, and that was great.  I like to limit our beef intake, however, so this one got poultry.

But the real question is, did this recipe measure up?  For sure.  It's a good one.  I would make it again, but maybe try my own "cream of" soup mix like I mentioned in an earlier post.  I say, give this one a try if you're looking for a simple supper that most anyone would like.


Find the original recipe on page 6: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes

Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score - 9


Hamburger Stroganoff

Ingredients:

8 ounces lean ground beef (ground turkey is great, too!)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked egg noodles* (or skip and serve over potatoes) 
10.75 ounce can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 can sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup low fat sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Brown beef, and onion. Drain fat.  Stir in cooked noodles, soup, mushrooms, salt, and pepper.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.  Serve on top of mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

*I took liberty and used mashed potatoes!  The nutrition information reflects the original recipe, however.

Nutrition Information:
Serves 4
1 serving =
280 calories
9 grams fat
26 grams carb
2 grams fiber
23 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 6
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 7
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 8

All nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.

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Deli Crab Salad - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 26

Day 26?  Really?  It somehow feels like I've just started this challenge and simultaneously have been doing it forever.  It's weird.

Today's recipe is a crab salad that, like the pasta salad, I was reluctant to try.  I'm so glad I did, though.  It is very tasty and I definitely want to make it again.  Initially I thought the addition of mustard to a seafood salad would be weird.  Boy was I wrong!  It totally made the flavor perfect.

If you are a seafood lover and want to mix it up, give this salad a go.  I liked it and I hope you will too!


Original recipe found on page 2: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score - 10


Seafood Salad

Ingredients:

6 ounces imitation crab meat
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
green onions (I used 2)
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 to 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
onion powder, to taste
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup cooked macaroni noodles, cold

Chop crab meat and green onions.  Mix.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Chill and serve.

Nutrition Information:
Serves 2
1 serving =
324 calories
6 grams fat
53 grams carb
2 grams fiber
13 grams protein


Weight Watchers POINTS - 7
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 8
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 10

Nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.

Spaghetti Salad - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 25

It's getting close to the end of the challenge and it's a little hard to choose what to make.  To be honest, when I decided to make this recipe I didn't have high hopes.  It was just another pasta salad.  It didn't seem like anything special.  But...I wanted to follow through and make 30 recipes, so I decided just to give it a go.

I'm glad I did.

This recipe was a nice twist on your average Italian dressing-based pasta salad.  The Rotel tomatoes added just enough zip to make it unique.  I'm quite sure I'll make it again.  It was easy and tasty, my favorite combination!

Go ahead and give this recipe a try.  I know you won't be disappointed.


You can find the original recipe found on page 32: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score - 9


Spaghetti Salad

Ingredients:

8 ounces think spaghetti, cooked
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 small can sliced olives (I used 1/2 can of regular and slice them myself)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup fat free Italian salad dressing

Mix all ingredients together.  Chill and serve.

Nutrition Information:
Serves 5
1 serving =
167 calories
2 grams fat
32 grams carb
1.5 grams fiber
6 grams protein

Weight Watcher POINTS - 3
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 4
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 5


Nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.

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30 Days 30 Recipes

Taco Soup - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 24

This recipe was so easy to prepare!  After browning the onions and beef the only thing I had to do was open and dump cans and packages.  And as easy as it was, it tasted great!  I highly recommend trying this soup if you like tacos or chili.  In fact, I think Taco Chili would be a more apt name, as it is hardly soupy.

The only negative feedback I got on this one was that it was a little spicy.  My husband is not a spice fan.  He did say, though, that the flavor, including the aftertaste, was very nice.  I thought the flavor profile was perfect, but if you want to tone down the spice factor, swap out the chili beans and just use your favorite unseasoned bean instead.


Original Recipe can be found on page 33: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score - 10
Ease of Preparation Score - 10



Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can chili beans, NOT drained
1 can corn, drained
1 can Rotel tomatoes, NOT drained
1 can stewed tomatoes, NOT drained

Brown beef and onion.  Drain fat.  Add remaining ingredients and heat through.


Nutrition information:
Serves 8
1 serving =
247 calories
7 grams fat
24 grams carb
7 grams fiber
25 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 5
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 6
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 6

All nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.


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Herb-Roasted Green Beans - 30 Days 30 Recipes Day 23

I usually don't spring for fresh green beans when frozen will do just fine.  Frozen are less than half the price and they actually have more nutrients than fresh green beans that have been sitting on the shelf a while.  That said, I got the fresh ones this time.  I wanted them to roast nicely without any sogginess.

And roast nicely they did!  These green beans were amazing!  It cost me over five dollars just to make this side dish, but I don't even care.  I will definitely be making these again.  They were so good.  Everyone liked them.

If you have a picky eater in the house, try roasting some veggies.  They aren't pretty, but if your picky eater can get past the look they will be pleasantly surprised.

Make these!



Recipe can be found on page 34: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score -10
Ease of Preparation Score -9



Herb Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh green beans
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 packet Good Season's dry Italian Dressing mix
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.   Snap ends off green beans and place in a large bowl.  Sprinkle on olive oil, dressing mix and cheese.  Bake for 45 minutes or until tender.

*The original recipe said to blanch, but I intentionally did not.  I know from experience that roasting vegetables cooks them up very nicely.  The blanching seemed unnecessary.

Nutrition Information
Serves 4
1 serving =
103 calories
3 grams fat
16 grams carb
7 grams fiber
6 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 1
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 1
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 1

*to calculate points I removed green beans from the recipe calculator, as green beans are free on all three plans.

All nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.


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Easy Tuna Casserole - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 22

This recipe was so easy to prepare.  I made it when I was in the middle of doing a million other things to get ready for my son's birthday party.   So even when you're pressed for time, this tuna casserole could be a good option.

As far as taste goes, it's decent.  My husband doesn't like peas, so I typically omit those.  I wanted to make the recipe as stated, however, so I chose to add them. He wasn't thrilled, but he was quite hungry so he just ate it. Also, he did really enjoy the onions.  We didn't all sit down together like we usually do, so the kids didn't try this one.

Will I make this easy casserole again?  Sure.  It didn't make me jump for joy, but it's a decent go to that's really easy to throw together.  My husband suggested subbing in green beans and omitting the peas.  That might work.

One last thing: like the other meals I have tried with cream of mushroom soup, I'd like to try making my own.  Here's one I'm planning on trying.


Find the original recipe on page 15: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score: 6/7
Ease of Preparation Score: 10


Easy Tuna Casserole

Ingredients:

1 can tuna in water, drained (I used a pouch)
1 cup macaroni noodles, uncooked
1 can peas, drained (I used equivalent frozen peas)
1 onion, chopped
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
1 cup skim milk
6 tablespoons reduced fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl being sure to cover macaroni noodles.  Spray an 8x8 baking dish.  Transfer mixture to baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.  Bake* for one hour.

*Original recipe says to cover, but I did not and enjoyed the crunchiness of the edges.


Nutrition Information
Serves 4:
1 serving =
236 calories
3 grams fat
31 grams carb
3 grams fiber
19 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 4
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 6
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 7

Nutrition Information is approximate and is calculate using caloriecount.com.


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30 Days 30 Recipes

Pumpkin Butter - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 21

Ok, I guess I'm on a pumpkin kick.  And my family is still not a fan of it!  My first impression was that this recipe was going to be WAY too sweet.  Then I put it on an english muffin and had a bite. It's delicious!  I can imagine it being good on a fresh homemade roll or maybe a biscuit.

I had to use canned pumpkin because pumpkins are not in season right now.  Besides, it's so much easier and there are no added ingredients in the can, just pumpkin.

Lastly, the amount of sugar seemed high to me for a "diet recipe", but in light of the small serving size the amount was just right.  I will probably be eating this pumpkin butter for a while because I'll be the only one eating it, but that's OK.  It's so tasty!  This recipe was very easy and made me long for the days of autumn.

Find the original recipe on page 27: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.

Taste Score - 10
Ease of Preparation Score - 10


Pumpkin Butter

Ingredients:

1 1/2  cups fresh pumpkin (I used 1 can)
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
dash salt

Cook pumpkin until tender, drain off liquid and mash.*  Add remaining ingredients.  Cook over medium heat until desired consistency is reached.  This may be canned or kept in the refrigerator for several weeks.

*Skip this step if you are using canned pumpkin and simply mix all ingredients together.

Nutrition Information:
Serves Approximately 32 (about 1 tablespoon)
21 calories
0 grams fat
5 grams carb
0 grams fiber
0 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 0
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 1
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 1


Nutrition information is approximate and is calculated using caloriecount.com.

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30 Days 30 Recipes

Pumpkin "Pie" - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 20

This recipe is certainly a keeper.  I am pretty sure that over three or four days I ate this entire recipe by myself.  My husband isn't a fan of pumpkin and my son didn't try this one.  My daughter tried it and she said she didn't like it.  I'm not sure I believe her!  Anyway, in this case, I am not taking my family's opinions into consideration.  They are not pumpkin pie lovers!  If you like pumpkin pie and are looking for a lower calorie alternative, this is definitely the recipe to make!

In the future the only tweaks I would make would be to try this one out with a different sweetener.  I've made one similar to this with granulated Stevia in the Raw and it was not good.  Too much stevia can really make things bitter.  I may give it a whirl with liquid stevia, which tends to be less bitter, or even monk fruit extract.  I'll let you down if I do that.  Splenda is just fine with me, but I do like to mix up my sweeteners just to keep all things in moderation, as they say!


Find this recipe on page 4: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score - 9 (just because it's not actual pumpkin pie)
Ease of Preparation Score - 9



Pumpkin "Pie"

Ingredients:

1 15 ounce can pumpkin
5 ounces evaporated milk
3/4 cup Splenda granulated
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a deep dish pie plate with nonstick spray.  Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Pour into pie plate and bake 35 minutes or until set.

Nutrition Information:
Serves 8
1 serving =
58 calories
3 grams fat
6 grams carb
1.5 grams fiber
3 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 1
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 2
Weight Watcher Smart Points - 2

All nutrition information is approximate and is calculated at caloriecount.com.


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Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 19

This recipe was definitely quick and easy to prepare.  It paired nicely with spinach.  My family ate it with white rice, but I made shirataki rice for myself for a no calorie option.  This meal, while not my favorite, is a good go-to dinner if you have to throw something in the crockpot in the morning.  It's tasty and goes well with most vegetables or starches.  It's simple and I think most people would enjoy it.  It's very similar to most meals made with condensed cream of mushroom soup.  That's not a bad thing, just something to note.

So would I make it again?  Probably. Next time I might look into making my own "cream of" substitute and try it with that.  I've done it in the past, but lost track of the recipe.  Here's a link for one that looks pretty convenient.  I'll let you know if I try it!


Find the original recipe on page 11: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score: 7
Ease of Preparation Score: 10



Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff

Ingredients:

6 boneless chicken breast halves
1 can Healthy Request low fat cream of mushroom soup
16 ounces light sour cream*
1 envelope onion soup mix

Put frozen chicken breasts on bottom of crockpot.  Mix other ingredients in a small bowl.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low 7 hours.  Serve over rice or noodles.


*I used light sour cream, but the original recipe called for fat free.  If you use fat free, it brings the POINT value to 4, Points Plus to 5, and Smart Points to 4.  I was using what I had on hand, but in the future I might use the fat free to save calories.


Nutrition Information:
Serves 6
One serving =
285 calories
19 grams fat
6 grams carb
0 grams fiber
23 grams protein

Weight Watchers POINTS - 7
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 8
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 8


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Peach Cobbler - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 18

Ahh, peach cobbler.  One of my all time favorites.  Did this recipe live up to my expectations?

The answer is simple: no.

First, the recipe was not clear.  I was unsure if I should drain the peaches, so I didn't.  I looked up a few other recipes online and they kept the peaches in their syrup, so I figured I'd keep them in their juice.  The batter was very soupy,  and I was not sure it would bake up quite right.

It ended up baking just fine.  Upon tasting, however, the second problem arose.  This supposed peach cobbler tasted like most recipes that don't add any fat: spongy and bland.  I was actually embarrassed that I brought it to share with friends after I tasted it.  I will not be making this recipe again.  I could have been improved greatly with a small amount of fat and some cinnamon.  Sorry to the creator of this recipe.  This one is not a keeper.


Find the original recipe on page 8: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score - 2
Ease of Preparation Score - 10


Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 cup self-rising flour (click the link to find a recipe to make your own)
1 cup skim milk
1 cup granulated Splenda
1 can peaches in juice (I did not drain)
nonstick spray*

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix flour milk and Splenda.  Fold in peaches.  Pour into a dish coated with nonstick spray.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

*The original recipe calls for butter flavored nonstick spray.  I used plain.  This is part of the reason the flavor was low, but sadly, I don't think that would have saved this recipe.


Nutrition Information:
Serves 6:
1 serving =
120 calories
0 grams fat
26 grams carb
1 gram fiber
4 grams protein


Weight Watchers POINTS - 2
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 3
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 4


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Roasted Red Pepper Dip - 30 Days 30 Recipes - Day 17

I brought this recipe to my friend's house along with the Cauliflower Medley and Peach Cobbler.  Of the three recipes I brought, this one was the most liked.  My friend's son said it was delicious and my friend asked where I got the recipe.  So, I know this one's a keeper.

The original recipe is touted as a salsa alternative.  I'd say that's accurate.  To keep points low, I brought a bag of baked tortilla chips.  These were the perfect companion for this dip.  The recipe also suggested low fat crackers.  I tried the dip with reduced fat Triscuits and that was a pretty good match, but I'd say baked tortilla chips were the best.

So, if you're sick of salsa and still want a spicy treat, give this recipe a try.  It doesn't have any points value, but it does have a lot of flavor!


Find the original recipe on page 7: 100 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipes.


Taste Score - 8
Ease of Preparation Score - 10


Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Ingredients:

1/2 large can roasted red peppers, drained
2 teaspoons tomato paste
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons chili powder

Mix in blender and serve with low fat crackers or chips.

Nutrition Information
Serves 4:
1 serving =
16 calories
0 grams fat
4 grams carb
1 gram fiber
0 grams protein


Weight Watchers POINTS - 0
Weight Watchers Points Plus - 0
Weight Watchers Smart Points - 0

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