Low Carb Recipe: Cheese Crisps (Imitation Cheese Nips)

When I was on Atkins back in 2003/2004, I lost a lot of weight and had almost no cravings.  I also learned tons of different recipes and snack ideas, this was one of them!  I used to be a member of an Atkins Diet Bulletin Board and found this awesome recipe for imitation cheese nips!  They definitely do taste like them too!


Ingredients:

• 1 cup hard hand grated cheese. This would be parmesan, asiago, swiss, cheddar, etc...

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 350 F

* If you use cheddar and other firm but not hard cheeses will work with this recipe, but it won't get as crisp and as crunchy as Parm or Asiago or other hard cheeses.  The oil will separate from the cheddar and you'll have to pat it off before you eat it.

• (Optional)  You can toss your grated cheese with any seasoning you'd like, or you can just leave the cheese the way it is.  It depends what your favorite flavor is.

• You can either pile the cheese (2-3 tsp) on parchment paper making little towers or you can spread the cheese the whole size of the baking sheet, making one flat cheese sheet! You will slice these later.

• Bake 5 to 6 minutes until they are a light golden brown (they will be a little darker at the edges). It happens fast, so watch carefully.

DELICIOUS!

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Stuffed Hot Dog Recipe! Delicious for adults and kids! Low carb and Low cal!

Since I've been on a diet, I really want to make different things to make things more interesting.  Sometimes, eating the same salad or chicken is very tiresome and makes you not want to diet anymore.  My mom was talking about a stuffed hot dog that she used to eat when she was a kid, and I made my own variation!  I saw some different recipes online where you can mix ketchup, mustard and saurkraut to make a paste to go in the hot dog as well, but I wanted to make it as low carb as possible.  So I used the ketchup, saurkraut and mustard as garnish, if I wanted to eat it!

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Cranberry Apple Turkey Burgers with Summer Squash Salad

Cranberry Apple Turkey Burger

• 1 medium thin slice of green apple
• 1\2 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh salsa (or chopped onion)
• 1 garlic and red pepper seasoning (or you can use poultry seasoning)
• Dash of salt
• Dash of pepper
• Ground turkey patty
• 2 toasted slices of 40 calorie wheat bread
• 3 tbsp whole cranberry sauce
• Slice of fat free sharp cheddar cheese

1. In a bowl, combine the turkey, salsa/onions, celery, seasoning, salt and pepper. Form into a patty.
2. Spray a pan or grill pan with Pam Olive Oil spray. Add the turkey patty and cook until done.
3. Add the cheese and cover until melted.
4. On the toasted bread, put a slice of apple, the turkey patty, top with cranberry sauce and you're done! 

This burger is 320 calories :)

 Summer Squash Succotash

• One small yellow squash
• 2 tbsp red bell pepper finely chopped
• 2 tbsp chopped onion
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1\2 tbsp butter
• 1\2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1\2 tbsp EVOO
• Dash of salt
• Dash of pepper

1. Cut the squash into quarters (length wise) and those into slices.
2. Add water to a sauce pan filling about 2\3 full and bring to rolling boil.
3. Add the squash, pepper and onion.  Cover and reduce to lower heat.  Let that cook about 8-10 minutes or until the squash is fork tender.
4. Drain the vegetables and put in a bowl
5. Add the basil, butter, EVOO, salt, pepper, lemon juice and toss until the butter is melted.

About 2\3 cup is 61 calories. :)

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The Artsy Mom's Grilled Chicken Tenderloin Satay

I decided to try to grill chicken tonight and try something new.  I've had some Thai Peanut sauce sitting in my refrigerator for a few weeks now, I picked it up when it was on sale.  Honestly, I winged it with the seasonings and just used a mix of stuff, but it tasted so good!! This is low calorie.  The calorie count came out to 370 calories when I used my lovely MyFitnessPal calculator.

What you'll need:

1. 8oz (2 pieces) boneless skinless chicken breast tenderloins
2. 1tbsp crushed peanuts
3. Mix of different seasonings. (I used basil & chives)
4. 1 cup chopped red onions
5. 2-3tbsp Taste of Thai peanut satay sauce
6. (optional) Thai Kitchen Spring Onion Soup mix (the small bag)

How to make it:

• In a grill pan (sprayed with PAM),  grill the two chicken breast tenderloins.  While in the pan, season on both sides with the basil & chives

• Chop the onions and add them to the pan

• Turn the chicken accordingly and make sure it's cooked all the way through, but still juicy.  You don't want your chicken to be dry.  Honestly, I learned how long to grill chicken through trial and error.  If it's your first time just use your instinct.  Cut a little slice in the side of the chicken to make sure it's cooked through.

• (If you're using the Spring Onion Noodles) While the chicken is grilling microwave the noodles according to the package.  Put aluminum foil over the soup while you're waiting for the chicken.  You want to make sure the noodles aren't watery.  Make sure all the soup evaporates out.  If it doesn't, you'll need to drain it.

• The chicken satay sauce is so easy... Scoop 2-3tbsp out and put it in a small dish! No need to heat, but if you prefer to, throw it in the microwave for 10 seconds.  

• Put the noodles on the plate and the chicken over it.  Garnish with the crushed peanuts.

It's so delicious and low calorie.  I actually made more than that and my kids and mom ate it too.  I have to tell you, if my kids eat it, it passes the taste test. HA!  I hope you do try this because it's so delicious.

The Thai Kitchen noodles/soup is also good for a mid-day snack or light lunch.  The calorie count in them is 120!  Deeeeeelicious!!  Again, the noodles are optional.  Since I didn't make any vegetables, I decided to use that instead.  So good.

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Fun Summer Activity - Make Veggie Critters with Scallion Bacon Ranch Dip!!

This project kills two birds with one stone;  A family fun activity as well as getting your kids to eat their vegetables!  My kids LOVED to make these lovely little veggie critters and couldn't wait to eat their creations.

I've learned, over the 5 years that I've been a mom, it is difficult to get your kids to eat their vegetables.  From the moment they're babies, you have to do the airplane to try to get the peas into their mouths or mixing the peas or green beans into their mashed potatoes telling them it's a new "recipe" they can make... Anything to make them think eating their vegetables is fun.  Well, why don't they PLAY with their food?  

What a great family summer project this is!

Break out the bell peppers, mini cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, broccoli and carrots as well as some Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix and GET GOING!!  

HOW DO I MAKE THE DIP?

1 packet Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
2 8 oz. tubs reduced fat cream cheese

Scallions

Hormel Real Bacon Bits

Instructions:

1. Add the seasoning mix to the cream cheese.
   
2. Stir until well combined.
3. Snip the scallions and add to dip.  The amount is your preference.
4. Add the hormel bacon bits
5. Stir
6. Using a variety of vegetables – and a little imagination – you can build critters with your child. 

HOW DID WE MAKE CRITTERS?

LADY BUGS:  Cut grape tomatoes down the middle into two sides.  Take black olives and slice them into small bits for the spots.  Attach "spots" with some of the dip to keep it on the tomato.  

Slice a small sliver of one of your mini cucumbers for the "leaf" that the lady bugs sit on.

BUTTERFLY:  Cut one small side of a bell pepper, cut that in half and shape it to resemble wings.  Cut one half of a mini cucumber for the body of the butterfly.  Again, attach wings to cucumber with some dip.  Use baby carrots for the antennae

Use Broccoli to make the "trees".  Attach the trees upright to the plate with dip as well.

OF COURSE, these are just ideas.  This is how we made our critters.  Feel free to make your own with your imagination!!  

My girls were VERY amused that the dip could also be used as a "paste" to keep the pieces in place.

My girls were so proud of their creations!

And they enjoyed chowing down on it too!

ENJOY!!  Let me know if you try this great project. :)

This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be selected to win a $25 AmEx Gift Card, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here (link to: http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/share-your-veggie-critter)

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Fully Loaded Mock Potatoes Recipe - LOW CAL!

How hard is it to get kids to eat veggies?  If you live in my house, it's almost impossible!  My kids' healthy idea of food is Mac and Cheese, Spaghetti, Scrambled Eggs, Chicken Fingers or Grilled Cheese.  Definitely not the same idea that I have!  Once in a while I can get them to eat some broccoli or raw carrots...maybe some celery, but that has to be with peanut butter!  It's like World War III at our house when I try to get my kids to eat healthy!!

Mashed Potatoes are the only "vegetable" they will eat aside from french fries, but they absolutely love Mashed Potatoes.  I had a little light bulb go off the other day in my head -- which is rare!  I realized that Mock Potatoes can be just as good as Mashed Potatoes!  So, I tried to come up with different ways to "spruce" them up a bit.  Tons of ideas went through my head, but nothing too specific.  

My mom and I started talking today about how much we loved fully loaded baked potatoes.  There was only one problem with that; I'm on a diet and eating baked potatoes is frowned upon by the Diet Gods!  lol  Another light bulb went off (wow! 2 within a 24 hour period!) I could make Mock Potatoes with the same ingredients I would put on top of a fully loaded baked potato!  I prayed that my kids wouldn't know the difference upon tasting it...

Alayna, my oldest, helped me with the food processor, which she loved to press the button.  Olivia held her ears and said "Loud" the whole time! LOL  We had such a good time, though.  The whole recipe took about 20 minutes to make, and it tastes absolutely delicious!  To my surprise, the kids ate the entire bowl and asked for more!  I also enjoyed it because of the fact that it's low calorie! :)

• 1 head cauliflower, washed and broken into florets (about 4 cups florets)
• ⅓ cup Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Dressing Light
• 1 tablespoon fat-free milk
• 1 tablespoon light margarine (tub-style) or butter
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fat-free sour cream
• A pinch of chives
• 1 tablespoon of real bacon bits
• 1 tablespoon of fat -free shredded cheese
• 3 florettes of broccoli 

Place cauliflower florets into a steamer and cook for about 20 minutes or until tender.


Transfer the cauliflower to a food processor.


Add Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Dressing Light, milk and margarine to the cauliflower and blend until the mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Mix in sour cream, chives, bacon bits

Microwave 3 florettes of broccoli for required time on package.  Chop with food processor.  Mix in.

Salt and top with a pinch of cheese, bacon bits and chives.  Serve

If you register with Hidden Valley Ranch, you will get a $1 coupon as well!  Definitely great to get some ingredients for a great price! 

Disclosure

This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be selected to win a $25 AmEx Gift Card, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here.

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Peanut Thai Chicken and Noodle - RECIPE! (Nutrisystem Friendly)

I made this for dinner tonight because I was really craving Thai food.  Of course, Thai food completely is NOT in my Nutrisystem plan, but this recipe is!!  :)  It was so delicious and approx 310 calories.  Everyone loved it, not only myself!

Ingredients

• 1 boneless skinless chicken breast / Perdue shortcuts
• 1 tsp. reduced fat peanut butter
• 2 to 3 tbsp. water
• 1 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp. Splenda® Brown Sugar
• ¼ tsp. curry powder, or hot pepper sauce to taste (Franks red hot!)
• 1 tbsp. minced onions or scallions
• ½ cup cooked noodles or spaghett - Wheat (180-190 cals)

Directions

1. Put peanut butter, water, soy sauce, sugar and curry or hot sauce in a small, microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave on high for 30 sec. until peanut butter is softened.
3. Stir.
4. Microwave another 20 to 30 seconds and stir again until smooth.
5. Add the onions.
6. Dice the chicken breast and heat, according to package directions.
7. Mix the peanut sauce, chicken and noodles together in a serving dish.

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Life as a domestic queen..... lol

I CAN COOK! :)  I really wanted to do something different tonight.  Microwavable diet foods just get so lame after having them every single day for lunch and dinner, so I planned on making a nutrisystem friendly pizza.  It took about 30 minutes to make (less time than delivery!) and it was delicious, healthy and had that homemade taste.  (And only 290 cals for two slices!! Definitely delicious!  The kids even ate it with no problem along with my mom; who hates healthy food!  You can find the recipe here on my weight loss blog. It's definitely a MUST MAKE recipe. :)

Today was a pretty laid back day.  I wanted to do the Tackle It Tuesday and had the girls room a great topic for that, but I just didn't have the time to do it.  I had to get my printer cartridge filled for printing more coupons, (lol) I had to grocery shop and clean the living room about 50 times. LOL  Besides which, Olivia was sick this afternoon.  She is so congested she can't really breathe through her nose.  I suspect it might be allergies.  She is feeling better now, thank God... Nose is still running like a little faucet.

Since I have been eating better today and yesterday, I've fully recovered from Easter. Ha!  I don't have that terrible stomach pain that I had Sunday night and most of yesterday.  I guess from eating less maybe my stomach shrunk a little.  I feel full after just a little bit of food and I really pushed myself on Easter Sunday...  At least I feel better right now.  I'm going to start walking in the afternoon tomorrow.  I'll walk the kids to the park that's about 30 blocks away, have them play for a little bit, and I'll walk back with them.  It's gonna be nice tomorrow.  When it starts to get too warm, that's when I'll go to the gym instead. :)  I'm excited to start exercising.  I'm sure pushing a double stroller will be some resistance as well! lol

How about a little "meme" for today?  This is That's My Answer.

Have you ever been to a professional sporting event?  Just figure skating events.  My mom and I used to go to the Campbell Soup figure skating exhibition every single year when it came to East Rutherford.  I haven't been to anything else because I have never been into sports.  Figure Skating is the only thing that I absolutely love without a doubt.

Have you ever been pulled over by the police? Did you get a ticket?  I got pulled over a few weeks ago.  I was leaving NYC and was about to go through the Holland Tunnel.  I was stopped and pulled over because of my headlight.  My left headlight was out for the longest time and this is the ONLY time I got pulled over.  I never got a ticket, though.  He told me just to get my headlight changed as soon as possible.

What do you put in your mashed potatoes?  I usually used boxed mashed potatoes.  I don't put anything in it other than what I have to. (Milk? Sour cream? Margarine?)  I haven't made them in so long since I've been on a diet...  Now I really want them, thanks. lol

Do you know where your great, great, great grandparents lived? Białystok Poland.  My great grandparents immigrated before my grandmother was born.  In fact, when my grandmother was little, she didn't speak a word of English.  She just spoke Polish.

Oh, and I wanted to tell something hilarious... When we were watching Dancing With The Stars tonight, my daughter asked why "Buzz Lightbeer" wasn't wearing his space suit -- Is that related to Heineken or Budwiser? (She was talking about Buzz Aldrin!)

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Low Calorie Pizza Bake - Nutrisystem Friendly

1/3 cup Bisquick Heart Smart

2 Tbsp Egg beaters

1 Tbsp Water

1/8 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 cup Diced Green Pepper

1/4 cup Chopped Onion

1/2 cup cut up Cooked Chicken Breast

1/2 cup Canned Diced Tomatoes

1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning

1/4 cup Shredded Reduced Fat Mozz cheese

(Optional: Oregano and Basil)

- Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray the pan. (preferably a medium sized loaf pan)  Stir in bisquick mix, egg beaters, water and garlic powder.  Spread it in the bottom of the pan.

 - Sautee pepper and onion in a pan stirring until the onion is slightly brown.  Stir in chicken, tomatoes and the rest of the seasoning.  Keep in pan until hot.  Pour over the batter in the pan and sprinkle with mozz cheese.

- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.  Loosen from the side of the pan while still hot!!

Makes 2 servings.  1 serving = 180 calories, 50 cals from fat.

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Recipe: Peanut Butter Filled Bon-Bons (Quick and easy!)

Since we are starting to eat healthy tomorrow and changing everyone's eating habits in the house, I decided to use the last of the chocolate chips and peanut butter I had in the house and make peanut butter filled bon-bons.  This recipe is very quick and easy, it takes about 45 minutes to make and to be ready to eat!

Makes approx 20-30 bon-bons depending on how big you make them.

 

Ingredients:

• Powdered Sugar
•  Peanut butter
•  5 tbsp Stick Unsalted Butter
•  Baking chocolate disks

 

1. Microwave 5 tbsp softened unsalted butter in a microwave safe bowl.  

 

2. Add in the 2 cups of sifted powdered sugar and 2 cups of softened peanut butter and mix well.  Make sure there are no bits of powdered sugar left in the mix. 

 

 

 

NOTE: The consistency of this will be a little softer than dough, but should not be runny and unpliable.  Sometimes it does get unpliable and that is either because you may have used a little too much butter or the butter was melted and not softened when you microwave it.  If that happens, add a little more powdered sugar and mix.

3. When the peanut butter mixture is of desired consistency, spoon the mixture and make a 1 inch ball.  Place on wax paper on a plate.  Do this until the mixture is used up.

 

 

4.  Refrigerate this mixture for approximately 15-20 minutes.  

5.  After 15-20 minutes, microwave 1 bag of baking chocolate disks for approximately 45 seconds.  After 45 seconds, stir... If chocolate isn't melted, microwave at 10 second incriments, stirring after each time until chocolate is melted.

 

 

6.  Take peanut butter mixture out of the refrigerator and dip into chocolate.  You can use a fork or a thin fondue stick to dip.  Let excess chocolate drip off before placing ball onto the wax paper.

 

 

7.  Once all the mixture is covered in chocolate, put back in refrigerator for approximately 10-15 minutes.  (Until chocolate is hardened)

This is one of the easiest recipes I have made and my kids go crazy over the recipe. :)  It's delicious!! (But pretty rich!)  Enjoy!!

 

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Relaxing with cinnamon. :)

I love ANYTHING that has to do with cinnamon or vanilla. Seriously. I am in love with the scents and tastes. Hell, my favorite coffee at Starbucks is Cinnamon Dulce. :D Anyhow, today was such a stressful day. I was on the Etsy forums all day trying to promote, and in addition to that I was with the kids who were MANIACS. I mean eating everything in site, messing up the entire house so much so that I probably cleaned their room and the living room about 20 times. They were cranky and whiny and it was just so stressful.

They're not asleep quite yet, but laying down in their room watching TV and being quiet. (For the time being! The rebels will get up soon and start another rousing round of the rowdy game!) I took some time to sit in the kitchen with my laptop and a cup of hot cinnamon tea to relax until I have to chase after them again. :) I love cinnamon tea. Here is a great recipe for yummy cinnamon tea.

Yummy Cinnamon Tea

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1 regular or decaffeinated black teabag
• sugar or splenda
  

Make it!

1. Place the cinnamon stick in a cup.

2. Add the boiling water and steep covered for 10 minutes.

3. Add the teabag. Steep for one to three minutes.

4. Sugar time! :)

If you don't have time for all of that and you just want instant gratification, you can get Cinnamon flavored teas at the supermarket. :) I think Lipton has Cinnamon flavored tea as well as Bigelow Teas. :) They're all just as yummy!!

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