Chicken Bean Dip

This is a stand-by that I make whenever I don't have a lot of time, haven't thought of anything, need food quick, you get the picture. But it's tasty too, and versatile! I got it out of a Taste of Home a long time ago but just have it in my head so it may not be exact.

small onion, chopped

1 can refried beans

1 cup (or so) salsa

1 can chicken breast (or cook and shred your own if you got the time...)

some shredded cheese

So, I think the recipe just called for the onions raw, but here's how I do it: saute them for just a minute and then add everything else to heat through. Dip tortilla chips, serve it in burritos, over a salad or rice -- it's very flavorful and depending on the kind of beans and amount of cheese you use -- can be fairly low-fat. I've even nixed the cheese altogether before and it's still good.

Pretzel Jello "Salad"

I have no picture of this, 'cause it was gone too fast at the potluck, but trust me -- it's not really a salad at all. It's a yummy cheesecakey cold dessert. And it's not healthy -- but people want the recipe, and this is my food blog -- so this is where it's gonna have to go: it's definitely a favorite of mine!!!



Pretzel Jello Salad



2 c. crushed pretzels

1/2 c. melted butter

3 T sugar

(combine this in a 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for10 min or so)



8 oz softened cream cheese

1 c sugar

beat together then fold in:

8 oz. Whipped Topping



1 6 oz strawberry Jello

2 c. boiling water

2, 10 oz bags of frozen strawberries, partially thawed. (I just used an amount that looked good)

So, you bake the pretzel crust, then cool completely before spreading on the creamy layer. Then you make the jello layer and let it set up for 10 min or so, then layer it on. Chill.

BST Creamy Pesto Pizza

so, , , healthy? everything in moderation I say. but i'll bet it's healthier than my favorite pizza i was trying to imitate. ("the californian" at Cobblestone -- mmmmmm) I just had to post this 'cause it was so darn yummy. my kids polished theirs off and asked for seconds and thirds -- so it MUST be acceptable.

so. I made Creamy Pesto Pasta from Our Best Bites the other day for my mom -- and we all agreed it was our new favorite dish. So since the dish only calls for a half of the Guiltless Alfredo recipe -- I have leftovers. of course I added the pesto into all of it -- so I have leftovers of pesto alfredo - which is what I used as the sauce on the pizza. Made my normal (favorite) crust, and here are the rest of the additions.

pre-cooked sliced bacon

raw spinach leaves

chopped tomatoes

chopped red onion

mozzerela

sprinkle of fresh parmesan

bake at 425 for 15 min

top with chopped avacado

YUM- that's all I have to say - YUM!

MMmmmmmm, Hot Whole Wheat Bread

Mostly, this picture is for Jamie -- to prove that my bread is turning out -- and that I'm not scared of my wheat grinder anymore -- yum yum!

wednesday

(1)half grapefruit
(2)toast w/ cottage cheese
(2)milk
(7)McDonalds cheeseburger (sorry Adrie)
(3)half small fry
(4)Grilled chicken salad (including oil)
(2)french bread
(4)ice cream
(4)9 caramel filled kisses
(?)bites of ryan's microwave molten chocolate cake

and this concludes my week of turning in my tracker -- hopefully I will be more aware still and stick to my exercising as well. I lost 2 pounds this week so the effort must be worth it. (of course it will probably be back next week when i return to my regularly evening-weigh- in as opposed to this mornings un-normal time -- but we'll cross our fingers and hope for the opposite -- okay? okay.)

Tuesday

(2)toast with ff cottage cheese
(1)half grapefruit
(9)sweet pork enchilada
(1)apple
(0)Noni Mobility
(1)string cheese
(5)whole wheat ham and swiss panini
(1)green salad with t. ranch
(2)small ice cream cone
(2)popcorn
(1)WW treat
(1)bite of Ryan's evil donut he brought home from mutual that was stale - hence the one bite and not the whole THING

broke even today (accounting for my activity points of course) but didn't really have a great night as far as snacking goes. why does Biggest Loser always get me into trouble -- shouldn't it be just the opposite?

Monday - is the week over yet?

(4)Blueberry Morning
(2)milk
(1)grapes
(7)hot dog w/ works
(1)mint/choc animal cookies
(1)WW treat
(0)Noni Mobility
(1)Angel food (last of it!!!)
(9)Sweet Pork Enchilada, lettuce, tomato

so today -- with my earned activity points i ALMOST broke even...