Nicole

Dressed Up Canned Black Eyed Pea’s

July 3, 2012 Nicole

I did a lot of growing on up a ranch outside of Houston. Many of my favorite memories from the ranch revolve around the dinner table. We always had fresh vegetables on the table that my Dad grew. He always grew a lot of peas. We would have black-eyed peas, purple hulls, and field peas. To this day I love peas just as much as I did when I was a kid.

Today I don’t have the luxury of home grown and I don’t always have time to go to the farmers market so the next best thing is getting my peas out of a can. I must admit they are not anywhere near as good as homegrown, but you have to take what you can get. When I make pea’s I always have to “dress them up” to make them feel more like home and more like the comfort food I love. Here is my way of dressing up a can of black eyed peas.

Ingredients:

1 can of black eyed peas (I prefer Bush’s)
1 tbsp. of bacon drippings
¼ diced onion
¼ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. garlic powder

Directions:

In a sauce pan add bacon drippings and onion sauté until onion is tender.
While your onion is sautéing open the can of black eyed peas (do not drain) and remove ½ the peas and smash them on a plate using a fork. They should look like a thick paste when you are done. Once your onion is tender add the smashed peas along with the remainder of the peas in the can.
To the peas add onion powder, and garlic powder.
Cook for about 10 minutes just long enough to give the spices enough time to mingle with one another and enough time to heat your peas all the way through.

Number of Servings: 4

Nutritional Information:

81 calories per serving
15 carbs
1 grams of fat
5 protein
0 sugar

*Nutritional information found on www.myfitnesspal.com this information will vary based on the products you use.*

Check Out Our Online Recipe Book: www.CafeChatterbox.com

Recipes

Cheesy Ham Cakes (88 Calories each)

June 30, 2012 Nicole

I have been trying to find alternatives to using bread for lunches and snacks. My go to has been to substitute rice cakes in place of bread. 2 rice cakes are 80 calories verses 120 calories for two slices of bread. I love rice cakes so that isn’t a big compromise for me. I also love ham and cheese sandwiches.

Cheese can be killer in the calorie department so that’s rarely on my menu. In place of sliced cheese I have been using Laughing Cow cheese. My new favorite is the light Laughing Cow Swiss it’s not only low in calories but it’s delicious, generous and super creamy. This isn’t just a lunch go to for me, but it makes an excellent satisfying snack.

Ingredients:

2 lightly salted rice cakes
2 slices of ham per cake (I use Land O’ Frost Brown Sugar Ham)
1 Laughing Cow Swiss

Directions:

Spread half of the cheese on each rice cake, then top with ham. It’s great to even stick it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Yummy!

Number of Servings: 2 cakes

Nutritional Information:

88 calories per serving
10 carbs
2 grams of fat
6 protein
2 sugar

*Nutritional information found on http://www.myfitnesspal.com this information will vary based on the products you use.*

Check Out Our Online Recipe Book: www.CafeChatterbox.com

Recipes

Zesty Guacamole ‪#iloveavocados

June 29, 2012 Nicole

The folks at Avocados From Mexico have just launched a new recipes section on their site “Recipes From Avocado Lovers” to give foodies who love avocados, the opportunity to upload their favorite avocado recipes, download ring tones, wallpapers and other fun items to show their avocado love and discover other fan favorite avocado recipes.

Do you love avocados? Then you will love the new Avocados From Mexico recipe website “Recipes From Avocado Lovers”, where you can submit your favorite avocado recipes and share you avocado love with other foodies like you.

I love avocados and I am always looking for new recipes that include avocadoes to incorporate into our weekly menu. I love my avocadoes turned into guacamole. Guacamole is tops on my list of favorite snacks. I would choose guacamole over ice cream that’s how much I love it. Avocados from Mexico’s Website “ Recipes from Avocado Lovers” is a great source of avocado recipes. You can find just about any use for Avocados on this site. Not only are Avocados delicious they are very good for you!

Ingredients:

2 avocados from mexico
1 lime, juiced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1/4 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste)

Directions:

Halve avocados; remove fruit by running spoon next to skin; discard seed or save for other uses.
Place avocado in bowl and mash with fork; immediately mix in lime juice, incorporating well.
Mix in remaining ingredients; serve immediately.

*As required by the Federal Trade Commission: This sponsorship is brought to you by Avocados From Mexico who we have partnered with for this promotion.” *

Check Out Our Online Recipe Book: www.CafeChatterbox.com

Recipes

Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole (239 Calories Per Serving)

June 26, 2012 Nicole

This recipe is excellent! I enjoyed it so much! Not only is the 239 calories per cup but its very filling. It tends to be very spicy, but an easy fix for that is to use mild Rotel instead of the hot or original. We ended up having it two different nights and two different ways. One night we ate it as a casserole, another night on flour tortillas with cheese and tomatoes, and I would like to use it a three time by rolling it in corn tortillas topping it was an enchilada sauce and cheese. I know that’s going to be excellent! It’s a very versatile recipe that goes a long way.

The original recipe is made a lot different than the way I made it, but I must stress that if you make it like the original recipe is made use instant rice or the rice doesn’t cook all the way through. That was a complaint that a lot of people had. By using the instant rice you won’t have that problem. Below is my version of the recipe using left over rotisserie chicken.

Ingredients:

1 can fat free cream mushroom soup
1 can fat free cream chicken soup
1 can water
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies
1 1/2 cups brown instant rice (uncooked)
12 ounces of deboned rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. of pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350
Spray with cooking spray a 13×9 in glass casserole dish
In a medium size bowl whisk together soups, water and spices, Rotel, black beans chicken and rice then pour into the baking dish
Cover with foil; bake 350 degrees 1 hour and 40 min.
Remove foil, Sprinkled the top with cheese

Original Recipe Source

Number of Servings: 8

Nutritional Information:

239 calories per serving
31 carbs
7 grams of fat
17 protein
2 sugar

*Nutritional information found on http://www.myfitnesspal.com this information will vary based on the products you use.*

Check Out Our Online Recipe Book: www.CafeChatterbox.com

Recipes

Ice Cream Shop Fake Out (163 Calories)

June 23, 2012 Nicole

I am trying to teach not only myself but my family to eat lower calorie foods and also teach them that just because something is lower calorie doesn’t mean it isn’t good. You can still have a fun a delicious dessert without sacrificing your entire day and workout. We have all been craving something sweet and yummy but my husband and I don’t want to kill our entire diet by eating it.

By putting our heads together we have come up with a yummy ice cream shop fake out that’s only 163 calories each. Not only is it delicious, but it’s fun, and cute and a lot less calories than chocolate ice cream with cherries and whipped topping. It’s budget friendly and family friendly. I haven’t seen a kid yet that doesn’t devour it. Our family loves this dessert I hope your family will too!

Ingredients: