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Mexican Hot Chocolate (100 Calories Per Cup)

July 14, 2012 Nicole

My husband and I love Mexican hot chocolate, but it can be on the high side of the calorie scale. With a little creative thinking we can up with a lower calorie version that is just as good as the one we were making for three times the amount of calories.

If you have never had Mexican hot chocolate you are in for a treat. It has a nice spicy cinnamon flavor mixed in decedent chocolate. Here is our guiltless lower calorie version of Mexican hot chocolate. Might I add that if you are watching what you are eating and drinking (calorie wise) this is a great fix if you are craving something sweet.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. Nestle Abuelitas Syrup
1 pouch of No Sugar or Sugar Free Hot Cocoa
8 ounces of hot water

Directions:

Use a coffee pot, stove top, microwave, or like I did a Kuerig to heat up 8 ounces of hot water.
To the hot water add 1 pouch of no sugar hot cocoa mix.
Stir until it’s completely blended together, then add 1 tbsp. of Abuelitas Syrup, and then mix well.

*optional: top with ground cinnamon or whipped topping

Number of Servings: 1

Nutritional Information:

100 calories per serving
22 carbs
0 grams of fat
3 protein
20 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

Asian Beef with Noodles (303 Calories)

July 10, 2012 Nicole

This dish is simple and inexpensive, but it wasn’t really my favorite. Although it was good it did not have the flavor I was looking for. It’s worth trying that’s for sure because it is good and it is easy. Another great thing is that it’s low in calories for dinner if you add nice salad to the mix don’t make the mistake I did and add eggrolls. The calories were a bit too high!!

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 diced onion
1 diced bell pepper
2 packages (3 ounces each) Beef Ramen noodles, crumbled
2-1/2 cups water
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (I used corn, carrots, broccoli)
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
½ tsp. onion powder
¾ tsp. garlic powder
1tbsp sesame oil
1 bouillon cube
1-2 tbsp. soy sauce (I used 2 start with 1)
Salt as desired

Directions

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until no longer pink add diced onion and bell pepper cook until tender; drain.
Add the contents of one Ramen noodle flavoring packet; stir until dissolved. Remove beef and keep warm.
In the same skillet, combine the water, vegetables, ginger, garlic powder, onion powder, bouillon cube , noodles and contents of remaining flavoring packet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Return beef to the pan add soy sauce and sesame oil; cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add salt if desired

Original Recipe Source

Number of Servings: 6 (8 ounces each)

Nutritional Information:

303 calories per serving
27 carbs
12 grams of fat
19 protein
4 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

Mini Chocolate Cheesecakes Bites (134 calories each)

July 6, 2012 Nicole

I have been on a quest to make a dessert that I can freeze for dessert emergencies that are decedent, but are as low in calories as I can possibly get them. The requirement was it had to have cream cheese or Neufchatel in it because right now cream cheese and Neufchatel bricks are in sale at my grocery store for .50 each. That’s such a sweet deal that I celebrated by making mini personal sized cheesecakes.

Like I said before I wanted to get the calorie count down as low as possible because I am watching my calories like a hawk watches mice. Instead of using cream cheese I chose to use Neufchatel because that would automatically cut the calories down by 720 calories right off the top. That’s a huge savings!

I took a recipe for cheesecake that I already loved and then turned it into mini cheesecakes that would allow me to better control the calories. By controlling the calories, and the size, I can better control me!

Ingredients:

3 Packages of Neufchatel, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 (8 ounce) container of dairy sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup Toll House cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 eggs
28 Oreo cookies halves (14 cookies total) (removing the cream center)
28 cupcake tins/liners

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees
Beat cream cheese and sugar until blended.
Add sour cream and vanilla and beat until blended
Beat in cocoa and flour
Add eggs, one at a time, but beat just until well blended
Remove Oreo filling with a butter knife and add one half of an Oreo to each cupcake tin you should have a total of 28 cupcake tins.
Fill each tin with one large spoon full of cheesecake filling until you have filled all 28 then go back and top off each tin with any extra filling.
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 3000 degrees be sure to watch them carefully.
Remove from oven to wire rack
Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours
Store covered in refrigerator or in the freezer. They freeze nicely

Number of Servings: 28

Nutritional Information:

134 calories per serving
12 carbs
7 grams of fat
3 protein
11 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

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: