Mini Frittatas- Great idea for busy moms!

Can you tell there is a bit of a theme to my posts this week.... many have to do with helping my sister out and making her some quick easy delicious meals and snacks... but the good part is that I also get to try out new recipes and keep half for me. It's a win win situation don't you think?

Mini Frittatas (adapted from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/mini-frittatas-recipe/index.html)

Ingredients:

Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray

9 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 slices thinly sliced ham, chopped

1/3 cup light cheddar cheese

Thinly sliced veggies of your choice ( I used broccoli, red and green peppers)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray a regular size muffin tin (12) with nonstick spray. Whisk the eggs, milk, pepper, and salt in a large bowl to blend well.  Pour evenly into your muffin tins. Add ham, cheese, and veggies. Bake until the egg mixture puffs and is just set in the center, about 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information per frittata:  80 calories, 1g carb, 5g fat, 8g protein, 1g sugar

Here they are before going into the oven. Half are ham and cheese, 1/4 are 'all dressed' and 1/4 are all veggies. 

Here is an all dressed frittata.

... and a ham and cheese one. You can just reheat them in the microwave for about 50 seconds and you can eat it like that or put it in between a toasted english muffin. 

Look at Julie and Stephanie... just digesting one of those frittatas.

...and then kissing, ok, no, not really, but I had to post these gorgeous pictures of new mother and child.

Pate Chinois- nice dish to take to your sister's and other things

What you say??? Pate Chinois (pronouced pah-tee shee-nwa), is a French-Canadian Sheppards Pie. We grew up on this, and to this day it is one of my sister and I's favourite comfort food. So what better dish to bring for her, her husband and her new baby then this.

 I know it doesn't look too great... but it tastes like COMFORT to us!

Pate Chinois (serves 8 people)

1.5 lbs of extra lean ground beef
2 cans of cream corn
4 med-large potatos
milk and butter for the mashed potatos and salt and pepper to taste

That's all you need. Brown your ground beef in a pan. Boil the potatos and then drain them and make mashed potatos. Then in 1 casserole dish (or many little dishes) spread the beef, then the cream corn and then the mashed potatos. To heat up, place in the oven at 350 F for about 25 minutes or the microwave until warmed through.

Nutritional Details: 254 calories, 25g carbs, 8g fat, 21g protein, 2g fibre, 4g sugar (from the cream corn)

So this isn't one of my healthiest food choices, it's a treat! Just serve it with a healthy green salad and you've got all the food groups and good balance.

I made 3 tins for my sister, so her and her husband could have a quick dinner, ready at any time, and of course, my husband said... where's ours? So I made us one as well. 

I was so excited, I decided to bake pink cookies for them too! I brought them purple flowers, and pink cookies and a little Baby Girl balloon to match the cookies (except the cookies look orange-pink like falmingos).

These cookies were delicious, but let me tell you, the recipe is not a 'healthy' one to share on this blog!

Welcoming a perfect little girl...

This is one of the loveliest photos I have taken of Stephanie on her mommy... the night before they left the hospital, I just had to share the cuteness with you.

Check out what was on her front lawn when she got home from the hospital!

Look at how good my sister looked only 4 days after giving birth! She is a wonder mom!

I decided to make a little 'Welcome Book' for Stephanie about the very special day she was born. So I went on the internet on the day she was born and got some very important details about her day...  I had a great time making it and I knew Julie would appreciate it, but as soon as she saw the front page she cried... oh her sweet little mama hormones! Finally my scrapbooking skills were put to use!

This was the first day that Brent and my Mom got to meet and fall in love with Stephanie as well.

Brought back memories of when Melanie was a little baby (although she was never that small).

Proud Grand-Maman!

New Shoes for a New Me!

Well, I mentioned a few weeks ago when I lost over 40 lbs that my treat to myself was to buy new cool black walking shoes... I deserved it, I work hard, walk alot, lost 40 lbs and my old shoes were 9 years old and because my feet are thinner and my legs are thinner, I walk different and they just didn't fit anymore.  So, I went to National Sports and looked around for some good 'black' running shoes, the guy tried to sell me other ones because they might have better arch support and I said, well, do they come in black- he said no, so I said, I really want black shoes... he must have thought I was nuts!

So here they are! I never paid so much for running shoes, but this time it was different, it was my prize. They were on sale for $80 and they are worth it! They are so cool and comfy with their black and hot pink Nike wings!

Look at my tiny little foot. Don't I look like a punk ass walking expert! Like I mentioned, my feet are thinner, so much so that I had to buy size 8 instead of size 8 1/2.

Oh yeah baby, the first walk, had to tighten the laces and get some good support for my heels and I was all ready, I feel like I am walking faster and better now, watch out world, move out of the way, here I come!

Moist and Delicious - Blueberry Oat Muffins

When my little sister got home from the hospital with her new baby, I wanted to bake some healthy, wholesome, delicious food and snacks for her and her family. Being a new mom... I have been there, when you get home with a new baby, you need all the help and support you can get, and one of the ways I wanted to help was by making homemade muffins made with oats and antioxidant-filled blueberries.

Look at the batter, I used frozen blueberries that thawed a little too much, the batter was all purplely-blueish.

Here's the final muffin. They turned out delish!!! Barrie, Julie's husband just loved them... he couldn't stop talking about it! And I saved a few for my family too and he's right, they were so moist and sweet because of the blueberries and the brown sugar.  

This recipe came from an old cookbook that was in my library- the Baking Festival Cookbook.

Blueberry Oat Muffins

1 cup Rolled Oats

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup All-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt ( I also added 1/2 tsp of cinnamon)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 melted butter

1 cup blueberries

Directions:

Combines oats and buttermilk. Let stand for 10 minutes. Combine next 5 ingredients in large mixing bow. Stir well to blend. Add egg and melted butter to oat mixture. Mix well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Gently forl in blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan sprayed with Pam. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes of until top springs back when lightly touched.

Makes 12 regular sized muffins. Nutriotional Information per muffin:

167

calories, 28g carbs,

5g fat,

4g protein,

1g fibre,

16g sugar

Look, even Stephanie likes them, she's smiling! And there's Barrie behing me snoozing!

Greek Night... light

This is a real quick and simple dinner. Souvlakis on the BBQ, Greek Salad and this new PC Blue Menu Tzaziki.  I love the Blue Menu products, they are healthier alternatives to the higher calorie, fat, salt packaged items. So if you need to get packaged item, I like to fall back on items that I know are a little better for me and my family.

We made some basmati rice, grilled those MarcAngelo already skewered Pork Souvlakis (130 calories per skewer) and I made a greek salad.  I used romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatos, green peppers, sliced kalamata olives and light feta cheese. I made an olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette with some salt, pepper and garlic. It was delicious, healthy and fresh.

But Brent's favourite is this.... TZATZIKI, he would eat this whole container!!!! He found this Blue Menu product, which I love! And it's delicious- I have just a little bit because it's too 'garlicky' for me.  For 2 tablespoons, it's 30 calories and 2g of fat. Not bad at all!

Happy St. Patrick's Day- Green Day Celebration with Nice Nails and Guacamole

So in honour of my 1/8th Irish heritage I will share with you today some 'Green Things'. My new love, fresh homemade Guacamole and a Festive Nail Design. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here are this week's Nice Nails- Princess Fiona Design. What do you think? Rather Green!!!

I put on 2 coats of the Sally Hansen "Ivy League', then used the dark green Art Deco for designing some leaves and ivy then used the white Art Deco to make highlights and then the Gold Nicole for shine and shimmer!

Now onto the Guacamole...

If you know me, you know I don't like things that are too creamy or mealy, like beans or pudding, or tradionally made guacamole. But that all changed when I went to visit my friends recently. Szos made this chunky and tangy guacamole that I could just not get enough of. Was it the tangy vinegar and lime, the fesh cilantro, the big pieces of avocado? I think a combination of all of this... plus it was made with love!

See the delicious Guac below, I was scooping it up like a nut with these organic crispy rice crackers. I have found a new nutrition heaven!

You know avocados are great for you. As mentioned on www.regenerativenutrition.com,
contrary to popular assumptions, the avocado can be a helpful part of a successful weight-management program. It brings several advantages.

·        Its monounsaturated fat speeds up the basal metabolic rate, as compared with saturated fat. #

·        Its high fat content gives a quicker feeling of satiation ("fullness"), thus helping to reduce overeating.

·        Its high fat content makes an overall sound diet more palatable, reducing the temptation to binge on foods high in sugars or saturated fats.

·        Its rich supply of vitamins and minerals also makes the diet more wholesome and satisfying and thus more conducive to overall health and to moderation in consumption.

"...the most nutritious of all fruits." Noted food writer Gaylord Hauser once said of it: "In this single delectable fruit are combined the protein of meat, the fat of butter [but much more wholesome!], the vitamins and minerals of green vegetables, the flavor of nuts...."

Here's the recipe.

SZOZS' GUACAMOLE:

This is a smaller size batch that you can double and triple and so on...depending on your needs

1 Large Avocado or 1 1/2 reg. Avocado

1 Handful of cilantro (I chop it super fine, so the stems don't get stuck in my teeth...you could always take the stems off too)

1/8 of a Red/Yellow/Orange pepper (also chopped super fine so that it's a subtle sweet taste)

Optional Ingredients: Super finely chopped red onion, or spring onion and/or garlic

Dressing:

2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

2 tsp Olive Oil

Juice of 1/2 med-large juicy lime

Sea Salt to taste

Optional: if you like a bit of heat, sprinkle some cayenne into the mix

Note: The dressing should taste really zingy...add more apple cider vinegar and/or lime if it needs it.

Nutrional information for 4 servings:

100 calories, 6g carbs, 10g fat, 1g protein, 4g fibre, 1g sugar

Nice Nails- Girly Pink Polka Dots- The Stephanie

In honour of my new little niece, Stephanie, I had to paint my nails pink and of course... add some cool girly designs, double trouble polka dots it was!

So, what do you think? I used some old hot pink nail polish, then I used my new 'dotting tool' to first make the balck dots, then I let them dry a bit and then I put a smaller white dot then I waited for that to dry for a bit, then I put on the quick dry top coat. I LOVE DOTS!

Look at the little fingers holding her 'name's sake'.

Look at my muse, sleeping on me and holding the little pink and polka dot style.... ahhhhh, so cute!

Skinny Cow to the Rescue

Well I used to love high fat and sugary ice cream- like Rolo and Reese's, horribly unhealthy, I know. And the worst part was that I used to eat most of the container and it would be gone in a week (or less sometimes). My whole thing now is 'portion control' and healthy alternatives.  So look what I found at the store recently... SKINNY COW TO THE RESCUE!

Aren't these cute? Tiny little 157ml servings. I bought one of each of the flavours, of course I had the chocolate with brownie bits, Brent had the Caramel swirl and Melanie had the Cookies and cream. Mine was ok, it tasted a bit 'processed', but the others- which were white ice milk product (not ice cream) were a lot better. There's were good and I would by them again.

Check out the nutritional dets... this little cup has 150 calories, 1.5g of fat, 3g of fibre? where's the fibre from??? Anyways, I just loved them for a treat - because they were around $2.00 each- but mostly because you had your little portion and that was it, there wasn't anymore lurking in the freezer calling out your name.

Light Pasta Night- Fettucine with red peppers, chicken and basil

This recipe is light and fresh- the fresh basil really makes the dish. You could add any veggies you enjoy, but these are some family favourites.

Fettucine with peppers, chicken and fresh basil (adapted from eatingwell.com)

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 red peppers cut into chunks
1 cup frozen peas
2 cup cooked chicken
2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz whole wheat fettucine
1/2 cup freshy grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for cooking pasta.  Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant bu not browned, about 1 minute. Add peppers and peas and increase heat to medium- high, cook, stirring occasionaly, until tender and lighty browned, 3-4 minutes then add chicken to warm it up. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 9-11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid.  Add the pasta, the reserved liquid, parmesan and 1/4 cup basil to the skillet, toss to coat well. Serve immediately, garnished with remaining basil.

Nutrional Information (serves 4 people)
438 calories
51g carbs
13g fat
30g protein
9g fibre
7g sugar

Sushi Night = Girlfriend Night... so delicious!

Well, I recently had another opportunity to go to my favourite Sushi Restaurant. Crazy Sushi! I only enjoy this place when I get together with certain girlfriends as my family does not share my love for this type of cuisine.

I wanted to thank my dear friend Janice for a wonderful Total Wedding Show experience and what better place for a vegan (Janice, not me) than a Sushi place. It took us almost one hour to order because we couldn't stop talking and catching up... but when we did, we weren't disappointed!

Janice and her Miso soup.

Janice and some Edemame- her first time... she liked it a lot!

Me and some Edemame... not my first rodeo! I love them, they are crunchy and steamed and salty and full of protein and fibre. It's a wonder food!!!!

Janice's selection, a perfect vegan choice, a Vegetable Tempura Roll with crisp, tempura battered eggplant, sweet potato, zucchini, broccoli and carrot rolled with avocado and cucumber.

Oh, I think you've seen my favourite thing in the world. I am holding it up for you loud and proud!

The Crazy Roll, crispy tempura battered shrimp rolled with fresh avocado, cucumber and crabstick topped by another layer of tempura shrimp and tobiko caviar ( in 3 different colours) and the most delicious spicy sauce on top.



Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken- an easy and delicious treat

This has got to be the best crockpot chicken breast recipe ever!!!! And Brent made it! It was so delicious and easy to make. It's even better reheated the second day. Serve it over rice and just enjoy!

Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken Recipe  (http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/01/slow-cooker-honey-sesame-chicken-recipe.html) 

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thighs would be fine too)

Salt and pepper

1 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup diced onion

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (could also use olive oil or canola oil)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

4 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tablespoons water

Sesame seeds

Directions:

Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in 6 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened. Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

Nutritional Information: (since you don't eat all the sauce left in the crockpot- the actual amounts are probably 1/4 less)

390 calories

42 g carbs

9 g fat

37 g protein

40g sugar