And so we (OK, I) begin a new week…

Thursday is my weigh in day (although because of some work issues I probably can’t weigh in until tomorrow)…funny how I always think of this day a brand new start…for instance, if I have been a little over, or just plain bad…this is the day all is redeemed for me and I have a clean slate!  Anybody else feel this way?  I have been thinking of this as a “good” thing, anybody disagree? 

And here is some daily delish – I CANNOT wait to eat these – and I don’t mind telling you that is probably a two serving recipe for me because I LOVE MUSHROOMS, umm and of course, CHEESE, and umm PIZZA…oh my…I AM SENSING A THEME HERE…

Portobello Mushroom Pizza Cups

3 PointsPlus Value

4 Servings

Ingredients

4 large portobello mushroom(s)  

4 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray  

1 cup(s) store-bought pizza sauce, (Marinara or spaghetti sauce ok too, add italian s  

12 slice(s) Hormel Pillow Pack Turkey Pepperoni, finely chopped  

1/4 cup(s) green pepper(s), chopped  

3/4 cup(s) Weight Watchers Reduced-fat 4 cheese Italian-style blend  

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning  

Instructions

Remove and discard stems and gills from mushrooms; spray caps with oil.

Place rounded sides down on an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan.

Bake, uncovered, at 400 for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the pizza sauce, pepperoni, and green pepper ; spoon onto mushrooms.

Sprinkle with cheese and Italian seasoning.

Bake for 8-12 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and cheese is bubbly.

From www.tasteofhome.com

Modified by me on 3-29-12

Now for some funny signs: (borrowed from my favorite vendor blogger at work!)

On a Plumbers truck: ”We repair what your husband fixed.” 

On the trucks of a local plumbing company in NE Pennsylvania: ”Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.” 

Pizza shop slogan: ”7 days without pizza makes one weak.”

Door of a plastic surgeon’s office: “Hello. Can we pick your nose?”

At a towing company: “We don’t charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.” On an electrician’s truck: “Let us remove your shorts.”

On a maternity room door: “Push. Push. Push.”

At an optometrist’s office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”

On a taxidermist’s window: “We really know our stuff.”

In a podiatrist’s office: “Time wounds all heels.” On a fence: “Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive.”

At a car dealership: “The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”

In a veterinarian’s waiting room: “Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”

Breaking news – NOT!

I might be a bit of a food junkie (if that surprises, or shocks you then you need to go back and read some history here!)….so earlier I was telling you about the Creamy Spinach Alfredo and Sausage that I brought for lunch you know?  I went out at lunchtime to run to the bank for work etc, and I found myself wondering what kind of fast food I could have that you know, wouldn’t be TOO BAD as far as points go (REALLY, JULIE JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE FOOLING HERE??)…and I just had to wonder about myself (NOT THE FIRST TIME…NOT EVEN THE 700^TH PROBABLY!!) because it really wasn’t about being hungry…it was about the pleasure of putting some cheesy, fatty CRAP in to my pie-hole!!! Oh my goodness isn’t that crazy???  I can’t be the only one, can I?

Now for the good news!! I didn’t do it!!! Instead I went and tried on clothes…if that doesn’t kill your appetite, I am not sure what will!!!  

If that STILL doesn’t work TRY ON CLOTHES THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW WILL BE A SIZE TOO SMALL!!

Carry on…

It’s my Birthday Season and I feel like I am another year older…

This was saved in drafts...maybe I never posted it, back in JULY!!!

(Well that’s a given) and about 8,000 points in the hole this week…with yet another birthday dinner out to survive tonight.  All you local peeps feel free to shout out some freebie deals where I can choose some healthy eats!  So because of all of this, here is what I made for lunch and it was REALLY GOOD!!

Ham and Brocco Roll Up

5 Points Plus

1 Flat Out Light Italian Herb wrap

1 Laughing Cow Light Garlic and Herb wedge

2 Slices 98% Fat Free lunch meat

6 oz Mann’s Broccoli Cole Slaw – IF YOU HAVEN’T TRIED THIS, GET IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW AND GO BUY SOME!!! SEE NOTES BELOW SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY RECIPE!

Sprinkle of fresh chives from my garden (or a little dab of onion would do ya too ya know…)

2 T Kraft Free Zesty Italian dressing (you might not need this much, but I wanted to be sure of points value)

Spread the Laughing Cow on wrap and lay the 2 slices of ham out to cover it all.  Spread, chives and broccoli slaw over top and drizzle with dressing.  Roll up and enjoy!!

OK – Back to the broccoli slaw, I found this stuff through Hungry Girl and it is the bomb!  Lots of bulk, without lots of points!  I have only been using this in stir fry and wraps but I just looked at their website and HOLY RECIPE BONANZA!! Yay, new things to try!  Check it out!

http://www.mannpacking.com/broc_cole.html#

Spinach…it’s whats for dinner!

Ok, I needed something easy and “comfort food-ish”last night…and well being Fat Tuesday Eve, I mean Cheese day Eve, OK IT WAS JUST MONDAY!  I created this delectable casserole (that I don’t mind telling you I am having a half serving of for lunch today  with a salad also!) for you to try out!  It was Yummo!!!

My 9 year old girl who goes through those picky stages (Her: “Mom I don’t like mushrooms” Me: ”Really, that is a surprise to me honey…”  Her: “Well, I only like them on pizza” Her:  “Mom, I don’t like sausage” Me “Really, I didn’t know that honey…” Her: “Well, I only like it for breakfast…” ) Ok, you get the idea…I could go on like this ALL DAY!!)  I have to say if I like something, I like it, not just on Tuesdays, or not one week and not the rest…see what I mean?  I could fill a whole post with these food conditions that come to think of it might be conducive to
losing weight, maybe she is on to something?? Say if I only ate cheese on Tuesdays…then only chocolate cake on Wednesdays…oh never mind…

Try this one for yourself and tell me what you think!


Creamy Spinach Alfredo with Chicken Sausage
8 PointsPlus Value
8 Servings (because there was a lot more of this than you would think!)

Ingredients

12 oz alfredo sauce, light
1/4 cup(s) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese  
4 oz canned mushrooms 
1/2 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped  
2 tsp minced garlic  
13.25 oz box Whole Grain Penne, pasta  
1/4 cup(s) reduced fat parmesan cheese  
16 oz chopped frozen spinach, Thawed, with as much liquid as possible drained out  
3 Spinach and Asiago Cheese Chicken brats, (I used Chicken sausage from Sam's Club)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Cook sausage, I did mine in toaster oven on broiler setting,
turning occasionally.
Put pasta on to cook, according to package directions.
Saute, onions mushrooms and garlic until nicely cooked. Add
spinach to heat at the end.
Cut cooked sausage into bite sized pieces and add to spinach
mixture.
Drain and rinse (yes, rinse! It removes a lot of starch!)
pasta. Add to spinach mixture.
Pour jar of Alfredo sauce over mixture and stir.
Top with both cheeses and bake about 15 minutes until cheese
is melted.

Enjoy!
Made up by me on 3-26-12!

Hi, remember me!?? Sorry I have been so far behind in posting, but I hope you have all been well...here is a little Slow Monday yumminess..

Slow Cooker Taco Bake
7 Points Plus
6 Servings

Ingredients:

3/4 pound(s) cooked 95% lean ground beef, This is 1lb raw!   
1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped   
3/4 cup(s) water   
15 oz canned tomato sauce   
1 1/4 oz Ortega Taco seasoning, (1 envelope)   
3 cup(s) cooked macaroni, (8 oz uncooked!)   
1/2 cup(s) Borden 2% Shreds Finely shredded reduced fat mild cheddar cheese   

Instructions

1. Brown beef and onion in a skillet.
2. Drain off drippings.
3. Add water, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.
4. Mix well.
5. Simmer for 15 minutes in skillet.
6. Transfer to slow cooker.
7. Stir in uncooked macaroni.
8. Cover. Cook on High 1 hours, or on Low 4 hours, or until macaroni are fully cooked but not mushy.

Just before serving, top with shredded cheddar cheese.
Try substituting FF Salsa for the tomato sauce!
From "Fix It and Forget It" modified by me 3-26-12.

Now for the funnies!!

Google:  If you can’t find it in 3 minutes or less it doesn’t exist.

I may not know Karate, but I know a baseball bat!

The Mind of a Teenager:  When I say, “I cleaned my room,” I usually mean I made a path from my door to my bed.

I can’t undo mistakes.  All I can do is make more mistakes and hope the original one gets diluted.

Depression:  When you feel the need to knock the stupid out of someone but you know the jail time isn’t worth it.

Dear Sleep, I know we had problems when I was younger, but I love you now.

People say love is the best feeling, but I think finding a toilet when the situation is “urgent” is better.

When I die I’d like someone to keep updating my Facebook status just to freak people out.

Fish have a 30-second memory.  So, they must spend their life thinking:
“Shoot!  I’m drowning!  Wait, it’s okay, I’m a fish.  Shoot!  I’m
drowning!  Wait, it’s okay, I’m a fish!”

If I found out I only had one week to live and could go anywhere in the
world, I think I would go to the hospital because that sounds serious.

Oh, I’m sorry…did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours?

If people winked in real life as much as they do in texts this world would be a pretty creepy place.

I decided to go for a run today.  Got to the end of my driveway and
decided I wanted cinnamon rolls.  Walked back.  Best. Idea. Ever.

The funny thing about Facebook is you can talk about one person and it makes 20 others think it’s about them.

I’ll call it a “smart” phone the day I yell, “Where’s my freaking phone?!” and it answers, “I’m here!  Under your jacket!”

If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.

I am working on moving to my own domain...

Ooooh doesn't that sound cool?  I mean my own domain...well I am getting off track...I know hard to believe isn't it???  But anyway my new web address will be www.wannagetfedup.com and is currently re-routing to right back here until I ummm learn how to build a website on my own...so that being said...if you see anything odd, please let me know!!

I will be back to posting recipes soon!  I promise!