2 Minute French Toast

Yes, you read it right! I know many things that will cook quickly and make only one serving in a mug using the microwave, but I NEVER thought of French Toast... until today. Actually I was (yes...) browsing on Pinterest and found a website that offered ideas AND recipes for 18 things to make in a mug using a microwave. I'll give the website later, but for now, I TOOK PICTURES and calculated the calories (360) !!! So here goes...

Ingredients

1 hot dog bun (120 cal)
1 egg
3 Tblspoon fat free milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 Tblspoon syrup (165 cal)




Cut the hot dog bun into 1/2" cubes and put in a coffee mug. Dont pack too tight.
Crack an egg into a separate bowl and scramble with fork.
Add 3 Tbl milk, combine.
Add vanilla and cinnamon, combine.
Pour over bread cubes.
Let sit for a few minutes, the longer the better.
Microwave (approx) 1.5 minutes
...check to see that egg is cooked.
Top with syrup... EAT & ENJOY!!

By the way, you can calculate your calories and nutritional info for a menu at this great site!
http://caloriecount.about.com

Cupcakes for all Occasions!

I have wanted to make and sell cupcakes for a Loooong time now. I'm not sure why, I just like cupcakes so much, and there are SO many possibilities with them! So a few days ago, a friend of mine was online and looking for an idea for her little girl's 7th birthday. CUPCAKES! Seemed a natural solution. The problem was she didn't have time to make them. We are so busy these days it's hard to find the time to do things like this so.. this is where I can help!

We looked at a few ideas and she really liked these rainbow cupcakes I showed her so I took the burden from her and eagerly accepted the first order for cupcakes! I figured this would be an easy one to start with since there was no filling, very little decoration needed on top, just white frosting and I wanted to add a little colored sugar.

Let me tell you... Rainbow Cupcakes is NOT a walk in the park. They are not difficult, just Time consuming. I mixed up a white batter, and then separated into 4 bowls. Tinted with good vibrant coloring til I was happy with the colors then the fun began! Spooning a small amount into each cup.. no problem. Smoothing it to the edges so it doesn't mix & marble with the color beneath - there is a trick to that! LUCKILY I had read about this trick and knew what to do. Needless to say, I did ONE dozen at a time, and it took 50 minutes from mixing batter to putting ONE tray in the oven. Amazing! Would I do it again? YOU BET!  They turned out SUPER... I loved them, she loved them, her little girl loved them, even her hubby loved them and wants some for HIS birthday! YAY!!! Here are a few pics...

This is before any frosting was applied. The cupcake wrapper was yellow (see at top of paper) but you can definitely see the colors of the layers thru the wrapper! (and yes, the top is Purple!)

After that we have a couple pictures of them frosted and ready to go. I made 2 dozen and one dozen I sprinkled with blue sugar on top of the frosting, and the other was a light green. Light green didn't show up as well, so I think it either needed more, or needed to be blue. But Just the same it added a little sparkle to them.

Time to box them up and roll 'em out!

YAY!!!

Kale - it's Good For You and very Disguise-able!

I just hate come-on ads... "Click here to find out the secret to...", "Click to see how Kelly lost 45 pounds", and most recently... "7 Hearty Kale recipes!" ... Only to find out you need to sign up, or join something to get to the "promised land".  Well Nature Box.. you did it to me today. I am trying to find ways to introduce Kale into our meals since it is a bit hard to eat alone. When I clicked, I was faced with the "sign up for our program" page before I would be allowed to see these recipes. No Thanks! I decided I could probably figure it out from these photos so that is what we'll do. I have plenty of Kale in the fridge, and I can see trying at least 3 of these in the coming days.

First one that catches my eye is Kale Mac 'n Cheese. How hard can it be to figure out how to add it to Mac n Cheese! Ok.. and then the Kale Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.. CAN DO! I think I'll skip the Massaged Kale Salad, I just can't see me "Massaging Kale" before putting it in a salad, although some of it is tough enough I can see it needs it! LOL

Anyone have recipes for using Kale you'd like to share? Feel free to Comment below and let's get this (kale) party started!!

Fish Tacos

I have procrastinated making Fish Tacos for a LONG time now, even though I really did want to try them. Finally last night I bit the bullet, while the family was out, and made them for myself. I figured if I liked them we have a chance they might also, but if I don't - well, then it's over, done.

I had a package of individually frozen Tilapia and I had heard the lighter fish was preferable for Fish Tacos, at least in the beginning. So I took out one fillet and put it (frozen still) in a low flat soup bowl, then proceeded to look up a recipe. In looking at recipes, I didn't find one that completely floated my boat, but I did see some ingredients that I thought would go well together. The general consensus was ...you need to marinate the fish for about 15 - 20 minutes. (no longer, or it will start to 'cook' it)

I squeezed the juice of a lime over the frozen fish in the bowl, then minced up a clove of garlic and tossed that in along with some spices (see below) and 1 Tablespoon of olive oil. Jiggled the bowl around and turned the fillets over and over to make sure it was on both sides, then let it sit for 15 minutes. (Of course I set the timer!)

Meanwhile I wanted a creamy sauce of sorts to put on top... so I got out the sour cream. I know.. I KNOW! Next time I'll use plain FF Greek yogurt! (but I didnt have any) The plain sour cream did nothing to excite me so I reached for the same spices I had put in the marinade and doctored it up with that, (1/2 tsp each) then I put in a dash of Sriracha sauce to give it a little kick! Obviously you can make this as spicy (or NOT spicy) as you like, even add a little red pepper flake.

I bought the small size corn tortillas and decided to heat them in a small frying pan with No Oil... just a nice HOT pan. Grilled both sides and took out while it was still pliable enough to fold in half and not crack... and set those aside.

Now it's time for the fish to hit the pan.. 1 Tbl oil so it doesn't stick, and in the pan with the fillet and 1/2 the marinade sauce. 3 minutes on side 1, so it will mostly hold together, then flip for side to for maybe a minute. Turn off heat.

While the fish is cooling a bit, rough chop some lettuce, and a few small pieces of tomato.
Time to plate it up! Divide the fish in half to fit into 2 tortilla shells, then drizzle with what is left of the marinade in the pan. Top with a few dabs of the sour cream mixture then lettuce & tomato. Yumm! Ready to eat!

Ingredients:
white fish fillet(s)

marinade:
juice of 1/2-1 lime
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cummin
1 Tbl oil

sour cream sauce:
small carton sour cream
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 shake of Sriracha sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)

Mini Meatloaves

This idea came to me after eating mini meatloaf by Jenny Craig. Eventually you need to be able to eat on your own without the assist of their food, so I wanted to make a smaller portion of meatloaf but full flavored and I think I hit on it!

Reducing the size was easy enough, a cupcake pan makes the perfect portion size. But my previous meatloaf recipe was not the healthiest so I began experimenting. Instead of breadcrumbs I needed a more healthy 'filler' so I looked to my Turkey Burger recipe as an example and began shredding veggies to use. Feel free to switch out the veggies below with whatever you have in your fridge.

1 lb. Ground Turkey (or ground beef if you need to ease into healthiness)

1/2 lb of mixed shredded veggies like:
zucchini
carrots
yellow squash

add:
1/2 cup chopped onions
2-3 cloves minced garlic

Roll into balls, and somewhat smash into the cupcake tin. Bake 25 min at 350, then drain any grease off and top with a spoon full of your favorite BBQ sauce. Return to the oven for 5 more min and done!

I don't have a picture to post right now, but as soon as I find it... I will. Here is one I found through Googling, just to give you an idea of what it should look like.

Compliments of bellabistro.com

Green Smoothie Picture and slight recipe substitute

Ok, as promised, I took a picture today of the Green Smoothie I made. One alteration was made. I used up my spinach yesterday and forgot to replace it so.... I used what I had on hand... Romain Lettuce! Yes it worked quite well. I do think the spinach blended just a tad bit smoother, but it was really hard to tell. And again, I didnt taste any GREEN... basically just banana and honey. So there ya go... a GOOD tasting, HEALTHY morning (or anytime) smoothie!! (oh and I think I'd also classify it as Quite inexpensive.)

Note: for recipe, see yesterday's post

Green Breakfast Smoothie - Yumm!

I know... it's been a LONG time since I have blogged... and yes, I know... I DON'T have a picture to post with this one, but I just HAVE to blog about it!!  This morning I made the BEST (BEST) Breakfast Smoothie!!!  So I had to tell people about it and put the recipe where I'll remember it! LOL Here goes, into the blender IN THIS ORDER!...

GREEN Breakfast Smoothie

1 cup fresh spinach
1 handful Kale (remove spines)
1 over-the-hill banana
1 green apple
2 Tbl honey
1 cup skim milk (any will do)

Blend in blender til smooth and creamy looking...about 1 min.

Seriously, the only ingredients I tasted while drinking this... was banana and honey! It was awesome.  My stepson walked in while I poured it and I had a little left over so I poured him a small glass and said here, you can try the extra.  He didnt like the looks of it and I had to promise him all I tasted was banana and honey. He says, "you better not be lying"... and he tasted it.  Then he DRANK the whole thing in one downing. YES,... it's GOOD!

It's a great thing to do with those bananas that are just past the point where anyone in the house will eat them, and maybe not quite ready for banana bread. I used a small green apple, sliced with an apple slicer (8 pcs) first since I don't own a Vitamix.

I plan to make another one tomorrow, and I WILL take a picture then!
**Check the comments and you'll see a list of fruits and their fiber contents!**