Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Grilled Sourdough Cheddar Melt

This is your Patti Melt cooked in a mich lighter way then you could find anywhere else. And, believe it or not it is great! We cooked these last night and we loved them! You can serve them with basically anything you would like! We had Roasted Red Potatoes, our favorite, with them.


Makes 4 servings, 1 sandwich

Ingredients
2 teaspoons butter or stick margarine, divided
Cooking spray
2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 pound ground round
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 (3/4-ounce) slices 2% reduced-fat processed sharp cheddar cheese
8 (1 1/2-ounce) slices sourdough or white bread

Directions
Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook for 4 minutes or until golden brown, stirring frequently. Reduce heat; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Preheat broiler.

Combine beef, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl. Divide the beef mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/4-inch-thick oval patty. Place the patties on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil 4 minutes on each side or until done.

Place 1 cheese slice over each of 4 bread slices; top each slice with 1 patty and 3 tablespoons onion mixture. Cover with the remaining bread slices. Melt 1/2 teaspoon butter in pan coated with cooking spray over medium heat; add 2 sandwiches to pan. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until browned and cheese melts. Repeat the procedure with 1/2 teaspoon butter and the remaining sandwiches.

Nutritional Information
Calories:462 (22% from fat)
Fat:11.5g (sat 5.3g,mono 3.1g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:38.5g
Carbohydrate:49.3g
Fiber:3g
Cholesterol:80mg
Iron:5.2mg
Sodium:909mg
Calcium:357mg

-Compliments of Cooking Light

Italian Meatball Burgers and Macaroni Salad

These were really good! They did not take very long either which is always a plus! I served it with a Macaroni Salad but you could also serve it with roasted red potatoes as well. ENJOY!!!


Makes 6 servings, 1 burger is serving size

Ingredients
8 ounces sweet turkey Italian sausage
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed, I did
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound ground sirloin
Cooking spray
2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
6 (2-ounce) Italian bread rolls, split, I could not find these so I just used original dinner rolls cut in half from Publix & they were GREAT!
3/4 cup fat-free tomato-basil pasta sauce, I found a light version by Ragu

Directions
Prepare grill.

Remove casings from sausage. Combine sausage, oregano, basil, salt, fennel seeds, garlic powder, and ground sirloin. Divide beef mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.

Place patties on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes. Turn patties over; grill 2 minutes. Divide fresh mozzarella cheese evenly over patties, and grill an additional 5 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Remove from grill; let stand 5 minutes.

Place rolls, cut sides down, on grill rack; grill 1 minute or until toasted. Place 1 patty on bottom half of each roll; top each serving with 2 tablespoons sauce and top half of roll.

Nutritional Information
Calories:375 (33% from fat)
Fat:13.9g (sat 5.3g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.7g)
Protein:28.1g
Carbohydrate:32.7g
Fiber:1.8g
Cholesterol:80mg
Iron:4.5mg
Sodium:894mg
Calcium:130mg

-Compliments of Cooking Light


Macaroni Salad with Bacon, Peas, & Creamy Dijon Dressing


I made this the night before we ate it and I definitely recomment doing that. I always love a pasta salad that has sat in the refridgerator the night before better because it has time to sit and mix all the ingredients better. I really enjoyed this pasta salad and so did my mother and grandmother (Meme). Justin did not enjoy it because he does not like "cold things for dinner" or any pasta salad really. :) But, if you are looking for a great summer pasta salad this is my recommendation!



Makes 8 servings, 1 cup of pasta salad and 1 teaspoon of bacon

Ingredients
Dressing:
1/2 cup (4 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise, I used the new olive oil mayo by kraft
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Salad:
8 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni, I used reg size because I could not find lg
2/3 cup fresh green peas
2/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
2/3 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 lower-sodium bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Directions
To prepare dressing, combine first 9 ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Cover and chill.

To prepare salad, cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; add peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain; rinse with cold water. Drain. Combine pasta mixture, bell pepper, and next 4 ingredients (through rind) in a large bowl. Toss pasta mixture with half of dressing. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Toss salad with remaining dressing, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon; serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories:208 (30% from fat)
Fat:7g (sat 3.2g,mono 2.2g,poly 1.4g)
Protein:8.6g
Carbohydrate:29.1g
Fiber:2.3g
Cholesterol:16mg
Iron:1.5mg
Sodium:454mg
Calcium:44mg

-Compliments of Cooking Light

Blueberry-Banana Bread

This recipe is so easy and this bread is delicous! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It is perfect for breakfast or just a snack!

Makes 1 loaf and will serve 10

**In any recipe that calls for flour, I always use unbleached white flour. It is better for you than bleached white flour. I also use whole-wheat flour a lot too! You can tell no difference!**
Ingredients
1 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed and drained, or frozen blueberries
**I used frozen b/c they are cheaper!**
2 cups plus one tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar, I only used 1/2 cup
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, I used 1 tsp
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3)
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled, I only used 4-5
1 large egg
Oatmeal Streusel

**Recipe for the Oatmeal Streusel**
In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup each all-purpose flour, regular rolled oats, and chopped dried banana chips; 2 tablespoons each firmly packed brown sugar and butter, cut into chunks; and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Mix with your fingers until fine crumbs form.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. In a small bowl, gently mix blueberries with 1 tablespoon of the flour.

3. In another bowl, blend remaining 2 cups flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

4. In a third, large bowl, whisk bananas, buttermilk, butter, and egg to blend. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture just until evenly moistened; the batter will be stiff. Gently stir in blueberry mixture.

5. Spread batter level in a buttered 5- by 9-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with oatmeal streusel and press in lightly.

6. Bake bread in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes.

7. Let bread cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then run a knife around edges to loosen. Invert bread onto a plate, remove pan, and turn over onto rack to cool completely, about 45 minutes.


Nutritional Information
Calories:319 (31% from fat)
Protein:4.8g
Fat:11g (sat 6.8)
Carbohydrate:51g
Fiber:1.8g
Sodium:347mg
Cholesterol:48mg

-Compliments of www.myrecipes.com

**Here is the Cooking Light version of this recipe. I have not tried it yet but I will next time!**

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour, use unbleached
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup mashed ripe banana
3/4 cup blueberries
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
**I would add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to this. Spices have no calories as long as you make sure is it 100% that spice!**

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, grits, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine oil, banana, blueberries, and eggs; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist.

Spoon batter into an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan, and cool completely on wire rack.

Nutritional Information
Calories:145 (25% from fat)
Fat:3.6g (sat 0.4g,mono 1.8g,poly 1g)
Protein:3g
Carbohydrate:25.9g
Fiber:1.4g
Cholesterol:27mg
Iron:0.9mg
Sodium:116mg
Calcium:15mg

-Compliments of Cooking Light

Friday, June 4, 2010

Sweet Summertime!

Hope everyone has been enjoying the summer so far! I miss those days where my job was being a lifeguard in the summer and literally getting paid to work on my tan! Ahhh the good ole days! Haha. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend. We sure enjoyed ours as well, despite the weather! YUCK!

Our social lives have thankfully slowed down for the moment and so we have been enjoying relaxation every weekend at home. Since it's June now, can you believe it, we are getting into moving mode. This weekend will kick off the start of us getting things packed up and organized. We are having a yard sale with Brad & Mary next Saturday, so hopefully we will be able to get our unwanted things sold and make a little extra money too! We already sold our couches, rug, coffee table, end tables, washer & dryer, and some other items! We listed all our living room furniture on Craigslist and I sold all of it except our big chair and our old table lamps so far! Craigslist is a cool site but I am here to tell you that I did encounter some strange people. Luckily the two people I sold everything to have been normal! I thought Justin and me were going to be killed no lie, because some of the people were so strange. I recommend the site but proceed with caution that is for sure! Haha.

Our new house is coming right along. They are done with everything except a few things. I have not posted pictures in a while but will do very soon. We have our Orientation for the new house on June 23 and then we close June 28. Can not wait!

Can you believe Justin and me have been married for a year now? We certainly can not! It really is scary how quickly time passes us by. I remember when I was a teenager and I could not wait to be in high school and then I could not wait to be in college. I swear it used to feel like time moved so slowly. I even remember feeling like the weekends went by slowly back then. Then all of a sudden I graduate and next thing I know I am talking about memories from my freshman year and it feels like they were so long ago. I feel like I used to remember everything but these days I can not remember many of them. Luckily I have pictures I can look back on and that really helps trigger that particular day. But, we had a wonderful pre-anny celebration since we were spending Memorial Day with friends. We went out to a wonderful dinner Thursday night and stuffed our faces! My wonderful husband who really does remember all the little things I say I want to do gave me Carrie Underwood tickets. I have been saying how I would like to go to her concert but to tell you the truth I have been thinking about so many other things lately that it had slipped my mind that she was coming here so soon. So when I opened my card from him and I read what my present was I was so excited and just could not believe he thought to get those for me! Justin is not a fan of country music so I knew he would not want to go. But it just so happens to fall on next weekend, when he is going on a trip to New Orleans with some friends for there fraternity alumni softball tournament that they have every year. I decided to take Molly with me because she loves Carrie just as much as me and we can not wait. Justin and me are definitely looking forward to all our many many anny's we will share together in the future!

Our best friends Amy and Scooter had there first child Landry Kate Crutcher last Friday! She is a week old today! She is absolutely adorable and if you know me then you know I am already obsessed! Believe it or not Justin is already very fond of her as well! He actually held her at the hospital the day she was born!! That was Justin's first time to ever hold a new born!! He has always been too scared to do it but I told him he would be fine and he was! When I went to hand her to him he said I'm scared! Haha. I told him it was going to be fine and it was. We went and visited them on Monday and he held her again for a little while longer this time as she slept. So as you can tell we already love her so much. :) Amy is doing great as well! She had to have a c-section but is moving around very well and overall has been feeling good. So we are so thankful for that.

My sister went to her appointment this week in Cincinnati and after a long long day of a million meetings and tests they were presented with a few different game plans. It is so much information to take in so if you would like to check out her blog at http://www.ohbaby2010.blogspot.com then you can read the whole story. There really is no short version of it all because there is no certain plan at the moment. They are back in the "there are several options and outcomes" stage. So they are having to play the waiting game all over again. The one thing we do know is we really are going to need all the prayers possible because as we know there is always a possibility of an unwanted outcome and this is what we will be praying for for now. Luckily, my sister feels very confident in the team of doctors that she will be working with and so she has a very good feeling everything will be fine. So if that is what she thinks then that is what we will think as well.

So long for now and until next time.......