BBQ Pork & Penne Skillet

So this was our DELICIOUS dinner tonight! 8 our of 8 loved it. So that is always great! Monday night I put 12 lbs of pork shoulder & butt in a crock pot with diced onion and ginger ale. Set to LOW for 12 hours. Drained the fat and ginger ale off. Threw the onions back in and started pulling the pork off. Threw in some jars of BBQ sauce and left on LOW for about 5 more hours. We had pulled pork tostadas and with all the extra made this recipe.

1 pkg (16 oz, but I only had 13.25 oz) whole wheat penne pasta
1 C chopped sweet red pepper
3/4 C chopped onion
oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
18 oz BBQ pork. I guess you can buy it in the freezer section
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes w/mild green chilies, undrained
1/2 C beef broth
1 t cumin
1 t pepper
1/4 t salt
1 1/4 C chedder, shredded
1/4 C chopped green onions

Cook pasta. Meanwhile in a large skillet, saute red pepper and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer. Stir in the pork, tomatoes, broth, cumin, pepper and salt; heat thru.

Drain pasta. Add pasta and cheese to pork mixture; Sprinkle with green onions.

I didn't add the cheese and green onions. I just put them in bowls on the table. I also forgot the cumin, pepper nad salt. Tasted great, but I love cumin, so I can imagine it would be even better! Serves 8

1 serving (1 1/2 C): 313.7 calories, 12.6 g fat (and I think there is less as I drained the fat. There was hardly any fat on the refrigerated stuff.) carbs 29.7 g, 3.2 g fiber, 9.9 g sugar (BBQ sauce....gonna look for a lower sugar one next time), 15.9 g protein

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Chicken Sausage Gyros

So my grandpa was greek. I LOVE greek food! Especially gyros. So when I came across this recipe I was really excited! It is really delicious, too! We used Jennie-O turkey sausage, those U shaped (I believe) 14 oz packages. I also didn't have olive oil, so I omitted it. Wal-Mart didn't sell whole wheat pita bread, just white.

Serves 4

12 oz fully cooked spinach and feta chicken sausage links or Italian flavor of your choice, cut into 1/4"slices - doesn't spinach and feta links sound DELICIOUS!!!
1 C (8 oz) fat free sour cream
1/4 C finely chopped cucumbers
1 1/2 t red wine vinegar
1 1/2 t olive oil
1/2 t garlic powder
4 whole wheat pita bread (6")
1 medium plum tomatoes, sliced (I used grape tomatoes quartered)
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

In a large skillet coated with cooking spray (I had to add water), cook chicken sausage over meadium heat until heated through.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the sour cream, cucumber, vineagar, oil and garlic powder. Serve the chicken sausage on pita, with tomato, onion and sause.

One serving: 315.7 calories, 8.3 g fat, 39.9 g carbs, 1.8 g fiber, 4.2 g sugar, 17.8 g protein

LOTS of carbs, but that is the pita bread. I have eaten the left over meat, sauce and tomatoes today. That makes it more healthy. Next time I will try and make my own wrap.

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Beef & Blue Cheese Tart

So this is what we had last night for dinner. It was REALLY delicious, but only if you like blue cheese. Eat the middle pieces and you will have less carbs!

1/2 lb extra lean ground beef (97%)
1 3/4 C sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 medium onion, thinkly sliced
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 tube (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust
1/2 C fat free sour cream
2 t Italian seasoning
1/2 t garlic powder
3/4 C crumbled bleu cheese

Cook beef, onion and mushrooms until meat is not pink. Drain. Stir in salt & Pepper, set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll crust into a 15x12 inch rectangle. The recipe then says to transfer to a parchment paper. But I would do without the parchment paper next time. Not only is it a pain in the butt to transfer it, but when you are cutting the tart after it is cooked, it gets all cut up and if soggy, you might eat it because it is sticking to the tart!
IN a small bowl, combine sour cream, Italian seasoning and garlic powder; spread over crust within 2" of the edges. The put hamburger mixture on top of that. Fold up edges of crust over filling, leaving center uncovered. So I did the long sides first. So the 'window' of mixture you see will be about 10x7. This is when you transfer it to a cookie sheet.....have fun....it's tricky. Took 2 people, 2 spatulas and 4 hands!
Bake at 425 for 15-18 or until crust is golden brown. Spirnkle with blue cheese when it comes out and let it stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Makes 8 slices

1 slice: 208 carbs,5 g fat, 23 g carbs (eat center one and less carbs!), 2 g fiber, 3 g sugar and 18 g protein

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Green Enchilada Tostadas

Here is dinner tonight! It's delicious!

4 chicken breasts
2 small cans green enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 - 1 C sour cream (I used 1 C)
corn tortillas (or tostadas)
2-3 T veggie oil (if frying your tortillas)
Toppings: Cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro

Place the chicken in your crock pot (can place frozen in, add time for cooking). Pour enchilada sauce on top. Add the onion and cover. Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked thru and fork tender. Turn crockpot to warm, then stir in the sour cream.
If you don't use tostadas, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Fry tortillas one by one until they are crisy. Drain on paper towel. To serve, place chicken mixture on crispy tortilla then add your favorite toppings.
The chicken is kindof runny, so I a put refried beans on teh tostadas first so they wouldnt become soggy. VERY delicous....8 out of 8 thumbs up in our house!
8 - 4 oz servings

4 oz chicken = 188 calories, 2.5 g fat, 10.1 g carbs, 0.7 g fiber, 3.5 g sugar, 29.6 g protein. (this does not include the tostada or toppings)

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Crock Pot Chinese Cashew Chicken

So this is what we are eating for dinner tonight. I have sampled it already and I can't imagine it tasting better! YUM! I doubled it and it made quite a bit! Filled my crock pot up. Here is the single recipe:

4 C cooked diced chicken
2 C celery
2 cans 97% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 C chopped green onions
1 stick margarine
2 T soy sauce
8 oz sliced mushrooms, drained
2 C whole cashews
hot cooked rice

Combine chicken, soups, celery, onions, mushrooms, butter & soy sauce in crock pot. Mix well. Cook on LOW 4-6 hours or HIGH 2-3 hours.
Stir in cashews just before serving. Serve over rice.

I am actually not going to put the cashews in. I will sprinkle on after serving. That way I can control how much I get. They are MEGA numbers! Serves 8

1 serving (about 1 C minus cashews): 262 calories, 8.6 g fat, 7.3 g carbs, 1.5 g fiber, 0.6 g sugar, 37.3 g protein

3 T cashews: 148.1 calories, 12 g fat (mostly mono...so good one), 8.4 g carbs, 0.8 g fiber, 1.3 g sugar, 3.9 g protein

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Sugar Free Cake

It's been too long! I have a couple yummy recipes I need to add on! This is one I am making for FHE refreshments tonight:

Sugar Free Cake (Splenda)
Put in mixing bowl:

8 egg whites

Beat well. Add to this:
2 C splenda
1 C applesauce
1 C pumpkin

Beat again. Then add:
2 C flour
1 t bakign soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 t cinnamon
Nuts, if desired.
Spread into greased and floured 11x17 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

I am going to top with fat free cool whip! Sounds great and the numbers are not so bad either! This does NOT included nuts or cool whip:

20 servings: 1 serving = 61.7 calories, 0.2 g fat, 13.4 g carbs, 0.8 g fiber, 1.7 g sugar, 3.4 g protein

Happy Eating!
TeAm Healthy

Results!

For Te
total weight lost 14lbs
total muscle gain 4lbs
% of fat went from 27 to 19.3 in 12 weeks
I now have 105 lbs of lean, mean muscle :)
(I just had to put the mean part in)
Unfortunately, I was still in the bottom half of the competition, but I am happy with my results.

Am has great results, which she will post, but I'll just say she may be busy celebrating!