A December Cooking Day!

Today I was awakened by sore muscles and the promise of a cold rainy day. I forewent the gym, seeing how I could identify every single muscle in my body based on a level of soreness I haven't felt since pre-triathlon days. Ahh, Friday morning 3 hr gym workouts. So, after making breakfast I was lazy all morning, then got motivated and cooked, prepped meals for the week, and cut veggies and fruits. Ahh, organization. THEN, I finished all of my Christmas decorations, wrapped a few presents, cleaned the house, and treated myself to the Hallmark Channel movie: Mrs. Miracle. Dumb, but an easy watch.

Its been a while since I posted any recipes, and since I did so much cooking, here is what I made and some recipes if you want.

Breakfast: I used up the leftover loaf of light wheat bread to make Light French Toast. I soaked each piece in egg beaters, vanilla extract and fat free half and half dusted with cinnamon. Each piece totals out at one point each. I served each with fresh banana and mandarin orange segments and sugar free syrup. Pretty, healthy, and so easy. I made 4 extra pieces which I will heat up for us tomorrow morning in the toaster for an even easier repeat!

Lunch: I made Kris his favorite Broccoli Soup. Its really pretty easy and very light. I dressed the soup up with 1/2 piece crumbled center cut bacon and a dusting of cheese for about 50 extra calories for him, and enjoyed it as is for me. 1 cup is 3 points, 1 1/2 cups is 4 pts.

Lightened Broccoli Soup
Ingredients
2 tsp olive/canola oil
1/2 cup onion(s), minced
16 oz frozen chopped broccoli (I used some leftover fresh too)
29 oz canned chicken broth
(I also added dashes of poultry and chicken grinder seasonings, thyme, and black pepper)
4 oz Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product, cut into cubes, or similar product
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cornstarch
Instructions
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes, until soft. Add broccoli and broth and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer 3 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
Reduce heat to low, add cheese and stir until cheese melts; stir in milk and garlic powder. You can pulse this with a hand blender, but leave some chunks.
Whisk together water and cornstarch. Add mixture to pan and simmer 2 minutes, until thick. Serve hot. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

Dinner:
I made throw together chili while prepping tonight's dinner for tomorrow, so when we get home from church, dinner is ready! Easy Recipe: the more veggies the less points!
-1 1b 95% lean beef
-Onion, carrot, zucchini ground in my chopper
Mix together and saute, drain beef. Then return to pan and add:
-dice one each red, green, yellow peppers (I use fresh but frozen is fine)
-Then add 1-2 packaged chili seasoning packets
-1 large 32 oz can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained
-1 regular 15 oz can kidney beans
-1 large 32 oz can of diced tomatoes
-1 regular 15 oz can tomato sauce
Let simmer for hours. Refrigerate overnight, and serve the next day! 1 cup is 3 points.

Now, our actual dinner for tonight was Delicious!
I baked a pork tenderloin and 2 acorn squash in a pan for 40 minutes. Meanwhile I made chili, a zucchini casserole, and prepped apple crisp. I already portioned out the leftovers for lunches. Recipes below!

Mashed Winter Squash
Bake or microwave your choice of winter squash. Add splenda or light brown sugar, butter or fat free butter, and cinnamon, mash and serve! 1.2 cup is usually 2 pts.

Zucchini Casserole
Saute onion, 4-6 diced zucchini, and season with garlic, pepper, salt, whatever you like on zucchini. Use a wok and saute, or Add enough water to cover and cook until zucchini is soft. Drain water if you added any, then add 3/4 cup steel cut oats, 2 tablespoons of ground flax, and about 2 cups of chicken broth: enough to moisten oats. Pour into sprayed casserole dish and bake 350 x 35 minutes. As is 1 point per cup, but if you add cheese it would be more. Kris likes it fine without cheese!

Lightened Apple Crisp
Use 4 or so leftover apples and cut into slices. Put in sprayed casserole/pie dish.
Sprinkle lemon juice, 1 T splenda, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
Make topping: 3/4 cup oats, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 T flour, and 3 T butter.
Bake 350 x 30 min.
Serve over vanilla ice cream (I use Bryers Fat free: 1/2 cup= 1 pt) and drizzle with sugar free caramel. YUM. I count a small serving as 4 pts.