Low-Fat Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

This is another delicious, low-fat recipe from Skinny Taste. We loved it! My kids ate a ton--we were left w/ only half a loaf after one sitting! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour (I used unbleached)
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour (regular whole wheat flour would work)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (not packed)
• 1-1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 1 cup apple sauce
• 1-1/2 cups shredded zucchini (not packed)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.

Add chocolate chips and gently mix to combine.

In a medium bowl, mix egg, vanilla, melted butter, apple sauce and zucchini. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

Pour

batter into a large 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Bake

at 325° for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool

for about 10 minutes.

Remove

loaf from pan and let it cool before slicing.

Healthy Chicken Tikka Masala

I went to my first Indian restaurant a few weeks ago, Taste of India, here in Utah, and absolutely loved it. It was spicy and so yummy. The only downside was that they use a lot of cream in their sauces, so I knew I was probably reaking havoc on my diet! Anyway, I came across this healthy Indian recipe at Get Off Your Tush and Cook and was so excited! It was so yummy! It was very spicy though, so if you have kids or want less heat, I would suggest adding an additional 6-ounce container of nonfat plain Greek yogurt to the sauce.


For the chicken marinade:

• 3 oz plain greek yogurt (just get one standard 6 oz container)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks

For the sauce:

• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1 small onion, minced
• 2 tspn fresh ginger, grated
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 3 oz fat free greek yogurt (the other half of the 6 oz container)
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• salt to taste (and cayenne pepper if you want it hotter)
• 4 tbsp fresh cilantro
• Brown Basmati rice (or other rice to serve it over)

Directions: Cut the chicken breast into cubes and combine with all the marinade ingredients. Refrigerate for 30 mintues to an hour.

While chicken is marinating, work on the sauce. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until golden (about 5 minutes). Add the crushed ginger, stir for one minute then add the garlic and cook another minute. Add cumin, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, and salt; mix well until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, yogurt and milk. Let sauce simmer on low heat until sauce thickens.

While sauce is simmering, cook your chicken. In traditional tikka masala, the chicken is skewered and grilled, but I was lazy and just threw the chunks right into my hot grill pan. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through and a bit charred. Add chicken back into the simmering sauce. Add a chopped cilantro and serve with Brown Bamati Rice or Naan. Enjoy!

Easy Beef Stroganoff

This is really good! A rich, creamy sauce that tastes so yummy--one of my husband's favorite! Thanks to Life as a Lofthouse for the recipe!

8 oz extra wide egg noodles

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup beef broth

8 oz container of sour cream

1 (10 3/4 oz) can of cream of mushroom soup

2 tsp dried parsley

*Start by boiling your egg noodles as directed on their package. When done, drain and put back in the same pot and put the lid on to keep them warm and so they wont dry out.

*While the noodles are boiling, start browning your meat in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once cooked, drain the grease and then add the onion, garlic, salt & pepper. Give it a good stir. Then pour in the beef broth. Bring to a slight boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 5-8 minutes.

*After it has simmered, add the sour cream and mushroom soup. Keep the temperature to medium heat and continue to stir often and bring the mixture back to a boil. Make sure mixture is thoroughly heated. Then add your dried parsley. Stir.

*Place your egg noodles on a plate, and then top with the beef mixture.

Glowing Green Smoothie

Found this recipe on Linda Wagner's site. She is a nutrition and lifestyle coach in TX. She says she has had clients whose lives have changed because of adding this healthy smoothie into their diet. Anyway, it tastes great and is very healthy. Remember---strong is the new skinny!All you need is a blender and the following ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• a couple handfuls of spinach
• water
• ice (if desired)

Add enough water to blend and enjoy, that’s it!

Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

I am so excited to share this recipe with you! I told you I've been scouring the Internet for yummy, healthy snack foods for all of us trying to stick to a healthy diet! It seems that no one can make a cookie that is not either lacking in texture or taste when it's made somewhat healthy. Soooo I decided to make up my own recipe! I combined lots of things we love and voila! Cookies that don't taste like diet cookies! I have to tell you though; these are low-fat, but be careful because they taste good enough you could eat 6! Just look at that gooey chocolatey center! Enjoy :)

Makes 18 cookies with a 1.5" cookie dough scoop

1/4 cup Sun Crystals (all-natural sweetener w/ half the calories of sugar) or 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg white
2 tbsp apple sauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. honey
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1 tsp. ground flax seed
1 cup mini chocolate chips

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray cookie sheets with Olive oil cooking spray. In mixer, whisk the sugars, butter, egg white, applesauce, honey, and vanilla together until light and fluffy. In another large bowl, combine the dry ingredients and stir to blend.

*Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the batter is very well blended. Fold in chocolate chips.

*Drop by level spoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets. Bake 8 - 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and let them stand 5 minutes before removing the cookies from the pans to cool on wire racks.

Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets

This picture turned out terrible, but just know these tasted delicious! I put little toothpicks on the table so my kids could stab their nuggets and dip them. We all loved how they tasted! Thanks, Gina at Skinny Taste for yet again, another great recipe that's healthy!

• 16 oz (2 large) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into even bit sized pieces
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 6 tbsp whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp panko (these are Japanese-style bread crumbs. I found them in the ethnic aisle)
  
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• olive oil spray
  

Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray.

Put the olive oil in one bowl and the breadcrumbs, panko and parmesan cheese in another.

Season chicken with salt and pepper, then put in the bowl with the olive oil and mix well so the olive oil evenly coats all of the chicken.

Put a few chunks of chicken at a time into the breadcrumb mixture to coat, then on the baking sheet. Lightly spray the top with olive oil spray then bake 8 - 10 minutes. Turn over then cook another 4 - 5 minutes or until cooked though.

Baked Oatmeal

This is really yummy! There sure are tons of recipes out there! Let me know if you substitute the brown sugar for honey/agave to tell me how it turned out. Enjoy! Thanks to Skinny Mom's Kitchen for the recipe!

Serving size: 1 baked oatmeal square (makes 9 servings)

Approximate nutritional information:

Calories: 210 * Carbs: 26 * Fat: 10 * Protein: 6 * Fiber: 2 *

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats

2 large eggs, beaten

¼ cup Olive oil

1 cup 1% milk

¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup applesauce (use homemade if you have it)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1. In a medium to large bowl mix together oil, sugar, eggs, applesauce, cinnamon, and vanilla.
2. Add to the bowl rolled oats, baking powder, and milk. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Pour oat mixture into an 8 inch square baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Let sit for about 3 minutes, cut into 9 squares, and serve warm. Top with fruit.
   

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Skinny Macaroons

I told you I was on the hunt for yummy, low-fat treats, so here's another one! Found this recipe on Gina's Skinny Taste and to me they taste a lot like macaroons, only they're much less fattening. When I figured out the nutrition facts, they are about 88 calories each, so you can eat 2 for a full serving. Not too bad!

3 egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar (I was actually out of this so I substituted with 1/2 tsp lemon juice, which works as a substitute. 1/8 tsp cream of tartar=1/4 tsp lemon juice)
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
3/4 cup cornflake crumbs (from 2 cups cornflakes crushed almost to powder)

*Preheat oven to 350°. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats.Whip the eggs whites, cream of tartar and sugar into a meringue until you form to form thick soft peaks, about 8 - 10 minutes. (I actually had mine beat in blender for more like 15 minutes).

*Fold in the coconut and cornflake crumbs.

*Drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for about 18 minutes or until golden.

No-Bake Energy Bites

Finally! A healthy treat that doesn't taste healthy! Since I just had my 3rd baby, I am working hard to lose this baby weight and this snack is perfect for me. It makes me feel like I am really eating cookie dough balls....except they are cookie dough balls loaded with lots of good stuff! And my husband and kids loved them, too! Seriously, go get the ingredients now and try these, for heaven's sake!! Thanks, Smashed Peas and Carrots for the recipe! I can't wait to start trying these with some different variations...raisins instead of chocolate chips, nuts instead of coconut, adding some chocolate protein powder to the mixture...oh the possibilities!

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or other nut butter)--I use Adams

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed--this is actually usually near the vitamins in the grocery store, by the way

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week. Makes 18-20 golf ball-sized treats.

A reader from Smashed Peas and Carrots figured out all the nutritional info, which I found helpful, so here you go:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 26 g
Amount Per Serving:
Calories-114
Calories from Fat-62
Total Fat-6.9g (11%)
Saturated Fat-2.3g (11%)
Cholesterol-0mg
Sodium-33mg (1%)
Total Carbohydrates-11.5g (4%)
Dietary Fiber-2.3g (9%)
Sugars-6.5g
Protein-3.1g
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Crock Pot Italian Turkey Meatballs

Thanks to Gina over at Skinny Taste for another awesome recipe! We loved it!

Ingredients:
20 oz (1.3 lb) ground turkey breast 93% lean
1/4 cup whole wheat seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Reggiano Parmigiano cheese, grated
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 egg
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp kosher salt + fresh pepper

For the sauce:
1 tsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, smashed
28 oz cans crushed tomatoes (I like Tuttorosso)
1 bay leaf
salt and fresh pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil or parsley

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, garlic and cheese. Using clean hands, mix all the ingredients and form small meatballs, about 1/8th cup each.

In a small saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.

Pour crushed tomatoes into the crock pot with bay leaf. Add garlic and oil.

Drop meatballs into the sauce, cover and set crock pot to low, 4 to 6 hours. When meatballs are ready, adjust salt and pepper to taste and add fresh chopped basil or parsley.

Serve with ricotta, over pasta or enjoy with French bread.

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

This pizza was delicious, even when I made it with low-fat options. My kids loved it, too!

pre-made pizza crust
jar of Alfredo sauce (I used low-fat)
bag of mozzarella cheese
cooked chicken, chopped
cooked bacon, chopped (I used turkey bacon)
Italian seasoning
Garlic
1. Follow the directions on the pizza crust container and preheat your oven.
2. Prepare your dough on your pizza pan/baking sheet.
3. Spread 1-2 cups of Alfredo sauce over the top of the dough (depending on how saucy you like your pizza).
4. Put a thin layer of mozzarella cheese on next.
5. Sprinkle on cooked chicken and bacon.
6. Top with more mozzarella cheese (use as much as you want depending on how cheese you like your pizza).
7. Season with garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake as directed on dough container (mine took about 10 minutes).
9. Remove from oven and let cool.