jgarr's recipe book

Black Bean Soup

2008-02-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

Ok so after much debate on how to make good black bean soup easily, a woman at Trader Joe's said to me.... I have an awesome and easy recipie. So here goes......

What you need.....
1 can refried black beans w/ jalapenos
1 can black beans
4 cup FF chicken broth
1 bell pepper diced very small [i used red]

What to do.....
In a medium pot bring 2 Cups of broth to a boil.
Add the refried black beans to the broth , breaking it up into the broth.
Lower temp to med. and stir and break up until well blended.
Drain black beans just until clear fluid turns to dark
[you want to keep the dark fluid and the beans in the can.]
Add red pepper, beans and juice to the pot
Mix very well
Add 1 cup broth
Simmer for 20-30 mins
Then add the remaining cup of broth

Easy and yummy

1 pt for 1/2 a cup
2 pts for 1 cup

I had the other day 1 pt worth of cheese on WW bread, and 1 cup of black bean soup, for an awesomely filling 4 point lunch!!! {the next day I made it 6 points ... had 2 grilled cheese}

Peach Chiffon [or any other flavor]

2008-01-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Chiffon can be made with any flavor jell-o you can find. Personally I like Royal Gelatin, because i think it has more true to life flavors.

What you need...

1 3/4 Cup boiling water
2 packet of gelatin dessert [flavor of your choice] i used Peach
1 8oz package Lite Whipped topping softened [like coolwhip] I used Wegman's brand

How to do it...

In a Pyrex [or other glass hot/cold safe measuring cup] put contents of jello packet in the bottom. Add boiling water to the 1 3/4 cup line. mix very very well till all the gelatin is dissolved. let stand until it starts to thicken.

You can speed this up by sticking it in the fridge for a bit.

***DO NOT let it set*** You want it to be just shy of setting.

In a decent sized mixing bowl mix the whipped topping with a whisk until it is smooth [try to mix as little as possible]

Slowly add the thickened, but still liquid, gelatin to the whipped topping. Mix until consistent.

pour into 1/2 cup dessert dishes, or on one bowl [larger then 1 quart]

Refrigerate for 2-4 hours

this ends up being 2 points for 1/8 of the dessert, and it cuts like a pie and then can be scooped.

**DO NOT use sugar free whip topping for this, it adds more calories, however you can use sugar free jello and then it is 1.5 points for 1/8 the dessert**

Yummy yummy [toddlers liked it too, even with the nasty cold]

Oatmeal Banana Muffins

2008-01-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1/4 cup veg, oil
3/4 cup brown sugar packed
3 egg whites beaten
1 cup skim or constituted powder milk
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt [optional]
1/2 tsp allspice [optional]
2 medium bananas mashed

Directions

1. Cream together oil and brown sugar.
2. Mix in egg and milk.
3. Mix in oats, flour, baking powder, salt and allspice.
4. Stir in Bananas.
5. In a muffin pan with nonstick sprayed [Pam, hahaha] muffin pan, filling almost full.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 23 minutes until toothpick comes out clean or golden brown.

Made in mini muffin pan 2 muffins are 1, made is regular muffin pan 1 is 1.5

Low Sugar Fat Free White Cake

2007-12-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

{ modified from cooks.com }

1 c. flour {9}
2/3 c. equal measure splenda or 16 packets of splenda
1/3 c. cornstarch {2.5}
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 egg whites {0.5}
2/3 c. skim milk {2}
1/3 c. Karo light corn syrup {5}
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond flavor [optional]

WHAT TO DO....

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray standard muffin pan with Pam. In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. In medium bowl using fork or wire whisk, mix egg whites, milk, corn syrup and vanilla. Add to flour mixture. Stir until smooth. *Pour 1/4 Cup into each pan cup. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Cool in pan.
{2 points each}

OR

*Pour 1/8 Cup [standard coffee measure] mixture into mini muffin pan, sprayed with Pam. Bake 6-8mins at 350 or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Cool in pan.
{1 point each}

Lemon Sandwich Cookies

2007-12-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well I have all of this lemon curd needed to find something to do with it.

So I made a batch of my sugar cookie dough, and cut them out with a shot glass [wished i could have done the shot that day] baked them and put them together.... YUM.

What you need...

a cookie sheet
a shot glass
an oven that works [this was art of our issue the oven was broken]
Pam [duh]

1 1/2 cups 10x [confectioners] sugar [get a whole box you will need it for the finishing] {24}
1 Cup butter or one tub Land O Lakes Light Butter {52 for butter or 22 for light butter}
1 Egg {1}
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavor
2 1/2 cups flour {22 1/2}
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Light Butter makes it 69 total, Regular butter 97.5 total

What to do...

******Sifting is VERY important in this recipe*******

Mix butter, egg, and flavorings together. Sift in 10x sugar, and mix. Sift in Flour and baking powder, blend together. lay out two 12 inch pieces of plastic wrap, and dived dough in half onto the pieces. flatten to about 1/2 and inch think, wrap it up, and refrigerate for at least and hour. on lightly floured surface roll dough out to about 3/16th inch thick, and cut out circles.

Spray a little bit of Pam on a paper towel and wipe down the cookie sheet. place cookies on the tray [they can be rather close [1/2 inch apart] they do not spread a whole lot]. Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes, they should not have browned, maybe some tiny edges may get golden. ***These cookies do not fair well on a "regular" cooling rack, i find it best to put them on a plate or pan [i put mine in a big Pyrex pan]***

After taking cookies out of the oven pair them up one s that are about the same size/ shape. While still warm spread some lemon curd on the inside of one cookie, and top with the other, set on a plate or tray to cool.

After cooled pour the rest of the box of powdered sugar into a big bowl, and roll the cookies thru the sugar coating all sides. and you are done [cookies will need ot be re-sugared if you are "presenting" them.

Notes:

These cookies are great with rasberry or strawberry preserves [almost anything]. I have also done them in little heart shapes raspberry filled for valentines day.

I also have made these in my microwave convection oven, and they came out just fine, just took much longer to bake them as i could not fit as many on the tray. [follow the instructions above exactly if making in the convection oven.]

this recipe makes abotu 3 1/2 dozen sandwiches. Done as follows with the curd or with low or now sugar preserves, they are 1.5 points each with the light butter, or 2.2 each for the regular butter.

The sugar cookie dough its self is very good, i have some rounds cut out and baked to use as a little snack for me, or as a little treat for the kids.

They hold up best in an air tight container in a cool dry place, and stay soft pretty long. My grandmothers cookies are a little bit different, [no almond of baking powder and not as soft] and hers have been known to be soft and fine for 2-3 months.

Taking Note

2007-12-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

Sorry for nto posting for a while... with now 25 days till baby, and my SD card reader being down, oh and the holidays too, I have been quite busy. {note to self: not that busy yet, baby is not here yet, and 15 dozen sandwich cookies need to be made starting Monday}

Lately I have been taking note of what others eat, the guy in line behind me at the McDonald's drive thru [I got apple dippers], but mostly the toddlers. Until recently the two of them and I ate the same meal for lunch. I am now coming to realize many of the meals they so dearly love, are not all that bad.

Today's meal....
5 Saltines {1}
1 Skim Cheese stick {1}
1/4 Cup Edamame {0}
1 All Beef hot dog {4} [they like them cold, saves me some time]
{this hot dog can be replaced by 2 Smart Dogs {1}}

So their lunch, not including the 8oz of whole milk, was only 6 points. If I trade out the hot dog for 2 smart dogs, it is then only 3, not bad.

Issues

2007-11-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

Well I have been tryign to get my SD card reader on the side of mt laptop to work.

I was having some issues with a program I had downloaded. I some how think I deleted the program for the reader.

Well I had pics and recipes to do, but they will have to wait.

Besides life is crazy 34 days till baby!!

Cream Cheese and Jelly wraps

2007-11-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

This by far is one of my favorite lunches / snacks when I was little.

So I just did a variation on it, and it was soooo yummy.

What you need....
1 - TJ's Reduced Carb Whole Wheat Flour Tortilla {1}
1oz. -Neufchâtel Cheese {1}
1/2 Tbls - Low sugar or sugar free strawberry preserves {0}

How to make it....

Spread the Neufchâtel Cheese in a strip down the center of the wrap, leaving about 1 inch of wrap plain at the bottom of the strip.

Spread preserves on top of cheese.

Wrap up like a burrito, and ENJOY!

This is a good cure for a little sweet tooth and it is good for you!
I made 2 for my lunch, making my lunch a total of 4, with some fresh green beans.
Making just 1 for 2 is a great snack!

Sweet Bliss Mashed Potatoes

2007-11-26T07:19:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe I made for the boys [Hunter & Parker] .

I realized it really was not that bad and is super yummy. I also know my lovely other half, LOVES mashed potatoes. So this recipe is dedicated to her... sweet potato bliss.

What you need....

1- small or 1 cup Sweet Potato {3}
3- very small or 1/2 cup Red Bliss Potatoes {1.5}
2oz -Mexican or other low fat blend shredded cheese {2}
1 Cup - frozen spinach {0}
2 Tbls - FF Coffee Mate [I use as a replacement for milk in many things] {0}

What to do....

Peel and cut up potatoes. Boil them till a forks slides right in and out of a big piece of potato.

Add frozen spinach to the boiling water. Boil 1-2 mins, and drain with a fine mesh drainer.

Return to pot.

Mash the Potatoes and add Coffee Mate and cheese.

Mash and mix well.

Turn heat on medium constantly moving the mixture until cheese melts.

Enjoy!

This makes 2 servings of 3.25 each, or one whole meal at 6.5!

This is an easy complete meal, you have your veggie, protein, starch, and dairy all in one. It is also very very teething toddler friendly.

No Crust Pumpkin Pie

2007-11-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

Ok i have been lazy on posting a new recipe.... between the kids and their crazy pregnant mom, and the rest of my crazy life, I have been way too busy.

I guess this would have been a good post for a few days before thanksgiving, but it is still good for now!!

What you need....

2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Cloves
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
12oz - Fat Free Evaporated Milk
15oz Can - pumpkin
1/2 Cup - Reduced Fat Bisquick
3/4 Cup - Egg Beaters or 3 Large Egg Whites
1/2 Cup - SPLENDA granulated [equal measure]
Pam / nonstick spray [of course]
10" pie pan
cookie sheet
blender or food processor

How to make it....

- Preheat oven to 350

-Put all ingredients in blender [or food processor]

-Blend ingredients VERY well.

-Spray pie pan with nonstick spray and place on the cookie sheet
[This is very important, the mixture is rather watery before baked, and the cookie sheet makes it much easier to carry to the oven.]

-pour mixture into pie pan.

-Bake for 55 mins.

-Let cool and enjoy

this yields 8 servings for 1 each, and it is FULL of fiber.
the kids liked this one so much i had to make another the next day!

Pizza Casserole

2007-11-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

This is adapted from a recipe someone gave me..... not sure who.

It freezes SUPER well, and is great for having to just heat and eat something.

The veggies in this can be altered to your personal taste. just make sure it has enough.

What you need.....
1lb - Ground Chicken
15oz can - Italian Style Diced Tomatoes
8oz - Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella
1 tube - Ready Made Pizza Crust [I used Pillsbury]
Veggies - about 6 cups
---I used...
------1 green pepper diced
------1 red pepper diced
------1 pack baby bellas cut up
------1 cup edemame
------1 cup frozen spinach [1 cup after being throughly drained]
------1 cup frozen chopped broccoli
------1 cup zucchini cut up.
------[really you can use whatever you like]

How to make it....

Spray a pan with nonstick spray, and brown the ground chicken, drain and set aside.

Spray a 3qt or larger pot with nonstick spray. veggies and 6-8oz of water saute them on medium, just until veggies begin to soften. Drain excess water.

Add chicken, veggies, and the can of diced tomatoes [juice and all] in to the large pot. Mix well so all ingredients are dispersed evenly.

Spray a 9x13 Pyrex pan.

Open pizza crust and spread out some. Place in Pyrex pan and spread up the sides so it looks like a giant pie crust. Fill with the mixture form the large pot, and cover with the shredded cheese.

Bake for 17 mins on 425.

Cut into 8 even pieces for 6 each

Wrap each piece in foil and put in the freezer. When you are ready to eat place in microwave for 3 mins on half power, and then 1 minute on full power.

An easy and yummy heat and eat meal!

Lemon Curd

2007-11-16T11:45:00.000-08:00

Mangels House Lemon Curd (by Jackie the owner of Mangles house, sent to me by River. Thank You both!)

Let me start off by saying that this recipe make A LOT!!! It seems like it would be high, but who is going to sit there and just eat 9 1/2 cups of lemon curd!

As a side note, I wonder if River's kids like lemon curd. I know my "kids" do!

What you need....

2 1/4 cups Sugar {20}

12 Lemons (zested and ready to juice)

The zest of 12 Lemons

1 cup Butter {51}

12 Eggs Whipped, (fresh is best she says, keep an extra on hand incase) {12}

What to do....

In a sauce pan [very large sauce pan, almost filled my 3 Qt.] melt together the Sugar, Butter, Juice and Zest (DO NOT BOIL)

Add whipped eggs and stir 10-15 minutes on low, until thick [I recommend the whisk and pour method, keep the whisk moving as you pour the eggs into the pan through the whisk]

{note 3 Qt. pot almost full}

It will be the consistency of instant pudding, before refrigeration.

If not thick enough add another egg or a little corn starch and water.

If putting in jars to store, save, and give away, do so while it is still warm, ours and measures easier.

[small one went to mom, the other one, 6 cups of curd stayed here]

83 total

makes about 9 1/2 cups. 152 Tablespoons

so all in all the 83 total works out to 0.5 per Tablespoon!!

Pair 2 tablespoons up with 2 rice cakes and there you have it a very very yummy, "kid" approved snack for only 2! [well they had theirs on saltines]

Butternut Squash Soup

2007-11-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

This was a little experiment that turned out great!!
The boys even liked it! [18 month old twins]

What you need....

2 Cups Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 small Butternut Squash [mine was about 1.5lbs]

1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbls brown sugar
non-stick spray

2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder or diced
1tsp parsley

How to start....

Preheat oven to 375

Cut butternut squash in half length wise.
Scoop out the guts.
Put halves skin side down on a cookie sheet or baking pan.
Spray inside with non stick spray.
Sprinkle equally with nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Bake for 1 hour

When squash has 15 mins left....

In sauce pan mix....
2 Cups Fat Free Chicken broth
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder or diced
1tsp parsley
4-6 packets Splenda

Bring to a boil, then let simmer.

Remove squash from oven and scrape out the meat from the skin.
Mash it up.
Measure out 2 cups.

Add smashed squash to the sauce pan.
Mix well, bring to a boil, and let simmer for 10-15 mins.

Pour into a blender and puree.

Enjoy

Soup alone makes 2 - 1 1/4 cup servings. servings are 1 each.

suggestions for making it 2.
1oz Chicken or
1/4 cup ff sour cream [makes it very creamy] or
1 Tbls Neufchatel [low fat cream cheese]

Spinach Cakes

2007-11-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

1 - 10oz package of chopped spinach, thawed and very well drained.

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 egg whites.

mix all together [really that easy]

2 ways to cook

First way ....

spray a large skillet with nonstick spray
[by the way I LOVE PAM... i would like to kiss the inventor]

Heat skillet on medium.
Either divide mixture into 4 circles, or make one big one.
Cook on medium, works well if covered.
You have to watch and see some times it takes longer too cook if not drained as well.
cook on both sides, put on a plate and enjoy.

[this way of cooking freezes well]

Second Way.... [I find the first way to be much better in my opinion]

Spray a 12 oz corning dish or remkin with nonstick spray.

Add mixture and bake at 350 for 12-15 mins. Use the good old, if a toothpick goes in and comes out clean deal for this one. [if using cheese this is harder]
[ this way does not freeze well, but is good if you add 1 oz of cheese]

The whole thing is 2.5 or or 0.6 each if divided into 4.

[this also works well with shredded summer squashs, or chopped broccoli]

[as made with broccoli]

no flour PB cookies

2007-11-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup equal measure Splenda
1 egg
1 tbls vanilla [optional]
2 tsps cinnamon [optional]

mix all very well

divide into 1/2 TBLSs, use fork to imprint vertical and horizontal lines,
Bake 350 for 10 mins, let cool, eat and enjoy.

.75 each or 1.5 for 2 or 3 for 4

A littel fun variation....
make the cookies first and let cool.....
{bbl}