Friday, April 27, 2012

Mini Stuffed Pepper

This is another recipe for my LIFESTYLE change.  Or I should say, my attempt at my lifestyle change.  Habits are hard to break, and I have developed lots of food habits.  I have slowly conquered some, and have many more to go.

These are a delicious alternative to fried stuffed peppers and are only 60 calories per pepper.

 I found these small bell peppers at Publix in vege section.  I have grown to 
love them too much!  They come in a small or large bag, and we have 
graduated to the large bag - ha.
They come in red, yellow and orange colors.


Stuffed Mini Peppers

1/4 cup of low fat cottage cheese
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese - grated
1/2 cup of Italian blend low fat cheese
Cracked black pepper - to taste
Minced garlic if you like (truly optional)

Cut the top off of the pepper and scrap out the seeds.  Rinse and dry.
Blend the cheese together, and add the seasonings.

Stuff each pepper 3/4 of the way full.  Lean against your muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on how "roasted" or "crisp" you like your peppers.

I eat these as a snack or as a vegetable side with dinner.

Enjoy!!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

forever...

I don't know why I haven't been here in forever.  I am sorry.  I will post recipes this weekend that I have been cooking, and will catch you up on our happenings.

Blessings.
Jerry Ann

Monday, February 20, 2012

Crockpot Yum

I have been on the Prism diet for a little bit, and have lost a little. This soup/stew makes it much easier to do. And this soup is down right yummy! For 250 calories per cup, and I am full with 1 1/2 cups. No pictures this time, or the last time, but I will try the next time.


Crockpot Yum

4 frozen chicken breasts
2 jars picante sauce 12 oz (I used medium salsa)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans corn drained
1 brick cream cheese 1/3 less fat

Layer in a crock pot, cook on high until chicken is done, or at least six hours. Take out chicken breasts and shred with a fork. Place chicken back into pot, and stir in cream cheese. Cook another 30 minutes. Serve hot. 

My hubby likes it with tortilla chips, as does my 15 year old son. He will eat four cups if I would let him. Enjoy!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Thanksgiving Desserts

Yes, I am very aware of the date...and the lack of posting.  But, I promised these recipes from Thanksgiving, so:


Crock Pot Morning Casserole
1 - 32 oz bag frozen has brown potatoes
1 lb. of bacon diced, cooked and drained
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 dozen eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Place a layer of the potatoes on the bottom, followed by bacon, then onions, pepper, and cheese.  Repeat and end with cheese.  Beat the eggs, milk and salt and pepper together. Pour over the layers, and cover turn on low.  Cook for 10 hours.

***I liked the convenience of this recipe (found on Pinterest).  I will say it is bland, very bland.  I used red bell pepper, and in the future I will use sausage for more flavor.

 Layers before cheese.
 Everything in, and ready to cook.
I said this earlier, I liked this, but it needed more uumph.
I will add dried mustard (like in regular breakfast casseroles), and sausage.


No Bake Cookies (pinterest)
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (unsalted)
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups oatmeal (old fashioned rolled oats, not instant)

Mix the sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in a medium saucepan.  Bring to boil, and boil for 1 minute.  Add the peanut butter, and vanilla.  Mix quickly until peanut butter melts, then add oatmeal and mix until blended.

Drop by spoonfuls on tin foil (I used parchment), and allow to set and cool completely.

Depending on the drop size, will make 2 to 3 dozens cookies.







 These are highly addictive, and yummy.

Sensational Double Layer Pumpkin Pie
(My mother's recipe)

4 oz of cream cheese, soften
1 T milk
1 T sugar
1 1/2 cups thawed cool whip topping
1 Keebler Ready crust  (this was the recipe. We ended up making a GF pie crust from Red Mill all purpose, and butter - pre bake.)
1 cup milk 
2 pkg 4 oz jello vanilla instant pudding
1 can pumpkin (16 oz)
1 t ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves (I used pumpkin pie spice - it was nice)

Mix cream cheese, milk and sugar in a large bowl until smooth.  Gently stir in whipped topping.  Spread on bottom of crust. Pour 1 cup milk into bowl.  Add pudding mix. Beat with whisk until well blended (mixture should be thick).  Stir in pumpkin, and spices and mix well.  Spread over cream cheese layer.  Refrigerate at least 3 hours to set. Garnish with additional whipped cream and nuts if desired.


Forgot to take pictures of the process (and I had a helper), but as you can see, 
the crust turned out nice.  It was a yummy, different pie for Thanksgiving.


Slush (this has many different names, but this is what my Mom called it)
1 cup flour (once again, Red Mill All Purpose)
1 stick butter (unsalted)
3/4 cup chopped pecans

1 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
1 8 oz cool whip
2 packages chocolate pudding (you can use any flavor here, but my favorite is chocolate)
2 cups milk
Pecans, and shaved chocolate for topping

9x9 pan - melt butter in pan in a 350 degree oven.  Once melted, add flour and nuts.  Pressed down, carefully, to make the crust.  Bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes).  Cool.

Beat cream cheese with sugar until creamy.  Fold in cool whip.  Spread on the cooled crust.  Mixed pudding and milk (should thicken), pour over cream cheese.  Spread remaining cool whip on top.  Sprinkle with extra pecans and chocolate shavings if you have them.

Once again, no photo's of the process, but this is as yummy as this looks.
Always, a favorite of mine, and crust turned out just as yummy.
I will say, that with the GF flour, you may want to use 3/4 cup instead of a full cup.  
It was a little doughy for me, but everyone loved it.

So, there you finally have them.  Sorry about the delay, too many things going on, as you are aware.

Enjoy!!
Love,
Jerry Ann

Friday, January 13, 2012

Answers...

I have been praying for answers for a long time now. I think we all do, in all aspects of our lives. I have been diagnoised with Lupus in May of 2008. Lots of steps in that direction, and more confusion. Yesterday I was diagnoised with Sjogrens Syndrome, and Raynauds. My new doctor is wonderful and ended my session with "you are weird." Really? I have known that for a long while. I start Methotrexate tomorrow, and I am terrified. Terrified of what it will do to my body, and terrified what this disease has already done to my body and mind. I am positive to everyone, the majority of the time. God has provided me with a tremendous peace, and I do my best to portray God's peace. It is so hard. Hard. I so want to scream, and kick, to be mad at God. Today, I had a precious friend call just to check on me. She cried when she heard what I am going through. I was strong with that conversation, but the moment I hung up, I cried. Terrified once again. I believe that I am saved by grace, and will be healed completely. There are moments of doubt when I try to control, but I come back to rejoicing in the Lord. Always. Phil. 4:4. Answers are only the beginning. Blessings. Jerry Ann