Cheese Ball Goblin

Ingredients


2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature, plus 2 (8-ounce) packages whipped cream cheese

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon milk

2 cups shredded mixed cheeses, such as cheeses for tacos

Green food coloring

2 large tortilla chips

1 whole pepperoncini pepper

2 pimiento-stuffed olives

1 bell pepper, cut 2 thin strips and 6 small triangles

6 pitted green olives

20 small carrot sticks

3 cups shredded red cabbage

Toothpicks

Assorted crackers

Assorted vegetables

Directions

Place 2 packages of cream cheese, butter, and milk in a mixing bowl, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and combined. Add the shredded cheese and mix until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.



Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Place the mixture on a piece of waxed paper and form the cheese ball into a head-like shape. Place 3 pieces of waxed paper around the edges of a serving plate, leaving open space in the center. Place the cheese in the center of the platter so some of it is right on the platter, but the edges are on the waxed paper. This will ensure that the platter does not get dirty while you make your goblin.



In a medium bowl, stir the remaining softened cream cheese until totally smooth. With a spatula, spread the whipped cream cheese over the head. It's O.K. if it's not totally smooth - this will give your goblin spooky skin.



Place a few drops of green food coloring in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix well. With a pastry brush, paint the tortilla chips with the food coloring until they are the desired color. Set aside to dry for a few minutes.



Once the chips are dry, press them into the sides of the cheese ball to form ears. Skewer the pepperoncini with a toothpick and then attach it to the center of the head to make a nose. Press the pimiento-stuffed olives into the head to form eyes. Use the 2 red bell pepper strips to make eyebrows. Take the pepper triangles and insert them into the holes in the pitted green olives. The green olives will serve as toes, and the red pepper strips will be scary toenails. Once the olives are assembled, press them into the bottom of the head to form the toes.



Press the carrot sticks into the head to form teeth. Leave them sticking out a bit to make scary teeth. It's O.K. if your carrot sticks are different lengths and thicknesses. Hold the head onto the platter with a spatula and gently pull away the waxed paper. Finally, press the cabbage into the top of the head to make hair.



Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.
Enjoy!

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

These chewy cranberry oatmeal cookies are a yummy treat. Make a batch for your family.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups quick or old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp finely grated orange peel
2 Tbls Applesauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Place oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a bowl; stir with a whisk.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg whites, vanilla extract and orange peel. Gradually add flour and oats mixture, stir with a wooden spoon until blended. Fold in cranberries. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons on to cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 24 cookies.

Brown Rice

•3 tablespoons butter
•16 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms
•1 cup slivered blanched almonds
•1 cup brown rice
•3 cups water
•1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped pimiento
•1 teaspoon salt
•1/8 teaspoon pepper
Preparation:
Melt butter in medium saucepan; sauté mushrooms and almonds until golden. Add remaining ingredients; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes, until rice is tender. Enjoy

Mexican Burgers

GROUND BEEF, 85% lean 4oz
GROUND Turkey 4oz
SALSA 8oz
KIDNEY BEAN, CANNED
Sweet Green Bell pepper 2 cups
TOMATO PUREE,CANNED W/SALT 1cup
OLIVE OIL 1 teaspoon
CHILI POWDER 1 teaspoon

In a medium bowl mix together the ground beef,turkey and salsa. Form 2 oblong patties. Place under broiler. Cook until browned. While patties are cooking add oil to non stick skillet cook kidney beans and peppers until hot, then add chili powder, hot sauce, and tomato puree. Simmer for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Place each patti on a plate and top with vegetable mixture. Enjoy
Total Carbohydrate 45 grams
Total Fat 17 grams
Protein 32 grams

Mango Mania !

Did you know that mango's are in season now! If you are following this blog, you should always eat the freshest fruits that are in season. Mango's are a great source of fiber ,1 cup equals , 3 grams of fiber.Pears are also a wonderful source of fiber, 5 grams ! Here is something I like to make for the 2 of us.
Mango Parfait
2 Large ripe mango's,peeled,pitted and cubed
3 Cups low fat vanilla yogurt
6 Tablespoons low fat granola

Layer all ingredients equally in 4 clear cups (mango 1st, then yogurt, top with granola) sprinkle some cinnamon on top, sit back and enjoy :)

ANY FRUIT STUFFED WHOLE-WHEAT FRENCH TOAST

For this recipe I use mashed or diced mango's, but you can substitute the fruit with almost anything you might have on hand. First Pre-heat oven to 400F ,

2 large or 3 medium eggs ,1/2 cups low-fat or vanilla soy milk milk 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract,1 tsp. raw sugar,4 slices of whole wheat bread.Beat together eggs, milk, vanilla and sugar. Dip each side of bread in this mixture, then leave bread to soak up remaining milk while you prepare your topping.

Topping:1 slice of bread , 1/4 cup Chopped macadamia nuts, 2 TBL. raw sugar.

Process bread, nuts and sugar in small bowl of food processor or blender.

Assemble: 2 TBL. Melted unsalted butter, 1 1/2 tsp. raw sugar,

Butter a small baking dish. Lay 2 slices of soaked bread on the bottom. Top with mango or your choice of sliced fruit. Sprinkle fruit with 1 tsp. of raw sugar. Top with second slice of bread. Liberally sprinkle bread-nut topping, then drizzle with melted butter.

Bake in pre-heated oven for 5 minutes, then turn oven down to 325F (for another 25 minutes). If top starts to brown to quickly, cover with foil to protect crust.

Enjoy !

The 40/30/30 Life

Welcome, My diet is all about cooking fresh, right in your own home, with carefully balanced 40/30/30/nutrition and calorie – conscious recipes. I am going to share some my own mouthwatering recipes to help you get there, and save your family’s health. Once you try my diet, you will know what it means to eat well and be well. Cooking Fresh for a better you is all about getting your energy back. …. First and foremost, forget the term diet. Why you ask, because diets fail. This will be a way of life. There’s no regimen calling for low fats, low carbs, low calories or any other form of rigid deprivation. Those programs are bound to fail because they ignore the fundamentals basis of losing excess weight and keeping it off for good. Also, there are no magic pills or energy drinks, or diet drugs that will ever truly work for the long run.The core component of this program is balanced nutrition. The goal is to stay close to 40/30/30. Food selections and meal selections can be within the following ranges:
Carbohydrate 35% - 40 - 50% calories
Protein 25% - 30 - 35% calories
Fat 20% - 30 - 35% calories .