Favorite Recipe Friday

Hope everyone is drying out from May. Send us your favorite recipes.

Chocolate Chip Bars

2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour OR 1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 package vanilla instant pudding, dry
4 egg whites
1 cup applesauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup oats
1/2 bag of chocolate chips

Combine flours, powder, soda and dry vanilla pudding mix.
In separate bowl, cream egg whites, applesauce, brown sugar and vanilla.
Add flour to mixture.
Add oats and chocolate chips.
Place mixture in 9x13 pan placing wax paper on top to press dough out to cover pan evenly.
Remove wax paper.
Cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Serves 24, serving size is 1 bar.
Calories=135, Fat=2g, Fiber=2g, CHO=28g, PRO=3g


And now for something completely different...

Cooper, our second, graduated from high school yesterday. Only 4 more to go! More pictures to follow... eventually.

Favorite Recipe Friday

Yeah, so I'm a day off. Sorry to the loyal readers. This one is a new staple at our house. Great taste and easy to make.

Gypsy Stew

2 cans garbanzo or navy beans (low sodium)
1 pkg frozen spinach
1 lb pork tenderloin or chicken breast
2 cans chicken stock (low sodium)
1 cup water
1 can diced tomatoes (no salt added)
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 large onion, chopped
1 large red or yellow pepper, seeded and cubed
1 tsp paprika and ground cumin
1 tsp dried basil (or more)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Salt, pepper and cayenne to taste

Add all to a crock pot and cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours.

Serving size =1 1/2 cups
Calories=260, Fiber=8.5g, Sugar=8g, Fat=4.5f, CHO=34g, PRO=21g


And now for something completely different...

Ben was Hero for the week at school last week. These are the pictures he chose for his 'Hero' poster, from a shoot he orchestrated.

I don't know why he wanted to stage this shot. Wonder what he told his buddies at school?

All Kinds of Fun - Phone Download #1

The kids have fun at the school playground across the street from our house whenever the weather is nice (been pretty spotty this year). I get to see it almost live, as Britnee sends me pictures at work.

I also get great pictures from their many many shopping excursions. (Brianne is trying to hide).

And sometimes I get to take the fun pics while Mommy is gone...

Doesn't Ben's friend look like one of the kids from E.T.?

I hope these two can always be best friends.

Birthday Party

Ben had a great birthday party with his friends from school and church Saturday. Naomee had a lot of fun too!

Trampoline fun...

Find the sour patch in the plate of corn flakes...

Pin the tail on the donkey...

Drop the clothes pin in the can...

Darth Vader piñata. Word of warning - Vader's helmet top and face mask separated with only 6 hits. We will go with a more traditional donkey or watermelon next time.

Maybe kids had to leave early, but everyone had a great time no matter how long they were there. Mommy throws an awesome party!

Favorite Recipe Friday

It's late in the day, but here it is anyway...

Crock Pot Lasagna

1 lb uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat)
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, minced
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
15 oz canned tomato sauce
1 tsp table salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
6 dry lasagna noodles,m no-cook
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, strong-flavored like Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add beef, onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, breaking up mean with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Spoon 1/2 of beef mixture into a 5-quart slow cooker.
Break 3 lasagna sheets in half and arrange over beef mixture; top with half of ricotta mixture.
Repeat with another layer and finish with remaining 1/2 of beef mixture.
Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours.
Remove cover; turn off heat and season to taste, if desired.
In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over beef mixture.
Cover and set aside until cheese melts and lasagna firms up, about 10 minutes.
Makes 6 servings.


And now for something completely different...

Sunday is not only Mother's Day, but Benjamin's 6th birthday. He was also born on Mother's Day. Here are pictures from his first birthday party:

Heebeegeebeez

Jango Fett and his 501st Legion Star Wars buddies will be at Heebeegeebeez (comic book and collectors store) in Ogden Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Stop by to get your picture taken with the 501st or just to point and gawk.

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Favorite Recipe Friday

Peanut-Flavored Ginger Beef with Veggies

1 TBS reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 TBS creamy peanut butter
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
3 tsp vegetable oil
3/4 lb boneless top round steak, cut into strips
2 TBS grated peeled fresh gingerroot (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
2 cups baby carrots, halved lengthwise or precut carrot sticks
2 cups broccoli florets
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 TBS chopped cilantro (optional)

In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, peanut butter, pepper flakes and 1/4 cup water; set aside.
Place a very large nonstick skillet or wok with lid over high heat until a drop of water skitters.
Heat 2 tsps of the oil until it shimmers.
Stir-fry the steak until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
Add gingerroot and cook, stirring, 2 minutes longer.
Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
In the skillet, heat the remaining tsp of oil.
Stir fry the carrots 1 minute; add broccoli and garlic; stir fry 1 minute longer.
Add 1-2 TBS water; simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender-crisp, about 1 minute.
Return the steak and gingerroot to the skillet; add the peanut butter mixture and stir fry until heated through, about 1 minute.
Remove from the heat; stir in cilantro and serve.

Per serving: 311 Cal, 11g Fat, 3g Sat Fat, 71mg Chol, 293mg Sod, 22g Carb, 5g Fib, 33g Prot, 103mg Calc
WW Points Plus: 8


And now for something completely different...

Boba Fett (Ben) on his first mission following getting his new helmet and blaster this past Christmas: