Super Yummy Cream Cheese Xmas Balls

It's my favorite time of the year. The day after Thanksgiving, my tree goes up and I start planning my Christmas party for my friends. It's usually the first weekend in December. I have been baking all week. And this year, I'm baking for my office too (not like it's a surprise to those of you who know me). Tomorrow I'm leading Operation DECK the Office. Those who help put up Christmas decorations get treats. These cream cheese balls are on the menu for both tomorrow and my party on Saturday. And the best part...they're super low calories...59 to be exact.


Wisk together 8 oz low fat cream cheese with 1/4 cup light butter (softened of course). Add 1 box yellow cake mix. Roll into small balls and roll in green (or red) sprinkles. Bake at 350 for 10 min.

It's that easy. Enjoy!

Healthy Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving was quiet and peaceful.

On the menu:
Turkey
Cranberry Sauce
Sauteed Green Beans
Au Gratin Potatoes
Sweet Potato Casserole
Rolls with homemade honey butter
Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

I won't share every recipe, but I will share a few. I already posted the recipe for Double Layer Pumpkin Pie.  I used a Weight Watchers recipe for Au Gratin Potatoes except that I added dry mustard and cayenne pepper.

Cranberry Sauce
1 cup water
1/2 cup Splenda
1 bag cranberries
1 orange (chopped)
1 apple (chopped)

It's pretty easy. Dissolve the Splenda over medium heat. Add the cranberries, orange and apple.  It's done when the cranberries have popped and sauce has thickened. My mom used wine instead of water. And if you want to be really creative, use 1/2 cup water, 1/2 juice (orange or your fav...just be careful so the flavors don't clash). If you do use juice, cut the sugar in half.

Turkey
For my turkey, I made a herb butter. I eyeballed it for my turkey. It was just me and my boyfriend so I didn't need a big turkey.

Mix low fat margarine. I like Country Crock Lite. Finely chop garlic, fresh rosemary, and poultry herb mix. I added Vegeta, but you can use salt. I rubbed it underneath the skin and then all over the top of the turkey so it browns. It was pretty yummy. I normally chop up an apple, celery, and onion and stick it in the cavity of the turkey. I didn't this year, but you can. Turkey was incredibly juicy and tender.

That's all for now :). It might be a while before my next post. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving meal.

Holiday Staple Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

So my mother is hounding my Facebook for my Double Layer Pumpkin Pie. I made it for work. I'm making it for Thanksgiving with my boyfriend. I just make it every holiday season. But here's the thing. It's not going kill your diet. My recipe is under 200 calories.

Whisk together until smooth:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 TBS skim milk
1 1/2 cup light cool whip, thawed
1/2 tbs Splenda

Spread into the bottom of a 9 inch graham cracker crust

Mix together:
1 cup skim milk
1 package 3.5 sugar free vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp  ground cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 can 15 oz pumpkin puree

Pour over cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. I put the rest of the cool whip on top.  Enjoy!

Smiling Marketress' Fall Cookies

I call these my fall cookies because they happened on accident :). I wanted to make pumpkin cut out cookies, but realized I ran out of pumpkin. I had to get started on them anyway so I had to improvise. They turned out super good.

Cream:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

Add:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
1 egg, beaten

Sift together:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Slowly mix the flour mixture with the butter mixture. Roll into a ball and refrigerate for at least 30 min. Roll out and use fall shaped cookie cutters. I used leaves, owls, and pumpkins. Bake at 350 for 7 min.

I placed them in a basket lined with a gold cloth napkin, and shimmery brown and gold tissue paper. I rode in the elevator this morning with the basket and said I looked like Little Red Riding Hood, only I wasn't wearing a red hood, but a gray slacks and teal sweater.

Pumpkin Bread

I've been on a pumpkin kick lately. And honestly, nothing says, "Welcome Fall" than a loaf of pumpkin bread. I make it at the beginning of each fall season. Sorry, no picture. I forgot to take one. But this year, my office raved about it.

Sift together:
3 Cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Mix together:
3 Cups sugar
1 Cup applesauce
3 eggs
2 Cups pumpkin

Mix dry ingredients with pumpkin mixture until smooth. Pour in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Makes 1 loaf.

Grilled Eggplant

I love eggplant and made this for a dinner I hosted for my girl friends. She requested the recipe so I thought I'd post it here.

Slice the eggplant into 1 inch slices. Rub with about 1 tablespoon of EVOO and about 2 tablespoons sea salt. Grill the eggplant for about 2-3 minutes on each side over medium flames.

That's it. Not hard at all.

Easy Chicken and Rice Soup

It just so happens that my boyfriend and little brother are sick. So to make their sore throats feel better, I made chicken soup from scratch today for dinner. Here's my recipe for Chicken and Rice soup my way.

2 chicken breasts, cubed
1 small chopped onion
3 gloves of garlic
1 stalk of celery
1 carrot
1 can of peas
1/2 cup rice--brown or white
1 bottle of beer
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 cup water

Vegeta--about 2 TBS
Paprika
Savory
Black Pepper
Thyme
Rosemary

In two table spoons butter ( I use light Country Crock), sauté onions, celery, garlic, and cubed chicken. Add chicken broth, beer, water, carrots, and rice. Stir occasionally and bring to boil. Simmer and cook until rice is done. Add peas and the spices above to taste. Simmer for about 15 min. It really doesn't take that long. I think start to finish it was about 45 min.

Swai and Asparagus in White Wine Sauce

This is my latest creation. John never eats the same thing twice because I'm always creating and experimenting.  I used Swai fillets because they were on sale, but you can use any type of fish, especially Tilapia, White Cod, etc.  Start with the white wine sauce, then fish and asparagus.

White Wine Sauce

1/2 cup Sauvignon Blanc
1/4 cup Country Crock
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 TBS garlic powder
1 tsp Vegeta
1 tsp fresh parsley

Melt the Country Crock. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to boil. Turn heat down and add vegeta, garlic powder, and parsley. Remove heat.B

Swai Filet

1/2 cup flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp parsley

Pat the filet dry with a paper towel. Coat in flour mixture. Fry in EVOO until filet turns white and slightly golden. Pour white wine sauce over finish and simmer.

Asparagus


Drizzle white wine sauce over asparagus and bake at 325 for 15 min.

AC's Roasted Potatoes

I made these yesterday with Talipia.  John is a meat and potatoes guy. I wasn't in the mood to make mashed potatoes so these were an easy alternative.

Peel and cube 4 medium Russet potatoes. In a square baking dish, rub:
1 cup EVOO
Several dashes of basil
1 TBS Vegeta
Paprika to taste
Several dashes of parsley
Garlic powder to taste (I use a lot--3 TBS)
1/4 cup freshly grated Romano cheese

Bake 30 min until golden.

Easy Chicken and Salsa

So today, chicken was going to be our source of protein. I just didn't know what I was going to do. So I looked in my pantry and ended up grabbing a can cream of mushroom soup. I looked in my fridge and saw salsa and left over corn from yesterday. So I got creative. This dish is super easy and tasty--John Dietiker approved.


Mix together:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup salsa
3 TBS garlic poweder
1 can corn

Pour over 4 chicken breasts. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. That's all. You can serve this with white or mexican rice.