Toffee Crunch Muffins

These are actually a little higher in calories that I like to eat for breakfast for one item but, I thought it might make a great breakfast on the go. Or maybe even good for a low-cal dessert.

I havent actually try these yet so I cant attest to how delicious they are but, they look pretty amazing.

Yields 10 muffins.
222 calories per muffin.
Recipe from BHG dot com.

INGREDIENTS
1.5 c flour
1/3 c brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c milk
1/2 c light sour cream
3 tbsp margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
4.2 oz toffee, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease muffin pan & line with paper liners & set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In another medium bowl, combine egg, milk, sour cream, melted margarine, & vanilla.
Add wet mixture to dry mixture & stir until just moist.
(Batter will be lumpy.)
Gently fold 2.8 oz of toffee into batter.

Spoon batter into muffin cups evenly.
Sprinkle tops with remaining toffee crumble.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Weekly Progress Update

So, Ive decided to do a weekly update to keep track of my progress for my weight loss goal. I know that I usually use this as a food blog but, I feel as though eating healthy & fitness progress go hand in hand, if you're doing what I am. :]

Starting weight : 230.8lbs.
Weight as of 1/7/12 : 227lbs.
Progress: MINUS 3.8lbs!

Beginning measurements:
Waist : 41 inches.
Hips : 43.5 inches.
Torso : 43 inches.

Measurements as of 1/7/12:
Waist : 41 inches.
Hips : 44 inches.
Torso : 41.5 inches.

Progress : MINUS 1.5 inches in the torso, plus .5 inches in the hips.

I think maybe I measured incorrectly last week in my hips because it doesnt make sense that I gained .5 inch while my other progress shows loss. Not a discouragement, though.

All around, Im REALLY proud of myself! Id like to keep this going!

Sloppy Joe Supreme

This was another fast weeknight dinner. I actually meant to make this for dinner last night but, Im brilliant and forgot to defrost the meat. This was pretty delicious but, on the higher end of the calorie spectrum. It ended up being okay though because I didnt serve anything along side of it.

Recipe from Betty Crocker via Recipe dot com email.
Yields 3 servings.
270 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 c Bisquick Heart Smart mix
3/4 c reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 c water
1 egg white
1/2 lb 93% lean ground beef
1/2 c tomato sauce
1/4 c ketchup
1/4 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400.

In a bowl stir together Bisquick, 1/2 c cheese, water, & egg white & set aside.

In a skillet cook beef over medium heat for about 4 minutes, until brown.
Drain & place back into skillet.
Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, & salt.
Heat over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until hot.
Transfer into baking pan.
Pour Bisquick mixture over top.

Bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 c cheese.

Spaghetti Carbonara

This is a dish Ive never actually tried before & thought that it would be quick to make for dinner some night. Not to mention, it's got quite a bit of bacon in it so I knew my boyfriend would be game.

Recipe from Family Circle via Recipe dot com emails.
Yields 6 servings.
250 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
1 box whole wheat spaghetti
8 slices thick cut bacon, diced
2 large eggs
2 egg whites
1 1/4 c parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add pasta & cook for 10 - 12 minutes.

While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add the bacon & cook until crisp, about 6 minutes.
Drain all but about 1 tbsp of fat.

Reserve 1/2 c of past water & drain pasta.
Add pasta to skillet of bacon & toss to combine.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and egg whites.
Turn off the heat under the skillet & add eggs and 1 c of cheese.
Toss to thoroughly combine.
Add pasta water if needed.

Season with salt & a generous amount of pepper.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese & serve immediately.

New Years Resolution

Okay so, Im not usually one to make New Years Resolutions. I think that it's stupid to wait for the beginning of a new year to set a goal but, Ive been really derailed from my commitment to losing weight the past few weeks & Im rather disgusted with myself. So, starting today Im recommitting to eating healthy all the time. As in, Faturday ONCE A MONTH, not once a week. Im going to go to the gym 4 days a week & do my Jillian Michaels Kinect workout 3 days a week in addition.

So, starting weight as of January 1st is 230.8lbs. Measurements are as follows:

Waist : 41 inches.
Hips : 43.5 inches.
Torso : 43 inches.

My goal weight is 160. I dont have a goal for my measurements or size but, I know where Ill be happy when Im there.

If I keep this up for 6 months, I get my Rosie the Riveter tattoo.


Im so ready to rock this!

Pop Pop's Kielbasa

My mother's side of my family is Polish. As in, my great grandfather is off the boat Polish & my grandfather speaks the language fluently. Ive always wanted to learn but, he's never had the time to teach me. Anyways, my point is that kielbasa has been a well-loved & common dish at every one of my family gatherings. Until I was about 10 or 11, I didnt realize that this wasnt a common dish at holidays. We go to a place called Ostrowski's located in Fells Point, Baltimore, MD. Having kielbasa from anywhere else just isnt the same.

ANYWAYS. Enough of that mindless family history & onto the recipe! Also, I consider this to be an indulgence so there's no serving size on calorie information for this one. I also feel as though that would take away from the family feel of this dish.

INGREDIENTS
3 lbs fresh kielbasa
1 qt fresh sauerkraut (canned sauerkraut tastes like shit!)
1 can beef broth (just in case -- you'll see what I mean.)
caraway seeds

DIRECTIONS
Poke holes in kielbasa with a fork.
Place cold water & kielbasa in a deep pan & bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to medium high and cook for 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, remove sauerkraut from packaging and rinse to remove excess salt.

When kielbasa is done cooking remove from pan and let cool.
Reserve the water & set aside -- you'll need this for the crockpot.
When the meat has cooled, cut into 2 in pieces.

In a crockpot, place a layer of sauerkraut in the bottom & then a layer of kielbasa.
Repeat until you've run out of ingredients.
Pour reserved water over top.
If water doesnt come to the top, add enough beef broth to hits the top.
Top with caraway seeds.

Cook on high for 4 - 6 hours or low for 8 - 10 hours.



I made about 5lbs of this for Christmas dinner & HOLY CRAP was it amazing! It tasted just like my grandfather had made it.

Cornbread Casserole

This was another dish I made for Christmas dinner. It's very similar to the one I made for Thanksgiving dinner except I had calorie count in mind. This tasted almost exactly the same. I burned the top a little bit but, it turned out okay because it gave it a crispy top without tasting burnt.

Recipe from Skinny Kitchen dot com.
Yields 16 servings.
205 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
2 large onions, chopped
1/4 c plus 2 tbsp margarine
4 egg whites
1 egg
2 tbsp 1% milk
1 pkg cornbread mix
2 14.5 oz cans creamed corn
1 c fat-free sour cream
1/2 c reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425.
Coat a 13x9 baking dish with nonstick spray.
Place onions and margarine in a microwave safe dish & heat for about 4 minutes, until soft.

In a medium bowl, mix together egg whites, egg, and milk.
Stir in the cornbread mix and creamed corn.
Spread batter into prepared baking dish.
Spoon cooked onions and margarine evenly over the top.

Using a rubber spatula, carefully spread the sour cream over the onions.
It's not necessary to completely cover onions.
Sprinkle cheese evenly over top of the sour cream.

Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until gold brown.

Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares.