Boost with Flavor Boost by Swanson

Swanson's flavor boost packs are the perfect complement to any quick and easy meal. Each 35 calorie pack adds enough flavor for a meal for four. All the flavor, none of the mess!

For a yummy dinner, I threw grilled chicken strips (the pre-cooked kind for simplicity!), sliced red potatoes, zucchini, squash, onion and mushrooms over medium heat in a skillet with cooking spray. I seasoned the mixture with garlic powder and seasoned salt. After sautéing for about 10 minuets, I added a flavor boost pack and let the skillet simmer for 5 more minuets. From the other room, you can smell this yummy aroma! That easy- and healthy!

Learn more here and check out the recipe ideas: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/Brands/Swanson%20Flavor%20Boost

This easy meals yielded about 300 calories! (Normally we would have it with rice, but not until after Passover.)

Matzah-Crusted Tilapia

After a week of Passover leftovers, I was more then ready for something new after a long work week. So, I whipped up a meal inspired by a dish my sister-in-law recommended.

Matzah-Crusted Tilapia

Ingredients:
- 4 1/4 lbs Tilapia Fillets
- 1/2 cup Matzah Meal
- Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Italian Seasoning and Oregano to your liking
- Fresh Lemon
- Misto with Olive Oil
(More on the Misto below)

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400
- Mix matzah meal with seasonings and set aside in a big bowl
- One at a time, spray each fillet with olive oil and cover in matzah mixture
- Place each fillet on a foiled cookie sheet
- Bake for 20 mins (flipping at 10 mins)
- Squeeze fresh lemon over fish fillets
- Easy enough!

The fish turned out to be pretty yummy considering it was made with matzah! We also had mixed veggies (squash, zucchini, and mushrooms) cooked over medium heat on the stove with sprayed olive oil and garlic powder. Simple, healthy, and delicious!

Happy Passover!

Side note on the Misto- it's awesome! I highly recommend investing in one for healthy cooking. To use, you fille the can with the oil of your choice, pump, and spray. It's like Pam, but better! Mine is from Macy's, but you can get one anywhere!

Passover Berry Crisp Recipe

It's that time of year again when the Jews trade in their beloved bread and carbs for matzah and bitter herbs to remember our escape from Egypt. Add some enjoyment to your Seder with this yummy and healthy Passover Dessert Recipe. (I found this recipe on Pinterest, and altered it to be my own!)

Ingredients:
4 cups sliced strawberries
1-1/2 cups blueberries
1/2 cup sugar (or Splenda)
"Sprinkle" of cinnamon
Pam cooking spray

1/2 matzah meal
1/3 cup sugar (or Splenda)
1/4 cup almonds
2 tablespoons margarine (melted)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Spray an 11x7 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, toss strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 cup sugar (or Splenda), and cinnamon. Spoon into dish.

In a different bowl, stir matzah meal, 1/3 cup sugar (Splenda), almonds, and margarine together. Sprinkle over berry mixture.

Bake on 350 for about 35-40 mins.

Yields 8 servings.
4 WW points with sugar per serving
2 WW points with Splenda per serving

*Honestly, the sugar and Splenda versions taste very similar. I made the sugar version for our Seder tomorrow and the Splenda version to enjoy all week long!

Happy Passover!
(More recipes and Passover tips to come this week!)

-Note, to enjoy this recipe year round (or if you're not Jewish), swap the matzah meal for flour or even heart smart bisquick!

Fruity-Chocolatey Dessert Find!

We found these tasty banana dessert packs at Costco, and boy are they yummy! Each individually wrapped snack contains 4 thick banana slices covered in decedent dark chocolate... How can it not be delicious! Even better- one pack is very filling and tickles your sweet tooth.

The details: Each banana dipper pack has 100 calories (2 WW Points). Not too shabby since most "light" frozen dessert options have 150-180 calories (3-4 WW Points).

I saw online that Dole also carries a version of the dippers with almonds on top for only 20 calories more. I'll be on the lookout for those too!

Try them soon!

Starbucks Pick

This beautiful almost Spring morning, we took a walk to the neighborhood Starbucks for one of my favorite morning treats. Beware- you may get addicted!

Blended Coffee Frappuccino Light with Sugar-Free Hazelnut and skim milk!

A Venti has 160 Calories or 4 WW Points (Grande had 110 and 3 WW Points.)

Not only is this caffeine morning addiction yummy- it's also filling! If you're not into hazelnut flavor, you can get any sugar free flavor instead.

Try this Spring/Summer cold coffee and start your morning off right!

The Ultimate Food Find- Skinny Moscato!

God bless Kroger! This afternoon I couldn't contain my excitement when I found SKINNY MOSCATO- and it was on sale!

3 of my favorite things: Sales, Moscato wine, and healthy food finds, so this is the ultimate find!

I was so overwhelmed with excitement, that I opened it right up when I got home. I had to know if it was good before I fully freaked out! To my very happy surprise it was tasty! Fruity, smooth and delicious! I think my life just changed! Wine is my weakness- and chips and salsa!

So, one 5oz glass is 95 calories and 10 carbs (or 1 WW Point). In case you were wondering, the whole bottle is only 6 points! - so share with a friend or an amazing husband who puts up with your excitement over skinny wine!

In comparison, a regular glass of moscato can be up to 4 points on its own, so you can imagine how exciting this find was!

Act fast- it's on sale at Kroger for $7.99- the brand also comes in Chardonnay and Zinfandel! (I'll be back to try them all!)

How did I not know about this??

http://theskinnyvine.com/

For a date night Saturday dinner in: Freshly baked lemon-pepper salmon, green beans, brown rice with sautéed mushroom, skinny vine wine, and fat free brownies for dessert! ( See Photo!)

Sugar- Fix Food Find!

Every once and a while, everyone needs a quick sugar fix! For something chewy, fruity and way cute- I was happy to find these adorable, mini jelly bean pouches!

I love starburst jelly beans, they are super juicy and sweet. Each mini pouch has 50 calories, or 1 WW point. Perfect for an afternoon snack.

While the pouch isn't that big (about 10 jelly beans) , it does do the "quick sugar-fix" trick for virtually no calories or points. Yum!

Plus, they were buy 2 get 1 free at Target!

Jazzercise- Free Weekends in March

If you're in need of a new workout, check out Jazzercise. (Yes- I'm sure you're imagining neon scrunchies and 80s hits...) In reality, it's a great cardio/dance workout followed by hand weights, a leg routine and an abdominal routine all to Top 40 music. I promise you'll come out of it sweating!

Since I end up working late most nights . I go to the 5:40AM class at the Plano location a few times a week and at sporadic times on the weekend, but the Plano location (on Parker and 75) offers a lot of classes all day- so no excuse not to workout!

Check out a class this month for free!

http://www.jazzercise.com/

Burger-in-a-Bowl

For a quick bite to eat, add Mooyah to your must try list. I was pleasantly surprised to scope out their burger-in-a-bowl!

We took a walk to the neighborhood restaurant this afternoon for lunch to inquire about the new burger-in-a-bowl menu item. (Mooyah also has a lettuce wrap option, which is great and diet-friendly, but VERY messy and almost uncomfortable to eat. It's healthy, but I don't recommend it.)

Burger-in-a-bowl was an awesome idea! It's a great way to get a fast food fix without the greasy bun, and you save calories or WW points so you can enjoy fries too! The bowl was not messy at all, not greasy, and looked adorable, which is a plus! (See photo)

Let's get down to business: I ordered the turkey burger in a bowl (200 calories or 5 WW points) with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and mushrooms. You can pick a sauce, or dressing, but I stuck to ketchup to keep the fast food vibe going (less salad like) and to keep excess calories down. Since I went bun-less, I also had a small order, which isn't so small, of sweet potato fries for 7 WW points or 255 calories. I was surprised to learn how crunchy and delicious the sweet potato fries were. (Totally worth the bun tradeoff!)

All in all a great and filling fast food meal for under 500 calories- not too bad!

Date Night! - Jaxx Steakhouse in Addison

If your significant other is in the mood for a fancy steak dinner date night out, you don't have to kill your diet with a calorie nightmare- I strongly suggest checking out Jaxx Steakhouse in Addison. Tucked away from restaurant row off Beltline and Midway, the classy restaurant offers an old NY steakhouse feel, strong drinks, and most importantly a great low-carb option on the menu.

The lemon grilled chicken shown below is cooked in "light oil" and served with mixed veggies and their famous mashed califlower-yum! As you can see, you also get enough for lunch the next day!

I can't image that the cauliflower mash is too healthy, because it's DELICIOUS! But, it is a great alternative to the mashed potatoes you'd get at any other steak joint.

We also shared a house salad as an appetizer. The mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumber were accompanied by a delicious balsamic vinaigrette on the side. This healthy choice is a better bet then the other fried menu options, but it's more fun and romantic to share a salad anyway!

While the prices are a tad high, you can get a 25% off coupon (and once in a while a 50% off email deal) by registering with the Best of Dallas Guide. You can sign up for their emails for free and receive a daily coupon!
http://www.bestofguide.com/

Enjoy your date night out!

http://jaxxsteakhouse.com/