Enchiladas

Since I had some spare time on my hands today and have been craving mexican food I decided that I was going to try to make enchiladas healthier. I know you are thinking that may be hard but I did it. I tried finding how many calories a traditonal Enchilada has and could not find the exact calorie count but its somewhere between 400 to 600 calories. I managed to make mine 289 calories and they are pretty good. I am sure I will do a little tweaking on this recipe next time I try it, but for a first run it's pretty good.

Beef and Cheese Enchiladas
10 Mission Life Balance Flour Tortillas
1 and 1/2 bags of Kraft Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef
3 Small Cans of Tomatoe Sauce
1 Tablespoon of Tomatoe Paste
4 Tablepoons Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Ground Cumin
1/4 Tsp Garlic Salt

1. Brown Ground Beef in a Skillet,Season lightly with Salt when done browning put into a bowl

2.While Ground Beef is Browning put Tomatoe Sauce, Tomatoe Paste, Chilli Powder, Cumin and Garlic Salt into a Skillet, Stir all together and Turn on Medium Heat.  Heat to a Simmer and Simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionaly.

3. Heat flour Tortillas in Microwave for about 45 seconds.

4. Turn off Tomatoe Mixture, dip one tortilla at a time in the tomatoe mix making sure to cover both sides with tomatoe sauce. Wipe the tortilla on the side of the pan to get rid of any extra sauce. Lay them flatly on a plate.

5. When finished dipping the tortillas take one tortilla at a time and  put in the middle 1/4 cup of cheese and 2 oz ground beef. Then roll them up tightly. and put them on a cookie sheet Do this to all 10 tortillas. You will only have enough ground beef for 7 of them. I always make just Cheese for my Daughter out of the other 3.

6. Once done put 1 enchilada on a plate and microwave about 45 seconds til cheese melts. You can also cover with Foil and Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. But if you do this your tortillas may get a little crunchy

This Recipe makes 10 Servings,Serving size is one full enchilada Calories 289, Except the cheese ones they will have less calories 6.2 Grams of Fat 27.5 grams of Carbs

This goes great with my healthy version of refried beans and you can have 1/2 a cup for 110 calories total count 399. Add some lettuce and tomatoes and you have a great healthy meal

Refried Beans

1 can Pinto Beans (Drain the liquid)

Chicken Bouillon to taste

Cooking Spray

Spray a pan with cooking spray turn to medium . Add pinto beans

Using a potato masher mash beans while they are cooking add a 1/4 tsp of chicken bouillon and continue mashing until the look like re-fried beans.. Can add more or less bouilon depending on your taste. Once mashed serve with your enchiladas

1/2 cup equals 110 calories.

I hope you enjoy

Another Idea you can use chicken in place of the ground beef in the Enchiladas it will cut your calories a little as well and they are just as good that way. Also You can adjust the seasonings depending on your tastes. These are just a rough estimate depending on the brand of chili powder you use it could take more or less. So you can always add about 1/2 the Chili powder taste the sauce then add more if needed.

A traditonal Enchilada and Beans are both fried in oil so I am cutting out a lot of calories by not using oil. I am also using fat free cheese and low calorie tortillas this is how I am able to make them lower in calories. The Fat Free Cheese is really good so try it you will be amazed.

You can leave me comments on my blog without being registered so tell me what you think of my recipes especially if you try them. I really want to write a cookbook so I would love your feedback. Also if you dont understand some of my instructions let me know as well. Also if you have a recipe you want to share with me I will be glad to try it out and post it on my blog, or if you have a not so healthy recipe that you want to try to make healthy let me know and I can try to transform it as well..

Hope you Enjoy

 

Philly Cheesteaks/ Cheesy Ham Stuffed French Toast

So it's been a crazy week in my household. Had to take my son to the ER Wedesday for an infection that set into his face he looked like Rocky his eye was so swollen. By the time we got out of their it was late so picked up some KFC on the way home, It tasted good but later on I decided to look up the calories in what we ate..Wow is all I an say. I got the mixed bucket so we had Extra crispy, Original, and Grilled..Should of just stuck to the Grilled thats for sure. A grilled Drumstick is 80 calories, a Grilled Thigh is160 Calories, and A grilled breast is 210 Calories. If you go for extra crispy, the drumstick is  150, thigh 340 and Breast is 510 calories.That's almost double what the grilled chicken is WOW .Just image the total calorie count when you add mashed potatoes cole slaw and a biscuit, You are looking at  meal over 1,000 calories. Almost all of your daily calories in one meal. Next time I will definetly stick with the Grilled chicken only and then make sure I just have veggies with it. So what do you do when you have had a long day and it seems like the drive-thru is the easiest option even though its not the healthies. Well I have a meal that you can cook in about 10 minutes, which if you think about it, is probably the same amount of time it will take you to get to and then thru the drive-thru.
Philly Cheesteaks
3 oz Raw Filet Beefsteak (The ones I buy are sliced thin already)
1 Hot Dog Bun (Look for the Low Cal Ones Sara Lee 80 calories are good)
1-Slice Fat Free Cheese
1/3 cup onions and bell peppers
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Spray a Pan with Nonstick Cooking Spray, Add Onion and Bell Peppers cook for 5 minutes remove from Pan, Then cook thin sliced meat for about 2 minutes. Place cheese on top of meat and cook til melted, Toast bun Then add meat and onion, pepper mixture.. Serving Size 1 Sandwich 301 Calories, 28 g Carbs. 9 g Fat.
This is a great sandwich that will fill you up.
If you want Fries with this Sandwich, Dont buy the frozen ones. Take one Medium Size potato, then cut it into Fry size pieces, put on a cookie sheet sprayed with Non Stick Spray, Spray the pots with the cookig spray then sprinkly with salt cook at about 400 till crispy..These are yummy and the whole Potato is ony 120 Calories. So you can have a whole meal for 520 Calories. If you are sticking to a 1,500 calorie a day diet this is a pretty reasonable meal. If you want to cut down on the Calories you could use Chicken Breast instead of beef and only use 1/2 of a potato..Still Yummy no matter which way you do it.

I know that their are times when you jut have to have fast food. So then in those cases what do you do. Well stay away from the Salads in most places they have over 1,000 Calories. The easiest thing would be to order the Kids Meal, its the right portion. If thats not an option go for the Grilled Chicken Sandwiches without Mayo and take off the top piece of bread.. Taco Bell has a Fresco Menu where they show you the Calories, or Even Subway has A great Menu of Low Cal, Low Fat options to choose from. So you Can still have fast food just choose wisely.
Since I am talking Fast Food Here I have decided to give you another Recipe this one is  a Breakfast Sandwich that is similar to Mcdonalds Griddle Sandwich. One of their Sausage McGriddles without Egg is 420 Calories so next time you are craving that try this one instead

Cheesy Ham Stuffed French Toast
1/3 Cup Egg Substitute                                 1 Wedge Laughing Cow Lite Swiss Cheese
2- Slices Lite Bread (45 Calories a Slice)      1 Slice Fat Free Cheese
1-oz Fat Free Ham (2 slices)                         2 tsp lite whipped butter
Sugar Free Syrup for Dipping (Optional)

Put Egg in Bowl. Lay Bread Flat and Spread each Slice with 1/2 of the Laughing Cow Cheese. Ham and Cheese then put other piece of bread on top. Add 1 tsp of butter to pan. Dip Sandwich in Egg mixture coating both sides. Place the Sandwich in the skillet and cook 2 to 4 minutes til brown, Add remaining tsp of butter and flip. Cook on other side another 2 to 4 minutes until golden brown. When Done dip in syrup this sandwich is better than McDonalds.
1 serving size 256 Calories 7 g Fat

I hope these help with your fast food cravings, Until next time hope you have happy, healthy eating

Noodles

Last time I wrote I said I was going to try to do this weekly and then as soon as I said it, I missed a week. School is keeping me pretty busy and I havent been as faithful about cooking the healthy recipes as I would be if I wasnt in school full time. I am still trying to make sure all the meals I cook are as healthy as possible but when you are busy its so easy to just fall back on this old stand buy recipes that you know are so easy. A roast in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots, Spaghetti, some kind of cheesy not so good for you casserole or even fast food. Its ok to do the old stand buys just try to make them as healthy as possible by using lean meats and tons of veggies. For Spaghetti I make my own sauce and use lean ground beef. Its just finding a noodle that is lower in calories that still taste good. Well guess what thanks to the hungry girl cookbooks I was able to do that.  Now dont freak out about what I am going to tell you. Because I know my first reaction when I read this recipe was there is no way I am going to try that. Then as I kept reading her cookbook I realized she had a lot of recipes that called for the same ingredient some of the recipes really sounded good and so I finally decided to try it. This is the 2nd recipe I cooked with this and besides being just a little bit chewer than a normal noodle they are pretty darn good. So please dont knock the recipe until you actually try the product. My brother is coming to see me at the end of the month so I just may try to throw these in on him to see if he knows the difference. I know you are thinking just tell me already what it it. ok I will they are called House Foods Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Shaped Noodle Substitute. I know right as soon as you see that word Tofu you are like gross but I promise you, you will be suprised. They come packaged in water and are usually in the refigerated section next to the tofu. I can still hear some of you grossing out over these. Just come to my house for dinner sometime and I will make them for you and you will be a true believer. Here is the best part about them. You can eat the whole bag which is 2 servings and still only have eaten 40 calories where else can you get your pasta fix for such low calories.. Nowhere. I made this recipe tonight for supper and it was a hit. The only thing my son didnt like was the sun dried tomatoes. I really dont think they did anything for the dish so next time I will leave them out. My step son, who is still learning about american foods really liked it. So I guess you can say I will be making it again. Here is the recipe
Its Called Oodles of Noodles and it came from Hungry Girl
Ingredients:2 bags House Foods Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Shaped Noodle Substitute
8 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlets
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt, divided, or more to taste
1/8 tsp. black pepper, or more to taste
20 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces
(about 2 1/2 cups)
1 cup sliced brown mushrooms
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and thinly sliced
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
1 tbsp. reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping

Directions:
Use a strainer to rinse and drain noodles well. Pat dry. Cut noodles up a bit, using kitchen shears if you've got 'em. Set aside.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Add chicken and season with Italian seasoning, 1/8 tsp. salt, and pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes per side, until fully cooked.

Remove chicken from the skillet. Once cool enough to handle, slice chicken and set aside.

Remove skillet from heat, re-spray, and return to medium-high heat. Add asparagus and 2 tbsp. water. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.

Remove cover and add mushrooms, tomatoes, and garlic to the skillet. Stirring occasionally, cook until veggies are tender, about 4 minutes.

Add noodles to the skillet, stir, and cook just until any excess water has evaporated and noodles are hot, about 2 minutes.

Add butter, remaining 1/8 tsp. salt, and sliced chicken to the skillet. Cook and stir until ingredients are well mixed and butter has melted, about 1 minute.

Add Parm-style topping and mix well. If you like, season to taste with additional salt and pepper. YUM!
MAKES 2 SERVINGS
Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe (about 2 1/2 cups)
Calories: 274
Fat: 8g
Sodium: 546mg
Carbs: 18.5g
Fiber: 7.5g
Sugars: 3.5g
Protein: 34g

Here are the changes I made to this recipe. I used both Asparagus and Brocolli since my son doesnt like Asparagus. The asparagus was really good but to make it easier and cheaper on me next time I think I will just use brocolli. Since I needed to feed 5 people. I upped the amount of chicken I used to 3 large chicken breasts. I also used an extra tble of butter and parmesan and a little bit more salt. Was able to feed everyone and they where happy. I served this with garlic bread I made from oatmeal bread which is just 45 calories a slice. I am looking forward to the leftovers tomorrow thats for sure. The best part about this is look at the calories only 274 add the garlic bread and you are about 320 calorie this is for a full meal. That wont leave you wanting more. Plus if you want dessert you can have it.
The new favorite thing in my house for dessert is skinny cow ice cream sandwiches you get a whole sandwich for 140 calories. Plus they come in some great flavors, Mint, Cookies and Cream, and Vanilla. When we are wanting something sweet these really do hit the spot. Add the calories of the Noodles plus the ice cream and you are only at 460 calories.. Can you say wow.
All those times when I was dieting I would of never been able to have a meal that fills me up plus dessert it just wouldnt of happened. I hope you all are enjoying reading my blog. I havent had much feedback from it so please let me know what you think.  Especially if you are trying the recipes. Some of them are my own but most come from the Hungry girl cookbook, so if you like what you see she has I think 4 books out  and I am sure you will find something that you like in them. I also signed up for her e-mails so I get e-mails from her with recipes as well. Well tell next time happy eating