Appetizer Week Part I

All this week, I'll be sharing healthy (but tasty) appetizer recipes. Don't be afraid to change the recipes to your taste! Get creative!

Here is one that is sure to please....

Lasagna in a Bun

Ingredients
30 Sister Schubert's Wheat Dinner Rolls (come in packs of 10)

1 pound 94% lean beef (suggestion....Laura's Lean Beef)
1 cup Traditional Spaghetti Sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) 2% shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim or 2%  mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions
Make a wide V-shaped cut in the center of each bun - careful not to cut all the way through. Remove cut portion and save for another use; (maybe for a spinach dip)
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Cook 4-5 minutes or until heated through.

Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese and half of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Spoon meat sauce into buns; top with cheese mixture. Place on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil.

Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes - keep an eye out - time might actually be shorter than this. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheddar and mozzarella. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Yield: 30 servings.

Note: Original recipe was modified for increased health purposes. Here is the original recipe's picture!

Preview for Appetizer Week

I heard there is a little football game coming up next Sunday....I can't remember the details, but apparently it's a big deal. Anyway, I know that it is tradition to load up on fried chicken, deep dish pizza and beer for this particular party - but what if you changed things up this year?!

Next week I will be posting healthy appetizer ideas for your Super Bowl Sunday Parties!!!! I promise I won't give you instructions on how to make a veggie tray:)

So, come back on Monday to start preparing for some seriously awesome.....commercials!!!!!

Preview Appy:

Chili Pecans

Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:
1 piece(s) paper, parchment, to cover baking sheet
1 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin, ground
1 teaspoon coriander, ground
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon sugar, brown
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cup(s) nuts, pecans, halves
1 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 275°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine chili powder, cumin, coriander, paprika, brown sugar and garlic powder in a small bowl.
3. Toss pecans and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the pecans, tossing to coat.
4. Spread the spiced nuts on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake the pecans, tossing every 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned and very fragrant, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; sprinkle with salt and toss well. Let cool.

Recipe Source

Food is Love

As I rounded the corner of the McDonald's drive-through this morning to pick up a # 4 with a large Coke that I had ordered for my boyfriend's birthday breakfast, I started thinking about the connection between food and love.

Had I showed up on his door step with a fresh fruit cup and yogurt, would it have said the same thing?....I love you?

Once the aroma of the hashbrowns reached my nose and my mouth began to water, the irony set it. I am a dietitian that continuously shows my love with food.......unhealthy food! Food is one of most people's favorite thing in the world, so when you are trying to get the message across that you care, it's only natural to grab a cookie cake or, in my case, a sausage biscuit with egg.

Watching him enjoy those 970 calories made me warm inside. I felt like the best girlfriend in the world! When, in actuality, I couldn't have done anything worse. I talk about nutrition ALL day. At work, with my low-carb fanatic roommate, with the meat guy at the grocery, in this blog, to people at parties who insist on telling me everything they have had to eat that day! And I love it! I pride myself on this vast knowledge that I have googled.

However, I still choose to show my love is such a hypocritical way. I don't know what that says about me or the power of Mc'D's crack cokes, but I doubt that I will at time soon stop showing my love with Big Mac's and sausage biscuits.

These are just thoughts - there is no education in here what so ever. Hope you all have a great Thursday, and next time you find yourself buying unhealthy food out of love and affection.....think twice....is that really how you want to show you care? 

P.S. Happy Birthday to my favorite person in the world. I would buy you a # 4 any day:)

A Must-Buy!

Watch this captivating news story about this ingenious new invention. It's a must-buy! Literally, if you don't buy this, you're an idiot.

New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less
By - The Onion

Thanks Matt Hagedorn for today's video!!!!

Winter Hunger

As the snow accumulates and you hit the pantry for yet another snack this winter, stop and think why it is that you are feeling so hungry. It's common knowledge that we eat more in the winter, but why?!! Well, it goes back to our early ancestors...like some many things do....and involves several explanations.

1. Body fat helps insulate the body, and in the cold winter months, the body needs more insulation. So, we are programmed to be hungrier as the temperature drops. Fortunately, these days, most people have access to heated homes and offices and also......fleece. So, we don't really need that extra insulation, do we?

2. In the winter months, people tend to stay inside more often and the sun is out for a shorter amount of time each day. Because of this, your Vitamin D stores are decreased. Via a long chain of sciencey reactions, vitamin D effects the production of leptin. Leptin is a hormone that is involved in appetite. So, its possible that increased hunger and excess weight gain is due to lowered vitamin D levels.

3. Digestion slightly increases body temperature. So, its also possible that you are subconsciously grabbing that Butterfinger in an attempt to increase your core temperature.

So, what can you do? Here is a list of things to do this winter to prevent unnecessary overeating!

• Stay warm, load up on an extra sweater to prevent getting cold and wanting to eat
• Drink warm, low calorie beverages like hot tea
• Avoid cold drinks
• Increase your intake of vitamin D rich foods (fatty fish like salmon, canned tuna, low fat milk, fortified breakfast cereals, and mushrooms)
• Stay active. Being sedentary increases the urge to eat!

So stay warm, and get out of the pantry!!!





So easy, it's cheating

Take note, this is tough one.

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Heat up the 3 sausage links on a stove top pan sprayed with low-fat cooking spray for about 8 min. Dice into small pieces. Meanwhile heat up the Lean Cuisine in the microwave. Combine and enjoy!! (Makes plenty for 2 servings)

That's cooking made easy:)

Getting Past the "New Norm"

No wonder we are confused. AND DEFINITELY no wonder all the kids are confused. With the food that has been normalized in this country, its a wonder we are all still here. Actually, it's worse. We're all here, but we're connected to sleep apnea machines and clutching to our walkers at age 43 because our hips have literally deteriorated. It's out of control.

I was at the grocery the other day and I saw a Snickers bar that said it Glowed in the Dark?! What glows in the dark? The actual candy? What the hell is in a candy that makes it glow in the dark?! How would anyone think that was a good idea?!

Have you watched Saturday morning cartoons recently? DON'T. You'll be on your way to the grocery to stock up on Gushers, Sugar Cereals, and whatever other plastic "food" they are selling kids these days.

So what is your role in all this? It's your job is to get past it! Walk past it at the grocery, turn off the TV, look away from billboards, don't look in your co-worker's lunch box. You have to be stronger than today's marketing. Trust me, this is no easy task. I was kind of intrigued by the Glow in the Dark Snickers:)

The main point: This post is just about awareness. You have to be aware of something in order to avoid it. So, good luck - its a dangerous glow-in-the-dark world out there.

P.S. Please do not eat glow in the dark food. (I'll try to get more information on this)