Surviving Fall Festivals

Isn't there just always an occasion to eat?

Now that we're moving into fall it's time for all the beautiful small town festivals, which I love...

but can also be a challenge when it comes to staying on Plan.

This past weekend my family went to an Apple Festival and a Greek Festival in our home town.

The plus side is that this isn't the first time I've been to these and I know what to expect.

By now I also know that I need to plan ahead to be successful.

Before I went to the Apple Festival last Thursday I made sure to eat low pt foods.

I had a salmon burger for 2 pts(I get these from SAM's), a 2 pt simple salad using Opa Feta Dill salad dressing for 1 pt and 3 oz of grilled chicken for 1 pt(also from SAM's) and fruit on the side.

When I got there I wasn't hungry and that was a huge help.

I decided ahead of time that I was going to have some of the homemade kettle corn that I love.

We usually buy a couple bags to share among the five of us(Gran & Papa came too-hooray!).

I estimated I ate around one cup but tracked it as two cups since I realize I sometimes underestimate that type of mindless eating food.

Mom had a hamburger and went on and on about how good it was and..

I was really tempted to eat one

But I didn't!  Yay me!

I knew I still had to make it through the Greek Festival and I am much more tempted by that food and already planned on using weekly's for that.

So First Fall Festival was a win!  I didn't crash & burn.  I didn't go over my daily pts because I planned for it!  Hooray!

The day after I was hit with a strong craving for the full fat gooey, chocolaty brownie.

My husband said the thing I was already thinking- "You know you just need to eat it and get it out of your system or you'll eat the house down just wishing you had that brownie".

He's right and so I went to a local bake shoppe and got a salted caramel brownie which was heavenly!!!!!!

Admittedly I was also overwhelmed at the display seeing all the other goodies and ended up getting their sort of chocolate dump cake with chocolate frosting mixed in along with a small pumpkin cookie with a tiny drop of cream cheese in the middle.

I gave half of the cookie away and at least a quarter of the cake away.  I gave my son and husband one bite of the brownie.

At the Greek Festival I had one piece of spanikopita and keftedes(Greek meatballs) that came with a huge plate sized grilled pita.

I gave my son one of my meatballs and a quarter of the pita and my husband half of the pita.

For dinner I made a whole roasted chicken with potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic(I'll show you that on another post :).

I definitely used up all my weekly's and I felt a little bloated and uncomfortable last night but instead of dwelling on my mistakes what I know is this-

Before WW I would've eaten ALL of the food myself without sharing any of it.

This would've been followed by self destructive loathing and spiraling out of control.

Today I still love myself.

Today is a new day.

And, I'm still on plan.

AND guess what?  My mother-in-law was in from out of town and she usually takes us out to a huge brunch buffet on Sunday.

I don't really have it in me yet to go to a buffet like this and not overeat.

There was the pressure of knowing this is always what we do together and it's expected.

I also knew my weekly's were gone and I don't want to gain more weight.

So once again what saved me is my own courage.  It's like that old saying- if you want things to change you have to make a change.

I told my husband and my mother-in-law that I really didn't want to go out to eat because I didn't have the points for it but that it didn't hurt my feelings if they went out together.

I had choir practice come up at church that conflicted with this too so I knew it was a sign from God.

Be true to yourself!

My mother-in-law was maybe a little disappointed but very sweet and understanding.  She is, after all, the most practical woman I've ever met.

So it turned out to be a good thing.  I had an uncomfortable situation come up but, as my son says, I summoned up all of my courage and spoke up for myself.

Today I feel so good about myself for honoring my Spirit and my goals.

I also really tried to honor my sweet mother-in-law and family.  I think they knew where my heart was in this.

Here's the thing, I think there are many people who are overweight for similar reasons.

They're really sweet and wonderful people who maybe just don't know how to speak up for themselves.

Our minds tend to think of the worse case scenarios but, with practice, we can change that.

We can start to realize that we're often blowing things out of proportion, that it isn't always as bad as it seems.

Either way it's important to learn how to speak up for yourself in a way that is loving and kind to you and those around you.

That's an essential part of this journey for me.

So enjoy all your gatherings and fall festivals but remember to speak up for yourself and plan ahead!

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Showdown!!!!

This is right off the stove.  You can still see the steam!

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S POST!!!!  Prepare to be amazed and get really excited!


As Autumn nears this little foodie starts dreaming of all things pumpkin.

One of those pumpkin dreams is about the pumpkin spice latte that Starbucks puts out.

We all know their holiday lattes are major calorie bombs but let's take a closer look.

Check this out...

The Smart Points for a tall with non-fat milk and no whip is 9.

If you get 2% milk and whipped cream it's 15 pts!

With whole milk and whipped cream it's 20 Smart Points!!!!

That's almost a whole day's points for ONE drink and it's not even a venti!

Good grief!

No way I'd personally choose to drink my day's points.  

Fortunately I found some slimmed down versions that I decided to try.

This is a taste off!

May the best recipe win!

Of course in addition to taste I'll also be looking at total Smart Points, creativity and work/time required.  

The first recipe is from Hungry Girl.  This slimmed down version has just 3 Smart Points(by my calculations using the WW recipe builder).  

The second is from Skinny Kitchen.  This one is 3 Smart Points.  The difference here is the first uses light vanilla soy milk and this one uses skim milk.  

The third recipe is from Skinny Taste.  This is also 3 Smart Points.  This is based on using her homemade pumpkin butter which is 1 pt vs the kind at the store that's 5 pts.  So this recipe requires a lot more work but hey, maybe you'd want the pumpkin butter around to put on toast or some such.

The fourth is regular coffee with fat free half and half & part skim milk with Pumpkin Spice flavored stevia drops.   

The last recipe comes from Laaloosh.  This is the best point value coming in at just 2 Smart Points per serving!

I also have extra yummy coffee to add to each of these because my husband actually roasts his own coffee!

Yep, I'm married to an official coffee snob.  Funny thing is that he was drinking Folgers instant coffee when we got married.

My brother's gift to us at the wedding was our very first espresso machine along with personal training on how to make all the frou frou drinks.

My brother is the one who got me started on coffee.  Love you Chris! ;)

Okay, back to those lattes.

And the winner is...

#1   The Skinny Taste Pumpkin Spice Latte!

This was absolutely AMAZING!   I am freaking out about how good this is!  

I promise you I could NOT tell this was low fat or lower calorie.  It was that good!

I had my husband sample this too and he couldn't believe it was low in points!

The downside is that this one required the most work.  Sometimes that's just how it goes.

Really it's just that you have to make her recipe for pumpkin butter ahead of time.  I made it a couple days in advance.

The pumpkin butter is so good and I know I'll use it on toast and other things.

Here is how I made it as a serving for one:

3/4 cup skim milk= 2 pts
1 Tbsp(1/2 serving) of her homemade pumpkin butter= 1 pt
1 tsp Truvia= 0 pt
1 tsp vanilla extract= 0 pt
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice= 0 pt
1/4 cup espresso= 0 pt

That's 3 pts without the Light Redi Whip which is an additional 1 pt.


The second runner up is...

#2   The Skinny Kitchen Pumpkin Spiced Latte

This one was good but seemed a bit thin and lacked the depth of flavor that I tasted in the Skinny Taste recipe.

Still, this was awesome for the point value and much less work given that you don't have to make the pumpkin butter ahead of time.

#3  The Hungry Girl Pumpkin Spice Latte

This had a pretty good taste.  It wasn't great but it was good.  I personally felt like I could taste the artificial sweetener here.

I usually stick with stevia for my sugar substitute so I'm a little biased against the taste of other substitutes.

If you're not you may really like this.  The plus side is that this was didn't require any stovetop work.

# 4   Coffee with added Nature's Way Pumpkin Spice stevia drops

This was a very mild, subtle flavor.  It wasn't very sweet.  I typically use the chocolate flavored stevia drops in my coffee every morning and I had to use twice the amount of drops I would usually use with the pumpkin flavor.

Overall it was pretty good and certainly very easy to use.

#5   Laaloosh Pumpkin Spice Latte

This was my least favorite.  This just fell flat for me.

My husband even commented on this when he tasted it.

Obviously everyone's taste buds are different so you may rate these differently.

The take home message here is that there are some amazingly delicious lower calorie recipes for this fantastic fall favorite.  

Spending 3 pts instead of 20 for one drink that tastes just as good?  That's a win!  

Gadgets

Today I thought I'd share with you some small gadgets I love.

One thing I really hate is when my big, strong husband is not home to open those really hard to open jars.

It's great when you have someone around to do this for you but sometimes we don't.

Some of you may not have someone around to open jars or maybe you have painful arthritis in your hands which makes it an even harder task.

Out of frustration I finally broke down and purchased a battery powered jar opener on Amazon.

Before I made the purchase, as per my usual, I spent hours reading the reviews.

I finally settled on the Hamilton Beach automatic jar opener.

Initially this seemed to work well until,...

it didn't.

This does not work well at all for large lids and I have several large lidded items.



Then my sister-in-law showed me the gadget that she used.

It's the JarKey Jar Opener by Brix.

This essentially breaks the seal on the jar so that it's then easy to open.

This works like a charm and it's really cheap!

I also purchased a set of Progressive Jar Grips which are a nice adjunct to have around.

Sometimes you just need to get a good grip on things and these work really well.

The blue one is a bit flimsy but the other two are nice and sturdy.

These were also relatively inexpensive.

So really, that's kind of cool isn't it?  I mean the first product was the most expensive but not the most effective.

Who says you have to spend a ton of money to get a good product?!

Here's to feeling empowered and being able to open our own jars!

Conquering Cravings

I just finished reading this article on Oprah's website, previously published on sakara.com.

It's about strategies to conquer food cravings.

Most of these are old news.  You've heard them a million times over the years.

But there was one that was new to me and I really love finding new tools to help me with those pesky cravings.

Here is the quote:

"When you're starting to wean away from unhealthy cravings, hide these indulgences in the middle of your meal at first. If you eat a cookie before your meal, your brain will associate it with the relief of hunger and crave it anytime you're hungry. Conversely, if you eat a cookie at the end of your meal, your brain will expect one every.single.time. Instead, have a few bites in the middle of your meal, to slowly break the association."

I couldn't find who authored this or I would list that as well.  

But isn't that cool?!

It seems to be really true for me too.  

Right after dinner or late evening if I watch a movie is when I really want a dessert.  

I think I'm conditioned to it.  

Working it in to the middle of the meal is a really intriguing idea.  

I think it would take time for me to transition to doing this but it would be interesting to see how well it worked for me.  

I might use this intermittently, maybe reserving it for times when I've had a gain and am trying to get back on track.  

I just had to share this with you.  

I hope this helps all of us!

Beautiful Mistakes

I've been really trying to get back on track lately and fix things I like and that also fill me up.

One dish I decided to make I hadn't made in a year or two.

At the very end of this process I burned it a little.

I know what you're thinking, "You're posting burned food?  Really???".

Yep.  You heard it here first folks, you're seeing pictures of burned food today!

This is probably the only site you'll ever visit where you do get to see burned food.  :)

Initially I thought about not sharing this with you but then I realized that it was in fact a moral imperative that I do share it.

The truth is that everyone makes mistakes, including me, and I think sometimes it's more helpful to let people see your mistakes instead of trying to hide them and pretend everything is perfect.

That's so not me.


This recipe is for a Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash.  The original recipe was by Wendy Polisi.

Wendy has some really great recipes.  Her recipe for quinoa black bean burgers is my all time favorite though it would require either spending weekly's or slimming down the recipe a bit.

So, I decided to make the stuffed butternut squash but I decided to change it up...

a lot.

Instead of having a more Italian flavor I decided to go Southwest and spice it up.

Before I get to the recipe I wanted to give you a quick word about quinoa for those of you unfamiliar with it.

There are several different types.  The better known types are white, red and black.
My favorite is the red.  The white seems more bitter to me and the black has a good flavor but a crunchier texture.

All quinoa will have a bitter resin on it and you must put your quinoa in a very fine mesh strainer and rinse it before you cook it.  

After it cooks it will look as though it has a little white "tail" or string coming off of it.  That's normal.

Also a safety tip:  if you're working with hot peppers like the chipotle I recommend you wear disposable gloves and do not touch your face.  It's too easy to get pepper burns!  I've done this in the past too and let me tell you it doesn't just easily wash off your hands.  Please be careful friends!


Now on to the recipe!

Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Butternut Squash
6 Smart Points for one half of this recipe!  It's a TON of food!!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of uncooked red quinoa(rinsed)

1 medium butternut squash

8 oz of sliced white mushrooms

1 yellow onion diced

2 cloves of minced garlic- shouldn't every recipe call for garlic? :0)

1 red bell pepper diced

1/2 tsp smoked paprika(this is a miracle spice)

2 tsp chili powder(you can do this to taste)

2 chipotle peppers minced(you can use less or omit altogether if you don't like heat)

1 oz reduced fat Mexican cheese

chicken broth for cooking

salt to taste

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Cut your butternut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray it with olive oil spray and place the squash face down on the sheet.  Cook for 60-70 minutes or until done.

After you've rinsed your quinoa you need to cook it.  Put the quinoa in a pan with 3/4 cup of water. Bring it just to a boil and then reduce the heat to slow simmer and cook for 12 minutes.  I do not have any water left over to drain off and it doesn't stick to the pan when it's done.  That's how you know you've cooked it correctly in my book.

In a separate skillet saute the onion and peppers on medium high heat for 15-20 minutes using broth to prevent scorching or sticking.  Obviously you can substitute vegetable broth here.
Next add the garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the smoked paprika and chili powder and cook for another 3 minutes or so and then turn off the heat.

When the butternut squash is done pull it out and let it cool off enough to handle it.  Scoop out the insides leaving a 1/4-1/2 inch border to give the shell some stability.  I only used half of the butternut squash that I scooped out and set aside the other half for another recipe on another day.  

Add the half of the squash you scooped out to the skillet with the peppers and onions and mix well.
Next add the quinoa to this pan and mix well.

Put your stuffing into the squash shells and top with cheese.  Mine is the one on the right that has 1/2 oz of cheese.  I gave my husband a full ounce.

Place it into the oven on broil checking it at one minute intervals.

This is where mine burned!!!!!  I put it in for 4 minutes and checked it after 2-3 minutes and it was already too late.

When you broil anything let my mistakes be your saving Grace!!!

NEVER LEAVE YOUR OVEN WHILE IT'S ON BROIL AND CHECK IT OFTEN !!!

The truth is that it really wasn't burned too badly and I still ate it and it was good.

My husband ate it too.

And you know what?

That's real life baby!  Sometimes it burns and we eat it anyway!

Happy Cooking!

Blogging

Some of my fellow WW members, leader and friends were kind enough recently to share what they were enjoying about my blog.

One member specifically shared that my blog helped her when she felt down which, I just have to say, just made me feel like my heart was exploding with love.

I had already written the following post before she shared this with me but it really just reiterated why I'm doing this.

Even though I do try to encourage other people I also need encouragement sometimes too.

So these words really lifted me up today and I just wanted an opportunity to say thank you.

It also felt like a sign from God to keep on keeping on. :)


Here is the post...

I gotta admit this experience of doing a blog is all new to me.

For that matter social media is still foreign territory.

I still don't have a Facebook account.

Don't get me wrong, I came really close to it once but I backed out at the last minute after I once again read the privacy statement, as in you don't really have any.

Part of the reason I started this is because my WW coach along with several friends and WW members kept asking me to start a blog.

They'd also ask me what my Connect name was so they could "follow" me.

I remember standing there staring at them trying really hard not to look stupid because I really didn't even understand what it meant to "follow"someone.

Even now I'm still learning all of this so if  any of you message me and I'm a little slow on the uptake that's why.

Eventually I realized that in my heart of hearts doing a blog sounded really fun albeit scary.

The first time I walked into my first WW meeting I remember the fear and guarded hope that I felt.

"Oh please let this be it.  Please don't let this be another failure.  I'm so tired of failing and feeling fat" I thought.

I felt so vulnerable.

But the leader, Nancy, was so amazing and the people there were so supportive and open I started relaxing in increments.

I started feeling less afraid and more excited.

That's how this blog has been.

Sometimes I feel a little crazy, like I'm having a conversation with myself.

It feels lonely sometimes but then I've learned that there are indeed people reading and following my ramblings.

Certainly my WW leader, fellow WW members, family and friends have been hugely supportive and I can't thank you all enough.

What I always come back to though is the real reasons I started this:

1. Do something new that's outside of your comfort zone, something that's exciting but also scares you.

2.  Help other people.  The truth is that when I encourage other people I feel encouraged.  Before I started this I had actually started praying about finding ways of standing in service to others.

3.  Expression.  Too often we don't express what's truly in our hearts for fear of rejection and feeling not good enough.  I think God calls us to our Highest expression and we know it for what it is because it feels good and it does not cause harm to others or ourselves.  It is an expression of love.

4.  Find some measure of joy in every moment of every day.

5. Grow & Learn.

6.  Be as transparent, real and honest as I can.  In other words be authentically all that I came here to be.

A lot of these are intertwined obviously.

My guideline for the blog is only positive content.

There are times when I question what I'm doing or whether it makes any difference at all.

Then I remember all my reasons for doing it in the first place and I figure even if I only help one person, if I only achieve one of my reasons that will be enough and I'll feel really good about that.

Either way I know I'll be glad I tried because I'm already learning so much, having fun...

and, I feel so grateful.

Mushroom Stroganoff

I had a surplus of mushrooms on hand and before they went bad I needed to do something with them.

The recipe I decided to make is one I had first watched on The Jazzy Vegetarian on PBS.

It's Mushroom Stroganoff.

This serves 4 and is 1 pt for the mushroom sauce alone and then you add pasta and points therein.

Calculating 2 oz of barilla plus pasta per serving brings this dish to 7 pts per serving with the pasta.

If you put this over a spiralized veggie noodle it would be a 1 pt dinner!  Wow!


Here's a peek...

The only thing I changed here is that I did go ahead and add 1/2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce.  

Yes.  We're already pulling out fall decorations!

Look at those mushrooms!  Yummm.....

It tasted like a rich mushroom gravy and I love gravy.

It turned out so well in fact that I'd say it's really good enough to eat the sauce all by itself.

Well, maybe that's just me.  :)

Beautiful Basil

I have never thought of myself as a plant person.

In fact, historically, if anyone were to ask I'd tell them I had the black thumb of death when it came to plants.

However over the years, as I've learned to cook more, I've really come to appreciate the sharp contrast between fresh and dried herbs.

There really is no comparison.

Fresh herbs have such depth of flavor and there's just something wonderful about seeing something good and fragrant and green on your plate.

I was lamenting my lack of botanical ability and my wish for fresh herbs to my sister-in-law who happens to have her masters in horticulture.

She said to me "Carrie, herbs are basically weeds.  You don't want to baby them.  Forget to water them and they'll still love you and it'll be great".

This year I finally got up the courage to try.

I most wanted fresh basil so that's what I started with.

I eventually also planted a parsley and cilantro but the basil has been the star.

I have been absolutely flabbergasted at how my basil plant has grown and, believe me, I have forgotten to water it often.

It's not just a little plant now, it's a huge bush!

The best part is that I now have all that lovely fresh basil for all of my dishes- pesto, pastas, marinara and on and on.

It's really been a lovely thing, not just to eat it, but to watch it grow and of course to know that I've done something new, something I believed I couldn't do before.

Parsnip, Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Gratin

So today I had another craving.

This time it was for homemade comfort food with parsnips.

Parsnips are so unbelievably delicious.  They are 2 pts per 1/2 cup.

If you haven't tried them oven roasted you're missing out.

I would say it's a moral imperative for you to remedy that situation immediately. :)

I looked at several recipes on line but couldn't really find just what I was craving so I made up my own recipe.



This is a casserole that serves 8 and comes out to 6 Smart Points per serving in the recipe builder.

Ingredients:

1 lb parsnips, peeled and either spiralized or cut into small 1/2 inch pieces
1 (12 oz) sweet potato, peeled and either spiralized or cute into small 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 head of cauliflower cut into small florets
8 oz fat free evaporated milk
2 oz white cooking wine
1 pinch red pepper flakes(more if you like it hot)
1 yellow onion diced
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 Tbsp Hormel Real Bacon Pieces
1 tsp dried parsley
1 Tbsp flour
Chicken broth for cooking
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup part skim mozzarella



Spiralize the parsnips.

Now the sweet potatoes...

These are the bits left over after spiralizing.

There is no way I'm going to waste these!

I've already tracked it by putting it into the recipe builder.

I just finely diced these up and threw them in the pan.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9x13 casserole pan with olive oil spray and set aside.
First I sauteed the onion over medium high heat, with chicken broth to keep it from sticking, for 15-20 min or until well done.
Then add the garlic and cook for two more minutes.
Next add in the white wine, parsley, pepper flakes, bacon bits and 3/4 cup chicken broth.
Add in the flour to thicken stirring constantly.  Pull this off the heat and set aside.

Place the parsnips, sweet potato and cauliflower into the casserole dish and pour the onion mixture over the top.

Next sprinkle both cheeses over the top.  Place in the oven and cook for 40-50 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

What I might change next time....

I think next time I might rice the cauliflower before adding it to the casserole pan so everything cooks a little more evenly.  I felt a little too lazy to do that today.  :)

All in all this turned out really well.  It tasted like a yummy potatoes au gratin without the white potatoes.

Scheduling My Life

This is a post I wrote last Tuesday when I decided to take a day off.


How often do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list?

I've found recently that I haven't had the same amount of free time to just sit and be as I used to.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really thankful for the full life I have, it's just that in the midst of all the things I've scheduled I seem to have lost some of myself.

My two days off are packed full of things I have chosen to do that have served me very well.

These are things like working out, going to my WW meeting, running errands, cooking meals ahead of time, doing school parties and activities, family get togethers etc.

But for a natural introvert not having down time is like loss of breath and loss of life.

As I sat back and thought about all the things I do, and all the things I planned on doing, I tried to figure out where to fit in that "alone time just for me".

What I found is that there really isn't any spot to fit it in.

But what I decided is that I would make the time anyway.

I will intentionally schedule my life and make time for myself.

It may not be consistent.

It may be something that only happens once a month but I will schedule it.

Today is one of those days I intentionally scheduled.

Admittedly, I initially felt a little bit guilty skipping my WW meeting and my workout and all my many errands but I'm so happy I did.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should routinely skip those things but I am saying sometimes it's okay, especially if it's to carve out one small moment for yourself.

I discussed this with my husband before I took this day off and he was wholeheartedly behind me.

He recognized that I haven't had time and that I'm not as much my true self without it and that's the person he fell in love with.

Today I listened to the talk I've been meaning to listen to for the past month while cooking(something I love to do).

I made up my own recipe on a whim(It's in the oven now and I'll share this with you later if it's any good).

I'm planning on quiet time for prayer and meditation and of course for one of my greatest passions, reading.

If the weather were a bit cooler now I'd be camped out in my back yard on a blanket watching the deer and squirrel, listening to the rustle of leaves on the forest floor as they play, staring at blue sky and just generally luxuriating in nature.

I remember when I was in my twenties occasionally dressing up and going to Barnes & Noble to buy a coffee(usually with spare change) and to just sit and read.  It cost virtually nothing and yet it made me feel so amazingly lavish.  It was just a day to pretend I had all the money and all the time in the world to just sit and enjoy the moment.

Sometimes it's the littlest things that feel the biggest.

There is no wrong way to spend your special time but it's so important that you do it.

The truth of the matter is you can't give from an empty cup.

I think we all get so busy giving to everyone else without thought of replenishing ourselves from within and yet we're somehow surprised when burn out shows it's ugly head at our doorstep.

What we have to understand is that we have to make the time.

And, it's not selfish in the traditional sense to do so.

There's nothing noble about this sort of self flagellation.  

Honoring your body temple and your spirit is smart.

It's necessary

And it's utterly fantastic.

Making time to remember and be who we were made to be is a beautiful thing.

And, once you have filled yourself back up the gift you can give others is beyond compare to what you otherwise would have been able to give.

That gift is the genuine gift of your heart and it is a blessing to all those who come in contact with you.

Zpaghetti & Turkey Meatballs

Since I bought a new spiralizer I've been doing more experimenting.

I love zoodles(spiralized zucchini "noodles").  They're a 0 pt food, they look pretty, they're versatile and they cook quickly.

Tonight I spiralized an onion and cooked it on the stove top with chicken broth until it was well done(15+ min).

I added 2-3 cloves of minced garlic and cooked this for another 2-3 minutes.

Then I added the Zoodles.  I spiralized 3 small to medium zucchini.

Next, I warmed turkey meatballs I purchased at SAM's, 5 meatballs for 4 pts.

I put it with a no sugar marinara and ladled it over the zoodles.

I added 1 Tbsp shredded parmesan(1 pt) and garnished it with some of my very own garden fresh basil.

That makes a 5 pt meal.

 If you add a reduced calorie crescent roll its another 3 pts for a total of 8 pts for dinner.  

It feels so good to eat something you love that's low in points and good for you too!