Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup (5)

Weekends provide an array of "What's for dinner" issues at my house as I have 3 teens with 3 different schedules. I will often use my crockpot for situations like this. Here's one of my favorite "go to" recipes.

I cannot take responsibility for the recipe itself. I acquired it a few years ago, probably from a friend or an online internet group who shares recipes.

What I love most is the "comfort food" style of the soup, the ease of making it and the nice low point value if you're doing "Weight Watchers"!

Slow-Cooker Cheeseburger Soup (5)

NI: Cals: 250 Fat: 3 Fiber: 1
Servings: 8

Ingredients

2 spray(s) cooking spray
1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1 medium stalk(s) celery, chopped (I omit this)
1 pound(s) uncooked lean ground beef (with 7% fat) (I use 5% fat content, which lowers the points)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cup(s) canned chicken broth, divided
1 cup(s) low-fat evaporated milk
8 oz Kraft Velveeta Light Reduced-Fat Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product, or similar product, cubed
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
24 item(s) baked low-fat tortilla chips, crumbled

Instructions
Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat for about 30 seconds. Add garlic, onion and celery to skillet; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Coat a 3-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray; spoon in vegetables.

Place same skillet over medium-high heat and brown beef, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 6 minutes; pour off any liquid and add meat to slow cooker.

In a small cup, combine flour and 1/2 cup of broth; stir until lump-free. Pour flour mixture into same skillet; add remaining 2 1/2 cups of broth. Bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits in bottom of skillet with a wooden spoon, and then pour into slow cooker; stir in evaporated milk, cheese, paprika, salt and pepper. Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 2 hours. Serve soup topped with crumbled chips.

Yields about 3/4 cup of soup and 3 tablespoons of chips per serving.

Notes
If the soup cooks too long, the cheese could separate. If that happens, combine 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup of soup in a cup; stir to a paste. Stir flour mixture back into soup in slow cooker; cover and cook on low setting for 10 to 15 minutes

I also sometimes add broccoli to the soup, creating a bit of a broccoli/cheese style soup. I will also sometimes replace the "chips" with homemade croutons, created with diet 1pt. bread, toasted with herbs in the broiler. This makes it easier to count the points as you know how many croutons you cut from each piece!

Who Else Helps me get healthy?

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Chicken Taco Casserole (4)

This is one of my family's favorite casserole dishes and so easy to make. I'm known as "The Casserole Queen" by my kids, coming from some very tight times when I was first diagnosed with MS and battling cancer at the same time, not working and having no income. I could make a casserole out of some pretty amazing things!

This one is not my own work, it's one I played with after joining Weight Watcher's because we loved it so much I had to figure out a way to make it healthier & better for us but not lose the flavor! Bisquick, the reduced fat version, is one of my favorite casserole helpers too!

Chicken Taco Casserole (4)
8 servings

1 lb ground chicken breast skinless*
1 1/4 C fat-free milk
1/2 C onions, chopped
3/4 C egg whites, slightly beaten
1/2 c bell peppers, chopped
3/4 c low-fat baking mix (bisquick makes a reduced fat mix)
1 1/4 ozs taco seasoning mix
4 ozs Monterey Jack cheese, shredded *Use the Cabot brand reduced fat jalapeno cheddar cheese for even fewer calories/fat, shred it yourself or slice it up thin (that's what I do)
4 ozs canned green chiles, diced

Preheat oven to 400F.
Prepare a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.
In a skillet, cook chicken, onions, and bell peppers until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in seasoning mix.
Spread into prepared dish.
Sprinkle with chiles.
In a small bowl, combine milk, egg whites, and baking mix.
Mix until smooth.
Pour over chiles in dish.

Bake for 25 minutes.
Top with cheese.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
Cool five minutes before serving.

*can add a dollop of fat free sour cream on top, don't forget to add the points for it!

Nutritional Info per serving (8 servings total)
Calories 203
Total Fat 6 g* (less if you use the Cabot cheese!)
Fiber 1 g

Use your imagination with this! If your family loves broccoli, add some broccoli to the dish! If they like a "Southwestern" touch, a can of corn can add a little flavor! Just remember to add points if needed but generally if it's a veggie, no points are added but extra flavor and texture is!

Rather than purchasing "ground chicken", which often is NOT all white meat and can be higher in fat, put 3 single chicken breasts in your food processor to make ground chicken. It works really well. I also seasoned the chicken while it was cooking with salt, pepper and garlic. To make it easier, grind up chicken after cooking.

Dieting on a Budget: Gadgets & Appliances

I have a very limited income & am a divorced/single mother to 3 teens. This being said, we all know that healthy eating is often the most expensive way to go. While many comment "oh you can afford to eat healthy if you really want to", they generally are not feeding a family or live in an area where fresh produce is quite affordable due to climate.

I'm a real person, on a "less than" real budget, in an area that gets very thankful with 2 months of summer!

One of the best ways I've found to cut costs getting and staying healthy is by purchasing my appliances (small) and gadgets used. Some of my most recent finds I list below. Hope you enjoy!

Gadgets & Appliances

Nearly everything I own in the kitchen gadget or small appliance wise has been purchased used. I am picky about "how" used it is and won't just take something because it's cheap! What have I found? Oh you would be surprised! I've listed the most recent buys off the top of my head, with pics when available easily!

• Juicer - listed on a local recycle/garage sale type list from Yahoo, my 450 watt GE Juicer was literally used once! Came in the box, with all info, including the warranty card to send in! Cost: $20 Estimated Value New: $70-$90 MINIMUM SAVED: $50
  
  
  My juicer is my newest "toy" and I've loved making fresh juices. I spend a lot on Naked Juice, which I'm not complaining about because I LOVE them, and was hoping to eliminate some of the cost by creating my own "Naked" juices at home. I can't come close, but they're still good & it's a work in progress. My issue here is that fresh fruit is very expensive unless "in season" and "in season" in the Northeastern region of the U.S. is not a long time!
  
  
• Blender - while blenders can be a fairly inexpensive small appliance at WalMart, I purchased mine at my favorite consignment store & have been using it for about a year now! My Hamilton Beach 14 Speed BlendMaster has been my Smoothie Savior! Cost: $5 Estimated Value New: $40-$70 MINIMUM SAVED: $35
  
  I use my blender mainly for smoothies. My preference seems to be the Weight Watcher brand smoothie mix, blended with water. I add fruits or fruit juices sometimes for a change up in flavor.
  
  Some of my faves using the chocolate smoothie mix: Chocolate Peanut Butter(2) (using reduced fat PB), Chocolate Banana(3) (using a frozen banana), and Chocolate Oreo(3) (using the 100 calorie packs of Oreo thins)
  
  Some of my faves using the mixed berry smoothie mix: Berry Banana(3) (using a frozen banana), Mango Berry(3) (using fresh Mango juice from my juicer)
  
  
  
• Toaster Oven - My Black & Decker toaster oven was a real find. Still in the box, new, & reduced to 1/2 off! Again, found at my favorite consignment/used store locally, I'm happy I found it because I use it often! Cost: $5 Estimated Value New: $40-$50 MINIMUM SAVED: $35
  
  I love to make toasted English Muffins with fat free feta and fat free salsa on top(2) in my toaster oven! Yum-o! I also use it often to create toasted cheese sandwiches(2) (easily created with a spray of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray on each side and a low fat cheese in between 2 slices of 1pt bread.) Add a toasted cheese to a big bowl of tomato soup and there's a comfort meal that will rock my socks off! I rarely use it to simply make toast, that's what the toaster is for silly, but I do use it often to make quick snacks or meals especially if my kids aren't around!

1. Wait to find items on sale, even if you absolutely MUST have something, you've done this long without it! Wait it out!
   
   
2. Find the item you'd like to have "used", via consignment/used stores or online locally with groups such as Recycler or YardSale groups. Paying the extra shipping costs for most small appliances online from e-bay make it nearly as expensive, sometimes more than purchasing the item new!
   
   
3. Find knock-off versions of the items you like. I purchased, used, a Foreman Style grill which in the end was 100x better than the real thing, and a lot cheaper! I use it so much that I'd be embarrassed to take a pic of it to show you! But let me tell you, it works as well as, no BETTER THAN the real brand name. It was actually made BEFORE Foreman even brought his grill out!
   

Next round I'll list some great inexpensive meals, treats & food ideas that can be found in various stores. Of course, I won't have the same stores as everyone else but perhaps you can talk you local versions of the grocery store into carrying some of the items I mention!

As always, feel free to comment on how YOU make being healthy cheaper and easier for you and your family!

Sharing my Laughter

Anyone who knows me at all knows that the past, let's say, 8 years, of my life have been non-stop battles, physically. While I don't even count the day I was diagnosed with MS(13 years ago) because I am so very, very blessed to have it mildly and truly it is not an issue MOST days, the past 8 years have been a constant battle with my body.

Oddly enough I was the Poster Child for "Perfect Health" as a child. Never sick, not even colds, athletic, always a bit chubby but not HUGELY obese, not even as much as chicken pox!

Then the battles with cancer started. Slowly but surely my body just seemed to fight me tooth & nail with everything from gall bladder issues to the 5 bouts of cancer (of which really pissed me off and I beat it over and over again... so don't come back.. or I'll kick your ass again, just so ya know). Sorry, I always have to remind the "Big C" that I'm boss!

So, that quick synopsis brings me to yesterday.......

Always sort of a joke that my body is always falling apart, just finding new ways is the norm for me. Yesterday I had a friend that went to the ER with bronchitis & I offered to not only pick up his 'scripts for him but some snacks he felt certain would help him feel better. I do not recommend Cheetos & Coke to anyone for getting better, but we'll let him think it was the Cheetos and Coke as opposed to the meds ok?

So while waiting for the 'scripts to be filled the clerk informs me "Well, if you're not shopping, perhaps you'd like to take advantage of the free bone density testing we're doing?" I laughed, thinking "Oh if you only knew, I'm certain it would confirm my bones are nearly gone and I will become gel soon", but I smiled and said "Well, perhaps after a 'pottie' run". Yes 'pottie'... I can't help I'm still a kid at heart and will always be a mother!

So I come back, still a good 10-15 minutes to wait so I see this poor girl twiddling her thumbs, looking around and glancing at me sitting there waiting with these "oh please just come get this done so I have something to do" eyes. I smile and politely say "Well, you look bored, I have 15 minutes to waste, let's do this!"

First off, for anyone who has not had a bone density test done it's very non-evasive. There's no real "undressing" (ok, naked foot, that's the most) and no pins or pokes or stuff. It's pretty blase as "medical testing" goes but hey, after 8 years of everything but blase I was thinking... wooohooo!

So now the great part.... and I'm telling you, for ME this is a celebration! LOL

The results of the test were remarkable. The woman says to me "Um, how old did you say you are? I think I put the wrong age down", at which I immediately responded, "Oh my goodness, so I'm more like a 95 year old than a 45 year old?" She chuckled and said "Just the opposite. As she pulls the results off the machine she shows me where a... now read these words well.... YOUNG ADULT FEMALE would rank and points those words out to me. I respond with, "So, I'm like way down here then at the other end of the scale?" She cracked up and said "Actually, you're ABOVE that! Your bones are more like an 18 year old! I about died laughing. I quickly announced that I would need a copy, signed affidavit and frame to put it all in that ONE PART of my body was NOT falling apart! LOL We talked about why my bones could be so strong, especially since my spine is "crumbling" from radiation (huge doses of radiation) and cancer treatment which I assumed broke down all my bones.

So the joke for the day, heck for the rest of my life is, "While I'm falling apart, at least I know I won't break a hip!"

Perhaps this is my sign from God that my body is finally going to start behaving? I've been eating healthy, most times, losing weight on the Weight Watcher program & slowly trying to become active (as active as my body will allow at this point with my chronic pain).

So I say "Thanks God! Thanks for the reminder that I AM doing SOMETHING right!"

Buffalo Wing Lasagna (6)

Going to a picnic, want something you can eat without being "obvious" about trying to get healthy? Here's one rockin' casserole that will knock their socks off and at 6 pts, gives you some extra room for a big ol' slice of watermelon and salad on the side!

Buffalo Wing Lasagna (6)

Serves 10

Ingredients

	12 piece(s) no cook lasagna noodles
	1 pound(s) cooked chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, shredded/pulled apart)
	3 cup(s) bottled/jar spaghetti sauce
	1 cup(s) hot pepper sauce *I Use Franks Brand (can be reduced to taste, I prefer to make it 1/2-1/4 Cup and add to my own piece of lasagna on my plate)
	1 1/2 cup(s) water
	15 oz fat-free ricotta cheese
	1/2 cup(s) fat-free egg substitute
	1/2 cup(s) Athenos Blue cheese crumbles

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Spray skillet with Non-Stick cooking spray

Stir in sauces & water to cooked chicken (chicken should be "almost done, not too dry")
In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg substitute

Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray

Spread 1 Cup of sauce in the bottom of pan

Arrange 4 noodles over the sauce

Spread more sauce then a layer of ricotta mixture

Add another layer of sauce and repeat the whole profess until you end with a layer of sauce.

Cover and bake 70 minutes

Uncover and place cheese on top, then back another 15 minutes uncovered

Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving - Cut into 10 Pieces

SERVES 10


Don't forget to check out my Daily Menu Planner - generally updated new at the end of each day, but I must confess I do miss some days! It's a nice way to get new ideas and see products that perhaps you've missed! And hopefully you will share new ideas with me!

Crockpot Pineapple Luau Chicken (4)

Nothing is better than coming home to a meal, all ready to eat! Using my crockpot or slowcooker as many call it, makes my life so much easier! As a working mom it was more often than not my dinner savior! Even now that I don't work outside the home, I love to have dinner done & ready, making it a well planned day - easier to stay on program!

I love to serve this over a bed of brown rice with a side salad. I use a fat free sweet/sour dressing (Wegman's) for my salad, to compliment the "Luau Chicken"

Crockpot/Slowcooker Pineapple Luau Chicken(4)
serves 6

6 chicken breast halves without skin -(I use the frozen boneless, skinless breasts - unthawed)

1 dash pepper

1/8 tsp. paprika

20 ounces pineapple chunks in natural juice -- I use the Dole canned tidbits

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 clove garlic -- minced


Place frozen chicken in bottom of crockpot. Sprinkle with pepper and paprika. Pour drained pineapple tidbits, mustard and soy sauce over chicken. Add minced garlic. Cover and cook on LOW 7-9 hours or HIGH 4-5 hours. Makes 6 servings.

It's also great to sear/brown the chicken pieces & pineapple tidbits to make the dish seem authentic. Not necessary but gives a great presentation. I simply place it in a fry pan for about 5 minutes before serving & even serve it from the deep dish fry pan I use. But believe me, it's not necessary!

You can also add frozen broccoli to the dish when cooking, it's wonderful & gets in some extra veggies!


Per Serving: 194 Calories; 2g Fat; 28g Protein; 16g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 68mg Cholesterol; 483mg Sodium.

Using the New Juicer

So I purchased a fruit juicer from one of our local "recyclers" lists. A nice 450 Watt GE Juicer that I'm quite amazed at since I got it for only $20! It was used once and she wasn't lying, it truly looks brand new.

I'm completely new to the juicing thing. I'm doing it for health reasons, obviously, but it all started because I am completely addicted to Naked Juices. I purchase them at $3 each nearly every day, yes, add that up and gasp! Ok, some days I don't get my Naked but I'm not pretty those days. I get grumpy and cry a lot about how I really need some Naked! LOL

So today's first attempt was the "lazy" way. I had found some "reduced", already cut trays of fruits at my local Wegman's store. While they were a little more than I'd normally pay, because they were reduced for use within the next 2 days I figured why not try it. So armed with my already diced watermelon, kiwi, pineapple, honey dew & cantaloupe slices I pulled out the machine!

WOW!

I added all of the above, mainly watermelon as I've been craving some of that but added a bit of everything. Let's suffice to say I need to work on presentation because in the end it was not a "pretty" color (HOW DOES NAKED DO THAT?) but the taste ROCKED! I added a Tablespoon of FF Vanilla Yogurt for some substance, sort of a smoothie effect. End result... delish!

What would I do different? Next time I'm going to try putting the juice in my shake/bullet type machine with the yogurt and some ice. It would have been better colder, I suppose I could have simply put it back in the fridge & waited but that takes patience!

Tomorrow's juice, pineapple watermelon.

So while it was a little work, it was well worth it plus it saved me from running to the store for my Naked. I have this thing where I can't stand to buy like 6 at a time because I gasp (same price as if I run to the store 6x but don't try to reason with a woman). It also allowed me to play with my own flavors, etc. I cannot wait until locally we have actual fruits available! Hopefully cheaper!

One cup (8oz) cost 2 pts plus the 1 Tbls of yogurt, I just let that slide because it was FF and to be honest not really accountable points wise. No pics because, to be honest it was pretty ugly brown. LOL But I swear it tasted like the nectar of the Goddesses!

I added to that delicious juice (which I poured into 2 fancy glasses, making me feel even more special) a slice of Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Bread, Honey Apple Oat toasted & buttered with Omega 3 ICBINB ( I can't believe its not butter). It was to die for! YES, one slice was 2 pts but the slices are large and so worth it for the flavor alone! Bread is one of my fave things in life and I will often forgo the extra point for flavor. I'm not only full but happy with the high quality of everything I got for my quick and somewhat easy breakfast! Total for this morning 5 pts!

If you get the chance, check out the Wegman's Honey Apple Oat Bread. Stats are 110 Cal., 2g Fat, 2g Fiber per slice. A slice is truly like a double piece of bread & makes the worlds best roasted turkey and feta sandwich!!!!!!! That's lunch by the way... I will post pics!

You can check out my "Daily Food Log" now too!