Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

This has got to be the EASIEST recipe for blueberry muffins from "scratch" and it's very tasty.  It makes 1 dozen.  I made these just about 3 hours ago and there are only 3 left!

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins
2 cups biscuit/baking mix
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

In a large bowl, combine biscuit mix and 3/4 cup sugar.  In a small bowl, combine eggs and sour cream; stir into the dry ingredients until just mixed.  Fold in blueberries.

Fill greased muffin-cups 3/4 full.  Sprinkle with remaining sugar.  Bake for 20-25 min at 375 or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Supposedly, one muffin is 195 calories.  I used light sour cream though so I think I saved about 20 calories.

WW 1-Point Chili

I found this recipe on SparkPeople. I haven't tried it yet, but I want to create a good list of things under 300 calories to try. This one happens to be WAAAY under 300 calories (just 67!). This will be a little challenging as I'm not a huge fan of zucchini. BUT, I know I need to try widening my tastebuds.

WW 1-Point Chili
10 ounces extra-lean ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, diced
2 (28-oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, diced
2 medium yellow squash diced
1 (15 oz) can black beans
2 (15-oz) cans fat-free, reduced-sodiumbeef broth
4 celery stalks, diced
2 green bell peppers, diced
1 (1 1/4-oz) package dry chili seasonings.

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and onion and saute' until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the browned turkey and onion mixture to a large soup pot and add the tomatoes, zucchini, squash, beans, broth, celery, bell peppers, and chili seasoning. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Serves 20.

300 or less

After a weekend of eating WAY too much food, and especially food that I KNOW isn't all that good for me, I have a new goal. I know that a lot of recipe websites have things that are 300 calories or less per serving, so I'm going on a hunt for those. HOWEVER, there's a requirement for what I find - not only must it taste good, but it has to use ingredients that I KNOW.

I happen to have a Cooking Light subscription at the moment, and honestly, I'm a bit more than disappointed. Although I know that the cooks for that magazine spend a LOT of time researching and testing before finally figuring on a great recipe to share, they usually have either 1) ingredients I've never heard of and therefore probably wouldn't try or 2) they have nuts.

I know that in a lot of cases, I can just use a recipe and omit the nuts. But sometimes you can tell that the recipe really depends on the nuts for flavor, crunchiness or something else that they feel is necessary.

I like simple ingredients that come together to make amazing foods. Wish me luck on this next adventure! (And yes, if I end up with lots of these 300 calorie or less recipes, I'll likely just have to start another blog!)

Spanish Rice

I got this recipe from my good friend Liz...of course, nailing down specific measurements was a little difficult, but I've made this a few times and so far each time it's been yummy!

Spanish Rice
2 cups water
1 cup rice
1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp chicken boullion
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp cumin
salt
pepper
tomato sauce OR ketchup
chopped union

Brown rice and oil until golden brown in a large skillet or pot. Combine remaining ingredients and heat up in microwave. Add to the rice, stir and get to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover (leaving vent open) and simmer for 20-30 minutes. DO NOT TOUCH BEFORE IT'S DONE!

Here is the oil and rice - I stirred frequently to keep any of the rice from burning.

Here is the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. If I had to guess, there's probably 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped onion in there.

Here's what it looks like combined!

I personally, like my Spanish Rice with some sour cream, but it's certainly good on it's own. It turned out light and fluffy and perfect!

Blueberry-Peach Crisp

I really like apple crisp and I have a great recipe that's easy and tasty. It's one of those desserts that tastes more complicated than it is. However, blueberry-crisp is scrumptious! I have this recipe in my Better Homes & Gardens Complete Book of Baking cookbook. I couldn't find this particular recipe online, but here's a link to their website and it looks like there's some other yummies on there!

Blueberry-Peach Crisp

3 cups sliced, peeled peaches or frozen unsweetened peach slices

2 cups fresh blueberries or frozen unsweetened blueberries

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 Tbsp butter (no substitutes)

vanilla ice cream (optional)

Thaw fruit, if frozen. Do not drain. Transfer fruit to an ungreased 2-qt square glass baking dish. Stir in granulated sugar. Set fruit aside.

For topping, in a medium mixing bowl, stir together oats, flour, and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender (or as I do, forks), cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes or until topping is golden. If desired, serve with ice cream.

No Chops

So I had wonderful intentions of showing you a slow-cooker recipe of pork loin chops...I took a picture and everything! Unfortunately, they weren't all that good. I myself am not a huge fan anyway, but when Chris says they're too dry...I know it isn't good. Honestly, I was surprised since usually the slow-cooked stuff is more moist - but obviously these were the exception! I think they tasted okay, but what does it matter if you have to drench them in bbq sauce anyway?

But I made up for it with some yummy guacamole... :-)

Confessions of a food blogoholic

Once I got hooked on food blogs, it's kind of hard to stop. There are SO many out there, with so many different tastes. Personally, the simpler the better for me. But while looking at this blog, I found this one and maybe because I work with high schoolers I want to support her, but it looks really good! I myself would like to try out a couple of her recipes (I mean, hey...it's all about chocolate, so why not?!)

I encourage you to find your inner food blogoholic...