Mini Pizza Bites

This is my 100th post! Yay!!! So in honor of that, I am revealing a brand new recipe you are all sure to love!

I just love pizza...simple as that...so I experimented a little bit and came up with this "I-promise-you-will-love-it" recipe.

Step One
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Gather your ingredients. You will need...

1 cup Cauliflower (2 Greens)
1/2 cup of tomato sauce (1 Green)
1/4 cup Egg Beaters (1/8 Lean)
4 ounces Low fat cottage cheese (3/8 lean)
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (2 condiments)
1/2 teaspoon Dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon Dried basil
1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
1/2 cup light mozzarella cheese (1/2 lean)

Step Two
Wash cauliflower and break it into segments. Next, place it in the food processor and pulse it until it reaches a rice-like texture.

Step Three
Place the riced cauliflower in microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. (Do NOT add water or cover).

Step Four
Remove the cauliflower from the microwave and add the rest of the ingredients except the mozzarella cheese. Mix Well.

Step Five

Place back in microwave for 2 minutes. Mix again.

Step Six
Scoop the cauliflower mixture into muffin liners (or a greased muffin tin), dividing evenly.

Step Seven
Then press filling down so it’s compact in the liner.

Step Eight
Divide the tomato sauce evenly in each cup.

Step Nine
And then divide the cheese evenly in each cup.

Step Ten
Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or when the tops begin to turn golden brown.

Allow it cool and enjoy!!! And for those of you on the Take Shape For Life program, this entire recie counts for one lean and green meal!

xoxo,
Toni

cilantro-lime cauliflower rice

This recipe is going to blow your mind. It is the best alternative to Chipotle's cilantro-lime rice you will ever eat. The lime juice creates such a unique taste and compliments the earthy cauliflower taste. I promise you will love it.

Step One
Gather your ingredients. You will need:

1 1/2 cups shredded cauliflower
1 teaspoon olive oil (1 healthy fat)
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/8 cup cilantro, chopped
salt (optional)

Step Two
Shred cauliflower using the shredding blade on a food processor, or by hand with a flat or box grater.

Step Three
Pulse until the shape resembles that of rice.

Step Four
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step Five
Add cauliflower and season with salt if you like.

Step Six
Then saute until soft and just starting to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Step Seven
Next, turn off the heat and add the cilantro...

Step Eight
...and the lime juice

Step Nine
Then transfer to a bowl and enjoy!

Optional
To make this a complete lean and green meal, top the "rice" with some chicken (or any other protein) and shredded cheese. Delish!

xoxo,
Toni

cheesy spinach and kale dip

I love spinach artichoke dip. Well, loved it. I know that I cannot have artichokes so I substituted them with kale. I promise...you won't even notice a difference. This dip is going to rock your world.

Step One
Gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. You will need:

1/4 cup egg beaters
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 cup of chopped kale
4.5 oz 1% cottage cheese
1/4 tsp Mrs dash garlic and herb seasoning
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/2 tbsp light butter
1/2 cup of celery or pepper strips

Step Two
Combine all ingredients in a bowl except parmesan cheese and shredded cheddar cheese.

Step Three
Pour into a casserole dish sprayed with non stick cooking spray and bake for 40 min.

Step Four
Sprinkle cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese on top and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Step Five
Allow it to cool a bit, and dip some celery or peppers in it and enjoy!

This entire recipe counts for one lean and green meal.

xoxo,
Toni

oven roasted parmesan brussel sprouts

It wasn't until after I ate these that I realized they are on the "do not eat" vegetables list...whoops! But hey, you live and you learn, right? However, for those of you not on the Take Shape For Life program or are on the maintenance stage of it, here is a delicious vegetable recipe for you!

Most people cringe when they hear the words "brussel sprout", but have you ever really given them a chance? If you have never eaten them roasted, I highly encourage you to do so. And with parmesan cheese encrusted all around them, they are a delight to eat. I promise.

Step One
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and gather your ingredients. You will need:

1 1/2 cups of brussel sprouts
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese

Step Two
Wash and cut the brussel sprouts in half.

Step Three
Put the brussel sprouts in a bowl and add the olive oil and parmesan cheese and coat the brussel sprouts evenly.

Step Four
On a greased cookie sheet (I also used foil, but that is optional), arrange the brussel sprouts face up and evenly spaced.

Step Five
Bake in the oven for about 40-45 minutes, turning around halfway through.

Step Six
Allow them to cool and enjoy!

xoxo,
Toni

day sixty-one...seven days 'till Christmas

Let the countdown begin!

I am a huge Christmas fan. I love everything about it...everything. I feel as if people are simply more cheerful and happy as they go about their day around this time of year...or at least I am.

So as of now I am as happy as can be and cannot wait for the family to come together and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Breakfast
Back to the daily work routine this morning. I made myself a dark chocolate shake and went on my merry way.

Morning Snack
I can't tell you enough how much I like these calorie burn cappuccinos. They are so perfect on wintery days. Definitely ranking as my favorite Medifast meal as of late.

Lunch
Back to the salad today. I really like the pizza burger and parmesan salad combo. All I do is chop up some lettuce, heat up a pizza burger and sprinkle some shredded parmesan cheese and dressing and I am done! Quick and delicious!

Afternoon Snack
I was fairly full when it was time to eat my next snack, but I still munched on some cheese pizza bites. I mean...who am I to say no to a snack time? I am also almost done with these...I didn't order anymore on this last order.

Dinner
I am house sitting tonight, so I had a cinnamon roll crunch bar when I got to the house after work. I then got started working on some new recipes!

Dessert
One of the recipes I created was a vanilla pudding cake. Let's just say that if you are in need of a treat, you must make this. :) I will post the recipe soon!

Also...in case you didn't see it earlier, I posted a recipe for a pumpkin pie custard. Check it out here.

Hope your day is a blessed one!

xoxo,
Toni

pumpkin pie custard

This is the perfect holiday treat for those of you staying on plan. You will trick your taste buds into thinking you are eating something "naughty", but you are really only eating something "nice".

Recipe is adapted from Sandy's Kitchen Adventures.

Step One
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Gather your ingredients. You will need:

1 package of Medifast vanilla pudding
1 egg white
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup water
12 drops of the pumpkin pie capella drops (add a packet of splenda if you don't have the drops)
Light cool whip (optional)

Step Two
Mix all ingredients in a blender.

Step Three
Pour the mixture into a greased ramekin.

Step Four
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until set.

Step Five
Serve warm or refrigerate overnight. Oh and add a dollop of light cool whip if you so desire.

And that's it! Enjoy!

xoxo,
Toni

day fifty-eight...temptations and diet soda

I lived on diet soda today. I know it is terrible for me, but I was just having one of those days. Early this morning, I had some friends come over and we started making some paper tassles to use as decorations for a missions day we are having at our church. But while we were making them, they snacked on some delicious goodies while I was good and stuck to my own meals.

It was hard. I don't know what it was about today, but it was hard all day. I wanted to eat, but thankfully my spirit was stronger than my flesh and I was able to restrain. But...I also drank my fair share of diet ginger ale as well. I know, I know...diet sodas are terrible for me, but I think it better for me to drink those than eat something that would set me back, right?

But anyways...I did manage to keep myself busy and in the process created a new recipe as well. I will post it soon, of course. :)

Breakfast
As I mentioned earlier, I had some friends come over this morning and while they snacked on some pumpkin bread, I had a cookie dough chewy bar. To be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of it, but when I dipped it in some coffee, it was quite delicious. The hot coffee melted the bar a little bit and created a delicious treat.

Morning Snack
After the girls left, I started working on some freelance work while snacking on some chili nacho cheese puffs. Along with my first diet ginger ale of the day.

Lunch
For lunch I had an eggnog vanilla shake. I know I had one yesterday, but I just couldn't resist...needed to have another one today. :)

Afternoon Snack
Here is where I got creative and made a new recipe. I made a cheesy spinach and kale dip and used celery as a means to dip...rather than the usual chips. And...I also paired it with my second diet ginger ale.

Dinner
I had dessert for dinner...a brownie soft bake to be exact. The dip kept me quite full so this small snack was perfect. And for some reason, the brownie was really good tonight...almost tasted like a "real" brownie. Oh...and I had my third and final diet ginger ale of the night.

Dessert
To end the night I sipped on a coffee milkshake. It was a lovely end to the day. Despite my overwhelming urge to eat, I made it through and ended with a frozen treat.

So, overall the day went okay. Sure, I was tempted, but it was good to know that my spirit is becoming stronger than my flesh. God won and satan lost. What, what! Victory!

Alright...I am still sick so...good night! ;)

xoxo,
Toni