Low-Point Mandarin Chicken Salad

A delicious and refreshing salad with a wonderful dressing! A perfect recipe for the warm spring/summer days ahead. Enjoy on a bed of fresh baby spinach or your favorite greens. 


Low-Point Mandarin Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Tbs Mrs. Dash Original Blend
- 2 Tbs canola oil
- 1 Tbs rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 Tbs Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbs honey
- 1/4 cup chicken stock or chicken broth (*see note below)
- 3 cups cooked cubed skinless chicken
- 1 cup celery, chopped small
- 8 oz. mandarin orange segments, drained
- Almond slivers
- Fresh baby spinach or your favorite greens
For dressing: Combine oil, vinegar, orange juice, Mrs. Dash, mustard, and honey. Place in a container, shake well, and set aside. Combine chicken broth, chicken, and celery in a medium bowl. Pour dressing over chicken mixture and toss to mix well. Combine orange segments and spoon mixture on a bed of greens. Add 1 Tbs almond slivers to each serving, if desired. If you would like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.
Total servings - 4 (1 cup servings)
Serving size - 1 cup
Points per serving - 4.5 (with 1 Tbs almonds, 5.5 points)
Note* - A wonderful option to the chicken stock/broth can be found at http://www.integrativeflavors.com/. These "Cook's Delight" food bases are all organic and a fantastic way to integrate flavor into your favorite recipes.

"What comes from the heart, goes to the heart." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Low-Point Fanta Orange Cupcakes

There's nothing like a refreshing Fanta orange soda! So why not add it to a batter? If you are a fan of Fanta or orange frozen push-ups, you will very much enjoy the flavor of these cupcakes topped with a smooth orange-flavored icing to give it a wonderful orange taste in every bite. Very low point and totally yummy... these Fanta cupcakes are a real treat!


Low-Point Fanta Orange Cupcakes
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups Splenda granulated sugar substitute
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. orange extract
- 3/4 cup Fanta orange soda
- 1 Tbs grated orange rind
Combine Splenda, eggs, and applesauce in a large mixing bowl. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and orange extract. Combine well. Pour in Fanta soda and mix well, scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Stir in grated orange rind. Pour batter into a cupcake tins sprayed with Pam cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle). For frosting: Combine 1 tsp. of orange extract to some Betty Crocker Whipped Fluffy White icing and spread 1 to 2 tsp. on top of each cupcake. If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.
Total servings - 12
Serving size - 1
Points per serving - 2 (with 1 tsp. icing); 2.5 with 2 tsp. icing

"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine." - Arrow Fletcher

Meatloaf Cupcakes

The next time your family asks "What's for dinner?", you can honestly tell them "cupcakes!" :)

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 1, 10 oz. box frozen Green Giant Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, thawed and chopped into small pieces
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- Pam cooking spray
- potatoes (mash potatoes)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients together, except Pam cooking spray and potatoes. Spray a cupcake pan with the cooking spray. Pack meat mixture into the cupcake tins and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly and decorate the top with mash potato frosting. If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

"I am not a glutton -- I am an explorer of food." - Erma Bombeck

Mt. Dew Cake

OH! MY! GOSH! What an amazingly delicious cake! Although it doesn't taste like you're drinking a glass of Mt. Dew, this cake recipe is "melt-in-your-mouth" fantastic!!! The only thing that made this cake even more divine is the icing. Just... WOW! Do yourself a favor and make this recipe soon.

Ingredients:

- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 small box sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding
- 1/3 cup cooking oil
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 10 oz. Mt. Dew (not diet)
- 1 tsp. orange extract
- 4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry cake mix and dry pudding mix. Add cooking oil, applesauce, Mt. Dew, and orange extract. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Pour batter into a floured 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle). If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

Icing Ingredients:

- 1 cup Splenda
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 Tbs flour
- 8 oz. crushed pineapple, undrained
- 2 oz. Mt. Dew

Mix Splenda and flour in a sauce pan. Add butter and pineapple and cook over medium-high heat until slightly thickened. Add Mt. Dew and mix well. After mixture is thickened, spread on hot cake.

"A smile is a lighting system of the face, a cooling system of the head, and a heating system of the heart." - Anonymous

Perfect Pistachio Dessert

Light, fluffy, and oh so good! A perfect pistachio dessert!

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 stick of butter, melted (I used Imperial)
- 3 Tbs healthy sugar substitute like Swerve
- 1 small box (1 oz.) pistachio instant pudding
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 4 oz. cool whip
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar

Mix the flour, butter, and sugar substitute. The mixture will be crumbly. Spread into 9 inch x 13 inch baking dish. You may see the bottom of the dish. That's ok, it doesn't need to be a thick covering on the bottom; just even. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool. In a large bowl, mix pudding and milk until semi-thick. Add cool whip, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. Spread pudding mixture over cooled crust and refrigerate for several hours before enjoying. You can also freeze (pull out of freezer 30 min. before enjoying). Add a dollop of cool whip to each serving and sprinkle with crushed pistachios if desired. 

"It's a helluva start, being able to recognize 

what makes you happy." - Lucille Ball

Low-Point Fantastic Flounder

This flounder is so flavorful, you'll want to go back for seconds. A wonderful mixture of mayonnaise, butter, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and seasoning creates a light cream sauce that makes your flounder fantastic!


Low-Point Fantastic Flounder
Ingredients:
- 5, 4 oz. flounder fillets
- 1 Tbs lemon juice
- 2 Tbs parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbs butter, melted (Land O Lakes Light)
- 1.5 Tbs fat-free mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb seasoning (or any of your favorite seasonings)
- Pam cooking spray
Line a baking dish with aluminum foil. Spray with Pam cooking spray. Line flounder in baking dish. Mix lemon juice, cheese, butter, mayonnaise, and seasonings in a bowl. Spoon mixture on top of each flounder fillet. Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes (or until fish flakes with fork). Enjoy! If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.
Total servings - 5
Serving size - 1
Points per serving - 3

"The more you praise and celebrate life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah

Taking a Break for Puppy #2

Well, we've done it again! 
If you follow my blogs, you know I am very prudent about getting recipes published in a very timely manner. Really, I haven't been slacking....just a little busy. Last September we purchased our first beautiful little Maltipom puppy, Coral. (Click Here to read that blog entry.) Since Coral has been such a wonderful blessing, we decided to get her a baby sister, who we have named Pearl. Getting Pearl acclimated to her new home and her new big sister has been a bit time-consuming but after you look at her precious pictures below, you can tell it is very much worth it! :)
More delicious recipes coming soon!

(Coral and her baby sister, Pearl)

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about little puppies." - Gene Hill

Low-Point Black Bean Turkey Burgers

Wonderful! Healthy! Flavorful! A terrific recipe you can enjoy during all those fun summer cook-outs. Let everyone else load up on the fat while you happily enjoy your healthy and delicious low-point burger.

Low-Point Black Bean Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:

- 20 oz. lean ground turkey
- 3/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 Tbs scallions, diced
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- Pam cooking spray

Mash black beans with a fork and incorporate with beaten egg. Add scallions, cumin, salt, and chili powder and combine. Fold in ground turkey and mix until combined, but do not over mix. Form 6 patties. Preheat broiler. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Set patties on baking sheet and cook for 7 minutes on each side (or until cooked through). If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

Total servings - 6
Serving size - 1
Points per serving - 4

"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it." - Buddy Hackett

Low-Point Seasoned Pork Chops

"Mom, this pork chop has a wonderful taste!" That's all I needed to hear and that's all you need to read! (Not really... keep reading :) This great combination of seasonings make this dry-rub perfect for these savory pork chops.

Low-Point Seasoned Pork Chops

Ingredients:

- 4, 4 oz. boneless pork chops

- 1 tsp. ground cumin

- 1 Tbs. brown sugar

- 1/2 tsp. paprika

- 1/2 tsp. salt

- 1/4 tsp. pepper

- Cooking spray

Combine cumin, brown sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spray large skillet with cooking spray. Coat pork chops with seasoning mixture and add to pan. Cook for 5 minutes on each side over medium-high heat (or until desired doneness depending on the thickness of the pork chops). If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.

Total Servings - 4

Serving size - 1

Points per serving - 5

"It's the company, not the cooking, that makes the meal." - Kirby Larson

Low-Point Breakfast Taco

Is it breakfast? Is it dinner? Maybe lunch? How about all three?!! :) This fun recipe can be changed up with anything you desire in a taco. Substitute any veggies you like, top with a pinch of cheese and a bit of salsa; and that's one terrific taco!


Low-Point Breakfast Taco
Ingredients:
- 4 large eggs
- 2 Tbs milk
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 garlic powder
- 1/2 to 1 tsp. chopped black (ripe) olives
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 green onion, chopped
- shredded lettuce
- reduced-fat four-blend shredded cheese
- salsa
- Pam cooking spray
- 4 hard taco shells
In a small bowl, beat eggs and milk together. Add pepper, garlic powder, ripe olives, and chopped onion. Heat large skillet sprayed with Pam cooking spray. Add egg mixture to pan. As mixture begins to set at bottom and side, gently lift cooked portions with spatula so that thin, uncooked portions can flow to bottom. Cook until eggs are thickened throughout. Take a taco shell and add in a little bit of lettuce, some of the egg mixture, a pinch of shredded cheese, and top it off with a little salsa. Enjoy! If you'd like a printer-friendly version of this recipe, Click Here.
Total servings - 4
Serving size - 1
Points per serving - 3.5

"It's easy to complain. If you're not careful, then you'll end up complaining about your whole life. Concentrating on the good things is really good. Catch people doing good." - Lisa Williams 

Low-Point Graham Fluff

Most of my food items are made the same day I place them on this blog. I decide what I'm going to fix for our meal or dessert, cook or bake it, plate it, take pictures of it... all while my kids are watching hungrily, waiting for the photography session to be over so they can enjoy "Mom's latest creation". Of course, they have to wait a bit longer while I heat everything back up after it cooled off during food-photo shoot. I sometimes feel like they're looking at me and wanting to say, "Snap the pictures already, we're hungry!" That's why it warms my heart to see my son in the kitchen and on his own, whip up something he knows will be the perfect combination of goodness to present to his mother. Trying not to interrupt his train of thought, I can't help but glance over his shoulder, smiling at this, what seems to be a new interest brewing inside of him. Love it! And who knows, this little spark of interest, even at 14 years old, just might continue to grow and land him on the Food Network Channel in the future! :)


Low-Point Graham Fluff
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a graham cracker
- marshmallow fluff
- malted balls, crushed (just watching him crush the malted balls because he said his dessert needed 'texture" is simply priceless!)
- chocolate chips
Spread marshmallow fluff on graham cracker. Sprinkle with crushed malted balls, and place several chocolate chips on top. :)
Points per serving - It doesn't matter. I would eat however many he wanted to present to me.

I LOVE MY KIDS!






"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." - Stacia Tauscher