Sticky Cola Chicken & Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
WOW, it's been a couple weeks since I updated my blog. Sorry, just been super busy with life. Still training hard and eating better. I'm not eating 100% clean but about 85-90% so that's good and even the "non-clean" stuff I eat is still lower in calories and fat.
I haven't done a weekly check-in, in awhile so I thought I would do one now. I weighed in this morning at 166lbs. That's total loss of 7lbs since I started My 2011 Goal I'm a little behind in where I was hoping to be at this stage but I had a couple weeks where I didn't eat well at all, so that's to be expected. I'm still very happy with the 7lbs gone! :) I also kicked up my workouts and I am finding it's making a difference. What I am doing now between weight training sets is running a lap around the gym. This really gets my heart pumping and helps to burn those calories. So as long as I stay on track with my food, I should have some really good losses coming up.
I have a couple new recipes to share with you! I use to make them all the time when I was following weight watchers and decided to make them again for the family. Everyone loves this, even the kids do and it's super easy to make! It's not a "clean" meal but really low in calories and fat.
Sticky Cola Chicken
Serves 4-5
Ingredients:
4-5 skinless, boneless chicken breast
1 cup ketsup
(1) 12oz. can of diet coke
Directions:
Put chicken in a non-stick skillet.
Pour ketsup and diet coke over chicken and stir until mixed well.
Turn heat to medium high and cook chicken for approx. 30 mins, stirring occasionally.
Cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook another 15-20 mins.
Remove lid and cook until sauce thickens and sticks to chicken.
Sauce will taste like BBQ sauce and the chicken is very tender.
Note: You can also make shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches with this. Simply us 2 forks and pull chicken apart about 15 minutes before it's finished cooking.
Nutritional Information:
Coming Soon
Old Weights Watchers Points: 1 point per oz. of chicken
Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Serves 8 (2/3 cups per serving)
Ingredients:
10 medium red potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs)
1/2 cup buttermilk, warmed
1/2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about 3 tbsp)
1/4 cup chives, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/8 ts. black pepper
Directions:
Wash potatoes and cut into fours (keep skins on), place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until cooked (fork tender). Drain and return potatoes to pot. Mashed potatoes with a potato masher. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix well.
Nutritional Information:
Coming SoonOld Weights Watchers Points: 2 points per serving
Healthy Recipe Makeover: Cheesy Potato Casserole
I LOVE comfort food, but I don't love all the calories and fat that usually come along with it. One of my favorite comfort food dishes is Cheesy Potato Casserole. I don't make it very often, because of the high calorie and fat content, but have been craving it lately, so decided to make a healthier version. It turned out so very good!
It's not a "clean" meal for those of you following a clean diet, but it is a really good replacement for the original recipe, especially when you are craving some comfort food! It also makes a great dish to take to a potluck. People won't even know it's a healthier version! :)
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Makes 12 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)
32 oz. package frozen southern style diced hash brown potatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. butter, melted and divided
10 3/4 oz. can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup
8 oz. light Velveeta cheese, cubed
8 oz. light sour cream
2 cups cornflakes, coarsely crushed
Cooking Spray
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Combine the first 4 ingredients and 1 tbsp. of the melted butter in a large bowl.
- Combine soup and cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 6 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring every couple of minutes
- Add sour cream to cheese mixture
- Pour cheese mixture over potato mixture, and stir well.
- Spread mixture evenly in a 13x9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Combine the cornflakes and remaining 1 tbsp. melted butter and sprinkle evenly over top of potato mixture.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 181
Fat: 6g
Carbs: 25.5 g
Sodium: 494 mgFiber: 1.5g
Protein: 7gNot bad considering the original version has over 350 calories and 21 grams of fat per serving!
And for added flavor, you can add 1/2 tbsp of bacon bits and some diced green onion tops. It only adds about 15 more calories and makes the potatoes taste just like a twice baked potato!
Do you have a favorite recipe that needs a healthy makeover? Send it to me and I'll see if I can lighten it up for you.
Product Review: Filtrete Water Station
Filtrete Water Station
Facts about the Filtrete Water Station:
I was excited when I was contacted by the 3M company to see if I would be interested in reviewing their Filtrete Water Station. We are a family that goes through 60+ gallons of bottle water per month. That's a LOT of bottles! Even though we recycle the bottles, you can imagine how the cost adds up! So when I was approached with the opportunity to try a product that could save us money, I couldn't pass it up.
We already own one of those pitcher water filtering systems that is made by another company and my biggest complaint with that is the time it takes to fill up the pitcher. When I read up on this system, one of it's features was quick filtering, so that made me even more excited!
The day the Filtrete Water Station arrived, my 13 yr. old daughter and I were both in the kitchen. She was just as excited as I was. A new gadget to try out!. So after opening the box and reading the quick easy to follow instructions, we she got busy setting it up.
My thoughts:
The system was VERY easy to use. The water filtered very fast, unlike the pitcher we had used before. My daughter was able to set it up herself without any trouble. We put the bottles in the refrigerator and the boys both asked if they could have one when they came upstairs. I think the novelty of the bottle made them want to try it :)
About 15 minutes later, all 4 bottles were empty. They can of course be refilled quickly but you have to wash them first and then if you want cold water, you have to keep them in the frig until they chill. The company does sell extra bottles so this would solve the problem of having to refill bottles so often.
My biggest complaint with the system is the size of the bottles. It comes with (4) 16oz. bottles. I go through at least a gallon of water a day, so you can imagine how much I would have to filter to be able to use these bottles. Also I take water on the go with me and usually carry a 32oz. plastic water jug. I would have to take 2 of these water bottles for it to be enough. I really wish the company had different size options for bottles. A 32 oz. bottle would be perfect.
We did use the system for a few days (mainly the kids did) but really for our family who drinks so much water, it just didn't seem practical and who wants to spend all day refilling bottles. Now if you are a family that doesn't drink as much water as we do, this might be the perfect thing for you. For us, it just didn't cut it!
FILL
- Revolutionary fast-flow filtration technology filters water and fills 4 grab & go bottles in just seconds – much faster than traditional filtering pitchers.
- Fill one, two, three or all four bottles at a time.
- The water filter reduces chlorine taste and sediment from tap water to improve taste, odor and clarity of your water.
- Full bottles can be stored in the refrigerator.
- Extra bottles can be purchased separately.
GO
- Includes 4 reusable grab & go bottles.
- Bottles are dishwasher safe and BPA-free.
- When bottles are removed from the Water Station, the docking station's valves prevent leaks, so no spills!
- Unique strap for on-the-go carrying features a leak-proof cap.
REUSE
- Bottles are top rack dishwasher safe.
- Regular use can eliminate the cost and waste of up to 3,000 disposable water bottles per year.
- Filters last up to 100 gallons, or for about 3 months.
- Built-in Filter Change Indicator lets you know when it's time for a replacement.
- Recyclable filter housing is the same #2 plastic as a typical milk jug.
For more information about the Filtrete™ Water Station and other Filtrete™ water filtration products, such as our under-sink water filtration systems visit Filtrete.com/water.
