Day 249 - Nonni's THINaddictives

Did you see the new addition(s) to my Product Review page? There's actually two there, my favorite steel-cut oats and the AH-MAZE-ING Nonni's THINaddictives. Don't know what these are? Click on the tab above and have look-see!

Running again today with my sister, my body has recovered from the first day and I'm ready to go again! So, who's decided to join me???

Day 240 - Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Bowl

I'm into bowls. I'm also NOT into meals right now. This is mostly due to lack of time and energy caused by newest love (Baby). So I'm thinking outside the plate.

I needed to get some fruit in for the day and I was craving protein of some kind. So this is what I created, and it made a great mid-afternoon snack/meal-thing. Check it out...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Apple Bowl

Hmmmm.... just noticed that gigantic chip in my bowl. Time to head to Pier One : )

Here's the recipe and Weight Watcher's Healthy Checks breakdown:

• 1 small/medium apple (I like Granny Smith)
• 2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup Bear Naked Heavenly Chocolate granola
• 1 tsp safflower oil

This provides:

• 9 Points Plus
• 1-2 servings fruit
• 1 serving heart healthy oil
• delicious whole grains and satisfying protein

It may seem like a lot of points, but when you have to squeeze in meals in the form of snacks, feel satisfied, and demand yummy things in your mouth... this works perfectly! The peanut butter adds the heftiest portion of points and I'm thinking of changing it up slightly for tomorrow using fat-free Greek yogurt instead. I'll let you know how it goes : )

How would you compose your snack bowl? I would love to hear your thoughts below!

Day 183 - Toasted Brie and Apples

I love Brie. It's one of my favorite cheeses.
Soft, supple, delicate and understated.
It is a great cheese to serve at parties with a cheese tray, or just to treat yourself once in a while.
This is one of many way to enjoy it (and use more of those apples!).

Toasted Brie with Apples and Plum Riesling Jam

• 1 small apple, Granny Smith work nicely 
• 1 oz. sliced Presidente Brie
• 1/2 Flatout Foldit 5 Grain Flax
• 1 tsp. Plum Riesling Jam (my recipe)

1. Cut the Flatout Foldit into quarters, lay them on a piece of foil and toast them in a convection oven or toaster at 375 degrees for 5 minutes. This makes them nice and crisp. Alternately you can skip this step by by using your favorite whole wheat/whole grain crackers instead of the Foldit.

2. Slice your apple to a slightly less than 1/4 inch thick and lay slices on the toast/crackers.

3. Slice the log of Brie into 1/4 inch thick slices and lay them atop the apple.

4. Toast them in an oven/convection oven at 375 degrees for 5 minutes, until Brie begins to melt.

5. Let cool for 2 minutes then top with the plum Riesling jam.

I also added some concord grapes to my plate to create two full servings of fruit. This is a wonderful mid-afternoon snack that is easy and fancy : )  For Weight Watcher's it is 4 Points Plus if you use the Light Brie, 5 Points Plus if you use the regular. But what a wow for 4-5 points and a great snack!

Tomorrow: Honey Ginger Glazed Baby Carrots

Day 143 - Snacks

Sometimes I get hungry between meals. O.k. I always get hungry between meals. But I have finally come to the very adult conclusion that munchies are not necessarily the answer. Yes, SpecialK Cracker Chips are delicious and sound really good when I'm in the snackin' mood. But rarely do they satisfy me. Vegetables are always a good option though, even better than its slightly higher-calorie cousin fruit... But who says these scrumptious little gifts from the ground can't dance with the sweeter side of life?

ROAST 'EM!

Yup, add a little heat and the natural sugars (though there maybe significantly less than fruit) will begin to caramelize and intensify. Here's yesterday's snack... just food for thought : )

Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic

Yet another yummy snack that did make it to photo time...

1. Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking tray with aluminum foil
2. Core 2 plum tomatoes, or whatever is abounding in your garden right now and cut into halves.
3. Peel garlic cloves (as many as you like) and cut off any dry ends
4. Place tomatoes cut side up on baking tray and sprinkle garlic cloves around them on the tray
5. Drizzle tomatoes and garlic with Extra Virgin Olive Oil; sprinkle all with pepper and Kosher salt to taste
6. Roast for about 20 minutes, or until the tomato is bursting and bubbling, garlic should be a deep golden color
7. Eat and enjoy!

(For WW, your only consideration is the amount of heart healthy oil you use. I use 2tsps. to drizzle, and track 1 point as much of the oil remains on the tray.)

I can't begin to tell you how amazingly yummy this is... roasted tomatoes are one of my favorite things, so simple, so honest, and so packed with flavor. There is no way to not feel satisfied after this snack.

Tomorrow: Planning for Irene- How I'm going to stay on plan while the world ends. : )  Kidding!

Day 123 - Lazy Excitement

Today I'm totally in control. And lazy. But being in control of my laziness is still an accomplishment.

O.K. so I wasn't completely lazy- I did get a bunch done in my garden and believe it or not weeding is a great activity for weight loss! I intended to swim a bit, but my garden time got kinda long. And now I'm in the middle of my snack and Yankees vs. Red Sox date with my youngest son. He made the snack, and we're watching our Bronx Bombers.

I need to go shopping, my cupboards and fridge are relatively bare (surprising coming from a snack-aholic) and I need some good healthy snack options. If you have any ideas or favorite snack suggestions leave your thoughts in the comment section below! (p.s. weigh in in T minus14 hours and counting and I'm very excited!)