Crock Pot Favorites
    Sausage and Bean Stew (Crock Pot)

    Sausage and Bean Stew (Crock Pot)

    What a great appetizer or lunch. The sausage, beans and garlic make a perfect stew. Served with cheese toast, this makes a great dish to serve to guests. Even with the bread, this dish comes in under 400 calories !! 6 servings 350 calories per serving 2 t oil 3 ...

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    Hamburger Soup (Crock Pot)

    Hamburger Soup (Crock Pot)

    This is so tasty – it’s something I have made many times and everyone who eats it is always delighted with the great heartiness and warmth. Beings this is a crock pot recipe, you can start this one before work, come home, drop in the noodles and in ...

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    Chinese Pulled Pork

    Chinese Pulled Pork (Crock Pot)

    This recipe was really interesting. Usually when you think of pulled pork, you expect a spicy Southwest flavor. But this one has an awesome Chinese sauce that is mellow and mild and is perfect with pulled pork. 8 servings 227 calories per serving 1/4 c soy sauce 1/4 c ...

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    Get the ’400 Calories or Less’ App and eBooks now !

    Get the '400 Calories or Less' App and eBooks now !

    I'm so very pleased to announce the 400 Calorie or Less App and eBooks ! The eBooks are now available for the Nook and the Kindle. There are 4 eBooks and they each host 40+ recipes to help you lose weight while eating the foods you love and ...

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    Easy Pork Carnitas

    Easy Pork Carnitas

    This is another great authentic recipe that cooks all day in the crock pot - it turns out a fantastically tender and juicy meat that is easily shredded and tastes great with a bit of lime and avocado. 4 servings 208 calories per serving 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon ground ...

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    Black Bean Chili (Crock Pot)

    Black Bean Chili (Crock Pot)

    This is one of the most awesome chili recipes I have ever made ! The depth of flavor was amazing. This is a truly authentic, rich, aromatic and spicy chili that is just plain PERFECT. Don’t forget the squirt of lime just before serving – it actually ...

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    Chicken Tortellini Stew (Crock Pot)

    Chicken Tortellini Stew (Crock Pot)

    This is a soupy stew or a thick soup :) Whatever it is, it's absolutely delicious. The sweet fennel adds just the little something different that makes this meal one of a kind. 6 servings 380 calories per serving 2 carrots, sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cut ...

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    Lasagna (Crock Pot)

    Lasagna (Crock Pot)

    Even traditional lasagna lovers like this one - and it is nice and easy to do. Start it at lunch time and have dinner ready 4 hours later. Take a look at my video below for instructions on how to layer it in your crock. 8 servings 275 calories per ...

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    August 16th, 2012adminDessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

    This tastes like a lemonade stand in a slice of pie ! It is so refreshing and delicious. Instead of the second pie, I used the extra filling to make homemade ice pops.

    Raspberry Lemonade Pie

    Raspberry Lemonade Pie

    16 servings (2 pies)
    198 calories per serving

    1 ½ c boiling water
    .3 oz. package lemon Jello (sugar free)
    4 oz. cream cheese, softened
    6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
    8 oz. cool whip, thawed
    1 c raspberries
    2 low fat graham crusts

    Add boiling water to jello and stir 2 minutes to dissolve completely. Cool a bit and then add in the lemonade. Beat cream cheese until creamy and then gradually add jello mix. Stir in cool whip and berries and pour into crusts then refrigerate at least 4 hours. It will be very thin at this stage – after it is refrigerated it will thicken up a lot. You can also freeze this and simply thaw ½ hour or so before serving. Garnish with a few leftover raspberries.

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    August 13th, 2012adminDessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

    Even though I make these pops in a Zoku maker, you can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku :) Their recipes turn out fantastic pops – I often skinny them up a bit, but I mostly use their measurements and basic recipe and am always pleased with the results.

    Neopolitan Pops

    Neopolitan Pops

    6 servings
    113 calories per serving

    Strawberry Layer
    3 ½ oz. hulled and quartered strawberries
    3 T skim milk
    1 T light sour cream
    1 T + 1 t sugar
    1 ½ t vanilla extract
    ½ t heavy cream

    Combine the strawberries and milk in a blender until smooth and then press through a fine mesh sieve so you strain out the seeds – I usually run a spoon back and forth over the berries and that pushes the mix through the sieve pretty good. You should end up with ¼ c plus 3 T of seedless puree. Whisk in the sour cream, sugar, vanilla and cream.

    Vanilla Layer
    ¼ c + 2 T skim milk
    2 ½ T heavy cream
    1 ½ T sugar
    1 ½ t vanilla extract

    Whisk all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.

    Chocolate Layer
    1/3 c skim milk
    2 ½ T chocolate syrup
    1 T heavy cream
    1 ½ t water
    ¼ t vanilla extract

    Whisk all the ingredients together.

    To make the pops in a Zoku, pour the strawberry layer 1/3 of the way up the mold and let freeze all the way. Then repeat with the vanilla and chocolate layers.

    In traditional molds, freeze each layer at least an hour before adding the next and then freeze the whole thing 6 hours.

    Toast the pecans in a skillet with the butter and sugar. Cook about 3 minutes stirring often. Let nuts cool completely.

    In a saucepan over low heat whisk water and butterscotch morsels and cook until melted, but don’t boil. Cool 10 minutes then stir in the half and half and vanilla and then refrigerate until completely cool, about 20 minutes. Whisk occasionally so that a skin does not form on top of the mixture.

    Working in 2 batches – place approximately 6 pecan halves in each mold and then pour in the butterscotch mixture up to the fill line. In 7-9 minutes you’ll have rich, flavorful pops that rival the experience of butter pecan ice cream 

    If you are using traditional molds, freeze 6 hours.

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    July 19th, 2012adminDessert, MUFAs, Summer

    This is not your run of the mill ice cream ! It is filled with MUFA, is sweet and tasty, and will definitely turn heads ! Give it a try next time you are ready to make some ice cream.

    Avocado Ice Cream

    Avocado Ice Cream

    8 servings
    224 calories per serving

    1 ½ c avocado puree (about 3 avocados worth)
    1 ½ c water
    1 1/3 c sugar
    ¼ c lime juice
    1/3 c tequila
    Lime zest garnish

    Puree avocado and add water, sugar, lime juice and tequila and pulse until well combined. Refrigerate the mix from 1 hour to overnight. Place in ice cream maker and freeze according to instructions. Garnish with lime zest.

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    July 10th, 2012adminDessert, Summer

    Even though I make these pops in a Zoku maker, you can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku :) Their recipes turn out fantastic pops – I often skinny them up a bit, but I mostly use their measurements and basic recipe and am always pleased with the results.

    Caramel Latte Pops

    Caramel Latte Pops

    6 servings
    46 calories per serving

    2 c skim milk
    3 shots of espresso, cooled
    2 T caramel sauce

    Whisk together espresso and milk. (if you like a sweet flavor, add some Equal or Splenda). Then pour into the base and freeze completely (7-9 minutes in the Zoku, 6 hours in the freezer). Just before eating, drizzle the pops with caramel syrup.

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    June 15th, 2012adminDessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

    I recently got a Zoku Quick Pop Maker. BEST THING EVER ! I love making pops but hate the wait time. Now I have ‘em in 7-9 minutes :) This is one of the recipes I pulled from the Zoku book – of course, I’ve tweaked many of the recipes to suit my own tastes, bring down calories, and to get creative with the pops, but some are in their original goodness.

    You can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku :)

    I recently got a Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  BEST THING EVER !  I love making pops but hate the wait time.  Now I have ‘em in 7-9 minutes :)  This is one of the recipes I pulled from the Zoku book – of course, I’ve tweaked many of the recipes  to suit my own tastes, bring down calories, and to get creative with the pops, but some are in their original goodness.

    Zoku Quick Pop Maker

    6 servings
    265 calories per serving

    1 c water
    2 1/3 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used ghiradelli bittersweet morsels)
    1/3 c sugar
    1 pinch salt
    1/3 c skim milk
    1 T fat free half and half
    ½ c very thin banana slices
    6 T Magic Shell chocolate shell for ice cream
    3 T chopped peanuts

    In a saucepan whisk chocolate, sugar, water and salt and cook until completely melted, about 5 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes in the fridge and then whish in the milk and half and half. Then return to the fridge and cool completely (about ½ hour).

    Working in 2 batches – Place bananas on the sides of the maker molds then pour in the mix. In 7-9 minutes you’ll have creamy, fudgy goodness with a bit of banana thrown in for interest :)

    If you are using traditional molds, you can suspend the bananas by filling the molds half way. Freezing a bit, then adding the bananas and the rest of the mix. Or you can just let the drop to the bottom – it will still taste dandy ! Freeze 6 hours.

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    May 13th, 2012adminDessert, Kid Friendly

    Creamy vanilla goodness with sweet ripe cherries – it doesn’t get any better …oh wait, it does – there’s an oreo pie crust ! You have to make this one ! This is my Mom’s newest favorite dessert :)

    Cherry Cream Pie

    Cherry Cream Pie

    8 servings
    182 calories per serving

    3 c frozen vanilla yogurt, softened (I love Turkey Hill brand)
    1 1/4 c sliced pitted fresh cherries
    1 prepared Oreo cookie pie crust
    2 tablespoons Cool Whip

    Make sure yogurt is good and melty and then stir in cherries. Turn all into the pie crust and freeze at least 3 hours. If desired, garnish with Cool Whip and some extra cherries.

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    April 11th, 2012adminDessert, Kid Friendly

    Where do I begin? Sweet angel food cake? No, that was good, but that’s not the start. Luscious homemade whipped cream? No, as decadent as that was, it’s not the start of the story. The best, best part of this was the strawberry mix – - combing the balsamic and sugar along with the berries enhanced the flavor so much that it was like eating strawberries to the 10th power. It was just wonderful ! When you combined that flavor with the whipped cream and cake, this was just the most perfect dessert. I think it was way better than regular Strawberry Shortcake !

    At only 160 calories, there is plenty of room to add some chocolate sauce – I’ll have to try that next time :)

    Strawberry Shortcake

    Strawberry Shortcake

    4 servings
    160 calories per serving

    4 2 ½ inch thick slices Angel Food Cake (prepared)
    1 pint strawberries, sliced
    ½ T balsamic vinegar
    1 T sugar
    ¼ c heavy cream
    ¼ t vanilla

    Mix berries with vinegar and ½ T sugar and let sit. Combine cream, vanilla and ½ T sugar and beat at high speed until soft peaks form. Top each slice of cake with cream and strawberries.

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    April 8th, 2012adminDessert

    This makes such a great custard ! The coconut flavor is mild, the custard is creamy and this is a superb pie. Sometimes I add a little coconut to the custard itself. This is as good as any bakery custard and at only 280 calories per serving, it‘s a great choice.

    Coconut Custard Pie

    Coconut Custard Pie

    8 servings
    280 calories

    ¼ c flaked coconut
    ¾ Splenda
    ⅓ c cornstarch
    ½ t salt
    2½ c skim milk
    2 egg yolks
    2 T butter
    ¾ c flaked coconut
    1¼ t vanilla extract
    ¼ t coconut extract
    1 low fat graham pie crust

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast ¼ cup coconut in a skillet on medium low heat 5 to 6 minutes or until toasted.
    Mix Splenda, starch and salt and gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thick. Beat egg until pale in color and then whisk in ¾ c of the milk mix. Then add that mix back to the rest of the milk and whisk (in this manner, the eggs do not curdle). Cook one minute to bring to a boil stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter, ¾ c coconut and extracts. Pour into crust, cover with plastic and gently press down on the filling. Chill 3 hours and sprinkle with toasted coconut and garnish with some optional whipped cream just before serving.

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    March 30th, 2012adminDessert, Sides, Snacks

    This is one of those dishes that has everyone at the table making yummy noises :) The cinnamon and cardamom are a FANTASTIC addition to the grapes. And the yogurt is really just a way to get the spices to stick to the fruit. The gingery goodness of the cardamom really makes this dish so be sure to add it in. Serve it as a dessert, a snack or a side dish.

    Grape Salad

    Grape Salad

    4 servings
    70 calories per serving

    ¼ c low fat vanilla yogurt
    1/8 t cinnamon
    1/8 t cardamom
    1 c seedless green grapes halved lengthwise
    1 c seedless red grapes halved lengthwise

    Combine yogurt, cinnamon and cardamom – then mix in grapes and toss to coat. Cover and chill.

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    March 29th, 2012adminDessert, Drinks, Snacks, Summer

    What a great afternoon pick-me-up! Sweet, chocolately, just the right amount of coffee, and nice and cold. (Much like a Wendy’s Frosty)

    Frosty Mocha Drink

    Frosty Mocha Drink

    4 servings
    118 calories per serving

    1 ½ c skim milk
    1/3 c chocolate syrup
    2 T instant malted milk powder
    2 T instant coffee
    3 ½ c ice cubes

    Combine milk, syrup, malted milk and coffee in a blender. Then add ice in a couple batches blending in between each batch and then serve immediately.

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