I Love You Starbucks, But.....

My morning routine:

Obnoxious alarm goes off.

"Ugh. I need coffee."

1 minute later. "Push snooze. Now!"

9 minutes later. "If you don't do your hair today, you can sleep longer."

Pushing snooze again.

10 minutes later. "If you don't make coffee, you can sleep in 5 more minutes."

1 second later. "Now thats just silly. I need coffee."

Stumble downstairs with my matted hair to make coffee.

Save your calories and $ with this Starbucks "Tall Vanilla Latte" recreation:

Ingredients:

8oz coffee

8oz Unsweetened Almond Breeze

2 tbsp sugar free vanilla syrup

2 Splenda packets

Original Starbucks' Latte Drinks:

Tall Vanilla Latte w/ 2% milk: 190 calories

Tall Vanilla Latte w/ Soy Milk: 180 calories

Tall Skinny Vanilla Latte: 90 calories

My version: 42 calories

Not familiar with Almond Breeze? I suggest looking at your local Trader Joes or Whole Foods for it. A dairy-free, low calorie alternative to cow and soy milk. Deliciousness.

http://www.bluediamond.com/shop/natural/almondBreeze32.cfm

101 Ways...

I'm going to tell you a secret, I can definitely be a lazy "cook". I may even have my "cook" title revoked when everyone finds out how often I buy a rotisserie chicken from the store, and pawn the moist chicken off as my own to the boyfriend (aka..Mr. M).

Fine...start the judging. But through these little white lies, I have become a pro at using store bought rostisserie chicken in 101-ish recipes. Not only is it tastey and quick, but it's heathly (particularly with the skin taken off). In the end, everyone wins.

Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells

Ingredients:

15 jumbo pasta shells (preferably whole wheat)

8 ounces rotisserie chicken breast (w/o skin). Shredded.

1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese

1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese

1/2 cup low fat mozzerella cheese

1 cup marinara sauce

garlic powder

salt

pepper

Directions:

Boil pasta shells in water as directed by box

Combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, salt, pepper and garlic.

Spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

Line pan with pasta shells. Stuff shells with chicken, then cheese mixture.

Pour marinara sauce over pasta. Then sprinkle with mozzerella cheese.

Put in oven at 450 degrees for 15 minutes (or until cheese melts).

Makes 3 servings (5 pasta shells each). Approx: 420 calories per serving.