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.

Mango Chili

I'll admit that I stole this recipe from my mom. But I will also admit that my sriracha and green chilies twist has made it way better.

Thanks for leaving room for improvement, mom.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lean turkey

1 1/2 cup cubed mango

2 oz low fat goat cheese

1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies

1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup chickpeas

cumin

chili powder

red pepper

sriracha

Directions:

Brown turkey with green chilies.

In large pot, add turkey mix to broth, stewed tomatoes and chickpeas

Add all seasonings (to taste). The more sriracha, the more sting.

Put over medium/low heat for 30 to thicken.

Add mango and 1.5 ounces of the goat cheese

Let cook for another 15 minutes

When serving, top with remaining goat cheese.

Great when served with tortillas.

Makes 4 servings.

352 calories per serving

Anti- Antipasto

Who doesn't love meat and cheese? Even if you dont eat it, you know you love it. And if you throw it on a bed of lettuce, you can pretend its healthy. Most antipasto salads are the antithesis of healthy, rich, green salads. But the Anti-Antipasto Salad can help you reach a happy medium.

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded lettuce

5 black olives

3 slices of low fat ham

8 slices turkey pepperoni

2 tbsp chickpeas

1 oz low fat mozzarella cheese

3 large mushrooms

Directions:

Cut.

Pile on.

Eat.

Antipasto salad: upwards towards 400 cals

Anti-Antipasto Salad: 165 calories

Italian Stallion

Pizza reminds me of college. Which reminds me of drunken late night pizza binges. Which reminds me why I try and cook my own pizza rather than wasting a day's worth of calories on a few slices (though sometimes, it's totally worth it).

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tortilla

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter - Spray

2 tbsp marinara sauce

1 oz low fat mozzerella

17 Slices of Turkey Pepperoni

Directions:

Tortillas are the easiest and healthiest way to recreate thin crust pizza. The best way to maintain the crispness is to broil the tortilla first with a few sprays of 0 calorie butter spray. Be sure to watch the crust, as it will begin browning within a few minutes.

Once tortilla is crisp, add all toppings.

Put pizza back in oven, and broil until cheese melts (about4 minutes)

2 slices of Dominos Pepperoni Pizza: 486 calories

Thin crust recreation: 225 calories (for full pizza)

(I just wanted to add...I was about to post this, I got a email from Dominos sending me coupons. Yes, my past still haunts me)

Make It Wet

I love wet burritos. How can you deny your beloved burrito red sauce? You just can't.

Thursday night I threw together a quick soy and ricotta cheese burrito.

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tortilla (used La Tortilla Factory's Low Carb tortilla)

2/3 cup soy crumbles

1 tbsp taco seasoning

1/4 cup low fat ricotta cheese

1/4 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese

6 jalapenos

1/4 cup enchilada red sauce

Directions:

Combine ricotta, cheddar cheese and jalepenos. Spread onto tortilla

After combining soy crumbles and taco seasoning, layer it into the cheese spread

Wrap tightly.

Put in oven (at 500 degrees) for about 10 minutes. You'll see the tortilla start to crisp.

While still in oven, top burrito with enchilada sauce.

Cook another 3 minutes (until sauce is warm).

Caloric damage: approx 275 cals

Enjoy the gooeyness.

Taco Bell, You Are My Friend

From now on you will probably see Taco Bell recreations quite often. Taco Bell was my "fat" friend. Now it's just my dear, old friend. I knew if I was going to lose weight, I'd to give up my weekly 8 item Taco bell splurges. But I also knew that to be happy, I'd have to find a way to still get my fix. Thus, I began recreating Taco Bell items at home.

My " Baja Beef Chalupa"

Ingredients:

1 Pita (perferrable Western Bagel's Alternative Pita for 110 cals)

2/3 cup soy crumbles

1 tablespoon taco seasoning

1/4 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 roma tomato

"Baja" Sauce:

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

1 teaspoon Sriracha (or to taste)

chili powder

red pepper

salt

Directions:

Warm pita in microwave for 15 seconds. Cut in half and seperate.

Mix soy crumbles with taco seasoning. Microwave for 1 minute (until cooked).

Combine all ingredients in sauce. Lather the inside of your pita with sauce.

Throw in soy crumbles and shredded cheese. Microwave for 20 more seconds (until cheese melts).

Top with shredded lettuce an tomato. And if need be, go steal so Taco Bell hot sauce to top.

Original Calories: 410 for 1. My recipe: 310 for 2 "chalupas"

Recipes

Appetizers

Breakfast

Desserts

Drinks

Main Dishes

Salads

Sides

Soups and Chilis

Desserts

Applebee's White Chocolate & Walnut Blondie

Benihana Mandarin Orange Cheesecake

Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

Cheesecake Factory White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake

Chili's Molten Chocolate Cake

Orange Sherbet