Homemade Citrus Soda!

Tired of drinking glass after glass of bland water? Since I don't drink soft drinks or fruit juices filled with tons of sugar and calories I am always coming up with new ways to enjoy water!  Don't get me wrong, I love water! Drinking water comes with so many benefits, I think the only disadvantage would be like anything else too much could kill you..lol.. seriously don't worry, that would be hard to do. Anyways.. sometimes you want something different maybe with carbonation or a little flavor! Like with my Apple Cinnamon Water here is another fun way to spruce up your everyday water, this time with carbonated water. Citrus Soda!

All You Need:

• Bottle of carbonated water
• Pitcher
• Sliced citrus fruit (I like to use Oranges, Lemons & Limes)

To Make:

•  Slice fruit and place in bottom of pitcher
• Fill with carbonated water
• Cover with ice

*You can drink it right away but the longer it sits the more citrus flavor it will have

* I actually make this beverage two different ways, you can also just add the fruit to your bottle of water (after removing some of the water of course) which makes it portable.

Tip- If you leave the fruit in your water too long it will take on a unpleasant rind taste.  If you don't finish your soda within 24 hours remove the fruit to keep the flavor from turning.

An Easy Dinner Using Leftovers!

Tonight I created a yummy dish utilizing leftovers, a pantry staple and a few things picked fresh from the garden.  When I looked around tonight thinking about what to make for dinner I remembered I had about 11oz of ground beef in the freezer left over from homemade burgers earlier this week and a small amount of Italian sausage from making homemade pizza a few days ago.  I also a had a small amount of fresh picked grape tomatoes from the garden.  I got to thinking and instantly knew I could make a meat sauce.  I also knew I had a whole plethora of fresh herbs from the garden at my disposal.  Here is a quick and simple recipe.

The left overs I had were 11oz of lean ground beef and 1 1/2 Italian sausage links





On hand I had fresh genovese basil, oregano, greek oregano, thyme and garlic. I always try to use fresh herbs when possible.  Obviously if you dont have all or any, dry herbs can be used. 

 

In a saute pan I browned the ground beef in a little olive oil with fresh garlic.  When the beef was browned I I crumbled in the sausage.

Once all the meat was cooked I removed and drained the meat and put it aside in a bowl

At this point I put a pot of water on and once it boiled I added some rigatoni I had in the pantry.  Obviously a recipe like this can be altered in many ways and you can choose what ever kind of pasta you have or prefer.

After wiping the saute pan clean I added some Olive Oil, chopped fresh herbs, grape tomatoes and a little salt.  I sauteed them over a low heat until the skins of the tomatoes began to crack.  

 

Once the garlic began to brown and the tomato skins cracked, I added a can of tomato sauce puree. I added a dash of salt and a pinch of salt to taste as well as a dash of cracked red pepper flakes.  Using my wooden spatula I also applied pressure to the tomatoes to break them down a little further.  After that I added the meat to the sauce and allowed it to cook for a few minutes.

After the sauce began to simmer I removed it from the heat and used it to top off my rigatoni.  After adding a small amount of fresh Romano cheese on top I had a perfectly De-Lish dinner!

 

Have any other ideas for making a dish with these ingredients? 

Thursday's This for That! Brummel and Brown

Today's this for that is a great product I have been using for sometime.  Many of us try to avoid butter at all costs weather its in recipies or as a spread.  There are many different products out there and I have tried a bunch.  For a long time I used Country Crock until I came across this great spread. 
It's called Brummel & Brown® and unlike other spreads its made with yogart.  If you are like me that may sound like cause for concern but I decided to try it and I was pleasently surprised.  It still had all the flavor and consistensy of a butter spread with less fat and calories, it also has no cholesterol and 0 grams of trans fat per serving. It has the sweet, creamy taste of butter blended with the wholesome goodness of natural yogurt! 

Butter                         VS              Brummel & Brown

Have you ever tried Brummel & Brown®? Would you?

Thursday's This for That!

This weeks this for that is a quick and easy change you can make to your meals.  Instead of eating regular pasta made from white flour opt instead for whole wheat or even multi grain options.  Now a days it is easy to find whole wheat options in all types of shapes and sizes from angle hair to rigatoni. 

I made the switch to whole wheat pasta a while ago and I love it.  I was worried at first about how it would taste but I actually like it better now.  It has a slightly softer texture but is almost unnoticeable.  I have made it many times for my boyfriend and he had no idea once it was covered in sauce.  He would never choose to eat it if he knew it was whole wheat!

I encourage you to buy a box and try it.  It's much healthier and I don't feel guilty about indulging in pasta when I make whole wheat pasta.

Do you eat whole wheat pasta? Will you try it?

Thursday's This for That! Bacon

If you are like me you want to be healthy and fit but don't want to give up everything you enjoy eating.  I have found many ways to continue to include some of my favorite foods in my diet by finding healthier options. I LOVE bacon! Though I don't eat it a lot anymore I still like to have it now and then. 
For instance I can have my beloved scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese wrap without feeling guilty, by choosing healthier options:

1 Egg & 2 Egg Whites                 VS     2 Eggs
1 Slice WW Cheese                    VS     1 Slice Regular Cheese
3 Fully Cooked Bacon Strips        VS     3 Strips Regular Bacon
Flax Wrap                                 VS     Flour Tortilla

Now were talking enjoying that same wrap for 7 points VS At least 14 points

One of my favorite swaps is something I have been eating for years, Fully Cooked Bacon! Some people are turned off by the idea (like my boyfriend who loves his greasy bacon)  but it is a great product! It tastes great, is easy and is healthier than frying up bacon on the stove. It also last longer and comes in a resealable container.  I have tried a couple of brands and my favorite is Oscar Mayer.  The idea is you don't need to cook it, you can throw it right into what you are cooking.  I however like my bacon crispy so I throw it in the microwave for 30 seconds before adding it to my scrambled eggs.  If you have never tried it then its worth picking up a box and checking it out. 

Have you tried it? Do you like it?

Thursday's This for That!

This week's Thursday's This for That swap is one of my all time favorite things to eat. A grilled cheese sandwich! Anyone who is on or has been on weight watchers knows you find ways to enjoy your favorite foods at a lower point value. Whether you follow WW or not this is a great way to have a much healthier grilled cheese sandwich and not feel bad about indulging in something so yummy!

A normal grilled cheese sandwich you would make at home or get from a restaurant calls for

• 2 Slices of bread (at least 4 points)
• 2 Slices of American cheese (at least 4 points)
• at least 1 tbsp butter  (at least 1pt)

So were talking at least 9 POINTS minimum for a sandwich!

That is close to half the points most people are given in a day, so that has to show you its not a very healthy choice.

Today I will show you how to make that same tasty grilled cheese sandwich for only 3 points!

It is SO Simple! This recipe calls for:

• 2 Slices WW whole wheat bread (1 point) you can use other light breads that equal 2 slices for 1 point
• 2 Slices WW American cheese (2 points)
• I can't believe it's not butter spray ( 0 points)

Use the butter spray to coat the outer sides of the sandwich and grill over medium heat on a frying pan or griddle and enjoy!!