Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

2 cans of chicken broth + 1 can of water

2 cans of cream of chicken

2 carrots diced

1 celery stock diced

1/2 a white onion diced

1 lg. potato diced

3/4 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp thyme

dash of rosemary

1/2 tsp garlic salt

salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp sour cream

olive oil

2 chicken breasts or 4 chicken tenders diced

Heat oil in large pot or dutch oven. Add chicken and start to brown. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until vegetables tender and chicken is cooked through. Add chicken broth, water, cream of chicken, basil, thyme, rosemary, and garlic salt. Add potatoes and rice, cook until tender. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste.

Peanut Butter Syrup

• This syrup is a nice change up from the usual maple. It tastes like peanut butter cookies.
• 
  
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 
  
• In a small saucepan over low heat, heat syrup and peanut butter until peanut butter is melted; stir until smooth.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

My friend made these last year at Christmas time and I couldn't stop eating them. So addicting!

2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup cinnamon sugar
1 lb bag mini pretzels

4 oz white chocolate (or Almond Bark)

Mix oil and cinnamon sugar in large microwavable dish. Add pretzels and toss to coat. Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds), or until oil's absorbed. Spread on cookie sheets to air dry. Melt white chocolate and drizzle over the top. Store in airtight container.

Breakfast Pizza

1 envelope Better Crocker pizza dough (made as directed)

1/2 lb. bacon (chopped)

1/2 lb. sausage (ground)

1 packet country gravy (can serve remainder as dipping sauce)

2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar and monterey jack)

1 1/2 cup cooked shredded hashbrowns

5 eggs

1 tbsp. milk

cooking spray

flour

Preheat oven as directed on dough package. In a skillet cook bacon and sausage, drain on paper towels. Using same skillet brown hashbrowns. Make dough as directed. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Press dough on to cookie sheet. Using a floured rolling pin roll dough toward edges, being careful not to get holes in the dough. Spread 1 cup country gravy over dough. Sprinkle hasbrowns, meat, and cheese over the layer of gravy. In a bowl beat eggs and milk together and pour over the top, careful not to run over the edge of the dough. Bake for 15 minutes on the middle oven rack. Cut into squares using a pizza cutter.

I think we are going to make this a regular dinner at our house! YUMMY!

Pumpkin Crisp

1 16oz can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 15oz can condensed milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 cake yellow mix
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 sticks (1/2 pound) melted butter

Beat pumpkin, eggs, condensed milk,
sugar and pumpkin pie spice until smooth.

Pour in a greased 9x13 pan

Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture

Sprinkle nuts (optional)

Drizzle butter

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for one hour.

Garlic Cheese Bread

1 Loaf french bread
2 cloves garlic
1/2 mayonnaise
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Monterrey jack/Cheddar blend grated cheese
1/2 stick of butter softened
chopped olives (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Using serrated knife, cut french bread in half length wise. Using a rubber spatula spread half of mixture on each side of bread. Bake on cookie sheet until bubbly and golden brown. (sorry I didn't time it...maybe 10 min?)

Health Snack Options

Browsing around last night, I decided to look for some healthy snack options. I get burned out on string cheese and almonds. I think I will enjoy them a lot more when I can add in some others once in a while.

6 whole-wheat crackers with peanut butter

1 small pear and a small handful almonds

6 ounces of yogurt

2 cups of popcorn

1/2 cup of sugar-free pudding

1/2 cup of no-sugar-added ice cream

1 cup of berries and 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese

1 small protein bar with around 15 grams carbohydrate

1 small apple with peanut butter

1/2 turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread

Veggies dipped in hummus

1/2 cup yogurt mixed with 1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 whole wheat crackers with laughing cow cheese triangle

Note: By drinking a glass of water when eating a high fiber snack, it alows the fiber to expand keeping you fuller longer.

Here are some examples of some lower (under 15g) carbohydrate snacks:

Handful of almonds, walnuts, or pecans

Celery stalks with peanut butter

String Cheese

1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese

Hard boiled egg

Veggies and low-fat dip

Sugar-free jello