Mom's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were my FAVORITE cookies when I was a kid.  When my mom would make a batch for gifts she would take some melted white or milk chocolate and drizzle it on the top of them.  They're amazing.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:


Ingredients:
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) margarine, softened
2 tablespoons heat-stable sugar substitute equal to 3 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup egg substitute or 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate (thawed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In large bowl, beat margarine and sweetener or sugar until creamy. Add egg substitute; beat well. Add applesauce, apple juice concentrate and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Add oats and chocolate chips; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until firm to the touch and light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

When I was in college I worked at a small vegetarian cafe in town.  One of my favorite items was the sun-dried tomato pesto.  We served it as a sandwich topped with tons of veggies.

I love to spread it on bread, add some cheese, and toast it.  It has a hearty texture and would also work well with pasta or on some chicken as a topping.


Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto:
(Book Lover’s Café)

12 sun-dried tomatoes
½ cup olive oil
½ lemon, juiced
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp salt
½ cup blanched almonds, walnuts, or pine nuts.
Re-hydrate sun-dried tomatoes in hot water. Let stand for 15 minutes, drain. (Unless packed in oil)

Mix everything in a food processor.

It's awesome!!

Pan Seared Salmon

I'm in a wedding this coming May for one of my best friends (SQUEE!!!) and I'm using it as motivation to drop some more weight.  I've had a love-hate relationship with food for my whole life and while I love all foods I tend to love them too much.  I've had a lot of luck in the past with Weight Watchers so I'm giving it another shot.  Mr. T is doing it with me.

Tonight I decided to take advantage of the Sockeye Salmon that's on sale.  I didn't check the points out for the actual salmon before I went to the store.  The fillet I got came out to about 6 points.  This could be done with tilapia which is only 2 points per 3-ounce fillet.

Baked Salmon:(10 Weight Watchers Points)

1 salmon fillet
1 tablespoon butter (or margarine)
2 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Old Bay
salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix the butter, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, and Old Bay together and spread on top of the salmon.

Spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray.  Place fish, crumb side up on the sheet and bake for 10-20 minutes or until the top is crispy.  Check mid way through and adjust time as needed.

Sorry for the bad picture.  I originally thought I'd just pan sear it but I think baking will turn out better, and less messy.  :)

Liz's Spinach Thing

My good friend Liz sent me this.  I love spinach and i'm always looking for a new way to try it.  I can't wait to try it out!


Liz's Spinach Thing:
bag/box of frozen spinach
red wine vinegar
margarine or olive oil for the pan
sour cream

Heat some margarine or olive oil in a pan. Just enough to cover the bottom.  Add frozen spinach and heat until it's warm.  Add a splash of red wine vinegar (a little goes a long way) and continue cooking to reduce it down.  After the red wine vinegar is gone, turn the heat down and scoop some sour cream and mix it up (you want it to be about the consistency of mashed potatoes)

Thank you Liz!!  I can't wait to make it.

Blueberry Spritzer

My sister made this drink for our 4th of July party this year.  It was really pretty good.

Blueberry Spritzer:
(My sister, Sara)

Blueberry juice
Lemon-Lime Soda

Seltzer Water

In a glass filled with ice pour enough blueberry juice to fill the glass up half way.

This was a really refreshing drink and did taste like syrup, the way soda can sometimes.  You could even add champagne if you wanted to make it an "adult beverage".

Saute Broccoli

When I made shrimp the other night I made a side of broccoli.  I love broccoli but I didn't feel like pulling the colander out of the cabinet.  I decided to saute it in a skillet, which I've never done before.  It turned out really good!

Just take the broccoli, add some olive oil to the pan and saute until it's hot all the way through.  I added some Old Bay, Salt, pepper, and some of the left over butter that I made the shrimp with.   I covered it with a lid and let it steam a bit until it was finished.

Jackie's "Special Sauce"

I was making crab cakes for supper the other night and wanted something to dip them in.  We also need to go to the grocery store so the options were few and far between.  I found mayo, ketchup, and Old Bay and went at it.

"Special Sauce":

1 teaspoon Old Bay
1/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup mayonnaise

Mix everything together.  Pour on top of food.

It was better than I thought it would be.