Happy Sunday everyone! Thanks for all the comments on my weigh in this week on Facebook and Twitter. I am always glad to have a loss ~ anything down is good, but, sometimes, you just think it should be more. Thanks for helping me realize it all adds up in the end and any loss, even a .2 lb loss is a good loss!
After my meeting, I grabbed a Venti Iced Dirty Latte to sip on while I cooked breakfast. (4 point+)
I have been wanting to make these Jennie-O Taco Muffin Cups ever since I saw them on the Biggest Loser last week. In fact, I went out and bought everything to make them the next day LOL. They are actually pretty easy to make.
Preheat your oven to 400.
Brown up a package of Jennie-O Lean Turkey Sausage. Did you all know these are only 1 point+ each? I was surprised by that in a good way.
Spray your muffin pan with nonstick spray and add in your tortillas. I used 3 corn tortillas cut into 8 wedges, with 2 wedges per muffin tin.
Slice your cooked sausages in half and add 1 sausage to each muffin cup.
Top with 1 Tbsp of Salsa. I used Trader Joe’s Serrano Salsa Fresca.
I think that the recipe calls for a bigger muffin tin than what I was using. The recipe says to use 3 Tbsps Egg Whites, however, I only had room for 2 Tbsps per muffin cup. I used egg beaters.
I had to bake my cups for 20 minutes to get them browned, cooked through and to where they sprang back to the touch. (The recipe says 10 minutes.)
Top each muffin with 1 tsp of cheese.
Place pan back in the oven for 1 minute if needed to get it to melt.
MMMMMMM! Did I mention, you can click HERE to get the recipe?!
I had 2 Muffins for 5 points+ (based on my changes). I omitted the olives and topped them with cilantro. They are delicious!!! Even The Husband LOVED them ~ he ate 5 and now wants the rest for breakfast tomorrow LOL.
I bought these Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Butter and Sage awhile back when I saw them in the Fearless Flyer.
I totally checked the points+ when I was at the store to see if they were worth it. I was skeptical that 1/3 of the package would fill me up for 6 points+.
So, I decided to BOOST the serving by adding a whole bag of these Carrots Rustica.
I envisioned them getting coated with the sage butter sauce!
I portioned everything out into 3 containers for 6 points+ each. I definitely would NOT recommend the stove top cooking directions because it got mushy. Next time I would microwave it and mix it all together. Delicious!
Rounded out with a side of orange slices.
The Husband and I continued our Words with Friends Scrabble battle this afternoon since it was a rainy day. I “broke” for a snack mid afternoon with some Peanut Butter Goodies ~ 2 for 4 points+.
30 minutes later, I was STILL hungry so I picked a 0 point+ banana to snack on.
I have been wanting to make Shannon’s Slow Cooker Turkey Sausage Lasagna ever since I saw her post the RECIPE on Friends for Weight Loss. I think it was the fact that she used BACON and CHEESE that kept me thinking about it all week.
When I started to put the recipe together, I realized I didn’t have any jarred pasta sauce. So, I improvised and made Mary’s Turkey Merlot Sauce.
I pretty much followed her recipe except I used 96% lean ground beef, 1/2 lb lean turkey sausage and added some more spices (Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes). I actually FORGOT the bacon LOL.
New Product FIND!!! I was super excited that Trader Joe’s now has FAT FREE Ricotta. They usually only carry full fat ricotta so I bought this before I even knew what recipe I’d used it in.
My “cheese” filling included the fat free ricotta, 3/4 cup finely shredded part skim mozzarella, 1/4 cup chopped basil, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic salt and black pepper.
TJ’s No Cook Lasagna Noodles ~ I LOVE these! You actually can use regular noodles in this recipe since they cook all day in the slow cooker.
Layer it up and cook on low for 5 hours.
WOW!!! 1/6th of the pan for 13 points+ and worth every bite. I LOVE layers of cheese and noodles and cheese and noodles 
Since I didn’t quite follow the recipe, here is the low down of what is in the pot!
INGREDIENTS
Sauce
- 1/2 lb uncooked lean ground turkey sausage (you can do sweet or hot)
- 1 lb 96% lean ground beef
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 clove garlic clove, minced
- 28 oz cans whole peeled tomatoes in juice
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes with basil
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 cup merlot wine
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Sea salt & Black Pepper to Taste
Lasagna
- 1 3/4 cup fat free ricotta cheese
- 1 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheeses, divided
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 9 dry lasagna noodles
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
3 point+ Alexia Garlic Bread on the side!
The folks over at Wish Bone know I eat a lot of salads and sent along their newest flavors for me to try. I started off tonight with the Bruschetta Italian.
Tomato+Basil Italian at only 1 points+ per tablespoon!
I used 1 Tbsp on my simple salad and liked how I could taste the tomato ~ it has a sun dried tomato flavor and is on the sweeter side of Italians.
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* New Tip of the Week & Guest Recipe ~ check them out at the bottom of the page!
* This week’s Challenge ~ What MOTIVATES you?
HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK
* BLTA’s
* BBQ Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes & Grilled Romaine Salad
* Cheesy Mini Meatloaves, grilled asparagus
* Honey Lime Shrimp Tacos
DESSERT ~ CEiMB ~ Banana Splits with pineapple brown sugar topping
I really want to try this Cauliflower Pizza Crust but The Husband told me no more funny things with cauliflower 
Q’s
What is on your menu this week? Are you trying any new recipes or foods?
Only two new things this week for me, but, that will probably change when I see your menus. I have a feeling my menu will change as the week goes on since nothing really sounded good when I planned it out. 
Night all!
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