Friday, March 7, 2008

Something Yummy and Healthy and Something Just Plain Yummy

Hello to all who have linked over from Lysa's Thanks for visiting. I can't wait to visit your sites and see your recipes. First, let me tell you that both of these recipes get A+ in great taste and A+ in simple which is a necessity since I'm relatively new to the whole cooking thing.

In January I decided I needed to work on saving money and losing some weight. To do this, I've been cooking and have cut out eating out by about 85%. I've lost 16lbs! The first recipe is a healthy soup that you can make in a slow cooker. The second is a recipe I found on line at Hershey's and made and gave away. (Definitely not diet friendly but apparently extremely tasteful. I believe I had the person I made if for say it was "sinfully good.")


OH, yeah, and I'm hosting a contest this weekend. Click here or the candle picture at the right to go to the contest. I'm focusing on hope this year and have been writing posts I call "Hope Chronicles." The contest involves leaving your favorite quote about hope. You'll win a book about -- hope!





Chorizo Soup (I got this off the Weight Watcher's site and have tweaked it a bit. It's called black bean soup there but that doesn't seem like the main thing in it to me or anyone else I've fed it to, so I'm calling it Chorizo Soup. Chorizo is a Mexican sausage. A serving of soup is about 3 points if you are into Weight Watchers.)

Ingredients:


  • 2 tsp ground cumin

  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1lb chorizo (Check the meat section. I had to ask because I had no idea what it was! I can get it without the skin otherwise you'll discard that.)

  • 2 medium garlic clove

  • 2 small onion

  • 2 small sweet red peppers

  • 2 small green peppers

  • 30 oz canned black beans

  • 30 oz fat free chicken broth

  • 15 oz canned corn

Chop up peppers and onion and mince garlic.


Discard chorizo skin and brown in a nonstick skillet. Add onion, garlic, and peppers and saute over medium heat 5 minutes.


Add to slow cooker along with beans, broth, corn, and spices. Cover and cook on low heat 4-5 hours.


I've really enjoyed taking this for lunch along with an apple. It is slightly spicy but even my friends who don't like spicy stuff have really enjoyed it.





Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie -- adapted from the Hershey's site


Ingredients

  • 1 cup Peanut Butter

  • 8oz package cream cheese

  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/2 cup milk

  • 1 8oz tub frozen, non-dairy whipped topping, thawed

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

  • 2 chocolate graham cracker crusts, pre-made or 1 9oz graham cracker crust

Soften the cream cheese. (Hershey's says to beat it until fluffy, but I've never had luck with that -- but knock yourself out. It just gets stuck in the blender for me!) Beat with peanut butter, milk, and vanilla on medium speed.


Stir in powdered sugar.


Mix in the whipped topping.


Melt chocolate chips in microwave and mix into the other mixture. Spread into the two pie crusts, cover and refrigerate 3-4 hours.


Enjoy!





Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to get to know you.


12 comments:

Joyful said...

Wow Amy, that Peanut Butter pie sounds amazing!!! Thanks for sharing that recipe!!! I'm actually having company tonight and need a dessert, maybe I'll give it a try! (All adults with no peanut allergies!)
Have a good day!
Joy

Joyful said...

Sorry... one quick question...is it just me, or where does the 1/2 cup of milk come in when preparing the pie?? Thanks. I'm so clueless in the kitchen - I need specific direction. PATHETIC!

swilek said...

I look forward to trying your yummy soup!

Heather said...

Hey - you're first on the list! :) Oh, that pie does sound sinful...

BethAnne said...

Thanks for the recipes! I am loving the chocolate peanut butter pie!!

Tina Vega said...

Both recipes sounds really good!!!

Joyful said...

RECIPE AMMENDMENT!!!!!

Amy has asked me to let you all know that the milk in the pie recipe is added with the peanut butter and vanilla. I'm sure most of you could have guessed that, but those of us who are challenged in the kitchen will find this little detail helpful.
Have fun cooking!

Anonymous said...

Both of these are good!
Thanks for sharing!
Be blessed!

MaryLu said...

dieting here too, good job on your 16 loss, I'v lost 14 since Jan.
Going to try the soup and I'm going to skip the dessert this time around!
Thanks.

MelissaTaylor.org said...

I would be one who is "challenged in the kitchen" as Joy put it! I like to cook when I'm alone, but I'm never alone.

Amy, these both sound gr8!!!! I thank you for posting something so healthy. I can't wait to try the soup. And the pie sounds divine! Peanutbutter and chocolate are two of my favorites...together they just are the best!

Congrats on losing 16 pounds. Rock on Beautiful Girl!

Blessings,
Melissa

Sandy said...

MMMMMM, soup looks good and hubby will most certainly love the pie! Have a great weekend!

B. said...

I love weight watcher recipes and that soup looks like a great one! Thanks!