Yummy Beauty Recipes

I just love hungry girl!! Check out these great beauty recipes, I think I'll try one or two! Just remember if you have combo to oily skin, the mask may not be best for you.

HG's "Top Ate" Stress Relieving Foods

Boy do I need this! These are other foods that I believe would be good to include in our regular eating habits. I always have trouble menu planning, but I believe if we go with the "best of the best", we probably won't have much trouble making up meals and snacks, don't you think?

1. Blueberries
2. Fortified Breakfast Cereals
3. Milk
4. Sushi
5. Whole Grain Rice
6. Broccoli
7. Fish
8. Almonds

Best fruits to choose & why

I've been trying to figure out the best fruits and veggies to include in or daily eating. Hungry girl had some great input in today's newsletter (linked in title)


Bananas:
Why we love 'em: There's a reason bananas are the most popular fruit in the United States -- they're delicious! They're sweet, but not too sweet, and they're soft, but not too soft. And bananas are fun to eat. Weeee!

The Magic ingredient: Potassium. Bananas are one of the best sources of this essential mineral. Potassium helps us to maintain normal blood pressure and heart function and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Kiwi:
Why we love 'em: These hairy, brown babies may not be much to look at, but cut one open and you'll find that the outside is much different from its gorgeous inside, which is a lovely, brilliant, bright green. And they taste great, too.

Magical Properties: Studies show that kiwi may protect against respiratory symptoms associated with asthma, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Kiwi has long fascinated researchers because of its amazing ability to protect DNA in the nucleus of human cells. It's also loaded with vitamin C, and a good source of vitamin E, vitamin A and fiber.

Apples:
Why we love 'em: Apples are sweet, crunchy and refreshing. And, because apples are a good source of fiber, they not only keep the doctor away, but they keep hunger at bay as well.

The Magic ingredient: Many of the phytochemicals found in apples, including quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, are strong antioxidants. These antioxidants serve to help prevent cancer, heart disease, asthma, and type 2 diabetes.

Blueberries:
Why we love 'em: Blueberries are jam-packed with nutrients and great taste, yet are very low in calories. These tart 'n tangy colorful circles of flavor are delicious in everything from pancakes to muffins to oatmeal and yogurt.

The Magic ingredient: Antioxidants. All fruits contain antioxidants, but studies show that blueberries contain the highest antioxidant content of all. This makes them great at destroying free radicals that cause disease and signs of aging.

Grapes:
Why we love 'em: Grapes are awesome. They're fun to pop in your mouth, and have a great sweet, juicy crunch to them.

The Magic ingredient: Boron and flavonoids. All grapes are a great source of boron, a mineral that may help ward off osteoporosis. Grapes also contain beneficial compounds called flavonoids, which are phytochemicals that give red grapes their bright color (note: the more vibrant the color, the more rich the flavonoids). These flavonoids have been shown to decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Strawberries:
Why we love 'em: These beauteous red friends are little bits of berry bliss. Sweet and refreshing, they're one of the most delicious fruits ever. And lucky for us, they're also super-low in calories.

The Magic ingredients: Vitamin C. Strawberries actually have more of the stuff than oranges. Strawberries also contain ellagic acid, a natural cancer-fighting chemical. Researchers have found that this compound is a potent inhibitor of such carcinogens as tobacco smoke and nitrosamines.

French Onion Scoop!!

Woo-Hoo! With each passing day I love Hungry Girl even more! Check out this revamped recipe for french onion soup (note: I also LOVE Applebee's onion au gratin soup, it's 3 pts too!!)

Ingredients:
1 can Progresso French Onion Soup
1/2 slice Wonder Light Bread, toasted (or other 40 calorie per slice bread)
1 slice Sargento Deli-Sliced Reduced Fat Provelone Cheese

Directions:
Cook soup according to directions. Pour soup into an oven safe bowl. Place toasted bread on top of soup, then cover with cheese. Place bowl on cookie sheet and put into heated broiler, or simply place it in toaster oven until cheese gets bubbly. Makes 1 awesome-tastic serving.

Serving Size: 1 recipe
Calories: 170
Fat: 6.5g
Carbs: 20g
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugar: 6.5g
Protein: 8g

* 3 Points!

Be still my heart, a BLT I can eat!

www.Hungry-girl.com has done it again. I love BLTs. Around here we have these drive thru (fast food) restaurants called Cook Out. I LOVE their BLTs, but each time I eat one I know that's part of my "20% bad" rule. Then as much as I love the taste, it just doesn't seem worth it. Does anyone know what I'm saying? :)

Well Miss HG calculated the average amount of points a regular BLT would be, and of course, my guilt was keeping me straight - they're 13 points! But she come up with a replacement for the classic, and reduced the point value to THREE points. PTL!!

HG's 1-2-3 BLT

Ingredients:
2 slices of Wonder Light Bread, Weight Watchers Bread (or another 40 calorie bread)
2 slices Louis Rich Turkey Bacon
2 slices of tomato
2 teaspoons of Hellmann's/Best Foods reduced fat mayo
1 romaine lettuce leaf

Directions:
Toast your bread. Prepare your bacon in the microwave while bread is toasting. Smear a teaspoon of mayo on each half. Break bacon pieces in half. Assemble your sandwich, using all remaining ingredients -- bacon, lettuce and tomato. Cut in half. Serve with pickles. Yummmmmm!


Nutritional Info:

Serving Size: 1 HG Guilt-Free 1-2-3 BLT
Calories: 180
Fat: 7g
Sodium: 710mg
Carbs: 24g
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 1g
Protein: 8.5g

* 3 Points!

I've lost INCHES!!!

Last week I went to the mall before getting the kids, and walked through this new store (new to me) that I found a few trips ago. They had almost *everything* on sale, but it's more pricey than my wallet can afford, but I *love* this stiff. Then I noticed red tags on some of the hangers- and a sign "additional 30% off existing clearance price" something to that effect. I found a beautiful blue dress-suit- with a red tag. The biggest size it seems they carry is a 14, and they had *one* 14 left in those suits. I told myself if it was the Lord's will, that suit would be waiting on me when I got back and I'd fit in it ;o)

I've been in a 16 for some time now. I've been weighing, and the scale has not moved except up two pounds from the 8 I lost in January.

I went back today deciding not to get the manicure Jay and I discussed- I decided I wanted the suit worse than the manicure right now.The suit was there (big sigh), so the moment came- the dressing room. I bit the bullet and tried it on, and it FLOWED onto me! the last time I tried on a 14, I liked to had not gotten the thing over my butt! Woo-Hooo!!

So today, ladies, I bought a $100 - size 14 dress suit for $30.37 :D PTL!!!

Like I needed another reason NOT to exercise :p

I thought these were pretty good :)

Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5000 per month.

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell she is.

The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.

I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.

If you are going to try cross-co untry skiing, start with a small country.

And last but not least: I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

You could run this over to your friends but why not just e-mail it to them!

REC: "Green Minestrone " for St Patty's

I've made this and it's awesome. I used no salt added canned green beans, procuitto, and bagged spinach. Next time I may add some asparagus, too. Be warned: This makes a huge pot that will last a whole weekend, LOL!!

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
4 slices pancetta or 1/4 pound thick cut prosciutto, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1 can white beans, cannellini
1 can garbanzo beans, ceci
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 cups chicken broth or stock
1 cup ditalini pasta or mini penne pasta
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
10 ounces triple washed spinach, stems removed and coarsely chopped, or any other dark greens
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano, plus extra to pass at the table
12 to 16 leaves fresh basil, torn or shredded or 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

Heat a soup pot over medium high heat. Add oil and pancetta or prosciutto. Saute 2 minutes and add onions, celery, garlic, zucchini and bay to the pot. Season vegetables with salt and pepper, to your taste. Saute vegetables 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add white beans, garbanzo beans and chicken broth to the pot. Cover soup and bring to a boil. Add pasta and green beans to the soup and cook 8 minutes, or until pasta is just tender. Stir in spinach to wilt, 1 minute. Stir in grated cheese and ladle soup into bowls. Top soup with torn or shredded basil or chopped parsley.

5 Ways to Beat Cold Weather Cravings

from WW RECIPE FOR SUCCESS : MARCH 6, 2006

5 Ways to Beat Cold Weather Cravings

Eat full meals so you'll be less likely to fall prey to mindless snacking.

Get 20% to 30% of your daily calories from monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids.

Allow yourself to enjoy a few low-calorie treats.

Try getting outside for a walk during the sunniest part of the day.

Be active—it conquers emotional cravings and can help fight mild depression.

chicken-apple salad with raspberry vinaigrette

POINTS® Value 4
Servings 4
Preparation Time 20 min
Cooking Time 0 min
Level of Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

2 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded, (about four 3 oz. chicken breast halves)
1 medium apple(s), cored and diced
1/2 cup golden seedless raisins
2 medium stalk celery, chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar, raspberry
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper, ground
4 cup romaine lettuce, shredded

Instructions
In a large bowl, mix chicken, apple, raisins and celery. Toss to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, coriander, salt and pepper. Add dressing to chicken mixture and toss again to combine.

Arrange lettuce on 4 individual plates and top with chicken salad. Yields about 1 1/4 cups of chicken salad and 1 cup of lettuce per serving.

REC: Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo

REC: Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo!
(80.5 Calories, 3g Fat, 9 Carbs, 4g Protein, 4g Fiber = 1 Point!!!)

Ingredients:

1 Package Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Tofu Noodles
1/2 Wedge The Laughing Cow Light Cheese
1 teaspoon Fat Free Sour Cream
2 teaspoons Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper (if desired)

Rinse fettuccine noodles VERY well. Microwave them for one minute, then drain them and pat dry. Add cheeses and sour cream. Mix thoroughly. Microwave to help melt cheese further, and mix some more. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy. Serves 1.

Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo

Okay I have never eaten tofu before, but this is definitely worth a try for me!!

(80.5 Calories, 3g Fat, 9 Carbs, 4g Protein, 4g Fiber = 1 Point!!!)

Ingredients:

1 Package Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Tofu Noodles
1/2 Wedge The Laughing Cow Light Cheese
1 teaspoon Fat Free Sour Cream
2 teaspoons Kraft Reduced Fat Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper (if desired)

Rinse fettuccine noodles VERY well. Microwave them for one minute, then drain them and pat dry. Add cheeses and sour cream. Mix thoroughly. Microwave to help melt cheese further, and mix some more. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy.
Serves 1.

Come back and comment if you try it!!

Food advice for students ...

"Certain foods can also improve brain function and memory. www.iVillage.com has many easy recipes to incorporate simple everyday foods to improve your brain. Fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, are a great way to improve brain ability. Strawberries help to protect the brain from oxidative damage and stress any type of leafy green, specifically spinach and broccoli, are some of the best food in minimizing the slowing down of mental abilities, according to www.iVillage.com.

Whether it be eating a healthy meal, reviewing and organizing notes, or quizzing yourself on material you read; there are so many ways to help you improve your retention and perform better in class."

Spicy BBQ Meatballs (1 pt)

POINTS® Value 1
Servings 30
Preparation Time 20 min
Cooking Time 25 min
Level of Difficulty Easy

Ingredients
1 1/2 pound lean ground turkey
1 cup uncooked quick oats
2 medium egg white(s)
1 large onion(s), finely chopped
1 medium garlic clove(s), chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp beef bouillon granules
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/4 cup barbecue sauce


Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine all ingredients, except barbecue sauce, in a medium-size bowl; mix well.

Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape meatball mixture into sixty 1-inch balls; place on baking sheet.

Bake at 350ºF until cooked through, about 25 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a chafing dish or crockpot to keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat barbecue sauce over medium-high heat until hot. Pour sauce over cooked meatballs, toss gently and serve. Yields 2 meatballs per serving.