Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

I've become completely obsessed with oatmeal. I had been eating my banana oatmeal (which I make in a bowl with the same ingredients) for well over a year and I had hit a wall and just had enough.  After having different breakfasts that just weren't satisfying me the way my oatmeal did ... I decided to take my simple oatmeal recipe (with the elimination of almond milk) and make them into pancakes.  Same stuff, different form - i.e. reverse psychology on my own mind. It's legitimately the same thing, it's just in a pancake form and I add a little fruit and sugar free maple syrup over them.

So far it's been a winner. I've been eating these for a few months now and I absolutely love them. The recipe is really simple to throw together. I actually incorporate these into my meal prep every week.  I whip up 3 batches and store them in ziploc bags and take them out as I need them every morning. A quick 2 minutes in the microwave makes them perfect.

They're not a light and airy pancake. They're dense, filling and pack a substance punch.

Recipe:

Makes 2 servings of pancakes

For Weight Watcher members: 5 smartpoints/points plus per serving

1 cup quick cook oatmeal

¾ c egg whites

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 tbsp vanilla  (adjust to your liking)

2 packets stevia (or whatever sweetener you prefer)

1 tbsp cinnamon (adjust to your liking)

Mash banana in bowl, add in all other ingredients and mix until combined.

Heat a non-stick frying pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, over medium-high heat. Use a measuring cup (I prefer 1/4c) and evenly distribute the pancake drops onto the pan, smooth out gently with the bottom of the measuring cup.  Fry the pancakes for roughly 4-5 minutes. Bubbles will not form as in traditional pancake mix. Flip once the bottom is browned and firm enough to flip, then cook evenly on the other side. 

Enjoy!

Kellogg's Limited Edition Mini Wheats - Pumpkin Spice

With fall upon us it brings all things pumpkin. In true pumpkin lover fashion, this year I decided to pick up a box of the Kellogg's Limited Edition Mini Wheats - Pumpkin Spice. Admittedly, frosted mini wheats are not my favorite cereal but this pumpkin rendition isn't half bad.

Opening the box you're awarded with a classic pumpkin spice aroma. It's nothing artificial but a classic pumpkin spice (think of pumpkin spice seasoning in a jar). The cereal is your classic frosted shredded mini wheat, but instead of the frosting being the signature "vanilla" frosting it's a pumpkin spice-esque flavored frosting. Admittedly, it's not really strong ... to my taste buds, the shredded wheat flavor sort of overpowers the pumpkin flavor. But if you really pay attention, you can find the pumpkin spice flavor because it's undoubtedly there.

It's not a sweet pumpkin spice, it's not overly sugary, processed ... it's your classic pumpkin spice flavoring over a shredded wheat biscuit that provides a touch of sweetness. If you're one who likes overly sweet pumpkin flavored desserts - this probably wouldn't be your forte. But if you enjoy a pumpkin flavored dessert that's not overwhelming in sweetness or spice, this might be very well up your alley.

Personally, I prefer having these dry without any milk. I also prefer to eat these frosting side down so I can taste the pumpkin flavor immediately without searching for it through the clump of shredded wheat.

A serving, 25 biscuits (55g), is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Emily Bites Cheesy Potluck Potatoes

Lately I've been getting into a food rut so I decided to step out of the box and try a new side dish. Turns out I've enjoyed it so much, it's been almost a weekly staple I've made to go alongside the various proteins I make for meals during the week.

On my weekend trip through the grocery store I picked up the ingredients needed to make Emily Bites Cheesy Potluck Potatoes and popped my frozen hash brown potatoes in the refrigerator to thaw once I returned home. When I got around to making the dish, while mixing all the ingredients together, I wasn't sure how it'd turn out. Thankfully the end result muted any potential doubt in my mind.

The recipe takes absolutely no time to whip together, perhaps just a little preparation work which means setting a bag of frozen hash browns potatoes in the refrigerator to defrost. After that it's pretty much a matter of dump, stir, bake.  I will admit, I have omitted the onion from the recipe simply because my boyfriend has an allergy - but either way, it's been absolutely delicious. The potatoes bake up wonderfully - the outside creates a nice crust, while the inner layer stays gooey and cheesy. So far all that have tried it (I have made this recipe 4-times since giving it a go) have really enjoyed it and look forward to it. 

If you're concerned with the use of the fat free cream of chicken soup - have no worries, the soup does not create any chicken-esque flavoring. I've enjoyed this as a side dish alongside steak, chicken and one of my absolute favorite ways to have this is included with my breakfast. A little scrambled eggbeaters over the top with a side of bacon/sausage make it a home run.

A serving, 1/8th of the recipe, is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Recipe: http://www.emilybites.com/2012/04/cheesy-potluck-potatoes.html

Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Protein Packed Flapjack and Waffle Mix

Pancakes and waffles are one of those foods that I feel is a cult favorite. They're versatile and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner (no judgement zone!). So when I heard about Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Protein Packed Flapjack and Waffle Mix I made sure to venture to my local Target in search of the hidden gem. When they're not on sale, a box of mix averages around $5 - which is pricey, but it's a lot cheaper than buying a box with online retailers such as Amazon.

Admittedly, I enjoy pancakes or waffles but if I don't have them with an equally packed protein side I find my hunger creeps back a lot faster than it should. Partly because waffles or pancakes are more carbohydrate than protein and the balance doesn't always set well in my system. Kodiak cakes have a whopping 14 grams of protein in it. This of course can be increased if you choose to incorporate your mix with egg whites, skim milk, etc.

My first attempt at making pancakes was a complete and utter fail. Why? I used banana in the mix (as I normally do with regular pancake mix). This unfortunately made the batter way too wet and the pancakes wouldn't form while cooking and turned to complete mush when it was time to flip. I posed a question on Instagram I was so frustrated and the folks who run the Kodiak instagram reached out and advised bananas make the mix too wet so they suggest cutting back on the amount of liquid if you really want to use banana - or just use banana to bake with the mix.

My second attempt, I opted to go with water as my base liquid and I added a few fresh blueberries to the mix. This turned out to be successful and the pancakes formed perfectly and cooked up to perfection. I ate them for breakfast served with some sliced banana and some Walden Farms blueberry pancake syrup.

Outside of banana pancakes being out of the running, I do quite enjoy this mix. I find a serving when paired alongside a small protein (breakfast sausage) it's more than enough to keep me satisfied until lunch time. The pancakes are light in texture and I don't notice any real difference between these and your average run of the mill pancake mix. They're quite good and I can't wait to experiment with what I can whip up using this mix in either pancake, waffle or baked goods form.

A serving, 1/2 cup dry mix, is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Wendy's BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad

One evening en route to our destination, my boyfriend and I popped into Wendy's to pick up dinner. Not really in the mood for a hamburger, I opted to try the Wendy's BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad (Half Size Portion) (note: the salad is also sold in a full size as well).

The salad itself consists of a bed of garden salad, sliced grilled chicken, apple wood smoked bacon, BBQ chicken salad blend, sweet BBQ glaze and a side of barbecue ranch dressing. Looking at the salad one can see a blend of mixed greens, tomatoes, shredded cheese, bacon, grilled chicken, two separate sauces (one light brown, one darker brown) and sprinkled corn kernels throughout the salad. I have ordered this salad twice and have found that depending on your location the chicken may come on the salad cold whereas other locations serve it hot. Personally, I don't really care for cold chicken ... so if you're a picky eater, I'd request they heat the chicken up for you if possible (in my opinion the salad with heated chicken tasted better).

Serving wise, the half salad was good for a lighter meal - maybe something you pair alongside some fruit, etc. Whereas the full-size salad I found to be plenty satisfying and filling enough to be a main course at dinner time. Personally, I don't find the need to use the barbecue ranch dressing because there's plenty of sauce on the salad itself ... but it's good to have a packet on the side just in case you need a little extra.

Overall I really enjoyed this salad and will continue to purchase it whenever at Wendy's and in the mood for something outside of the norm.

A half size salad is 320 calories or 8 points plus values (this includes the dressing). If you decide to go without the dressing, you can subtract the 100 calories off your stats (or your 3 points plus values) making the salad WITHOUT dressing 5 points plus values.

Whereas a full size salad is 600 calories or 16 points plus values (this includes the dressing). If you decide to go without the dressing, you can subtract the 190 calories off your stats (or your 5 points plus values), making the salad WITHOUT dressing 11 points plus values.

Dunkin Donuts Chips Ahoy Iced Coffee

I am a huge coffee fan ... but I am also a little bit of a coffee snob. I have a favorite local coffee shop that makes coffee from flavored beans. That is until my boyfriend turned me onto Dunkin Donuts Chips Ahoy Iced Coffee.

Initially I was hesitant because I don't really enjoy sugary syrups in my coffee (for instance, if I do get syrup in coffee it's sugar free). But I have to say, this particular coffee has completely turned my coffee world upside down. The coffee is sweetened with a syrup, but there's chocolate syrup that is squirted into the bottom of the cup - which upon first sip REALLY gives you the illusion of biting into a chocolate chip cookie.

The coffee is sweet, chocolatey, and reminiscent of a cookie. Utterly delicious and so worth the splurge in calories/points plus values. I find the flavor lasts through the entire coffee. Although I also found it can be fast lived if you don't stir it up a bit and end up drinking up the syrup and chocolate sauce before really digging into the coffee itself (considering the layers can seperate a bit). Overall this is a complete home run, game changing coffee.

A large ice coffee (without any milk or added sugar) is 200 calories or 5 points plus values. I typically order my iced coffee with a little bit of skim milk so I call the whole coffee 5 points plus values.

Pop-Tarts Gone Nutty! PB&J Strawberry

Considering I was such a fan of the original Peanut Butter Pop-Tart that when I spotted the Pop-Tarts Gone Nutty! PB&J Strawberry I had to pick up a box. I love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich ... but I admit the act of actually having one is very few and far between.

I absolutely loved the peanut butter Pop-Tarts, wasn't a fan of the frosted chocolate Pop-Tarts, so I truly wasn't sure where my opinion would sway with these. They're the classic peanut butter pop-tart which has a layer of strawberry jelly on top of the peanut butter, which is all then coated in a light layer of peanut butter-esque colored frosting, which is adorned with red sprinkles.

I opted to have one straight out of the package and another day have the other toasted. Straight out of the package was a little easier to handle (considering the jelly wasn't pipping hot), but the Pop-Tart took on a whole new level of deliciousness once toasted and crisped. When room temperature it's good, but when toasted the edges get nice and crispy, the jelly gets gooey and the frosting on top of the Pop-Tart becomes slightly lava-ey (I'm making up my own words here). All of the flavors pop when heated and are definitely the way to go with these.

The classic peanut butter is still my #1 favorite, but these are a very close second.

A serving, 1 pop-tart, is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Pop-Tarts Gone Nutty! Peanut Butter

A while back Pop-Tarts came out with a peanut butter variety. Spotting a box I picked one of the Pop-Tarts Gone Nutty! Peanut Butter up.  I jumped on the bandwagon because I figured what could possibly go wrong?

These particular Pop-Tarts are not frosted, but are sprinkled with a few sugar crystals over the top crust layer. The filling is a cross between a grainy/creamy version of peanut butter which packs a pretty decent peanut buttery taste. These are good straight out of the package, but they take on a whole new level of deliciousness when heated in a toaster so the edges can crisp up.

These have taken the ranks of my favorite Pop-Tarts out in the market to date ... because they truly are that good.

A serving, 1 pop-tart, is 200 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Cinnamon Coffee Cake

I decided to pick up a Trader Joe's Cinnamon Coffee Cake after an early afternoon trip to the store. The woman covering the sample section of the store had mentioned they were sampling the cake this morning and that it was delicious. She mentioned that it was made with sour cream, which intrigued me because sour cream in desserts typically makes them exceptionally moist.

 

Bringing the cake home and cutting it up, I was a little surprised with how crunchy/hard the outside of the cake was. It was caked in sugar, which after baking formed a somewhat hard/crunchy crust all along the exterior and top of the cake due to the sugar carmelizing. The texture of the coffee cake itself was moist ... which actually was my favorite part (admittedly I threw out some of my exterior of my cake because I liked the center the best). It is sweet, somewhat overly if you get a big bite of the crunchy/crumbled sugar over the cake.  Considering I'm a huge cinnamon lover I didn't find it to be cinnamony enough for me.

 

Overall, I found the coffee cake to be rather mediocre and kind of boring. I had a moment of "This isn't even worth it..." during eating it.  After the one piece I had, I did not go back for seconds and ended up offering it out to guests to have with coffee when they came over to visit.

A serving, 1/8th is 200 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Irish Bangers

Right before St. Patrick's day my local Trader Joe's had spruced up and brought in some extra products in preparation for the impending holiday. One of the products on display in the "butcher shop" was the Trader Joe's Irish Bangers. Since St. Patrick's Day only comes once a year, I try to make sure to pick up some traditional Irish bangers to have so I grabbed a pack to give a whirl.

 

According to Trader Joe's website: "Our Bangers (available only for the season) are pork sausages made from pigs raised in the U.S. that are raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones. They’re seasoned with traditional spices, and include Rusk—a sort of twice-baked crouton that adds texture to the meat. These are not fully cooked, so they’ll need to be browned well on all sides until hot all the way through—about 10-12 minutes. $4.49 for a 16 oz package."

 

I cooked them up per the directions in a frying pan and found they came out pretty well. The only complaint I had was that the casings were just slightly tough, but it didn't make the sausage overly chewy/rubbery. Flavor wise, they had a unique flavor to them. Nothing outlandish or crazy, but just something different about them. I was so intrigued by the flavor that I googled and found Rusk is made from sourdough bread. Once I figured this out it was undoubtedly the flavor my taste buds were picking up on.

 

The sausages rendered some fat, but they weren't overly fatty and unsettling once eaten. They were paired perfectly against some mashed potatoes and some sauteed asparagus (although, admittedly, peas would have been a better option).

 

A serving, 1 link, is 170 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Peanut Butter & Jelly Greek Yogurt

On a trip into Trader Joe's I specifically made a bee-line to the dairy section to pick up a few containers of the Trader Joe's Peanut Butter & Jelly Greek Yogurt. I had seen a picture of them on Instagram and since I am quite the fan of Greek yogurt I knew I had to give this one a go.

I decided to have this as a snack before heading out for the afternoon. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was hoping for pure awesomeness. At first it tastes very much like peanut butter. Second taste it tastes like a muted peanut butter and jelly. Third taste, it tastes like slightly tangy Greek yogurt. Then you pause and cycle back through all those steps again. Overall, it's decent, not the worst Greek yogurt I've tried, but certainly not the best. I wish the jelly flavor (strawberry) were a little more prominent but that's probably my only complaint.

 

The yogurt certainly didn't satisfy my want for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It hinted towards it, but didn't hit it dead on. I wasn't wowed but I also wasn't grossed out. I guess you can say, I was left kind of "eh" about it where I could take it or leave it. Do I think it justified the calories/points? Not at all. But it was something worth trying, at least once.

A serving is 170 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Zesty Southwestern Style Stuffed Chicken Breast

After seeing the Trader Joe's Zesty Southwestern Style Stuffed Chicken Breast on Instagram, they were immediately put on my list of things to try. Unfortunately for a while they were near extinct at my local Trader Joe's until over a month ago when I finally found them in the refrigerated meat/butcher section.

 

The chicken breast are sold raw and they are coated in a blend of spices, cheese, tortilla chips and sliced black olives while the chicken breast is also stuffed with cheese and pepper. The cooking directions are perfect because the chicken cooks evenly and still has a level of moistness to it without being dry as a bone.

 

The directions call to put the chicken breast in a baking dish (I choose to line mine with foil to make for easy clean up). Cover the chicken breast with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and return it back to the oven to bake for an additional 25-30 minutes When all done baking you're left with a crispy exterior, gooey cheese and just a spectacular tasting chicken.  To me it tastes as though you're having chicken tacos because you get that southwestern spice, while the cheese, olives and tortilla strips add more to the taco ambiance of you will.

 

I am such a fan of these chicken breasts that I have made trips up to Trader Joe's nearly weekly just to pick up another package. I find I enjoy the chicken best alongside a garden salad. This way I can have an enjoyable piece of chicken (7-8 ounces) alongside some fresh greens.

A serving, 5 ounces, is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Arnott's Tim Tam Original

For years people have been raving about Arnott's Tim Tam Original cookies all over the internet. Unfortunately, living in the US, Tim Tam's were not readily available as they were primarily available in Australia.  Considering the sheer cost to ship a package of cookies across the globe I decided I'd perhaps not try the original. Although, this past year, Tim Tam's have landed in the US and are being sold in Target locations.

Tim Tam's are two chocolate biscuits which are sandwiched against an airy chocolate cream. The biscuits are then coated in a thin layer of milk chocolate. The cookie is delicious, it's sweet but certainly not overpoweringly so. The chocolate does melt against your fingertips if you hold it for too long, but that only makes eating it fun. The biscuits provide a subtle bite, but overall I'd say the texture isn't hard, nor is it soft - it's right in the middle. They're quite delicious and I find a single serving is more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Now there are a number of ways you can enjoy your Tim Tam's. I find my favorite way is by doing what has been coined "The Tim Tam Slam". A Tim Tam Slam is where you take a beverage of your choice (coffee, tea, milk) and you bite a small corner off each end diagonally across from one another. Dip one bit corner into your beverage and use it as a straw to suck your drink up through the cookie. Don't do this too long because it will crumble and fall into your drink - but you can feel the cookie plumping with liquid. At that point you then want to pop the entire thing in your mouth. What you're left with is a heavenly treat. The biscuits are softened, the chocolate is creamy and it's just so yummy.

What I do know is that this was well worth the wait!

A serving, 2 cookies, is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's OH Danish Kringle - Pecan Kringle

On one of my last trips through Trader Joe's I saw they had kringles available and I nearly clicked my heels together with delight. Wondering what flavor it was ... I was awed when I saw it was the Trader Joe's OH Danish Kringle - Pecan Kringle. This was the third kringle I've tried (pumpkin caramel and almond being the other two) so I knew this one could swing either way ... either straight out of the park or it'd be third strike you're out.

The kringle is your classic Danish dessert which is a large round ring of flaky pastry crust which has a filling in the middle. The top layer of pasty crust is then covered in a moderately thick layer of icing - giving it the "icing on the cake" vibe. This particular kringles filling is a thick brown sugar cinnamon filling, which isn't very sweet, which is then riddled with pieces of pecans all throughout the filling. It definitely isn't shy of pecans, which is appreciated.

Flavor wise, this reminds me of homemade pecan danish rings. There used to be a bakery in my area that made them fresh every morning and the flavor of this brought me back in time for a moment. Ideally they're two different desserts, but they're similar and the flavor is there. This in a way throws a nod towards pecan pie, but only if you cut the sweetness of pecan pie by two-thirds. The kringle is sweet, but certainly not sickeningly so ... but I do find the 1 serving is more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

A serving, 1/12th of the danish, is 230 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Shepherd's Pie

I popped into my local Trader Joe's the weekend before St. Patrick's Day and I noticed a few items were on display to pay homage to the holiday. One of those dishes was the Trader Joe's Shepherd's Pie. Now, I'm a bit of a shepherd's pie snob because I've always had my mothers variation of the dish ... so anything other than the "traditional" is different in my book.

 

Deciding to bridge the gap and try something different, I took a look at the nutrition facts and was surprised to find them truly not that bad. Bad in comparison to some of the other variations of the dish out there on the market or even in restaurants. Classic shepherd's pie has vegetables and a sort of "gravy" to the sauce. The shepherd's pie I grew up eating was ground hamburger meat cooked with onion, corn, creamed corn and mashed potatoes. So, just looking at the picture on the box was a walk on the wild side for me.

 

I opted to heat the meal up in the microwave so I followed the directions on the box and my lunch was done quickly. Truly, I wasn't sure what flavors to expect ... but I have to say I was pretty much pleased with the dish. It was lacking in a seasoning aspect (salt and pepper primarily) so a little sprinkle on top and it did the trick. Truthfully, I was expecting the dish to be just loads of mashed potatoes with a little bit of meat and veggies thrown in the mix. And it was anything but ... it is loaded with shredded pieces of beef and veggies which are moistened with gravy, it's then topped with a light layer of mashed potatoes on top.

 

Even with the switch to shredded beef over ground beef and the absence of an abundance of flavoring it was pretty good. I found it to be a quite satisfying meal and undoubtedly something I'd repurchase if I was in the mood for a convenient shepherd's pie.

 

A serving, 1 cup (227g or roughly 1/2 the container) is 180 calories or 5 points plus values.

Healthy French Toast

Lately I've been in the process of eliminating white breads from my food life. I used to purchase light italian bread and I've decided that perhaps it was aiding into my stomach not quite agreeing with it. So, with that, I've decided to start purchasing a High Fiber Whole Wheat store-brand bread (there are name brands available, such as one by Arnold's) which is just slightly higher in calories/points plus values ... but it's also so much better for you. I've found since making the switch I've enjoyed it a lot more and it's far more satisfying.

 

One morning, I really, really wanted french toast ... so I decided to jump start my french toast game and make a healthier, more satisfying french toast. And I was so pleased with the results, that I have had it continuously over the past few weeks. So here's what I did:

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup of eggbeaters to a bowl

* 2 tbsp egg whites

* 1 tbsp of unsweetened cashew milk (you can use almond milk, skim milk, or skip if you prefer)

 * 1 tsp vanilla

* Sprinkle of cinnamon

* 2 slices High Fiber Whole Wheat bread

* Non-stick cooking spray

Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk until well combined.

 

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat, which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

 

I then add in one slice of high fiber whole wheat bread and let it sit for a few seconds, pushing the edges of the bread into the mixture so it can absorb some of the liquid, then flip repeating on the other side and add the dipped bread into the pan. Repeating with the other slice.  I allow the toast to cook for a few minutes before flipping and cooking through on the other side. I remove from the pan when the second slice "bubbles" up in the middle.  I add them onto a plate to allow them to cool slightly

 

As a little added incentive to my breakfast dish I like to saute up a banana to give my french toast a little more pizazz.

 

I then re-spray my pan and slice a banana and add it onto the pan with a little sprinkle of cinnamon over the top. I then saute the bananas on each side ... which warms the banana through and gives the outside a slight crunch bringing fourth the flavor far more. I add that onto my french toast, with 1 tbsp sugar free syrup and some fresh berries ... and breakfast is served! Simple and delicious!

 

The greatest part is it's packed with fiber and protein so it's going to keep you satisfied longer. For my french toast .. it comes out to 5 points plus values (4 for the bread and 1 for the egg mixture).

Trader Joe's Boneless Stuffed Pork Chops with Apple Almond Stufffing

Last time I was at Trader Joe's I made a point to check out their "butcher" section. I was in the mood to meal prep with something I haven't tried before from their meat selection. I happened to spot the Trader Joe's Boneless Stuffed Pork Chops with Apple Almond Stuffing and decided to pick them up to have for dinner and potentially another dinner/lunch if there were leftovers. I love stuffed pork chops and the apple almond stuffing sounded intriguing.

The chops are packaged assembled and ready to be seared and roasted in the oven. I added a teaspoon of olive oil to a non-stick skillet and heated it up, once heated I added my pork chops and allowed them to sear on one side before adding a bit more olive oil and allowing to sear on the other side. Once the chops had a nice color to both sides, I transferred them to a baking dish, tented the dish with foil and popped them into the oven per the directions suggested.  I set the timer and pulled them out when done.

The end result was truly delicious. Don't go into it expecting a Stove Top stuffing because it's anything but ... it's the real deal holy-field of stuffing's which has a very mild apple taste and has almond slices throughout the stuffing. The dish together compliments itself well ... but with all stuffed pork chops a little side of apple sauce makes it come together perfectly. The stuffing is moist, the pork is lean with a little bit of fat along the edge of the chop (as normal). Nonetheless I found them to be quite enjoyable and I will undoubtedly be repurchasing again.  Dinner guests also found them to be enjoyable, so winner all around!

A serving, 128g (which for me was 1/2 a pork chop), is 190 calories or 5 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter with Flax & Chia Seeds

I like to check out the peanut butter/nut butter selection at my local Trader Joe's. Needless to say when I spotted the Trader Joe's Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter with Flax & Chia Seeds I was intrigued. Knowing the health benefits that come from flax and chia seeds that alone was a huge sway in my decision to purchase.

 

When I opened the container, the peanut butter wasn't really seperated from the oil, but I gave it a good stir to incorporate everything. I did find the texture of it was a lot looser than your average organic/natural peanut butter (I'm not talking Skippy here). There are visible pieces of chiaseed, flax seed and small peanut pieces running throughout the butter. Although ... taste wise I'm not necessarily the biggest fan. It has a peanut butter flavor, but it's very mild. It's not terrible, but it's boring, especially if you're in the mood for peanut butter because it just falls short and flat. This isn't a product I'd reach for to cure my want for peanut butter because it just never quite hits the mark.

 

The flax and chia seeds do have a bite to them, which I appreciated since I'm not a fan of chia seeds when they get mushy in texture. The chia seeds do stick in your teeth, which is a normal 'pain' that comes when enjoying them in any dish. The one thing I didn't like is that you have to refrigerate this peanut butter after opening (which you have to do with any natural peanut butter). Once it's in the refrigerator it develops a whole new texture, which just makes it a total miss.

 

I ended up bringing mine back to Trader Joe's and getting a refund because I wasn't satisfied with it. I gave it a shot, a few, but it just wasn't worth it in the end.

 

A serving, 2 tbsp, is 170 calories or 5 points plus values (or 1 tbsp is 2 points plus values).

Trader Joe's Trader Jose's Authentic Mexican Style Pork & Red Sauce Tamales

I have been sitting on this review for a while ... but better late than never:

 

When I spotted these Trader Joe's Trader Jose's Authentic Mexican Style Pork & Red Sauce Tamales in the refrigerated section of the store I decided to pick them up. That is, after trying to narrow down my options from the 3 varieties that were available (chicken, vegetable and pork).

Prior to purchasing these the first tamales I really tried are the mini tamales that are sold in the freezer section of Trader Joe's. I quite enjoyed them so I figured a real deal version would only be better. And I was surely right.

I opted to heat these up using the stove-top steaming method. I added water to the bottom of a pan, added in a metal steamer basket and laid the tamales into the pan, covered and let them steam until done. It was truly fool proof and the end result came out quite good.

They were nice and hearty and truly a crowd pleaser.  They had a very mild spice to them which wasn't overwhelming but pleasant. The pork was evident and it wasn't fatty (which is always appreciated). The tamale itself was the perfect texture - soft but still had a little bite to it.

They were so good that I went back to buy more on a few trips but sadly they haven't had them. Which I'm assuming means these were just a seasonal item. It seemed like my store got them in, had them stocked for a week, and never got them again. Which reminds me ... I should probably inquire as to if they're going to be bringing these back next time I pop into the store.

A serving, 1 tamale is 180 calories or 5 points plus values.

Chili, Bean & Rice Stuffed Peppers

One afternoon I was watching some YouTube videos that were in my subscription feed when I stumbled upon a video from Laura Vitale. It was a recipe on her chili stuffed peppers. The dish itself looked fabulous and it was a very unique take on having stuffed peppers and even chili so I decided to give it a try. I checked over the recipe and adapted it to the way that I make my chili, only adding in some brown sugar as Laura did in her video while I decided to skip adding cheese to my stuffed peppers.  The end result was nothing other than spectacular.

 

So spectacular that I've actually made these twice so far. They're so good, that my somewhat picky mother has asked me to make these a few times because she enjoyed them so much when I made them the first time. The last time I made a batch, it was Superbowl Sunday and my brother was in love ... so much so he took one home. They're utterly delicious, satisfying and a total hit!

Serves 12, 1/2 stuffed pepper serving, 5 points plus per serving (you can have a whole pepper - 2 halves - for 10 points plus values)

Ingredients:

* 20 oz. lean 93% lean ground turkey (you can substitute for beef if you prefer)

* 14.5 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained (you can substitute for whatever bean you prefer)

* 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, slightly drained

* 32 oz canned crushed tomatoes

* 6 oz canned tomato paste

* 1 medium onion, chopped

* 6 medium bell peppers, cut in half, seeds removed

* 2 cups cooked white rice (you can substitute for brown if you prefer)

* 2/3 cup water

* 1/2 tbsp McCormick Steak Seasoning (optional)

* 3 tbsp chili powder

* 3 tsp cumin

* 1 tbsp minced garlic

* 1 tsp black pepper

* 1 tsp salt

* 1 tbsp brown sugar

 

Cut peppers in half and remove the seeds (leave stems if you can, it helps the peppers hold their shape and filling better). Spray a large baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and add peppers into the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

 

When peppers are done, remove from the pan and drain of any liquid that sits within the pepper and return the partially cooked peppers back to the pan.

 

Spray a pan with high sides with non-stick cooking spray, cooking over medium-high temperature, add in ground turkey and steak seasoning and begin to crumble up with a spoon. As the meat cooks, add in the garlic and onion and cook until meat is no longer pink and onions are softened.

 

Add in chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and brown sugar. Stir to combine, allowing the spices to blend with the meat and onion mixture.  Add in tomato paste and mix to combine.

 

Add in diced tomatoes, black beans, crushed tomatoes, and water and mix until nicely combined. Allow the mixture to simmer and thicken, coming together in roughly 15 minutes.

 

Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes before adding in your cooked rice. Stirring it in to combine well to make sure the sauce covers all the rice and the mixture thickens together nicely.

 

Using a measuring cup, add in 1/4 cup of mixture into each pepper at a time, until all mixture is divided evenly into each halved pepper (if you end up with extra mixture, use a teaspoon and divide the mixture evenly).

 

Pop the stuffed peppers back into a 350* oven and allow to bake for 20 minutes. Remove peppers from oven and allow to cool 15-minutes before serving.