Amazon Haul: Tajin & PB2

I’ve grown to truly love Amazon because I can get items I cannot find in stores and I can also get items I can find in stores for cheaper on Amazon.  Those things range all across the board but two of my recent “food finds” I purchased are a newbie and a repeat purchase.  The first item I went on the hunt for (after calling various stores and asking different produce managers) was:

Tajin – a seasoning produced by a Mexican company.  The spice is a blend of chile peppers, lime and salt which is a spicy tangy mix to sprinkle over fruit. I admit when I first saw Tajin popping up on my Instagram feed I was intrigued, but a little scared.  I can sometimes be sensitive to spice (depending on the pepper) but I decided I’d give this a shot.  It is a lot cheaper if you can find it at your local grocery store, but since Amazon was the only place I could find mine, I bit the bullet and ordered it even though it was slightly more than it would have been if I could have found it in a store.

PB2 in the big mamma jamma package!  PB2 is a powder peanut butter which gives you the flavor of peanut butter, without all the fat and calories associated with regular peanut butter.  2 tablespoons of this stuff (powder form) is 1 points plus value. Amazing!  I’ve used it with cool whip to make fruit dips, I’ve used it to make peanut butter pie and I’ve used it in smoothies.  The possibilities are truly endless with this stuff.  I made a couple peanut butter pies (there’s also a chocolate PB2 which is amazing BTW) and NOBODY knew it wasn’t “real” peanut butter.  I stick to buying my PB2 off Amazon because I sometimes have a hard time tracking it down and after finding a different brand in Whole Foods I found it was way more expensive in store than online.

QUESTION:

Do you have any great food finds you purchase online?

Weight Loss Gains

3+ years into this journey and it’s true I am physically smaller, I am literally half the girl I used to be, but with my weight loss I have gained SO much.  With this journey I have gained wisdom, self love, happiness, confidence, determination, motivation, control, understanding, patience, and an ability to inspire.  I’ve also gained the confidence to conquer my fear of public speaking by speaking at a Weight Watchers event, I’ve also gained the ability to accept a compliment AND give one in return.  I could go on and on for days as to what I’ve personally gained over the last 3+ years.

It’s amazing to me to think that by focusing on me and my health that so much in my life would change – and for the better.  Every day isn’t always easy, but it’s SO worth it.

I have so much to be thankful for.  I am happy (this is a big one because for a very long time I never knew what happiness was), I am healthy, I have energy to do things and all along I have been doing it for me! My niece and nephew will not grow up having their nearly 400 pound aunt sit on the couch and watch them play. They have an aunt who’s active in their life and will willingly get on the floor and play with them.  I have control over my life and my destiny and I love knowing that anything is possible if I want it bad enough and if I am willing to work for it.

The “Best part about summer” sandwich – The Tomato Sandwich

This sandwich is what I call my “The Best Part about Summer Sandwich” because I typically only eat these in the summer months when tomatoes are fresh and out of a garden. Typically during the summer months I get bombarded with home grown tomatoes.  Family, family friends, fruit & vegetable stands, etc., everybody has tomatoes and they’re trying to get rid of them.  Homemade sauces, tomato salads, garden salads aside … a tomato sandwich is where it’s at!

I take 2 slices of light Italian bread and toast it, then smear 1 tablespoon of light mayonnaise onto each side of the bread.  I then top it with 2 thick slices of tomatoes (large tomatoes preferred – heirloom, etc.) and finish off with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper.

The sandwich is not only filling but it’s very refreshing. It calculates out to be 3 points plus values per sandwich and it is truly worth every single point, bite and chew.

QUESTION:

Do you like tomato sandwiches?

Saturn/Donut Peaches

I spotted these “new” hybrid Saturn Peaches AKA Donut Peaches at Walmart and had to buy them.  I love peaches, but I find they’re only good at certain peaks in the season in my area.  Let alone the fact that peaches typically never go under $3/lb so I don’t buy them often because I’ll be honest I like nectarines a whole lot more.

I purchased these because not only were they different and unique but I could literally smell the sweetness of the peach through the packaging.  They were a little pricy - $2.97 for the pack of 3 but it’s a whole new experience for me peach wise.  The peaches have that classic peach fuzz on the outside but inside it’s a white flesh peach and they are soft, juicy, fragrant, and just plain ole delicious.  I will say make sure you have a napkin handy when you are eating these because the juices flow.

These make m wish I lived down the street from a peach grove.

QUESTION:

Have you ever tried Saturn or Donut peaches?

Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends – Toasted Coconut Vanilla

This is another one of the Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends I purchased and this one is in the Toasted Coconut Vanilla flavor.  As I’ve mentioned I enjoy yogurt, but I especially enjoy Greek yogurt because of it’s added protein and filling quality.

The yogurt is thick, but not as thick as a Chobani greek yogurt.  Flavor wise it is undoubtedly coconut.  It’s quite delicious and I feel it tastes just as you would assume summer tastes like.  It’s very refreshing and just really tastes like a summer on a tropical island.  You’re supposed to enjoy your food, right?  So why not enjoy it and assume you’re laying on a beach in Jamaica? ;)  I have to say, out of the banana cream and this one – the toasted coconut vanilla TOTALLY takes the cake (er … spoon?).

The greatest part is the cup is only 2 points plus values.  The sad part is I have only been able to find these at Super Walmart locations.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite greek yogurt?

Hamburger Steaks with Onion Gravy

I had been craving this meal for over a week and finally decided to make it for Sunday dinner.  Tasty, healthy, comfort food at its finest.  It may not be the prettiest dish, but the flavors are so prominent and layered perfectly. It’s a hats off to Salisbury steak with a slight twist.  This can be paired alongside any side dish – I chose to do yellow skinned mashed potatoes with frozen green beans.

Serves 8 – 4 Points Plus per serving.

Ingredients:

-          1 ½ pounds 93% lean ground beef

-          1 egg

-          ¼ cup whole wheat bread crumbs

-          2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

-          ~1 teaspoon black pepper

-          ~1 teaspoon salt

-          1 tablespoon garlic powder

-          2 teaspoons McCormick Onion & Herb seasoning

-          1 tablespoon McCormick Hamburger seasoning

-          1 medium/large sweet onion, sliced

-          1 tablespoon olive oil

-          2 tablespoons white flour

-          1 ½ cups low sodium beef broth

Mix hamburger, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion & herb seasoning, and hamburger seasoning in a large bowl. Mix until well combined, then section off hamburgers into 8 equal pieces.  Roll into balls, then flatten slightly into hamburger shape – roughly 1 to 1 ½ inches thick.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add in the tablespoon of olive oil and swirl in the pan to evenly coat.  When the oil is heated, add in the hamburger patties and let them begin to cook.  Do not move the patties as they will fall apart.  Cooking times may vary but cook roughly 5 minutes on the first side before flipping.  You are looking to have a nice browned outside.

After flipping add in the sliced onions on top of the browned side of the burgers.  Let the burgers get a bit of a crust before moving around in the pan to incorporate the onions.

Sprinkle in the 2 tablespoons of flour and let the flour cook for a minute with the onions to get rid of any harsh flavoring.

Add in half of the beef broth into the pan, stirring to combine.  The sauce will begin to thicken – as it thickens add in the remaining beef broth and stir all to combine.  Let simmer for a few minutes then remove from the flame.

Convenience Food: Prepared Fruit Salad

So many people say “Who would pay $4.99 for a bowl of cut up fruit?”  Well …this girl!  Why? Because if it’s cut up and prepared, I’m going to reach for it in my refrigerator.  If it’s a whole cantaloupe on my counter top … I may just let it sit there long enough that it goes bad and I have to throw it away and in turn reach for a bag of chips or 100 calorie pack cookies.

I pay out of pocket for convenience because convenience really is helpful in my day to day life.  If an item is available at my fingertips I am undoubtedly going to make a better choice – even subconsciously. I’ll be honest, I don’t always buy prepared fruit cut up and ready to go – I do buy whole watermelons, cantaloupes and pineapples but typically they sit around before I cut them up.

As a human, I open the refrigerator and gaze into the fridge, my eyes scanning to see something that catches my eye.  My apples, nectarines and grapes are in the fruit draw so they are typically out of sight. I have to go looking for those.  There can be temptations in my fridge (cake, leftover pizza, etc) but if I see a nice bowl of mixed fruit salad, the colors are going to snag my eye and I’m going to leave the kitchen without a second thought or glance.  So yes, I will pay $5 for a container of fruit.  Some won’t, some will – but it all depends on what makes things easier for you and what you like taste wise.