Ham “Club” Sandwiches

This here is a sandwich I find I sometimes tend to gravitate towards whenever BLT’s are on the menu.  I like protein to pack a punch in my meals and sometimes just 6 slices of ultra-thin turkey bacon isn’t going to do the trick.  I realize club sandwiches typically come with 3 slices of bread, but there is no need for that especially since, if I am really hungry, two sandwiches are more than sustainable.

I purchase the Butterball Ultra-Thin Turkey Bacon which you can have 3 slices of bacon for 1 points plus value.  Usually I have 6 slices of bacon for 2 points plus values, which in my opinion is the best “bang for your buck” turkey bacon on the market.

Each sandwich is 4 points plus values each, two being 8 points plus values.  I do usually add 1 tablespoon of Hellmann’s light mayonnaise into the mix (adding half of it onto each sandwich) making the two sandwiches 9 points plus.  Or if you truly only wanted one you could use one teaspoon of the light mayo and still keep it 4 points plus.

Here’s what I use to assemble my 2 sandwiches (if you only want one sandwich, cut each amount listed in half):

4 slices Light Italian bread, toasted

4 ounces shaved Krakus Polish Imported Ham

6 slices Butterball Ultra-Thin turkey bacon

1 tablespoon Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise

Lettuce

Tomato, sliced

Onion, sliced

These are a home run. They’re delicious, filling and you feel like you’re having something you’d order at a dinner … but in the comfort of your own home.

Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends – Orange Cream

This is the last Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends yogurt I had picked up.  As mentioned in my previous posts I really enjoy and love Greek yogurt, so I’m always thrilled when I find a new brand that’s points plus friendly.  I was intrigued by this yogurt because I haven’t seen an orange cream flavored Greek yogurt. I’ve only ever seen Yoplait’s orange creamsicle (at least I think that’s what it’s called) regular yogurt.

If you’re not a fan of orange, then this yogurt is not for you.  It’s definitely a very prominent orange flavor (which, naturally, I’d expect).  It is on the thicker side, which is sometimes hit or miss with the lower point Greek yogurts.  I do have to say, the Orange Cream flavor was good ….but the coconut is my favorite, the banana cream my second favorite and this one would be my third favorite.

As with the others, these are 2 points plus values.

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Dannon Light & Fit Greek Blends?

Orange Dreamsicle Cake

I’ve been in a cake making frenzy lately.  After my lemon cake was a hit and was devoured in 2 days I decided to use up a cake mix I had in the cabinet as a bit of a “test cake” and it turned out to be a hit!  Everyone that had it loved it.  This time around I went with an orange cake mix – making it an ode to the orange creamsicle.  Orange cake, vanilla frosting – and the Orange Dreamsicle Cake was born!

I served my aunt a slice after a family BBQ and she told me out of all the foods she tried, my cake was the best thing she had eaten all day.

It’s quite tasty and as with my lemon cake, I do prefer this straight out of the fridge because it makes it nice and cool – quite refreshing in the intense heat of summer.

Serves 12. 6 Points Plus per slice.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Duncan Hines Orange Dream cake mix
• 1 can Diet Fresca (or any diet, clear colored soda)
• 12 oz. Fat Free Cool Whip
• 1 box Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding

Mix cake mix and diet soda in a large bowl. Stir to combine.

Spray 2 round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Divide batter into the two pans and bake per the box directions.

 

Empty whipped topping into a bowl, pour pudding mix over cool whip, and fold to combine.  When combined, transfer mixture into a bowl with a cover and place into the fridge to firm up.

Once cakes are cooled completely, place one cake onto a cake plate and smear some frosting onto the face side up portion of the cake (about ¼ or 1/3 of the frosting).  Place the other cake on top of the frosted side, then frost around the sides and top to seal everything together.

When done frosting, you can serve immediately or place into the refrigerator.  If the cake is not eaten in one sitting, do keep the cake in the refrigerator.

Double Lemon Cake

Double the lemon, double the fun?  Well, in this case it certainly doubles the deliciousness.

I made this cake specifically for my boyfriend. He loves lemon and when I mentioned I was thinking of making him a celebratory cake or buying him one, he opted for the homemade cake.  I don’t blame him, cakes made at home – whether from scratch or from a box are always ten times better than cakes bought in stores. I factor that down to it being made with love … and having control of what you put in it.

 

I served my mother up with a slice of this cake not telling her how it was made.  She raved about the cake to everyone and even said that this particular cake was made “for the books.” She eventually asked what I put in it and when I told her, she was astounded.

Serves 12. 6 Points Plus per slice.

Ingredients:

• 1 box Duncan Hines Lemon cake mix
• 1 can Diet Fresca (or any diet, clear colored soda)
• 12 oz. Fat Free Cool Whip
• 1 box Sugar Free Lemon Pudding

Mix cake mix and diet soda in a large bowl.  Stir to combine.

Spray 2 round cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Divide batter into the two pans and bake per the box directions. My cakes were cooked in 28 minutes.

Empty whipped topping into a bowl, pour pudding mix over cool whip, fold to combine.  When combined, transfer mixture into a covered bowl (you can reuse the cool whip container) and place into the fridge to firm up.

Let the cakes cool completely.  Place one cake onto a cake plate (that can go into the refrigerator), smear some frosting onto the face side up portion of the cake (about ¼ or 1/3 of the frosting).  Place the other cake on top of the cake, then frost around the sides and top.

When done frosting, you can serve immediately or place into the fridge.  I think it tastes best cold out of the fridge it makes it so much more refreshing.

Eating out @ Chick-Fil-A

Chick-Fil-A is hands down my favorite fast food restaurant.  I enjoy Wendy’s, but Chick-Fil-A is where it’s at. Sadly, there isn’t a Chick-Fil-A 5 minutes from my house … so needless to say I don’t get Chick-Fil-A very often because I need to travel to enjoy it.  But when I am in an area where there’s a Chick-Fil-A it usually becomes s lunch or dinner option.

I find Chick-Fil-A offers pretty healthy food options.  Their fried chicken options aren’t terribly high in points when in comparison to chicken sandwiches at other fast food restaurants (i.e. Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Burger King).  If I am in the mood for a sandwich the Chargilled Chicken Sandwich is my staple – which is what I ordered.  I opted to go with a meal so I ordered a diet coke and instead of going with the waffle fries (that I love) I decided to get a fruit cup.  The fruit cup has chopped up apples, strawberries, grapes and mandarin oranges in it.  You can also opt for a side salad (I suggest the fat free honey mustard dressing) but I really wanted a fruit cup, so a fruit cup is what I got!

This meal is completely filling and satisfying for me. The sandwich comes without any “dressing” on it, so I typically opt to put a little honey mustard BBQ sauce or ketchup onto it – just my personal preference with sandwiches, but it’s delicious with or without any dressing on it.

The greatest part is the sandwich itself is only 7 points plus values.

QUESTION:

What is your favorite fast food item to order when out?

Jack Daniels Beef Brisket

I purchased a pack of Jack Daniels Beef Brisket at Target when it was on sale.  I had seen this particular product time and time again but had yet to purchase.  On the look out for something new, I decided to grab a pack and have it for lunch one day.

I heated the pack up per the directions – piercing the bag and placing into the microwave.  When done I weighed out my serving – 151 grams.  I paired it up with a baked potato and some canned carrots.  The carrots and potato were delicious but the brisket was mediocre.  It was alright but not something I was a huge fan of.  It was passable as a meal, but not enjoyable and I like to enjoy my food.  The brisket was fatty so I spent a majority of the time cutting the fat off the meat and feeding it to my dogs. They enjoyed it.

I’ve tried a few of the Jack Daniels line items and while I do enjoy the pulled chicken, it is very sweet.  The glaze used on the beef brisket is also sweet, but not sickeningly so.  A 151 gram serving was 5 points plus.  Worth it?  Eh, I don’t know if I’d say it was but it was a meal…

QUESTION:

Have you tried any of the Jack Daniels heat and eat meals?

Trader Joe’s Pizza Veggie Burgers

I saw these Pizza Veggie Burgers advertised on the Trader Joe’s website as a new product and I was intrigued.  I’m a fan of veggie burgers but I only like certain brands of veggie burgers.  I’ve tried pizza veggie burgers in the past and it was a complete fail, but I figured Trader Joe’s very rarely lets me down.  Low and behold when I went into Trader Joe’s they were offering a demo (as they do all the time) and the product in the demo was the pizza veggie burger with marinara sauce.  One bite and I was hooked and into my cart both products went.

The pizza burgers are made with tomato basil and mozzarella cheese.  I opted to heat my burger up in the microwave – but you can heat it up on the stove top as well.  I topped it with some homemade pizza sauce I had whipped together for dinner that night.

It was so delicious.  The burger tastes like pizza would – saucy, cheesy and just delicious.  Topped with some extra sauce it’s just a party on a plate.  I’m not biased at all when I saw this is one of the best pizza veggie burgers I have ever tried.  When I finish the rest of the box, I will undoubtedly be purchasing another box.

Each burger is 130 calories – 3 points plus each. Well worth it, in my opinon.

QUESTION:

Have you tried the Trader Joe’s Pizza Veggie Burgers?