Genius

OMG!  Raspberries with chocolate chips tucked inside.  Completely genius!!!

(image / idea via Pinterest)

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Doesn't this Guiness Ice Cream float look amazing? I just may whip up a batch of these tomorrow night for my favorite holiday. The recipe can be found on marthstewart.com

Canyon Ranch Turkey Chili

A delicious recipe from the famous health spa...I tweaked it just a little bit because I always do. I have a hard time following a recipe.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped sweet onions (I use a red onion)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/4 cup orange bell pepper

1lb ground turkey

1 (28 oz) can crushed organic tomatoes

1 (16 oz) can red kidney beans drained and rinsed

1/2 can navy beans drained and rinsed

1 (16 oz) can petite diced tomatoes and sweet onions

1 (16 oz) can sweet corn

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1 box chicken stock (low sodium)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon hot sauce

11/2 tablespoons sea salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

In a large skillet saute onion, pepper, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until onions are translucent. Add ground turkey and cook until browned. Then transfer to a large pot and add all the other ingredients. Simmer for 1 hour stirring occasionally.

This recipe is not just healthy but REALLY, REALLY YUMMY!

The navy beans, corn, and orange bell pepper were my additions to the original recipe. I like color and lots of veggies in my chili :)

It is perfect with a loaf of fresh bread on a cold winter day! Enjoy!

Keri's Corned Beef

I have to thank my Irish friend Keri for this recipe. We tried it last year and it was soooo... good! We will never go back to eating plain boiled corned beef again. With this recipe it is all about the beer! Irish beer of course.

Here is the recipe...

Take any sized corned beef

Rinse corned beef with water

Place it fat side up in a baking dish

Pour bottle of beer on top of corned beef

Then mix ...

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup mustard

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1 bottle of beer

Pour over top of conred beef

Cover dish with tinfoil and bake at 350 for 31/2 to 4 hours

I took it one step further and marinated the corned beef in the mixture this year. I will let you know how it turns out.

Good Luck and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Irish Soda Bread

We sent BP off to school in her kilt all excited and ready for St. Patrick's Day. (I swear her hair looked a little redder this morning.) BB and I got to work on making the Irish Soda Bread. We made 10 mini loaves and 2 large loaves. Here is my Pop-Pop Wentworth's recipe... Warning this recipe makes A LOT of soda bread. You can adjust it or cut everything in half to make less. Also this soda bread is very moist, a little sweet, and has lots of raisins. It is delicious!

1st soak 2 cups of raisins in hot water

drain raisins when fat

Then in a large bowl...

4 cups whole milk

8 tbsps white vinegar

3 eggs

1/4 tsp baking soda

7 cups flour

2 cups raisins

1 cup sugar

2 tbsps + 2 tsps baking powder

2 tsps salt

mix well

pour into buttered and floured pan

bake at 375 until golden

baking time depends on size of loaf pan

Cinnamon S'Mores

Yes, S'mores!!! I had to blink twice when I saw this recipe in the Weight Watchers booklet. When all is said and done this desert comes very close to the campfire favorite.

Preheat oven to 425 F

Take two graham crackers (4 rectangles in each)

Break crackers in half so you are making two sandwiches

Spread marshmallow fluff on one side of each sandwich

Sprinkle with chocolate chips and cinnamon (the secret ingredient)

Wrap individually in foil

Bake in oven for about 4 minutes or until hot and gooey

Open packaages carefully and enjoy!

Point Value= 3

Avocado Swiss Melt

Oh how I love this sandwich! The smooth nutty avocado mixed with the sharp bite of the Swiss and the crunch of the fresh veggies. It is heavenly!

This recipe also began its life as a Weight Watchers recipe, but I altered it a little bit. There are so many variations you could do with this. This is for those who are a fan of grilled cheese, but want to shake things up a little bit.

Take two slices of whole wheat bread
Spread low fat mayo on them
Add once slice of low fat Swiss
Then add 1/4 of an avocado sliced thin
Next add shredded carrots
Sprinkle some alfalfa sprouts
Spray a non-stick skillet with Pam and put the sandwich in
Cover and wait a minute or two
Then flip and watch for the Swiss to melt and the yumminess to be ready

You can also use cucumbers, tomatoes, or even turkey bacon. The possibilities are endless.
I think that is why I love Weight Watchers. The food is so delicious and you can be creative. For me eating and food is a lot about color and presentation as well as taste. I love the fresh veggies and fruits in the recipes and the variety of spices and seasonings used too.

Points Value: 4 points
Note: Turkey Bacon would add and additional 2 points

Cous-Cous Dinner in a Pot

This was originally a Weight Watchers recipe that I altered a little to suit the needs of The Barefoot Family. I highly recommend it. It is quick, like five minutes, tasty, and very healthy.

I bring a cup of orange juice (any kind), two tablespoons of EVOO, and the cous-cous seasoning mix (optional) to a boil in a sauce pan
Then add the cous-cous (one box store bought), stir, and remove from heat
Also add a handful of craisins, yellow raisins, slivered almonds, and 1 cup of roasted chicken breast (I recommend the kind you buy right in the store, it's easy and saves so much time), stir all ingredients together, and cover with lid
Let the ingredients sit for five minutes and then fluff everything with a fork
Grate fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on top and ta-da (as BP would say) you have a healthy, delicious meal in no time at all.

You can also add green onions sliced very thin for extra flavor and color


My girls love this dish and I know when they are whiny and starving which happens quite often, you should be in our house at around 5:00, this is my best bet for dinner.


EVOO= Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Points Value= 6 points + chicken add 2 points (for anyone who cares about points)