Easy Bran Muffins!

I like my food to be easy. Well, if I'm preparing it that is!

I just don't have the gumption to put forth a giant effort on making a gourmet meal - though if someone wants to make me one that is a different story!

A couple of years ago, I saw a recipe for banana bran muffins and my mouth started to water. Bran muffins? Yeah, I know! But the thought of them sounded to good for words. Perhaps it was the gorgeous photo that accompanied the recipe! Either way, I wanted to make them. But I was pretty disheartened after I read the lengthy list of ingredients that included very little of what I had on had - different types of flours, wheat germ and all sorts of bizarre items.

Well, imagine my suprise when I went grocery shopping and found a package for a premixed bran muffin! Now, I usually am a "make from scratch" person when it comes to baked goods - but again, my muffin recipe was too daunting. The packaged ones were less than $2 so I decided to give them a whirl. (You got two batches out of one package as well.)

To this day, I still make these muffins - with an added squashed banana - and boy are they so good! And moist! Even my husband loves them! The banana really makes them sweet.

Here are some photos of this SUPER easy process.

Super cheap, knock-off brand Bran Muffin mix.

Gather your supplies: Mixing bowl, spatula, fork, egg

And one old banana that smells soooo good!

Dump mix into mixing bowl.

Smash your banana into another mixing bowl.

Combine egg and banana into dry mix. Stir until combined.

Spray your muffin tins with this great non-butane chemical free oil pump from Pampered Chef - or just use muffin wrappers. :)

Bake and enjoy!! EASY!

Easy Veggie Soup

Do you ever have trouble eating your veggies? Anyone with me?

Well, as much as I like to eat them is as much as I loathe to eat them. It's sort of like knowing that because they are good for me and I know I need to eat them, I don't want too. But I do. Begrudgingly.

To help myself get my veggies in, I often make this veggie soup. Oh my is it one of my favorites! It's the easiest thing ever - mainly just a dump, heat and serve kind of thing. I usually always have the ingredients on hand as most are pantry staples and a few freezer items. Here's the recipe!

• One box of chicken stock (you could use two if you prefer a more brothy soup)
• Veggies - loads of them! (I keep lots of frozen veggies on hand to dump into dishes I am making. I used half a bag of California blend veggies and half a bag of corn.)
• Potatoes - peeled and cubed (I used a combo of red and white - use whatever you have. I used about 6.)
• One can of diced tomatoes (If you only have whole tomatoes on hand, just dice yourself.)
• One onion - minced finely (Half if you're not an onion lover)
• Beans (if you feel like them. This was the first time I added beans [black eyed peas] Doens't need it if you don't like it.)
• 3 cloves of garlic - minced finely (I love the flavor it gives - add less if you want, but definatly have 1 clove)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil or non-stick cooking spray (I have the non-stick spray in my photo but I think I used EVOO)

In a large stockpot, heat oil and add onion. Cook until translucent. Add garlic. Do not burn the garlic. It will taste bitter.

Next, add your tomatoes (undrained), beans (rinsed), potatoes and chicken stock. Simmer for a few minutes. Stir.

Add your frozen veggies. Simmer until potatoes are tender.

Serve hot. This is also great for serving the next day. Mmm, mmm good!

Do you have any tips for getting more veggies in your diet? We'd love to hear them!

We're linking up with Angie at Angie's Healthy Living Blog. Go check out what others are up to this week!

Okay... Let's Start Over

So, last week I hopped on the scale on Thursday morning and was really excited to see I was down 2 pounds!  I had started counting Weight Watchers Points on Monday and had two workouts in by Wednesday night, so I was really exited to be down so much by Thursday. 

Then I got on Friday morning and I was up 3!!!  How did that happen?  Did I have too much salt at dinner the night before and was now retaining water?  Was the scale on an uneven part of the floor in the bathroom?  Either way, I wasn't upset, I just kept going.  But when I got up on Saturday morning and found myself still up the three pounds I started to panic.  Maybe the scale is broken.  Either way, I haven't gotten on since.  I'm going to keep up the momentum I started and reweigh myself Friday and see where I am.  I'll let you know.

So, I hope your weight loss week was a little better (and more consistent) than mine.  I thought I'd leave a recipe posted this week since none of us have left one yet.  This is one of my favorite recipes because it is really good for you, full of veggies and kind of spicy.

Southwest Stew
I know this was posted in a magazine somewhere, but I cannot remember.  So, if you know the recipe, let me know and I will give it the proper citation it needs.

• 2 pounds stew meat (you can sub chicken if you want)
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups water or broth
• 1 cup salsa (I usually use a whole 16 ounce jar)
• 2 tablespoons parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons beef bouilion
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (14 1/2 ounce)
• 1 1/2 cup frozen cut green beans
• 1 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1 can green chillies (4 ounces)
• Hot sauce, optional

In Dutch oven over medium heat brown meat in oil.  Remove meat once it is browned.  Add onion and carrot to leftover oil in pot; cook for 5 minutes until tender.  Add garlic and cook an additional minute.  Add the remaining ingredients and bring to boil.  Add meat back in, and simmer for 20 minutes.

So, leave us a comment and let us know how your week went.  Did you ever get surprised by the scale in a bad way?  What did you tell yourself?  What were your next steps?

Lucious Brown Bag Lunches

Having busy schedules, we know the drudge of packing a brown bag lunch.  Same old bologna and ketchup sandwich gets boring (we actually ate those when we were kids!  Ick!)  Anyway... we wanted to put together some easy ideas for brown bag lunches to help you break out of any lunchtime ruts.  Here are some of our favorites.

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  One of my favorite new products are Morningstar Spicy Black Bean Burgers.  You microwave one for a few minutes which I then put on an Arnold Sandwich Thin and add a piece of cheese,  lettuce and ketchup.  A-MA-ZING. ~ Jenn

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  I love tuna. Oh do I love it! Here are a few ways I enjoy tuna - and none of them involve mayo! I put together a great salad full of veggies and then top it with light canned tuna packed in water (drained first of course). I then drizzle the salad with 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Sooo good! I also like to add tuna (no mayo!) and arugula or spinach to a pita. Another way to enjoy this fish is to add the tuna, white beans, 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix together and enjoy! If you've never tried tuna without mayo, give it a try! ~ Mandi

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  Eating your leftovers is a great way to keep the fridge clean.  I portion things out the night before when I'm cleaning up the kitchen from dinner, so everything is ready to go in the morning.  I also like to bake off a piece of chicken the night before added to a salad with mandarin oranges and honey mustard dressing. ~ Mary

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  I love spring mix salad with dried cranberries, a few walnuts or pecans, feta cheese and fat-free raspberry vinegarette dressing.  Sometimes I will add some cooked chicken or turkey for added protein or even strawberries or raspberries. ~ Jenn

                                         

This day I had skipped breakfast so I added low fat rice cakes and homemade Weight Watcher muffins.

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   I love a big fruit salad for lunch. Fruit is full of fiber and is incredibly filling. I like to mix orange sections, pineapple chunks, kiwi, grapes, berries and bananas in a bowl. I toss and then enjoy! Add a piece of grain bread or rice cakes and you've got such a yummy lunch. ~ Mandi

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  How about this idea? Take your normal sandwhich fixin's and make a kabob out of it! Skewer chunks of chicken or ham, cherry tomatoes, squares of light cheese, cucumbers, and pineapple. Enjoy cold or lightly warmed in a microwave. What a fun way to enjoy your meal. ~ Mandi

How do you spice up your brown bag lunch?