July 22, 2013

Healthy Zucchini Raisin Nut Bread

I bought some zucchini off the Amish this past weekend so made a couple recipes with it and I have to say, both of them were excellent!  I didn't get a photo of the cake but did get a photo of the bread.  Bill doesn't like raisins but he wolfed his slice down and asked for seconds.

Since he's gone to 12 hour days, he doesn't get home until 7:30 pm and eats too late so he has gained some of his weight back but we are hoping, once the over time is done, that he will take it back off.  He can't walk now cause its so late and then eating a meal and going to bed an hour later is taking its toll on his weight loss. I started out waiting on him to eat but decided I needed to change that or I'd be gaining too. So, I eat around 5:30 and then heat his up for him when he gets home and is taking his shower.

Anyway, wanted to share these two recipes.

Healthy Zucchini Raisin Nut Bread

3/4 cup Splenda Granular
1/4 cup reduced-calorie margarine (I used Blue Bonnet Light)
1 egg, or equivalent in egg substitute (I used the substitute)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (I buy the individual cups, usually Musselman's Natural no sugar added)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 cup shredded zucchini (I did not peel)
1/2 cup seedless raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with butter-flavored cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine Splenda, margarine, and egg using a wire whisk. Stir in applesauce and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix gently just to combine, using a sturdy spoon. Fold in zucchini, raisins and walnuts. Evenly spread batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 40 to 46 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Place loaf pan on a wire rack and let set for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan and continue cooling on wire rack. Cut into 8 slices.

186 Calories
6 gm Fat
4 gm Protein
29 gm Carbohydrate
325 mg Sodium
80 mg Calcium
2 gm Fiber


Chocolate Zucchini Spice Cake

2 T + 2 tsp. reduced-calorie margarine (I used Smart Balance Butter)
1 egg, or equivalent in egg substitute (I used substitute)
3/4 cup Splenda Granular
2/3 cup fat-free half & half (I used Land O Lakes)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups reduced fat biscuit baking mix (I used Heart Smart Bisquick)
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. table salt
1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 9 inch cake pan with butter-flavored cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine margarine, egg, Splenda, half & half and vanilla extract. Mix well using a wire whisk. Add baking mix, cocoa powder, apple pie spice, baking powder and salt. Mix gently just to combine using a sturdy spoon. Fold in zucchini and walnuts. Evenly spread batter into prepared cake pan. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Place pan on a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Cut into 8 servings.

I think this makes my servings a lot bigger than I really need and its easier for me to cut my pan into 9 servings. I've always wondered why she has you cut a square pan into such odd sizes since it cuts perfectly into 9 pieces.

167 Calories
7 gm fat
4 gm Protein
22 gm carbohydrate
396 mg Sodium
86 mg Calcium
1 gm fiber



Enjoy!!

Pin It!

July 21, 2013

This will be my last post tonight...need to get supper fixed and we were loaned a movie and we need to watch it tonight and return it tomorrow.

This one is all my idea...thought of it on my walk one morning.  Amanda is a avid dancer so I thought a dancer card would be just the ticket.  I got the cut file from the Silhouette store and cut it with AC cardstock.  Added the pearls for buttons and then used ribbon to fashion her skirt.  The scallop was another one I designed in the Silhouette program.  It's been too long so I'm not sure what the fonts are...I'm thinking the 'girl' is CK Ali but not real sure on that and I didn't save that information. The flowered paper is by Basic Grey and the pink is some I got free from CardMaker magazine.  Again, I used a white gel pen for stitching.

We 'finally' got rain today...came a lot harder then I would have liked but at this point, I'm not going to complain as we were in desperate need of moisture.  I hadn't mowed in over 2 weeks and my shrubs were starting to wilt.  We have chances for rain for the next 4 days so hope we get a bit more and maybe it could come softer and soak in.


Pin It!

Father Birthday or Father's Day Card






This card is a copy from Pink Petticoat.....I just cut the star and panel on the Silhouette and added it to Kraft stock from PapertryInk...this card fits a business size envelope.  I couldn't figure out how to add the ///\\\\ around the STAR so I just drew them with a black gel pin...LOL




Pin It!

July 20, 2013

Sharing my Mother's Day Card, finally!

I have so many cards to post and hope to find the time this week to get most of them posted.  I've also got 400 wedding pics to edit and I can't seem to get my butt in gear to get them done.  I've figured out that I LOVE taking pictures but HATE editing them.  I liked when I just sent the film off to the lab and they did all the work for me...ugh.....I'm sure the bride would love to have her pictures through, so I guess this week will be spent in front of the computer!

Anyway, this is the card I made for my mom for Mother's Day....I also made a bag with flowers on it to hold the digital camera I got her but it wasn't too pretty so I won't be sharing it.  I could not find the right color bag to go with my flowers and had to make do!


The base of the card is Kraft stock from PapertreyInk.  I cut the flowers out of AC cardstock and then added color with my markers to enhance the color a bit.  The butterfly shape is from the Silhouette Store and cut out of more AC stock. The doily is one I made in the Silhouette program after following a tutorial I found online.  I embossed the white panel and rounded the edges.  Pretty simple but pretty too!

Enjoy,


Pin It!

July 12, 2013

Oh, this poor neglected blog.....

I just had to share this image as I'm so very, very proud of myself. It's taken 6 months and two pair of walking shoes but I finally reached my goal...as of this morning, I'm down to 130 pounds and have lost 40 pounds. I dug out the old picture from last June 2012 and then took the new one this morning...I knew I was heavy but didn't realize how heavy till Kristen took this pic of Amanda and I at her dance recital. I think that was the straw that broke the camels back....it wasn't how I saw myself at all....even in the mirror, I thought I was smaller...but the picture proved differently and after spending time at the folks and seeing them hobble around, I decided it was time to change my life style....low fat, low sugar and exercise! The perfect combination to health and weight loss. No magic pills, no fad diet...just 6 mile walks every morning and recipes by the talented Joanna Lund....not once did I feel deprived or hungry and the best part...I could have dessert EVERY night! I now own 15 of her cookbooks and 4 years worth of newsletters! I can fix a different recipe every night for years and not go through all of them. I'll be posting some muffin and quick bread recipes in the next few days ( I hope!)



And now to the hard part.....maintaining this weight from here on out. I don't think it will be that hard since Joanna's recipes are so good and I'm not dieting anymore, I'm changing my life for the better! When we went to Amanda's dance recital this year, we stopped at the outlet mall and I bought two new pairs of walking shoes....I plan on wearing them out by the end of the year!




Life is SO good!


Pin It!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...