Cereal out of Pancake batter? Yes, please!

Banana Pancake Cereal

Banana Pancake Cereal

INGREDIENTS

1 cup 1% milk, buttermilk or almond milk

1 cup unbleached all purpose or whole wheat flour

1 ripe banana

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

cooking spray

1 cup fresh mixed berries, for topping

1 large banana, sliced

optional whipped cream and colored sprinkles, for topping

DIRECTIONS

Add milk, flour, 1 of the bananas, eggs, oil, vanilla, baking powder and salt to a blender and pulse until smooth and throughly mixed.

Pour pancake batter into a condiment squeeze bottle. (Or use a ziplock bag and cut a tiny whole in the corner as well.)

Heat pan to medium high heat and spray with oil.

Squeeze little small pancake dots the size of a nickel and cook until top is dry and forms bubbles.

Toss the pancakes with a spatula and cook for a few more minutes.

Occasionally toss the pancakes around to help cook more evenly until slightly browned.

Transfer to 4 bowls and add sliced bananas, fresh berries and your favorite toppings (I like to drizzle honey).

NUTRITION

Serving: 2/3 cup pancakes 1/3 cup fruit, Calories: 272kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 9.5g, Fat: 4.5g, Saturated Fat: 1.5g, Sodium: 378.5mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 16.5g Blue Smart Points: 5 Green Smart Points: 6 Purple Smart Points: 5

This lighter version of Macaroni Salad with tomatoes and black olives is the perfect side dish for any summer BBQ.

Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes

Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes

Make Ahead, Pasta, Pasta, Salads, TO TRY

INGREDIENTS

6 oz uncooked elbows, wheat or gluten-free

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup Hellmann’s light mayonnaise

1 tbsp white vinegar

dash garlic powder

1 tsp oregano

2.5 oz sliced black olives

salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.

Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, tomatoes (and any juice from the tomato), olives, onion, garlic powder, oregano salt and pepper. Mix well.

Add elbows and mix well.

NUTRITION

Serving: 3/4 cup, Calories: 125kcal, Carbohydrates: 21.5g, Protein: 3.5g, Fat: 3.5g, Saturated Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 2.5mg, Sodium: 165.5mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 0.5g Blue Smart Points: 4 Green Smart Points: 4 Purple Smart Points: 4 Points +: 3

Pesto Zoodles

Don’t they look AH-mazing?!! Pesto is one of my FAVORITES about summer, and now there’s no guilt of the pasta 🍝.

Pesto Zoodles

INGREDIENTS

2 medium-large zucchini

2 cloves garlic

1/2 yellow onion or white onion

extra virgin olive oil or butter

salt and pepper, to taste

pesto sauce (or other pasta-like sauce of choice, if any)

2 each small tomatoes (optional)

1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)

1 tsp onion powder (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Wash your zucchini, and then use spiralizer* to create zucchini noodles. *See notes below

Add a small amount of olive oil or butter to a saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Next, if using garlic and onions, add them to the pan and cook until the onions are translucent.

Now add the zoodles and gently toss them every minute or so throughout the cooking process which should only be about 5 minutes. Do not cover the pan while cooking – that will make them extra wet. Allowing steam to be released is good.

Once finished cooking, plate the zoodles and sauce or top them anyway you see fit and enjoy immediately. There will be a bit of excess liquid in the pan. If you do not wish to have all the liquid in your dish, you can either strain your zoodles or use tongs to plate them – leaving much of the liquid behind. We like to serve our zoodles with a few dollops of pesto and chopped fresh tomatoes.

Pesto Zucchini Noodles by Homesteadandchill.com

Insta Pot Chicken Pho 🍲

It’s not 17DD compatible with the noodles , but the broth is amazing

Instant Pot Chicken Pho

Healthy, INSTAPOT/Pressure Cooking, Soups & Stews, TO TRY

INGREDIENTS

2 small yellow onions (11 oz. total), halved crosswise

1 (3-in.) piece fresh ginger, unpeeled, sliced, and smashed (about ⅓ cup)

2 teaspoon coriander seeds

4 whole cloves

3 whole star anise

8 (5-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

2 quarts lower-sodium chicken broth

 cup fish sauce

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 (8-oz.) pkg. uncooked rice vermicelli noodles (such as Annie Chun’s Maifun)

4 cups fresh bean sprouts (4 oz.)

2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves with tender stems (from 1 bunch)

2 medium-size serrano chiles, unseeded and thinly sliced (2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp.)

Optional toppings: matchstick carrots, torn fresh mint and basil leaves, Sriracha chile sauce

8 lime wedges

DIRECTIONS

Select SAUTÉ setting on a 6-quart multi-function programmable pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot). Allow to preheat about 5 minutes. Place onion halves, cut side down, in cooker. Add ginger; cook, undisturbed, until onion is slightly charred on cut sides, about 10 minutes. Add coriander seeds, cloves, and star anise; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken, broth, fish sauce, and brown sugar.

Close and seal lid. Turn Pressure Release Valve to Sealing position. Select MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK setting. Set to HIGH PRESSURE for 15 minutes. (It will take 15 to 20 minutes for cooker to come up to pressure before cooking time begins.) Let pressure release naturally. (This will take about 10 minutes.) Carefully turn Pressure Release Valve to Venting position, and let steam fully escape. (This will take 1 to 2 minutes.) Carefully remove lid.

Transfer chicken to a large plate; let rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard skin and bones; shred meat.

While chicken cools, pour broth mixture in cooker through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl; discard solids. Return strained broth to cooker. Add noodles, stirring to submerge; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.

Return shredded chicken to mixture in cooker. Ladle soup evenly into 8 bowls. Top evenly with bean sprouts, cilantro, chiles, and other desired toppings. Serve with lime wedges.

Changing Gears

My husband’s near the completion of a 50 year project – the restoration of the damaged 1962 Corvette, he brought home on his 21st birthday.

I’d like to start at the beginning but due to his reluctance to narrate, I’ll start with what I know.

I know paint jobs are EXPENSIVE.

Torch red. No, seriously, that’s the paint color

I know paint jobs take a L-O-N-G time. Eleven months to be precise.

without clear coat
ditto

It’s a suspenseful process.

our first peek at how the color we chose, looks

I think that’s a good start.

My 17 Day Diet • or how to lose the Covid weight in a HURRY •

I’ve got a physical in 17 Days and ironically I have JUST the diet for it. NO shakes OR gimmicks, just wholesome HEATHLY food.

It jumps starts your metabolism and you’ll find support groups for it all over the web.

I’ll start with just a list of the basics and add recipes as I go along.

Cycle 1 (first 17 Days): ACCELERATE As much Lean Proteins as desire:

Fish- canned tuna, salmon, tilapia

Poultry- chicken breasts, turkey breasts, ground turkey (lean), eggs (2 eggs= 1 serving/ 4 egg whites= 1 serving)

As much Cleansing Vegetables as desire:

artichokes, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, parsley, scallions, spinach, tomatoes

2 servings Low Sugar Fruit (eaten before 2PM):

Apples, berries, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, red grapes

2 servings Probiotics:

Yogurt- any type including greek style, sugar free fruit flavored; plain; and low fat (6 oz. = one serving), Live Active Cottage Cheese (1/2C = 1 serving)

Condiments (in moderation – the more you use the less you’ll lose that day! I actually avoid altogether) :

Salsa, low carb marinara, lite soy sauce, low carb ketchup, fat free sour cream, low fat broth, Truvia, sugar free jams and jellies, Pam, fat free cheeses, fat free salad dressing, salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard, herbs and spices.

Here’s a link to my Chicken Tortilla Soup: https://wp.me/p6Ccms-7r