The Secrets to Skinny

❤  Welcome back to Skinny Café! Some really exciting things are happening in my life right now. Not only am I engaged to my amazing fiancé and am living and working in a big city, but I am also revamping my food blog into a full blown healthy lifestyle blog! This may or not be an addition to “The Wedding Dress Diet” ❤

 

P.S. I didn't go from horribly self conscious to wearing a size 2 Lilly Pulitzer dress by just eating my "skinny" meals. Although my diet was and is a HUGE component, there are other secrets I'd love to share as well!

What does this mean?

Glad you asked. This means that instead of having purely recipes and a few product reviews here and there, I want to expand into the world of fitness and general healthy eating tips. You can eat as many “fat free” or “sugar free” foods as you want and still not see the kind of changes in yourself you really want to see. Well, there are many many reasons for that! This goes for just simply counting points or calories too. There are so many aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and I want to help you do just that.

Have you ever lost a good amount of weight and then hit that dreaded "plateau" that no matter how much you cut back on calories, carbs, or fat , you just can't seem to get past? Well, did you know that there's more to leading a healthy lifestyle than fixing your diet? I know, I know - that's the last thing many of you wanted to hear. However, I'm here to tell you that its easier than people say it is with the right guidance and proper plan - and its just what you need to get over that dreaded plateau.

 

What makes this blog different than any other health, food, or fitness blog? 

 

Have you ever noticed that it seems like the standard skinny or fit woman on any show or blog seems to have all the time in the world on her hands? What about all these recipes that are basically nothing more than kale, avocados, and a surplus of other foods no one really wants to eat for every meal?  Where’s the burritos, the sandwiches, the burgers, the chicken, the casseroles? Nonexistent it seems, I can tell you that! This blog aims to find healthy and wholesome alternatives to the common ingredients that make these foods so “bad” and turn them into protein packed low fat treats that are sure to fit into your diet. In addition, it aims to cater to the working woman or college student who has little time to spend hours in the kitchen prepping healthy meals.

Don’t even get me started on cardio. How does everyone seem to find time to get out for a 45 minute run every other day if not more? Do they not have school, work, families, sleep, or anything else to worry about? Sheesh! Unfortunately, when it comes to personal fitness, making time is a necessity. However, there are most definitely alternatives to this daily steady-state cardio routine that tales up so much time and often for very minimal results. In fact, there are better options altogether that not only are more effective for burning the optimal amount of calories, but also insure that your body is working to its fullest. Ever heard of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)?  If you haven’t, be prepared for a whole segment on HIIT coming soon. This method is promoted by numerous credible sources included BodyBuilding.com, LIVESTRONG, and multiple other fitness blogs. Its commonly referred to as the best training for weight loss as well as the best stamina booster.

One more thing: It’s OKAY to be a hippie! Go for the whole grain, whole wheat, cage-free, antibiotic free, organic, and/or non-refined foods as much as possible! This isn’t a requirement by any means, but if you’re in this for more than just weight loss and for an overall healthy lifestyle as well, it’s important to consider what you’re putting in your body. Many of these things, however, actually can also aid in weight loss. Whole wheat/grain products are unrefined and are made of complex carbs, or “slow carbs” (as Tristan’s dad would say) that are used by your body rather than easily converted to sugar or fat.  These types of carbs also usually have more fiber which is essential for dietary health. In addition, avoiding chemicals found in many refined foods as well as meat that’s been harvested from hormone or antibiotic injected animals can help balance out your body’s natural chemistry – and as a bonus, you know the meat you’re eating was much less likely from an abusive farm (which is why I always go cage-free!).

 

 

So, that was a long rant.

However, I truly hope that you enjoy the soon-coming new additions to the Skinny Café! I am ALWAYS open to suggestions, new products, or tips that I can incorporate into my blog as well.  In fact, I have to give a huge shout-out to my friend and sorority sister, Sarah Williams, for always giving me new ideas. She should have a page of her own on here to be honest.  

Got a transformation story?

I want to hear it! Tell me what you did, how you did it, and anything else you’d like to add. I’d love to even start a segment where people gave their own advice about what worked best for them! Leave a comment, shoot me an email, or message me on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/theskinnycafeblog/

The Wedding Dress Diet

I Said "Yes"! 

That's right! It finally happened, and I can't wait to start the rest of my life with my best friend. There's most definitely a wedding website coming with our story, so I won't go on and on just yet. However, I have to say how excited and blessed I am to have met this amazing person I call my fiancé. From loving him to loving his caring family with whom I'm living this summer, I am the luckiest and happiest girl in the world. So, what now? It's wedding planning time!

If you know me, you know how much I LOVE weddings. If it was up to me, I'd be a professional wedding planner as my career (and I still haven't given up on that dream!). But what many people forget about when it comes to planning a wedding is planning your diet leading up to the wedding. Almost every bride wants to look back on her pictures and feel like she was at her most beautiful - her dress, her hair, her makeup, and her body. Well, I'm the exact same way. In fact, I'm excited to step up my game, perfect my diet, and hit the gym leading up to the day of the wedding.

So What's the Wedding Dress Diet?

 When I think of the perfect wedding dress body (which mind you is different for everyone!), I imagine myself thinner and more toned. SO, what does reaching these goals entail? Here's my plan:

• Follow a diet plan that allows for ALL food groups while limiting foods high in saturated fats and sugar, limiting highly processed foods, and increasing the amounts of lean proteins, veggies, and fruits. 
• Log food daily, whether it be by calories, macros, or a "Points" system. Allow for a cheat day or cheat meal once a weak (this keeps yourself happy and allows you to look forward to your favorite foods while also allowing your metabolism to rev up. Cheat days are O K A Y!)
• Follow a fitness plan that includes full body workouts. This means 3-4 days a week of cardio and muscular training. For me, this means toning up my arms and legs while thinning out my midsection. 

What am I giving up?

These are the main rules, but what's the catch? Surely I must do some sort of diet that strictly limits carbs or is entirely organic. Why don't I cut out red meat and bread altogether? Well, I'll tell you why. One thing I want for myself is not not only be thin and toned, but to also be happy. To me, happiness is bread. Happiness is occasionally indulging in a bacon cheeseburger with french fries. And that is OKAY. Not only because I want an occasional special meal that I love, but also because diets that entirely restrict your food choices and never allow for a cheat day (such as the keto diet) train your metabolism to only digest certain foods and to reject others - a.k.a. make yourself sick or gain weight back immediately after indulging after a long time period without a cheat meal. Having a reasonable cheat day every week or two weeks keeps your metabolism and your body in check. For example, when I went to the beach this spring and had nothing but fried seafood, pizza, and ice cream for nearly a week (and gained a couple pounds in the process), I came home and dropped 4 to 5 pounds in two weeks simply because once I reverted back to my dieting habits, my metabolism was kicked into high gear.

Time to Get Cookin'

You all know by this point that more than anything, this blog is a platform for me to share my best recipes, product reviews, and diet tips that help me stay happy and healthy while also losing a few pounds in the process.

So my new theme and my new journey is now 100% geared towards my big day. Really and truly, I think it's great to have this mentally going into any diet!

I can't wait to start sharing even more of my ideas and recipes with you all. Stay tuned for more recipes and engagement adventures, and feel free to send me any suggestions!

Skinny Chocolate Chip Waffles

Skinny Chocolate Chip Waffles - Can it be???

Yes. Yes it can.

These waffles changed my life. They may be not be an everyday thing, but they are perfect for that weekend brunch where you don't want to go overboard with calories / sugar / Smart Points, etc. One day, I couldn't stop craving waffles. Not just any waffles, but good ole buttery sugary chocolate chip waffles with maple syrup. Is there any way I can do that without committing diet suicide? I really didn't think so, but when I set my mind on something, that thing becomes my mission.  In this case, a very delicious mission.

So here's how these skinny missions go: I go to Walmart (yes, I'm a Walmart girl) with my mom's Weight Watchers app or MyFitness Pal and start scanning. I went to the pancake/waffle mixes and scanned every single brand and type until I found the lowest point / healthiest option and bought it (I ended up with Hungry Jack Buttermilk Mix). I went to the chocolate chips and did the same (I ended up with sugar free Hershey's).  The catch, however, is that the Hungry Jack waffle recipe calls for large eggs and vegetable oil. Both of those things can add quick points to a recipe, and there are definitely healthier options! So, I opted for Egg Beaters (liquid egg whites that come in a carton and can be measured to match regular eggs), and a healthy oil substitute of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I also use a sugar free pancake syrup. All of these combine to make the lowest point / calorie chocolate chips waffles possible!

Let's Compare...

One serving of my skinny chocolate chip waffles (1/3 cup of liquid mix) is 280 Calories, 7 grams of Sugar, 3 grams of Saturated Fat, 7 grams of Protein, and 9 WeightWatchers Smart Points.

A regular Hungry Jack recipe without my skinny substitutions and regular chocolate chips and syrup (1/3 cup of liquid mix) is 385 Calories, 26 grams of Sugar, 3 grams of Saturated Fat, 6.6 grams of Protein, and 15 WeightWatchers Smart Points

Sooo you can see a pretty bug difference with some simple substitutions! Here's a recap of what I used:

What it takes:

• Hungry Jack Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix
• Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Chips 
• Sugar Free Pancake Syrup
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  

  What to do:

  1. After purchasing the mix, take note of the instructions on the box for appropriate measurements.
  2.  Replace vegetable oil with extra virgin olive oil and eggs with the equivalent measurement of Egg Beaters.
  3. After mixing thoroughly, add the desired amount of Sugar Free chocolate chips (the nutrition information suggests 1 Tbs) to the mix and proceed with the directions on the box.

    

   

   And voila! There you have it. Skinny Chocolate chips waffles!! Top with Sugar Free syrup and serve with turkey bacon if you're so inclined! 

Very Berry Yogurt Bark

A Guilt Free, Healthy Dessert!

I waited WAY too long to try this. Now that I have, it's one of my number one go-to sweet treats! And its so easy to make. I can't take all the credit since this is literally all over Pinterest, however I always enjoy adding my own twist to recipes to make it my own (or skinnier!).

  This post is short and sweet, because it really is super easy! It's also extremely flexible. You have the freedom to choose whatever flavor of yogurt, whatever berries, and whatever add-ons you's like. For me, I grabbed my ingredients from what I already had in the fridge!

This is a low sugar, high protein snack or dessert! You can hardly go wrong. The key is choosing a nonfat yogurt that is already sweet but low in sugar, and choosing healthy toppings to make it your own.

Here's what I used:

• Small to Medium Sized Baking Pan 
• Parchment Paper
• Light & Fit Greek Vanilla Yogurt (approx 18 oz)
• Mixed Berries (I used Target's frozen Antioxidant Blend) 
• Splenda/Stevia/other sugar substitute (optional)

The How-To:

1. Cut or tear enough parchment paper to cover your baking pan entirely, and lay it across your pan
2. Pour the yogurt on to the pan and spread evenly. I like mine about a quarter inch thick.
3. Spread your toppings (in this case, berries!) evenly on top of the yogurt. I pressed some lighter berries in that didn't already sink.
4. Sprinkle your sugar substitute to give your your treat extra sweetness!
5. Set pan in the freezer for at least an hour.
6. When it is completely hardened, break bark into smaller pieces. (I essentially picked up the parchment paper with the slab of yogurt attached and began breaking in half multiple times).
7. Enjoy!!

Did you say "Skinny Buffalo Chicken"...?

Easy Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip or Casserole

Yes, I said it! And this isn't your average "light" buffalo chicken recipe. Its even better. What's the average recipe? Shredded Chicken, Full Fat Cream Cheese, Ranch Dressing, Buffalo Sauce, Full fat Cheese. A skinnier version you may find on Pinterest probably uses Reduced Fat or Fat Free Cream Cheese, Light Ranch Dressing, and Reduced Fat, Fat Free, or 2% Cheese. Well I hate to burst your Weight Watchers recipe bubble, but there's an even skinnier way that tastes amazing and isn't filled with a bunch of tasteless ingredients!

What's the difference?

Okay, lets compare. Here's the info for a regular buffalo chicken dip that you'd find at a gameday party:

For a small square (about 1/8 of an 8x8 pan), one serving of Buffalo Chicken Dip using the full fat ingredients listed above (recipe found on Pinterest and calculated, no chips) is 14 Weight Watchers SmartPoints, has 438 calories, and has 13.7 grams of saturated fat. And let's be honest, who just eats a 1x1 inch square...? Let me remind you this doesn't include chips...

For one serving of my Buffalo Chicken Dip (without chips, 1x1 square), it's weighing in as (wait for it...) 4 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. Yes. The other recipe is 3.5 times as much. Let's continue. It is also only 252 calories and has 0.7 grams of saturated fat.

Are you sold yet?

What it Takes:

So what's making this magic? Here's the trick. Ditch the chalky fat free cream cheese and light or fat free ranch dressing (which in my opinion tastes nothing like the real thing). Instead, try Fat Free Sour Cream and Hidden Valley Ranch Dip mix. Okay, don't let me lose you here. I know it sounds like it can't possible replace the creamy and rich goodness of cream cheese and ranch. But it sure can! Here's what I used for a single serving:

• 3 oz Shredded Chicken Breast (I used Rotisserie)
• 2 oz (1/4 cup) Fat Free Sour Cream
• 1 Tbs Ranch Dip mix
• 2 Tbs Frank's Buffalo Sauce (measure at own discretion for desired hotness!)
• 1 1/2 oz Kraft Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese 
  

1.  If you haven't already, shred the chicken breast into small strips  and place into microwave safe bowl
2.  In a separate container, combine the Sour Cream and Ranch Mix and mix until well blended
3. Combine the Sour Cream Ranch mixture, Shredded Chicken, Buffalo Sauce, and Cheese in the bowl and stir until ingredients are uniform
4. For easy cooking, use the microwave and heat for approximately 1 minute. Stir and put back into microwave until the mixture is heated throughout (microwave times may vary). 
5. Top with any additional cheese and enjoy!

***For a casserole consistency, increase the amount of chicken or reduce the amount of the Sour Cream Ranch mixture

***To make for a crowd or bake, either multiply the microwavable recipe or use an 8x8 pan to bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes!

Skinny "Fried" Chicken Nuggets

Crispy Chicken Nuggets 

This recipe is the perfect fix for those days when all you can think about is fried chicken. For me, I crave Chick-Fil-A nuggets several times a week and usually only indulge once a week on what Tristan coined "Chick-Fil-A Wednesday". These nuggets may not be fried in peanut oil, but they're coated in delicious seasonings that are so reminiscent of fast food fried chicken that you won't even dream of cheating on that diet you're on.  Don't waste a cheat day; have these amazing chicken nuggets on a regular calorie counting, point-counting, macro-counting day!

What's the difference?

Normally, this is where I would bash the real deal nuggets from Chick-Fil-A and compare them to mine. But let's be honest, Chick-Fil-A calories are The Lord's calories and I will not defile them today. Instead, let's compare them to Wendy's.  I love Wendy's, but I'd rather throw them under the bus ya know?

One 10 piece serving of Wendy's Crispy Chicken Nuggets is 450 calories, 32 grams of fat (7 grams saturated fat), 23 grams of protein, and 13 Weight Watchers SmartPoints.

My 11 piece serving of Skinny Crispy "Fried" Chicken Nuggets is 350 calories, 7 grams of fat (1.4 grams saturated fat), 50 grams of protein, and 6 Weight Watchers SmartPoints.

Whoah okay. I just halved Wendy's SmartPoints. And the Protein? That's a bit concerning considering it's almost the same amount of chicken! Chicken is meant to be very full of protein and this recipe definitely gets you the protein that your body needs without loading up on fatty oils at the same time.  So let's get down to business.

 What you'll need:

For 5 servings (10-11 nuggets per serving):

• 1.5 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup Egg Beaters (or 2 regular eggs, beaten)
• 4 oz (in weight) of regular Panko breadcrumbs
• 3 tsp (more or less) of Paprika
• 3 tsp (more or less) of Cajun Seasoning
• 3 tsp (more or less) of Ranch Seasoning
• 2 tsp (more or less) of Garlic Salt

 

The Recipe

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Cut chicken breasts into nugget sized pieces - I was able to get about 55 nuggets, but this can vary depending on nugget size.
3. Prepare two bowls: one with the liquid egg, and another with the mixture of Panko and all seasonings. Please feel free to adjust the suggested servings of seasonings! It's all about your taste buds.
4. Transfer the raw chicken pieces into the egg batter (best if done in small groups, I did 5 at a time) to soak. Then, transfer the egg coated pieces into the Panko and seasoning bowl and toss to fully coat each piece in crumbs.
5.  Using a large cookie sheet or baking pan, align the coated nuggets so that none overlap. However, they can be very close to one another.
6. Once your pan is full of the soon-to-be-delicious chicken nuggets, set in the oven for 15 minutes.
7. When done, sprinkle any additional seasonings and serve with your choice of side and sauce!(I chose mashed potatoes and a light honey mustard dipping sauce) 

And there you have it - almost Chick-Fil-A crispy chicken nuggets that are delicious and half the guilt of regular fast food chicken nuggets!

 

ENJOY!

1. 
   

Skinny Crispy Buffalo Wings

Guilt-Free Chicken Wings

A new personal favorite, these crispy hot buffalo chicken wings have all of the perks of fried wings without the fatty oils and calories.  I actually stumbled upon this recipe on Facebook, and will post the original source since I can't take all the credit! (Note: I changed a few things for this recipe)

Let's Compare...

One serving of traditional fried buffalo wings (6 piece, Buffalo Wild Wings) clocks in at 1,090 Calories, 56 grams of Fat (22 Saturated Fat), 90 grams of Carbs, and 32 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. Um...that's over an entire day of points in one meal with no sides and no dressing...

What about these Skinny Crispy Buffalo Wings??? One serving of these wings (6 piece, about 12 oz of chicken with bone in), is 384 Calories, 30 grams of Fat (6 Saturated Fat), 0 grams of Carbs, and 14 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. That's cutting over half the points and almost a third of the calories.

So let's get down to the question everyone wants to know...

What's the crust???

Believe it or not, the crust is a simple mix of baking power with various seasonings and salt. When combined with the raw chicken wingettes and drumettes, it soaks into the skin and when baked, becomes a crispy and thick seasoned crust. I know, I know, doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it? I thought the same thing when I watched the video below:

Click to watch video!

However, the trick is baking them at a low temperature and lower rack at first, and later moving them to the top rack at a much higher temperature to really crisp them up. 

Here's what you'll need:

For two servings...

• 1.5 lbs raw chicken wingettes (or other variety)
• 2 tsp table salt
• any amount of ground pepper
• 5 tbs baking powder (more for crispier chicken)
• Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce
• Aluminum Foil (or parchment paper)
• Large zip lock bag (alternative: large bowl)
  
  
  

The Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Remove thawed raw wings from packaging and pat dry with a paper towel. This is very important so that the crust sets correctly!
3.  Using either a large zip-lock bag or large bowl, combine the raw wings with the baking powder, salt, and desired seasonings. Shake to coat all wings. You may find it necessary to add additional baking powder to evenly coat the wings.
4. Align wings on a greased aluminum foil or parchment paper covered baking pan. Set on lower shelf of oven and let bake for about 20 minutes.  
5. Crank the oven up to 450 degrees and move baking pan to top shelf. Let bake for approximately 30-40 minutes. 
6. Remove from oven and coat with sauce as you please!

 

Note: Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce has negligible calories, fat, and sugar, and therefore is 0 points even when used in larger amounts. If you choose to use another sauce, nutrition info will vary! Also, many people choose to mix Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce with other ingredients such as butter and brown sugar which will also affect the nutrition and points information. However, I think its delicious entirely on its own!!

ENJOY

Halo Top: The Ice Cream from Above

Halo Top Ice Cream

I don't even know where to begin with my rave about this amazing product! In fact, there's a reason this is the very first product review on my website. Halo Top Ice Cream is truly a gift from heaven. A guiltless, flavorful, protein packed, low calorie, low sugar gift from heaven. Its food for angels. Truly.

The obsession began on Facebook. I started seeing all of the ads, and began my own research. I found their official website, https://www.halotop.com/ , and began searching for where I can buy it. To my great disappointment, Halo Top was not stocked anywhere near Tuscaloosa or Jasper - the two Alabama cities I call home. Birmingham did have two locations, but its not very feasible to take a trip to Bham just to have your ice cream melt in a cooler on the way home (even though I considered it several times). Out of curiosity, I searched to see if it was sold anywhere near St. Louis. Since I travel there as much as possible with Tristan, I could at least make it a point to find it and try it while there. And of course, its everywhere. All the suburbs, all the cities, many of the grocery stores. Alabama, please get with the program. There's a reason we are 49th in nutrition. 

Falling in Love

So, I waited for that next trip to St. Louis. And then, I fell in love. Since this was a few months later, I checked the website again to see if anything had changed for Tuscaloosa - and it had! Now, Publix and Manna Grocery in Tuscaloosa both sell Halo Top Ice Cream, and its now a staple of my diet.

Its rich and creamy, just like regular ice cream. So far, I've tried: Oatmeal Cookie, Sea Salt Caramel, Peanut Butter Cup. Lemon Cake, and Vanilla.  All are amazing. I can't wait to try even more. The only con is that its best to let it sit outside of the freezer for a few minutes before eating because it freezes a bit more solid than traditional ice cream. Besides that, its golden. Halo golden.

 

How does it match up?

This is where I lost it. I could not believe the difference. Here we go. Let's compare my favorite, Halo Top Peanut Butter Cup, with Ben and Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup.

Do I even need to explain??

Check out these nutrition facts:

• SAME SERVING SIZE
• 80 Calories vs. 370 Calories
• 3g Fat vs. 26g Fat
• 1g Saturated Fat vs. 14g Saturated Fat
• 12g Carbs vs. 29g Carbs
• 5g Sugar vs. 25g Sugar

Not listed:
 
3 Weight Watchers SmartPoints vs. 17 SmartPoints

 

Are you sold on Halo Top yet?

Skinny Shrimp Scampi & Ranch Seasoned Potatoes

Skinny Shrimp Scampi & Ranch Seasoned Potatoes

This dish you can't go wrong with. It's incredibly easy to make, and tastes like you just ordered straight from your favorite seafood restaurant. Okay, maybe not exactly, but its as close as you can get without going to the gulf.

Every time I go to the beach, particularly Orange Beach in Alabama, I make it a number one priority to visit The Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores and order Shrimp Scampi (a double order if we're being honest here). I can't compete with their delicious gulf shrimp and probably fully loaded recipe, but there is a quick and easy way to get a close but skinny version!

Quick facts: This entire meal, potatoes and all, weighs in at a mere 410 calories and 10 WW SmartPoints! Here's the breakdown. One serving of Skinny Shrimp Scampi is approximately 185 calories and only 4 WW SmartPoints. This is due to the light butter and cheese as well as the high protein/low calorie count of the shrimp. One serving (about half of a 12 oz potato) of the potato wedges is 225 calories and 6 WW points! If you're like me and want ketchup alongside your meal, add 1 to 2 points depending on brand and type! I like to use Heinz Low Sugar Ketchup, which is only 1 WW SmartPoint per 2 tbs.

So first off, lets talk about these potatoes. If you become a consistent follower of my blog, you'll see several variations of the same oven-fried potatoes in different shapes and forms. For this meal, I chose to do mini potato wedges; however, I often will use the same ingredients to make oven-fried french fries as well. Here's the important part: if you're on any kind of diet (except a crazy low carb diet), these potatoes are your best friend. For the same amount of calories that you can have a baked potato with a small amount of butter, you can have a plate of french fries or potato wedges.

How? No hot oil. No grease. No extra breading. No tricks. Here's the trick:

 What you'll need (4 servings):

• 2 large raw potatoes (I prefer russet)
• Dry ranch seasoning (desired amount)
• Extra Virgin olive oil (1 tbs)

 That's it. Three ingredients and you're ready to roll!

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Cut the potatoes into the desired shape (wedges, fries, etc.)
3. In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the potatoes and olive oil. Toss to coat potatoes in the oil.
4. To soften the potatoes, put the bowl in the microwave for approximately 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the microwave and toss potatoes again.
5. Add the desired amount of ranch seasoning to the potatoes and toss to coat.
6. On a cookie sheet or baking pan, line with parchment paper or aluminum foil or spray generously with cooking spray. Spread potatoes evenly on sheet. (If you use parchment paper or aluminum foil, I still recommend a light coat of cooking spray)
7. **May vary! Set in oven for approximately 45 minutes. Check often, especially after the 30 minute mark, to ensure that your potatoes reach the desired finish without getting too done. 

Now for the main course. Luckily, the shrimp can cook at the same time as your potatoes at 450 degrees! However, it won't take near as long to cook the scampi as it takes the potatoes to cook.  You'll want to set the scampi dish in the oven when you think there is about 10-15 minutes left for the potatoes. Then, hopefully all the components of your meal will be ready at the same time! Here's what you'll need for 4 servings of the scampi (**note: all of this can be changed by your preference! Like it cheesy? Add more cheese! Want a bigger serving? Use more of everything!):

• 1 bag of frozen jumbo shrimp (or fresh shrimp from deli)
• 4 tbs light butter (I use Blue Bonnet Light)
• 1/2 cup fat free (or 2%) shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 tbs grated Parmesan cheese

 Here's how it's done! Again, this is extremely abstract. Change this accordingly to your taste-buds!

1. If the oven isn't already hot from the potatoes, preheat to 450 degrees. 
2. Optional: remove tails from shrimp for easy eating
3. Combine desired amounts shrimp, butter, and shredded cheese in a deep glass baking pan. Order doesn't matter (it all will melt and combine over the shrimp!).
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done.
5. Top with grated Parmesan cheese. 
6. Serve with potatoes and low-sugar ketchup!

And there you have it - a skinny seafood feast from your home! Don't forget that potatoes recipes. You'll be wanting to have those or something similar with several different types of meals! Feel free to comment or email me with any questions or requests. Thanks again for reading! 

Three Layer Baked Spaghetti

Three Layer Baked Spaghetti

So this started out as an experiment inspired by a full-fat-full-everything Pinterest recipe, and ended up being one of my favorite Skinny Recipes so far.  On most any diet, baked spaghetti is thought of as a big no no. Saturated fats from the red meat, carbs from the spaghetti, loads of fat from all the cheeses...well luckily, there are alternatives!

Disclaimer: If you are against carbs, this might not be the place for you. After months of a no-carb "ketogenic" diet that ended in the worst stomach pain and hypoglycemia I've ever had, bread and pasta has become my best friend. Another disclaimer: I've lost more weight and had more energy on this wholesome diet than any carb-restricting diet I've ever done (and there's been quite a few).  If you care to hear more about my history with diets, check out The Skinny Cafe Story page!

Back to the spaghetti. This dish made my pasta-loving, cheese-loving, and healthy-loving heart jump for joy. After doing some research, I found out that most store-bought baked spaghetti or baked spaghetti recipes are somewhere between 490 and 570 calories per serving, and between 17 and 19 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. Thee dishes are typically made with full fat cheeses and ground beef. How does my recipe match up?

One serving of my Three Layer Baked Spaghetti is roughly 295 calories, or 11 Weight Watchers SmartPoints. That's about 60% of the original recipe's calories all thanks to a few ingredient substitutes. Here is what you'll need for 10 servings:

• Dreamfield's Spaghetti Noodles (16 oz)
• 90% Lean Ground Turkey (1 lb)
• Low Fat Ricotta Cheese (2 cups)
• Blue Bonnet Light Vegetable Oil Spread (5 tbs)
• Kraft Natural Fat Free Shredded Mozzarella (2 cups)
• Kraft Natural Fat Free Shredded Cheddar (1 cup)
• Reduced Fat Grated Parmesan  (1/3 cup)
• Ragu Old World Style Sauce, Flavored with Meat (1 jar)
• Egg Beaters (or any egg whites) (1/2 cup)
• Medium Sized Onion (optional, 1 onion)
• Italian Seasonings (1 tsp)
• Steak Seasoning (optional)

Dreamfield's Pasta is a brand of pasta that you can find at almost any store including Walmart. It is typically 2 SmartPoints less than other brands such as Barilla and Great Value, and its considered a "Carb Smart" pasta for those of you who try to cut back at least a bit on carbs.  The cheeses listed above can all be found at Walmart, but the fat free cheeses you have a hard time finding outside of Walmart. For any recipe that normally calls for ground beef, I try to do ground turkey instead. If you're not used to this or are turned off by the idea of turkey, a super lean pound of ground beef will do just fine! Here's how its done:

1. Cook the spaghetti as usual in boiling water. Meanwhile,  cook the ground meat and onion (optional) in a skillet over medium-high heat until done. (Optional: add steak seasoning to flavor meat)
2. When the meat is nearing perfection, add the spaghetti sauce and any additional seasonings into the same skillet and stir. 
3. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, butter, and Parmesan cheese. When the spaghetti has been drained, add the noodles to the egg mixture and toss to coat.
4. In a greased baking dish, place half of the spaghetti mixture and top with half of the ricotta cheese, half of the skillet spaghetti sauce, and half of the shredded cheese. Repeat these layers once more.
5. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
6. Voila! Delicious guilt-free baked spaghetti for 10. 

As usual, you don't have to make the recipe as "skinny" as I did.  2% cheese , other brands of pasta, spaghetti sauce, and light butter, whole eggs, and various other substitutes can be made as well to suit your taste-buds and dietary preferences!

Thanks for reading! I'm always open to suggestions, requests, or comments.  Feel free to comment or email me!

Skinny French Toast

Skinny French Toast

Here's something I never thought I would see again until a cheat day came around. Delicious, fluffy, buttery and sweet french toast. Okay, so the diet alarms are going off. Bad idea, right? Well, not with the right ingredients.

Let's put things into perspective. The average calorie count for "regular" French Toast (with butter) is 357 calories for two slices. That's roughly 11 Weight Watchers SmartPoints (probably even more once you counted all the saturated fat and sugar).  This would be using most of the typical ingredients: egg, regular bread, maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon, milk... all of which adds up extremely quickly.

So, how does my french toast compare? Two slices of my Skinny French Toast is roughly 160 calories, and only 3 Weight Watchers SmartPoints!

How can this be? It's all about your choice of ingredients. Here's what I used for a two slice serving:

• Nature's Own 40 Calorie Honey Wheat Bread (2 slices)
• Egg Beaters (or generic egg whites) (1/4 cup)
• Mrs. Butterworth's Sugar Free Maple Syrup (2 tbs)
• Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (optional, 1/8 cup)
• Blue Bonnet Light 31% Vegetable Oil Spread (1 tbs)
• Ground Cinnamon (1 tsp)
• Splenda (or any sugar substitute) 
• Imitation Vanilla Extract (optional, 1/4 tsp)

I always use Nature's Own 40 Calorie Honey Wheat Bread for all of my bread needs. It's the lowest calorie bread I can find that is also wholesome and doesn't lack in taste or quality. Also, for those of you who are on WW, it's 1 SmartPoint per slice! Same exact thing goes for Blue Bonnet Light 31% Vegetable Oil Spread, which is 1 SmartPoint per tablespoon. The other ingredients you see above amount to technically 0 SmartPoints for not only their negligibly low calorie, fat, and sugar content, but also their high protein content.  In my opinion, all of these amazing ingredient substitutes are must-haves!

Now that all of that is out of the way, let's get down to business (a.k.a. the recipe itself).

1. Heat a skillet or griddle to medium-high heat and grease with 1 tbs of light butter.
2. In a bowl, combine the egg, almond milk, vanilla extract, and a small amount of cinnamon and whisk the ingredients together. 
3. Briefly soak each slice of bread in the egg mixture, coating both sides of each slice. This will only take a few seconds for each side.
4. Lay the soaked bread slices in the skillet and cook until your desired toastiness.
5. When done, drizzle the sugar free syrup over the toast along with your desired amounts of cinnamon and sugar substitute. 
6. Indulge!

Of course, you don't have to make the recipe as "skinny" as I did. Skim milk, other brands of light bread and butter, whole eggs, and various other substitutes can be made as well to suit your taste-buds and dietary preferences!

Thanks for reading, and I hope yours turns out well! I'm always open to suggestions, requests, or comments.  I hope you enjoyed the very first Skinny Cafe original recipe!