Happy Monday all! Today was completely mind boggling, amazing, awesome and something I cannot even begin to put into words. To say The Great Fundraising Act was a success seems like such an understatement!!!
We all joined forces together raising over $26,432 for Susan to fight cancer!!! Seriously…..I LOVE being part of such an amazing community that at just an emails notice would come together to help each other other.
A HUGE Thanks to everyone who participated, donated, bid, cheered us on and more….it was definitely one huge LOVE FEST that each and everyone of you made possible.
Keep checking back over at Meals & Moves for an update on all the final bids, how to pay and more importantly for your chance to buy more things if you didn’t get the chance to today.
I woke up early to make sure I got in my bid & of course to help out Janetha….Since I was glued to my computer (The Suspense!), I didn’t want to take too much time to make up breakfast.
2 oz Low-Fat Smoked Turkey Sausage (2 points+)
1 oz Low-Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2 points+)
Fresh Organic Berries!
Don’t worry, I don’t work at Hillshire Farms ~ promise 
Ohhhh, but, I wish I had some of that Spicy Cranberry Mustard now lol…..
I continued my FAST theme for lunch with a quick salad topped with protein!
The folks over at Gorton’s asked me awhile back if I wanted to give their new pre-marinated Grilled Shrimp a try.
I LOVE shrimp, I LOVE marinated/grilled things and I LOVE that you get half the bag for only 3 points+ a serving.
The shrimp goes straight from freezer to pan and cooks up in under 15 minutes.
I had visions of making a “Mexican” type salad with toasted pumpkin seeds and this Cilantro Dressing from Trader Joe’s.
2 Tbsp for only 1 Points+…I WISH I LOVED it, but, it’s just ok to me.
I put half the package of shrimp on top of a BIG salad topped with 1 Tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds, 2 Tbsp Cranberries & 2 Tbsp’s Creamy Cilantro Dressing (7 points+)
I knew The Husband was working late so I decided to have a snack that actually turned into dinner.
Have you all seen these NEW Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips?!
I couldn’t resist buying them….FUNNY FACT about me ~ I pretty much buy every single corn chip I see that has a “trace of lime” ~ like that’s the selling point or something for me LOL.
4 points+ for 1 ounce (weigh it, don’t’ count it ~ you get more!)
I ALWAYS make sure I measure then, seal the bag BEFORE any go in my mouth. I know that if I sample “just one” it will turn into “just two, three, four” that don’t count because you know they weren’t on the plate.
I find that if I have a tasty dip or salsa to go with my chips, it really satisfies me and I don’t feel the need to go back for more and more….sometimes!
I LOVE this Trader Joe’s Ranchero Egg White Salad because it is only 1 point+ for HALF and 3 Points+ for the entire container!
5 points+ ~ totally satisfying and filling. I LOVE that you can actually taste the sweet potato in the chips and the spice in this salad makes it quite possibly my favorite new snack.
After my snack that turned into dinner, I got to work on a few new recipes using Zucchini that I have been wanting to try.
Both were completely tasty for my first go round….I still think I can make my muffins better.
Recipe & points+ coming up soon! I think both recipes will be less than 4 points+/serving!
I definitely sampled each of my new creations as my post dinner – snack – snack.
1st NEW Zucchini Recipe attempt ~ Zucchini & Corn Fritters!!!
2nd NEW Zucchini Recipe attempt ~ Zucchini Banana Nut Muffins.
For the “Non-Zucchini” lovin’ Husband ~ 5 points+ Brown Sugar Banana Nut Muffins.
NEW AT FRIENDS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
* Shannon shares another fantastic recipe ~ Vanilla Bean Ice Cream w/Blueberry Sauce!
Q’s
What is your FAVORITE use for Zucchini or favorite zucchini recipe you would like to see made healthier?
We have a ton of Zucchini’s coming out in our garden and I plan to use them to try new things using Zucchini.
I am thinking Zucchini Pineapple Bread, Zucchini Fettuccine and maybe Zucchini Parmesan like Eggplant Parmesan for new to me things.
Night all!
Love the zucchini corn fritters. Looks delish.
Hi Danica! I am curious what you thought of the Gorton’s Shrimp?
Hi Angela,
I think the Gorton’s Shrimp has a great seasoning on it and it’s not bad for a frozen shrimp. I do still prefer to make my own fresh shrimp, but, in a pinch, it’s a great protein source to add to any salad and still keep it low in points+.
Danica
I’m so glad the Great Fundraising Act was a success! I sadly wasn’t able to check it out til mid-afternoon so all the price points were way too high for my poor student butt but I loved that everyone was really really giving it their all! How much did your donation go for in particular?
My favorite use for zucchini is really simple. I just make my favorite spaghetti sauce, saute the zucchini in EVOO and minced garlic, and them straight to the sauce. I don’t know why but the texture and flavor it gives the sauce just wows me!
I wish my “garden” was growing fast as yours! I have some green cherry tomatoes that are taking forever to go red and one cute little baby Japanese eggplant out of my 4 eggplant plants. >.< I blame the Montana weather!
Yum to the corn-zucchini fritters! 🙂 those really look delicious! 🙂
Happy about how much money was raised, thanks to all of you. Very, very sad that there isn’t a Trader Joe’s anywhere near in the state of Florida!! Would love to try the chips and the salad and the, etc. etc.
The zuchinni pineapple bread sounds like it would be good. Try that one first 🙂
Hi Danica. I got goosebumps when I saw what the fundraiser made. I love being part of the blogging community!!!! I’m hoping to scoot over the border next week and visit Trader Joe’s. Your posts show some WONDERFUL things for me to pick up and try! Have a great day!! PS: Those fritters look damn good!
I love putting zucchini in a tomatoey soup. (Like minestrone.) It also is good diced up in chili or lasagna. I often use zucchini as the noodles in ‘spaghetti’ to seriously cut calories. Zucchini, mushroom and cheese in an omelette or quiche is yummy! I don’t like bell pepper so when I do fajitas I use zucchini, mushroom, tomato and onion. You can also marinate strips in balsamic dressing and grill. I love zucchini. It’s probably my favorite vegetable. 🙂
Try goat boats! 🙂
http://www.amysquesttoskinny.com/2011/06/zucchini-boat-post.html
….or Mama Pea’s zuchinni quinoa lasagna. Sooo good!
http://www.amysquesttoskinny.com/2011/07/oooooooh-yeah.html
I love zucchini, and my friend just gave me over the weekend 5 of them. What I did wascut the zucchini about 1/4 think and used these slices as my base for my lasagna (I made sauce with low fat italian sausage), the ricotta was part skim and used low fat mozarella. I also added mushrooms to the sauce and deglazed with white wine. It was delish!
i love to make baked eggplant parm but with zucchini! it tastes just as good!
love LOVE zucchini! Stuffed zucchini, zucchini w/ shrimp and pasta, plain raw zucchini sticks dipped in Trader Joes tomato and basil hummus, and most recently used zucchini as a filler (along with ground turkey, corn, onion, and spinach) in my stuffing for grilled stuffed bell peppers. Yum Yumm.. I’m easy to please with those bad boys. Congrats on the bids success!
More great things to look for on my next TJ trip!! 🙂
Oh zucchini…I stuff it in just about anything! Soooo versatile! Love it grilled. Make a great grilled zucchini lasagna dish, put it in meatloaf, always add it to chili, put it in sloppy joes…always ( in fact, I don’t even like sloppy joes without it anymore!), bake with it and just recently put it in enchiladas. Score! here is the link to that recipe, if you are interested…
http://mykitchenadventures1.blogspot.com/2011/06/chicken-and-zucchini-enchiladas.html
I need to find those Trader Joe’s Tortilla chips. Like you I must pre-portion of the whole bag or I will take a few here in there and not count the points.
I made an amazing stuffed zucchini and posted the recipe the other day. I calculated it at 4 points +.
I love zucchini in ratatouille!
I’m in the same boat – lots of zucchini. Last night I made a healthy zucchini & summer squash gratin with mushrooms and onions. It was really pretty – it looked like the Ratatouille from the movie ( ‘Ratatouille’ lol. i love pixar). Tonight, i dug out my mandalin again, and cut my zucchini lengthwise in to little “zpaghetti” strips. I made a meaty sauce, and then used only half of the spaghetti I normally would. During the last 90 seconds of cooking the spaghetti, I through the zucchini shreds to cook. It was a really yummy way to stretch my carbs, and fill my bowl. I also just finished my healthified chocolate chunk zucchini bread, so I’ll be making more tomorrow. =-) (oh, and when I grated the zucchini for the bread, I froze the extra in an ice cube tray so I can throw it in my pancake mix for my son. Shh… Don’t tell him! lol
my favorite recipe thus far is DEFINITELY my Italian Stuffed Zucchini. It’s incredible. And my girlfriend, the carboholic, said she didn’t even miss the noodles. here’s the link to the recipe! http://reluctantwwfoodie.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/chobani-giveaway-winner-and-a-delicious-new-recipe/
I love zucchini! We planted some a few weeks ago and already have some baby zucchinis growing, it is so exciting! Since ours are not quite ready yet, I bought some at the store. Tonight for dinner I diced them up and threw them in a pan with sliced onions, mushrooms, sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and sauteed them in Pam. Once they were done, I chopped up some lean, thinly sliced ham, and threw that in along with some tomato sauce and shredded cheese…it was sooo good and only 6pp! When I have more time, I slice it length wise, grill it on my pancake griddle, and then layer the same ingredients and pop it in the oven…it is kind of like lasagna without pasta and is delicious!
LOVE the zucchini usage! (: i’m excited for the banana zucchini muffin recipe!
have I mentioned how jealous I am of all your TJ’s goodies?!
love ya girl!
Thanks for recognizing the amazing-ness of Trader Joe’s!! I live and breathe by that store. Love from runningwithmascara.com and great job!
Hi Robyn,
There was a mini bidding war at the end that made it so fun to watch. The winning bidder paid $120 to have me bake her vegan and gluten free goodies!
Our garden comes and goes but this year, it is definitely doing better than last year. Each year I get a little better at it but weather definitely plays a huge role in it.
Danica