Weekend Highlights: In the Test Kitchen….

Happy Sunday all!  I am proud to say that this past week was a pretty good week even though I didn’t manage to find time to blog every day (that will be my goal this week as work should settle down a bit!).  I am proud to say I successfully worked out 4 times, tracked every single bite even on higher points+ days and……LOST 2.4 lbs. this week!  I am determined to repeat all of that again this next week.

This weekend was a busy as I lined up all my guinea pigs (The Husband and friends) to help test out a few new recipes I am working on for a project this fall.  I cannot wait to share all the ideas with you all….I am pretty sure you are going to love them all as much as we did.

For now….here are some highlights from the weekend.

My newest addiction (and I know they’ve been around forever) is Subway’s 3 inch Flat Bread Breakfast sandwiches.  I finally caved trying them about a month ago when I heard they now had Sriracha. I’ve had both ham and bacon and both are delicious!

Bacon + pepper jack cheese + egg (you can get egg whites) + pepper, onion, tomato, jalapenos & sriracha all for 5 points+.  I love how doughy the bread gets when heated.

BLTA’s using the organic greens & big, meaty heirloom tomatoes we got at the market.

10 points+ and worth every smoky, bacon, tomato, avocado bite!

Served up with 3 types of grapes bought at the market too.  The mini’s are the sweetest and all are seedless.

After all the cooking on Saturday, we headed out for Froyo for dessert.  Tart Nonfat Strawberry with Low-fat Coconut, Nonfat Vanilla, sprinkles, yogurt chips & Captain Crunch.

The “secret” ingredient in one recipe ~ Liquid Aloha! I love saying that ~ it totally makes me want to go to Hawaii just because…..

When I was at one of our local pubs, Norma Rose, a few months back, they had a “special” called Pulled Pork Nachos that they made slow cooking the pork in beer!

I have been wanting to re-create them ever since my first bite…..The final “secret” ingredient…hot, crunchy tortilla chips that you can taste the fresh squeezed lime juice with flecks of sea salt.

I’ve also totally stalked them to see if they would put them back on special….It hasn’t happened yet.

Would you believe me if I told you I found a way to re-create these fantastic nachos but still keep them healthy and totally satisfying….Yep, this would be my “healthified” version.

I am actually pondering using our this Pulled Pork to make Sweet Potato BLTA Nachos or possibly going another route by making my Lazy Enchiladas with Red Sauce.

Next up….making up another 100% REAL Ingredient, Homemade Spicy Pork Italian Sausage (like my Turkey Apple Sausage).

Did I mention that it is also 100% Simply Filling and only 2 points+ a patty?!

I actually made this version just so I could make a new Spicy Sausage and Mushroom Merlot Sauce using my favorite Geyser Peak Merlot. 

Glasses of wine were definitely consumed during the cooking process

The real reason for the Merlot Sauce…..Lasagna with Homemade Spicy Italian Pork Sausage!

In the midst of our delicious Pork Filled Weekend, I also tried a new recipe for Thai Grilled Jalapeno Chicken that I plan on using on top of my salads this week.

Now this recipe, I will be sharing soon.  The others, well, you have to wait until Fall when I can spill all the details

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What was one highlight from your weekend?

Night all!