Weekly Menu Planning

Sunday:  Italian Beef Sandwiches  

Monday:  Smokehouse Chicken

Tuesday:  Beef Broccoli Lo Mein & Egg Drop Soup

Wednesday:Pulled Pork & Slaw Sliders & Potato Cheese Soup

Thursday:  Honey & Pecan Glazed Salmon

Friday:  Homemade Pizzas

Saturday:  World's Best Lasagna, Toasted Garlic Bread, & Salad

Sunday:  Beef Stroganoff, Egg Noodles, & Green Beans

Extras:

*Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
*Jalapeno Popper Cups
*Apple-Cinnamon Coffeecake
*Cinnamon Rolls

Sausage & Pepper Calzones

Hello!  Yes, I am still alive!  I'm sure you were wondering!  The fact is, I am on a journey right now to lose some weight.  No, I haven't stopped cooking and I have been busy trying to balance recipes that taste delicious without being incredibly high in calories.  I have a family that needs to love what I am making too.  I am not a big fan on fat-free rubber tasting frankenfoods, so you aren't going to see me go in that direction, so don't be afraid. For me, if my family isn't satisfied with with what I make, it isn't going on here.  Please trust me when I say these Calzones fit EVERY requirement.  Diet or no diet, I would eat these again and again.  I made them for dinner 2 nights ago and had them for lunch yesterday and today.

If you don't have time to do make the dough and let it rise, just use the refrigerated pizza dough like I used in this calzone recipe .  The chicken apple sausage is SO yummy though, you must try it.  Even my picky 11 year old loved the flavor.  The only change I plan on making for next time is to use an egg wash on the calzones before putting them in the oven so that they brown up a little better.

Sausage & Pepper Calzones

DOUGH:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (about 12 1/3 ounces)
1 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
Dash of sugar
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking spray

FILLING:
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced red bell pepper (about 2)
1 cup chopped onion (about 1)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound chicken apple sausage (such as Gerhard's or Sam's club Members Mark brand which is what I used), cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/4 cup 1% low-fat cottage cheese
2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

To prepare dough, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Gradually add 1 3/4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon oil, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; stir until a soft dough forms. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); add enough of remaining 1/2 cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.)

To prepare filling, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, and sausage; sauté 10 minutes or until tender. Spoon mixture into a bowl; cool slightly. Add mozzarella and remaining ingredients to sausage mixture; stir well.

Preheat oven to 450°.

Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 6-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Spoon about 1/2 cup sausage mixture onto half of each circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Fold dough over filling; crimp edges of dough with fingers to seal. Place calzones on a large baking sheet lined with foil and coated with cooking spray. Pierce the tops of the dough once with a fork. Lightly coat the calzones with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 14 minutes or until browned. Remove from oven. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Coat a sheet of foil with cooking spray. Place 1 calzone on coated side of foil; seal. Repeat procedure with remaining calzones and cooking spray. Place calzones in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; freeze.

Preheat oven to 450°.

To reheat, place foil-wrapped, frozen calzones on a large baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 40 minutes or until thoroughly heated.


Source: Lightly Adapted from Cooking Light

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 8
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 369.1

• Total Fat: 12.5 g
• Cholesterol: 47.1 mg
• Sodium: 977.0 mg
• Total Carbs: 44.5 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.5 g
• Protein: 18.8 g

Menu Plan Monday (Late!!)

Monday: Sausage & Pepper Calzones

Tuesday: Beef Daube Provencal, Baguette Bread, & Side Salad

Wednesday: Tuscan-Style Potato Soup

Thursday: Seafood Cakes with Mustard Crema

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos & Mexican Rice

Sunday: Italian Beef Sandwiches

Breakfast:
*Cinnamon Rolls
*Apple-Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Snacks:
 *Pumpkin Spice Muffins
*Jalapeno Popper Cups
*Bloody Mary Mix

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Cajun Chicken Pasta & French Bread

Tuesday: Taco Joes & Corn

Wednesday: Spaghetti alla Carbonara & Salad

Thursday:  Whole Wheat Buttery Crab Cakes & Potatoes

Friday: Taco Night

Saturday: General Tso's Chicken, Steamed Rice, & Egg Rolls

Sunday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Breakfast Extras:
*Cereal Yogurt Bars
*Steel Cut Oats 

Appetizer/Snack:
*Soft Pretzels

Old Posts Updated with Nutritional Information

Hi!  As I have been sharing with you, I am on a quest to shrink my waist-line.  Now, I LOVE to eat GOOD food, so I find it is best if I tweak old favorites and watch portion sizes.  I have update these 3 favorites with nutritional information that I ran through the Spark People recipe builder.  Hope this helps some of you that might have tight jeans, like me!

Penne alla Vodka

My Very Favorite Pizza Crust

BBQ Meatballs

Simple Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowl

So sorry I haven't been around much lately!  I have been trying to step up my exercising along with healthier eating and I seem to have let it cut into my blogging time.  Well, no more!  I will try to be better!  I think one of the most important ways to eat healthy is to cook your food yourself!  I have always been proud of the fact that I try hard to stay away from boxed and overly processed foods.

Now, when I say this is a healthy recipe, that doesn't mean it is fat-free and uses all non-fat fake ingredients (can you sense my bias??).  For me, healthy cooking means using GOOD stuff, in moderation.  I am not going to fill myself and my family full of chemicals instead of butter.  When I use bacon, I will use REAL pork bacon.  None of that turkey bacon (does anyone actually think that is a suitable replacement?).  In other words, I would rather eat a smaller portion of tasty food than fat-free cardboard or mystery food.

Without further ado, here is what you will need to get started:    

Simple Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowl

Serves 8

16 oz. Spaghetti Noodles

16 oz. Stir-Fry Vegetables, frozen

1 lb. Chicken Breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/4 c. Soy Sauce

2 Tbsp. Sugar

4 cloves Garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar

3 Tbsp. Pure Sesame Oil

1/2 tsp. Hot Chili Oil

4 Tbsp. Canola Oil, divided

2 Tbsp. Hot Pasta Water

4 Green Onions, thinly sliced

Cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions.  During the last 3 minutes of cooking time, add the frozen vegetables.  Drain.

Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. Canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Quickly saute the chicken until browned and cooked through.  

Combine the remaining ingredients, minus the green onions, to make the sauce (soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, canola oil, & hot pasta water).

Combine the chicken with the noodles/veggie mixture in a large serving bowl.  Pour sauce over it and toss to coat.  Sprinkle with green onions and toss again.  

Serve in a bowl with chopsticks!

Nutritional Info Per Serving:

	Fat: 10.3g Carbohydrates: 50.4g Calories:387.5 Protein: 21.1g

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:  Simple Sesame Noodles, Chicken Breast, & Stir Fry Veggies

Tuesday:  BBQ Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, & Green Beans

Wednesday:  Penne alla Vodka & Salad

Thursday:  Panko & Herb Crusted Tilapia,  Cheddar Brushetta, & Salad

Friday:  Homemade Pizzas

Saturday:  BWW Night & Onion Strings

Sunday:  ABC Meatball Soup