iHungry Spaghetti Tacos

Hey guys!

Tonight's meal may freak you out (and no your blog mistress didn't pick it out, ha.). Wow not the best sentence to start this out with, eh? No worries though, I've tried this recipe before and it's pretty damn tasty. From our fave foodie Hungry Girl we bring you a recipe she adapted from her hubby's tv show iCarly. If you have any kiddos, nieces, nephews, know any kiddos, or you're a big kid like me you've seen the show on Nickelodeon. On said show Carly makes these things called spaghetti tacos. While the name is odd at best this dish is quite unique and great tasting. So let go and try it out.



Here's what you'll need:



iHungry Spaghetti Tacos



Prep:
10 minutes / Cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
4 oz. uncooked whole-wheat spaghetti
2 cups frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like the kind by Boca or Morningstar Farms)
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1/2 tbsp. taco seasoning mix
12 corn taco shells (flat-bottomed shells, if available)
1 1/2 cups shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
2/3 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded lettuce


Directions:

*Break pasta in half and prepare per package instructions.

*Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Add soy crumbles, crushed tomatoes, and taco seasoning, and mix well. Cook and stir until hot, 2 - 4 minutes.

*Drain pasta and add to the skillet. Mix well. Evenly distribute pasta mixture among the taco shells, about 1/3 cup per shell. Evenly top each taco with cheese, onion, and lettuce. Tada!

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

WW Points: *8 for 2 tacos




Weird right? But SOOOOOO good! You guys should definitely try these.



Tid Bits:
*None tonight guys

Ma's Spot: I have to say when Dinah told me she made these I thought my goodness what has she done now? She has gone overboard. I have to say she hit it out of the park again. I'm glad I picked this to do for the blog. I said it before and I will say it again. All hail to the queen Hungry Girl! I love the fact it has Morningstar Crumbles and whole wheat pasta. It really has a taste that is out of this world. So if you're looking for a budget friendly and healthy dinner that doesn't take a lot of time this is the one for you. So freak your family out and make them some spaghetti taco's.



SNACK CORNER:* It's time for snack corner! Where we take new snacks in the grocery store and break it down for you. We tell you which are hot and which are not.
Let's get to this week's pick:

WW Points: *9 for 1/2 cup


Dinah: Finally after searching for half a year we found the Ben & Jerry's Cannoli ice cream! So let me be the first to tell you how epic the taste is. The ice cream itself is smooth and tastes just like mascarpone and having the bits of chocolate covered cannoli shells made it stellar. I was in love....until I looked at the nutrition facts. Don't hold me to this but I think my mouth dropped to the floor. For 1/2 cup it's 9 points. REALLY?? Thanks Ben and Jerry for ruining my buzz. How can something so delicious be so many points? Oh that's right cause they wanna be mean lol. Although it's a fab ice cream it just wasn't meant to be. I felt the connection but my waste line didn't. *sigh* breaking up is hard to do. :/


Ma: I love Ben and Jerry's ice cream. This I found was very rich, creamy, and delicious but here's a shocker for you guys who know I am an ice cream freak. I will not buy this again. Why you ask? Although it was one of the best ice creams I have ever tried it was way too much calories, fat, and sugar. If you do wanna try it I say go for it but be advised to look at the nutrition label.


And that's all for tonight folks. We'll be back here in 7 days to share another pick with you. Have a great week guys!



Spoons & Spatula's
~Dinah & Ma

Classic Shepherd's Pie

Evening all,


Tonight I decided we should make a traditional dish. Something that is a crowd pleaser and has a nice simplicity with it. What's more traditional than sheppard's pie? If you're not familiar with this dish let's have a little history rememberance shall we? We aim to please here at Tuesday's with Dinah & Ma.

So sheppard's pie was actually called cottage pie back in 1791. Women made it for their miner fellas to take with them and eat on their lunch breaks. It consisted of a potato lining, meat center, and mashed potato topping. The term "shepherd's pie" did not appear until 1877. That's when lamb was introduced as the meat of choice for this dish. They felt lamb and sheppards went together so the name was thus changed. The dish itself came from the UK but it was made popular throughout time in the USA and other countries. The dish also made it'sway into pop culture (See Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd for reference).

And that concludes our lesson today folks.

Boring eh? Only 3 layers. No spice, no sauce, or herbs? No worries, over time people have tweaked this recipe into their own versions. So it's no doubt different for everyone. Me being on Weight Watchers I searched for a healthier variation of this oldie but goodie and that's exactly what I stumbled apon.


Here's what you'll need:

Classic Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients:
*2 large uncooked potato(es), peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces   
*1/4 cup(s) fat-free sour cream   
*1 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine   
*1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste   
*2 tsp olive oil   
*1 cup(s) uncooked onion(s), chopped   
*2 medium uncooked carrot(s), diced   
*2 rib(s) (medium) uncooked celery, diced   
*1 pound(s) uncooked ground turkey breast   
*3 Tbsp all purpose flour   
*1 Tbsp rosemary, fresh, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)   
*1 tsp dried thyme   
*1/2 tsp table salt   
*1/4 tsp black pepper   
*2 cup(s) canned chicken broth, or beef broth   

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 400ºF.

*Place potatoes in a large saucepan and pour in enough water to cover potatoes. Set pan over high heat and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and simmer 10 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain potatoes, transfer to a large bowl and add sour cream and margarine; mash until smooth, season to taste with salt and set aside.

*Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots and celery; cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add turkey and cook until browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Add flour, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper; stir to coat. Add broth and bring to a simmer; simmer until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes.

*Transfer turkey mixture to a 9-inch, deep-dish pie plate. Spread mashed potatoes over top and using the back of a spoon, make decorative swirls over the top. Bake until potatoes are golden, about 30 minutes. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.




WW Points: *7 per serving


This was decent. The flavor was there but honestly it didn't make enough.



Tid Bits: *none tonight guys




Ma's Spot: First of all I want to thank my sister Jane for taking over tonight's blog for me due to my elbow injury. What didn't I like about tonight's meal is that there wasn't enough of it. It was scrumdiddlyumptious! It was one of the best sheppard's pie I have ever eaten. I cannot tell you if it was easy or hard to make (since I wasn't in the kitchen this week) but I can tell you that it doesn't matter. I'll be making this dish again very soon.



SNACK CORNER:* It's time for snack corner! Where we take new snacks in the grocery store and break it down for you. We tell you which are hot and which are not. Let's get to this week's pick:

***DUE TO THIS WEEK'S SNACK HAVING HOT SAUCE IN IT AUNT JANE WILL BE FILLING IN FOR MA***

WW Points: *4 for 1/3 cup

Dinah: For tonight's snack we bring you Snyder's of Hanover Flavor Double Hot Buffalo Win & Buttermilk Ranch pretzels. First let's throw this out there. Your blog mistress loved anything (well almost lol) with ranch or buffalo sauce (mainly Franks red hot sauce). I'm quite obsessed actually. So these are right up my alley. I liked the broken pieces mostly because it's easier to snack that way instead of having this big pretzel rod to chew on. The flavor is on par with a basket of wings and a cup of ranch dressing. Gives you that taste and feel without all the additional calories and fat. Always a plus in my book. Oh and it's only 4 points for a 1/3 cup. Nice! I'd hunt these down if I were you.


Aunt Jane: I liked it but it needed more heat in my opinion.





That's it for tonight guys. We'll be back next Tuesday with another recipe. Have a great week guys!


Spoons & Spatula's
~Dinah & Ma

Skinny Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting

Hey guys!
First let me apologize for not posting an entry for last week. Ma loaned out the book that the recipe was in to a co-worker/friend and I still haven't recieved it back and I hunted for that recipe online and no luck in finding it. For now it's in the land of lost recipes. So we're moving onto this week's pick.

On Pinterest I came across this Weight Watchers recipe and it looked like something your blog mistress would make and lets be real cupcakes are too cute! Wait...cupcakes? Yes, blog readers I said cupcakes. They even have frosting. Now before you guys run for the hills these are no desert. Don't be afraid.


Here's what you'll need:


Skinny Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 2 cupcakes • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 240.7 • Fat: 8.5 g • Protein: 18.1 g • Carb: 24.5 g • Fiber: 2.5 g • Sugar: 4.2 g Sodium: 560.1 mg (without salt)

Ingredients:
For the Meatloaf Cupcakes:
1.3 lb 93% lean ground turkey
1 cup grated zucchini, all moisture squeezed dry with paper towel
2 tbsp onion, minced
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1 egg
1 tsp kosher salt

For the Skinny Mashed Potato "Frosting":
1 lb (about 2 medium) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved
2 tbsp fat free sour cream
2 tbsp fat free chicken broth
1 tbsp skim milk
1/2 tbsp light butter
kosher salt to taste
dash of fresh ground pepper
2 tbsp fresh thyme

Directions:
1. Put the potatoes and garlic in a large pot with salt and enough water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat; simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain and return potatoes and garlic to pan. Add sour cream and remaining ingredients. Using a masher or blender, mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Bake uncovered for 18-20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from tins and place onto a baking dish.

3. Pipe the "frosting" onto the meatloaf cupcakes and serve.

Makes 12.

These are amazing! I love the perfect portion sizes and the "frosting" was extremely yummy.

Tid Bits:
*None tonight guys



Ma's Spot: Tonight's recipe was very good. It wasn't heavy or greasy. I have to say the mashed potato "frosting" was delicious! Good job Dinah, for finding this recipe. Lets face it, anything that looks like a cupcake in any way, shape, or form I'm for. I love the idea of putting the garlic into the boiling potatoes. Never done that before but it definitely enhances the flavor. I think it's a very cute dish to serve to children. Especially for a party. Easy to pick up and eat. The ingredients are items you already have in your house. So for a nice cute dinnerthat your kids can help you make I suggest you make this recipe and soon.





SNACK CORNER:* It's time for snack corner! Where we take new snacks in the grocery
store and break it down for you. We tell you which are hot and which
are not. Let's get to this week's pick:

WW points: *2 per package


Dinah: Tonight we bring you the latest from Dole. Banana Dippers are slices of frozen banana's dippped in dark chocolate. The thought of them alone is pretty great but the taste of these takes it to a whole new level. These are great in the morning for a quick breakfast or an afternoon delight. 2 points for 4 delish slices? Epic. Oh but be sure to keep them in your freezer. Mushy banana's and melty chocolate do not equal good times.



Ma: I love frozen fruit to begin with. Although I have never had frozen banana before. So if you're looking for a nice and nutrious treat that all ages will love these treats can't be beat. I'm not a big dark chocolate fan but I have to say poured ocer frozen banana's it is delicious. So try to find them it's worth the trip.




That's it folks, we'll see you here next Tuesday for more foodie goodness. Have a great week guys!

 

Spoons & Spatula's
~Dinah & Ma