Awesome Eats

I'm teaching a sports/math summer enrichment program.  Which basically means I have a class of hilarious, rowdy, 8 and 9 year old boys.  Today at recess they were running around like crazy all burning off energy in their own way.  A few of them wanted to play soccer, I wanted to bond with my kids.  The result was a 4 on 1 soccer game.  Want to guess who the one was?  (P.S. - I don't play soccer.  I was asked to play one year and never asked back.)  Wow they made me work.  However, I overheard this while playing, "Think of how cool it'd be if all our teachers liked sports!"  Smile.  It only took them 30 years, but boys finally realize how cool I am.  Too bad they're third graders.  Maybe someday grownup men will get the memo too.

Then it was off to night class.  I got there about 5 min early so I checked my email in the parking lot and then my phone died (oldest iPhone ever, like the original, none of this 3 or 4 stuff).  No biggie except I walk in to find someone besides my professor unlocking the door and telling us the professor will be an hour late.  So while everyone else is catching up on emails, texts, facebooks, twitters, etc. I am staring blankly into space.  Half an hour wasted.  Yikes!  When I am gone for 13 hour days I don't have time for that.  Stressed me out that she was late and then class went over time.  Boo.

However, during my just Abby & her thoughts (which can be scary) half an hour I realized I forgot to tell you about the two new recipes I discovered Sunday night.  They are super easy, fabulous, and reduced calorie. 

This is my new favorite dip.  No problem to make.  I just prepared it ahead of time (easy, peasy) and popped it in the oven before my friends were set to arrive.  The best type of dip: quick, easy, and comparatively low cal. 

Warm Artichoke & Goat Cheese Dip

Lightened Up

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened

4 ounces of goat cheese, softened

2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced

Dash of cayenne pepper (I love spicy so I added more)
Dash of cracked black pepper
14-ounce can artichoke hearts, thoroughly drained
*crackers, bread, or pita chips 

Let the cheeses soften a bit and then mix them all together thoroughly (I saved a bit of the goat cheese to sprinkle on top), along with the garlic and the peppers.

Squeeze the artichokes with paper towels until you have gotten most of the liquid out of them. Chop them up add them to the cheese mixture. Gently fold in the artichokes.

Place the mixture into an oven-proof dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, sprinkle with remaining goat cheese, cook 5 additional minutes.  Remove from the oven and serve.

Dish Stats:

Entire Dish = 967 calories & 68 grams of fat

Split into 8 decent sized servings = 121 calories & 9 grams of fat  Hello new best friend!

I also discovered a to die for dessert.  These were the first food to vanish and it isn't hard to see why.  Only a few ingredients, fast, delicious, and way healthier than most sweet treats.  2 thumbs up.  I am already planning when I will get a chance to make them again.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

2 lbs. strawberries

8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese, softened 
4 tbsp powdered sugar 
1 tsp vanilla extract
*optional - blueberries

Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top and clean out the inside with a knife.  Set all strawberries aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Place cheesecake mixture in a ziploc bag a cut one corner off (small cut). Fill strawberries with cheesecake mixture. Once I filled the strawberries I decided to decorate a bit with blueberries I had just gotten at the farmers' market. 

Then try not to eat the entire bunch immediately and refrigerate until serving.  Happiness!  (Way better than eating a huge slice of cheesecake.)

Dish Stats:

For all 2lbs of cheesecake berries = 1,023 calories & 48 grams of fat

I got about 30 berries from mine so they were each about = 34 calories & 2 grams of fat 

3 of these berries may be my new 100 calorie pack daily dessert replacement. 
I have to have just a little sweet stuff every day.  These kick those 100 calorie packs butt!

The whole True Blood viewing party spread.
I'll come up with any excuse to cook.  

Runner's World Summer Run Streak -

Day 17 =1 mile

Total Miles Run = 61

*Wow, this has been a rough week.  Don't worry I am not off the wagon I've just been super busy and a bit under the weather.  I am trying to eat ridiculously healthy though so my clothes don't get tight.  Promise I'll try to kill it this week/next week.