Tomato-Zucchini Tart FTW!

The Tomato-Zucchini Tart from the Points System E-Mealz Recipe/Meal Plan was a-freakin'-mazing.

This time I took photos of the process just to show you how yummy it looks as you prepare it! I made a few slight alterations to the original recipe (spinach for basil b/c Wal-Mart was OUT of fresh basil??)

I try not to share the E-Mealz recipes too often.. but I know many of my friends who have signed up after sneak previews! If you want to try E-Mealz (read my post about it here) just click the little link on the right side of the page. It'll change your life (only slightly exaggerating here, folks!)

Tomato-Zucchini Tart

Ingredients:
GV Pie Crust (the unfold and bake kind) 
1 medium zucchini 
(1 T olive oil) 
1 large tomato 
3 slices FF turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled 
1/2 c fresh spinach, chopped
1/3 c FF Parmesan cheese 
(1/3 c light mayo, 1/2 t salt, 1/4 t pepper)


Instructions:
Bake pie crust 9 min @ 450 until golden brown. Let cool.

Sauté zucchini in olive oil until tender

Arrange the zucchini in the bottom of the pie crust. 

Layer fresh tomato slices on top of the zucchini slices.

Combine remaining ingredients and spread evenly on top of the tomatoes.

Bake 15-20 minutes @ 425 or until heated thoroughly. Divides into six portions. 

This is most definitely a repeat! I froze 1/2 for a later date and saved some for lunch tomorrow. What a filling and delicious meal. We served it with green beans with 1/2 slice turkey bacon and 1 small slice of a fresh mini-loaf of pumpernickel bread.

The best part?? 

7 points TOTAL for dinner.

Veggie Tart= 5 Points

Green beans w/turkey bacon= 1 Point

Pumpernickel Bread= 1 Point

Second best part?The meal in total cost less than $7.00! That includes the tart, green beans, and bread which will feed two for dinner and two lunches! 

Amazing? Yes.

Bacon Spinach Penne

DELISH low point meal. It goes something like this:


Ingredients:
12oz whole grain wheat penne pasta
1 bag fresh spinach (marketfresh)
8 slices turkey bacon
1/2 medium onion (diced)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 clove minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 T fat free Parmesan cheese/serving (sprinkle on top)

Cook pasta separately in water.
Cook bacon and cool/dice. Set aside.
Leave of bacon grease (turkey bacon produces VERY VERY little , so I usually add 2 T water to help saute my onions/mushrooms.)
Add diced onions, garlic and mushrooms and sauté. Add spinach and bacon. Cover and stir until spinach wilts. Add in penne pasta and 1/2 water. Stir well. (I sometimes drizzle a mixture of 2 T olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.)

Top with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Yields 6 servings.
Points Total = 5.5

Southwestern Quiche

This was one of my favorite E-Mealz recipes so far (and that's saying a lot because I LOVE almost every recipe.) You can use non FF ingredients, but when you use the FF substitutes, it is only 5 WW points per serving. Very filling and very delish.

Ingredients:
1 deep dish frozen pie crust
1 cup Southwestern Egg Beaters (fat free)
6oz Fat Free Evaporated Milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (fat free)
(salt and pepper to taste)

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients except for the crust :) and beat together. Pour into pie crust and bake for 30 minutes at 345 degrees ...(or until eggs become firm).

Yields 6 servings.

It took mine more like 45 minutes to bake, but all ovens are different! You could also add some tasty sautéd mushrooms and bell peppers to add more veggies if you'd like!

This weather is just ridiculous- and I mean ridiculous in the BEST way! It's sunny with a beautiful breeze and the birds are chirping... I think I feel (/knocks on wood) spring in the air!

We just finished a six or seven mile bike ride and I feel fab. We drove by Central J.H. and a local elementary school. It kind of reminded me of being ten again when I would ride my bike all around my neighborhood. 

Have I told you that I love where we live? There is such a wonderful community here and it just feels like home. I'm glad we decided to buy a home in Springdale. :)

I know what you really want to see though..pictures! So first I'll share with you a delicious recipe from the fantastic E-Mealz service. 

This was a tasty lemon pepper tilapi dish. Simple and easy!

Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine! Whole wheat pasta noodles, FF mushroom soup and parmesan made for a deliciously low point meal. 

My favorite new Yankee Candle scent: Pineapple Cilantro. I'm pretty sure the 'cilantro' just refers to the color, because it definitely doesn't smell like cilantro. 

Last night we had Eve, Steph, Chris, and Stephanie over for a Wii party. Chris and Stephanie brought their pup Prince (see sleeping dog below). He and Bailey had a stellar time chasing each other around the house and backyard. We've determined the B needs more doggy friends. :)

We loves each other. 

Last week was a loooong week. 

Sleeping dog = sign that good times were had!

That's all folks!! Hubs, Dad and I went to the Promenade today and walked all afternoon. I really wanted a good photo with dad, since it has been since the wedding since we have had one (almost two years!). I'll share the results with ya tomorrow.

Night all!

Chim Chim Cher-ee

There is nothing quite like hanging out with a delish mug of coffee next to the fireplace while the snow falls outside. It's been quite the winter wonderland around here! Yesterday, I went to run an errand and when I returned, I walked up to the front door and as I was about to walk inside, a pile of snow fell from the roof. Strange I though.
Well, I get inside, and realize both Bailey and Chase are MIA, so I proceed to the back door just in time to see the hubs run around the corner with miss B. Hubs was throwing snowballs at me! So I ran back inside, put on my rain boots and a few layers and gloves and ran back out. We didn't have a snowball fight though, but focused our efforts on covering Bailey in snow.. it was a blast!

B playing keep away with a football.

We love snow!

B playing in the snow.

Later that evening, Megan stopped by. She was on her way home to Tulsa from the Independence Bowl in Memphis (which the Hogs won!!! Woo pig!). Meg and I both love to bake... so we usually end up doing something of the sort. This time, I had a craving for Chocolate Meringue pie, so that is just what we made. It turned out fab. The meringue you whipped up was perfect, Meg!

Earlier that day for lunch, I chose a dish from my E-mealz "Turkey Reruns" recipe list called 'Turkey Crunch.' Let me tell you.. it was AMAZING! The curry spice made the dish.. hubs, who isn't usually a fan of casseroles, had two large helpings. We decided next time to try it with some sliced potatoes to make it a 'Turkey Crunch Au Gratin.' I'll tell you how that one turns out.

Mm Mm Good!

For family Christmas gifts this year, we opted for a more personal gift. The gift of baked goods! They're delicious, and embody the sense of giving of yourself and you time. I am very excited about baking! Here's a list of what I'm baking/cooking/preparing. In between, I'm making dinner tonight and tomorrow, but that is easy with the help of E-Mealz!!! :)

* Chex Mix (or Trash as my Mamaw called it)
* Chocolate covered pretzels (again)
* Peppermint Bark
* York Peppermint Brownies
* Sugar cookies with the kids' names on them
* Super easy fudge

I also made another batch of Puppy Chow last night for small snack bags.

Tonight we're having something called "Company Chicken" and it sounds delicious! On a really really cool note, Chase got an unexpected bonus this month at work, and we are saving most of it for our snowball, but Chase surprised me with a few really, really sweet gifts.

First was the Harry Potter DVD which we watched last night.. love it! Second was a new yoga mat, because I am really into yoga these days (so is Bailey lol). The next one was a seriously cool temperature gauge that tells the outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, weather forecast, time and date. I usually always ask Chase what the weather is like in the morning. :) Last was my favorite because I have wanted one for quite some time!
*drum roll*

a Crock Pot!!!!

Here's a picture of my loot. Hubs really went above and beyond. What a surprise it was to come home from a long day to this.

E-mealz = E-goodness!

Somehow I stumbled upon the greatest website known to man.. er woman. Also known as e-mealz. I was perusing Dave Ramsey's site and somehow stumbled upon this wonderful website! The goal of the e-mealz program is to eliminate excess groceries, present well balanced meals, and overall help budget your budget! I LOVE it.

Tomorrow I'm going to print off my pre-made grocery spreadsheet with room for me to add my own personal items in and see how much I can save through well planned meals/shopping. (don't forget my coupons, too!!!)

Click Here To Visit E-mealz's website

If you're at all into planning well balanced meals, and are a little OCD about organization, this site is awesome.