Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Beautiful Blogger Award



My friend & mama to be JQ nominated my blog for this award. I hope to keep improving and working on the blog. Many thanks JQ~!

Here are the rules for the award:
Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
Copy the award and paste it to your blog.
Tell us 7 interesting facts about yourself.
Nominate 7 bloggers that you love and link to their blog.

Here are my 7 "interesting" facts:

1. I have been a Super Bowl Champ in a fantasy football league.
2. I love making my own bread for Stromboli's.
3. Hines Ward gave me a football during a game.
4. I still talk to my best friend from college almost every day!
5. My husband and I say Hi! to each other at least 25 times (or more a day)!
6. I've never driven a stick shift.
7. My Grandma's was good friends with the family of Jim from 'The Office'.

My cousin, Laura - Along for the Ride
Candice - Magic Everything
Nuelsi - Newlywed Adventures in Pittsburgh
Erica - Simply Satisfying
Molly - That's Life
Dori - The Drive
Jennifer - The Grays in Doha

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Hungry Girl Buffalo Chicken Dip



There are 2 recipes. My friend, D, shared this one. Good! Makes you wonder if you ever want to make the full calorie version again?! Easy to make & a perfect appetizer for the Super Bowl!

Hungry Girl Buffalo Chicken Dip
Source: Hungry Girl

Ingredients
- 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 8-oz. fat-free cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup fat free sour cream
- 1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 2 tbsp low calorie butter ( I used Brummel & Brown)
- 1/2 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Dry Mix

NOTE: If you are feeling lazy, you can use two 9.75oz cans of white chicken meat in water (drained), instead of the grilled chicken, but the taste isn’t nearly as good as using actual grilled chicken breasts.

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rub chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Spray a skillet with non-fat cooking spray, and set on med/high heat. Put in chicken breasts, and cook until brown on both sides and meat is cooked through. Once meat is cooked, cut it up into bite sized shredded chunks. Set aside. In a large, oven safe bowl, stir cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in chicken and other remaining ingredients, and mix until thoroughly combined. Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until dip has heated all the way through.

Entire recipe makes 12 servings
Serving size is approx 1/2 cup
Each serving = 2 Point Total

I served with celery. Can use the regular dip implements as well!

Friday, February 5, 2010

PIzza Dough



mmmmmm ~~ on a snowy night.... fresh, hot, homemade pizza coming out of the oven. What could be better?! Ben prides himself in his pizza making skills. This is an example. He likes making his own dough - he wanted me to blog this recipe because it's his favorite so far. We are on the search for a good homemade sauce recipe - if anyone has one, let us know!!

Pizza Dough

Ingredients
6 1/2 cups bread flour (we used all-purpose)
2 cups warm water
2 1/2 tsp. salt
100 milliliters olive oil
2 tsp. active dry yeast (1 packet)
1 pinch sugar

Direction
Begin by activating yeast by mixing together the water, yeast and sugar and letting sit for about 10 minutes.

Combine flour, salt, olive oil and yeast mixture and stir until a dough begins to form.

Knead dough on a lightly floured board for about 10 - 15 minutes ~ we used our kitchenaide mixer with the dough hook. For about 10 minutes. It will form a dough ball.

Put dough ball into an oiled bowl and let rise for about 2-3 hours or until double in size.

Cut in half (we cut in thirds), form desired shape & top with your favorite pizza toppings! Bake! Enjoy!