NICE: Hardy Wholesome Breakfast Sandwich

One of my favorite weekend activities is making breakfast.

Sounds lame, I know, but I love it! On the morning show shift, there isn't a ton of time to leisurely make the most important meal of the day so I don't get to be very creative - oatmeal, smoothie, turkey sausages, etc. Weekends are full of frittatas, pancakes, scrambled eggs, French toast and BREAKFAST SANDWICHES!

As you well know, I'm a huge fan of farmers markets. In Tulsa there's one on Cherry Streets on Saturdays where you can get one of the best breakfast sandwiches you'll ever taste. The Bohemia Love Food truck.... ohhhhh myyyyy!! Had one Saturday, made this leaner option Sunday. Delish!


You Will Need:
1 Large egg
1 Sandwich Thin
1 tbs crumbled goat's cheese
1/4 cup baby arugula
1 slice fully cooked Canadian Bacon
1 oz avocado

Super easy. Toast the bread (I use the oven broiler),

 fry the egg in a little bit of light oil sunny side up, heat your Canadian bacon in the pan and assemble! Salt and pepper to taste.

The version at the farmers market has some amazing sauce on it, which probably makes it way higher in calories. In this version the sunny side up egg acts as a sauce as it melts with the goats cheese. YUM! This meal will only set you back 100 calories! Leave off the Canadian bacon and you're looking at 250. Not bad for a meal that will get you through the day.

Question for you:

What's your favorite breakfast food? 

Xoxo

NICE: DIY Trail Mix

I'm always looking for a snack I can take on the go.

Most of my favorite bars are kind of expensive... $1.50 - $2.00 a pop!

I still buy these delicious treats, but it's nice to have other, less expensive options. 

Trail Mix. If you're like me you eat MOST of the mix. Pick out your favorites and if you're desperately hungry you might finish off the rest. I'm not the first person to think of making your own, but maybe my recent self discovery will encourage you to try some!

These puppies saved me while we were out covering storm damage. Luckily, I had made 25 bags so there was plenty to eat and share.

A lot of things I pre-make have short shelf lives. These puppies will last for a good long while!

Bulk bins have changed my life. They're at most grocery stores in town:

... even the less expensive ones. 

Here's where I load up on just the kinds I like. You can do as you please, but for this recipe... 

You Will Need:

2 cups raw almonds

2 cups roasted and salted cashew halves (they were on sale)

1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries

Mix it together and divide it up in snack bags! A really easy way to make sure you're having a low calorie snack is to figure out your portions in a recipe calculator. 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator

If you take this recipe and divide it evenly in 25 bags you're looking at 193 calories per serving!

Some other ideas - mini peanut butter cups, chocolate covered blue berries, other nuts!

I use this app and website to see how much queso I can eat. Seriously. Type in a recipe and decide how may portions it gives.

Question for you:

What are your favorite trail mix goodies??

xoxo

NICE: BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad

It's about that time, folks. Time to volunteer to bring a delicious dish to the next summer get together! Always looking for yummy and light summer options! 

Got to visit one of my FAVORITES this weekend. Not only is she fabulous, she's one fantastic chef. Needless to say we ate well this weekend :) Between the two of us we came up with a BBQ Chicken salad of some sort. Neither one of us are big lettuce eaters. Spinach? Yes. Iceberg? Don't waste our time. Got home and got to Google-ing recipes. THIS ONE came up. A lot of inspiration came from that dish! 

This is one fantastic dish. Trust me. I've tried a LOT. I've even portioned some out and put it in the freezer for later. They make fantastic frozen lunches :) Put them in the fridge the night before. Best part - they can be served COLD so they would make a great lunch box item for those who don't always have microwave access... like news reporters. 

You Will Need:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa 
• 1/2 cup frozen or fresh corn, thawed
• 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup shredded chicken, cooked
• 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce of your choice
• 1/2 large avocado, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Cilantro, as garnish (if you want) 

Cook quinoa according to package directions. I like to make mine with chicken broth and garlic to make it extra tasty! 

When it comes to the chicken - I recommend a slower cooker. Made mine: 1 lb chicken breast, 1/3 cup BBQ sauce and 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion. This makes almost double what you will need for the recipe. You will need to prep some time for this part - it takes a little while. 

In a large bowl, mix together quinoa, corn, black beans, chicken, spinach and barbecue sauce. Fold in avocado, green onions and season with salt and pepper. Top with a bit of cilantro and enjoy! You can eat this over any other green veggie of your choosing! 

By my calculations with the ingredients I used, this dish rings in 261 calories, 37 carbs, 6 g fat, 19 g protein, 6 g sugar per serving! Not too shabby. 

BBQ is quickly becoming one of my most craved ingredients this spring. It's wonderful because you don't need to do much more in the way of seasoning your dishes. Look for low sugar sauces to be more friendly to your waste line. 

Question For You:

What flavors do you crave this spring? 

xoxo!

NAUGHTY: Inside Camp Side Dip!

As you well know, I'm a Pinterest FREAK. Seriously. Some days are worse than others, but my food pins outweigh most posts. Follow me if you please: http://pinterest.com/lauranealmoss/

The "pinner" calls this "s'mores crack dip"... I changed the name. When I was checking out at the grocery store with my supplies, the checker asked, "Are you getting ready for a camping trip?" and I replied, "This is more of an inside camp side dish!"

For the original recipe: http://www.bakeaholicmama.com/2013/01/smore-crack-dip.html

Yes, we're doing a dessert. Yes, it's not an everyday food. Yes, I eat healthfully and master the stair master just for treats like these. Pick your own poisons and workouts according to this "recipe" and you won't have a problem :)

You Will Need:
1 cup of milk chocolate chips
2 tbs of milk
1 1/4 cups of mini marshmallows
graham crackers for dipping

In a sauce pan add chocolate chips, milk and 1 cup of marshmallows. Mix over medium heat until melted and smooth.

Pour chocolate mixture into casserole dish and cover with remaining marshmallows.

Put dish in your oven broiler and cook until marshmallows brown. Serve and enjoy!!

This dish should be served immediately after making - the chocolate will take it's hardened shape again after cooling.

Had a sweet and beautiful sou chef working with me this week! I have the pleasure of hanging out with Samantha on a regular basis. She's one of the extremely talented Tulsa Girls Art School students. So proud of her and all of the hard work she does :) PS - she gave this dip 2 thumbs up!!!

Question for you:

What's your favorite summer time treat?

xoxo!!

NICE: Chicken Enchiladas

Like I said, probably part Hispanic based on my favorite food group: MEXICAN FOOD.

Why not? It's cheesy, it's delicious, it's my favorite. Tres Leches is one of my favorite desserts. YUM.

Today we're making chicken enchiladas! We're going "nice" on this one. Because if you're going naughty you may as well just go to your favorite cantina.

This recipe is based on one by one of my all time favorite sources, Cooking Light. Find it here: http://www.myrecipes.com/m/recipe/chicken-enchiladas-with-salsa-verde-10000001173802/

From Cooking Light (www.myrecipes.com)

This recipe serves 4 with 2 enchiladas per serving.

YOU WILL NEED: 

1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (7-ounce) bottle salsa verde 
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
 Cooking spray
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled queso fresco
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
4 lime wedges

Preheat oven to 425°.

Combine first 4 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

Combine chicken and cream cheese in a large bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup salsa mixture.

Reserve remaining salsa mixture.

Bring broth to a simmer in a medium skillet. Working with one tortilla at a time, add tortilla to pan; cook 20 seconds or until moist, turning once. Remove tortilla; drain on paper towels. Spoon about 1/4 cup chicken mixture down center of tortilla; roll up. Place tortilla, seam-side down, in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas, broth, and chicken mixture.

Pour remaining salsa mixture over enchiladas; sprinkle evenly with queso fresco and chili powder.

Bake at 425° for 18 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with lime wedges. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.

• Calories: 327
• Calories from fat: 26%
• Fat: 9.5g
• Saturated fat: 4.4g
• Monounsaturated fat: 2.9g
• Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g
• Protein: 28.5g
• Carbohydrate: 31g
• Fiber: 3.3g
• Cholesterol: 78mg
• Iron: 1.8mg
• Sodium: 493mg
• Calcium: 149mg

This is very easy to freeze or prep ahead of time and cook at a later date!

What's your favorite kind of food? 

xoxo!

NICE: Spinach Artichoke Dip

Not a fan of sitting around eating a bag of chips. That is, unless you have a bowl of something deliciously gooey and fatty to dip them in :)

A few weeks ago, I made a "nice" queso ....
so. good.

When I make a Naughty or Nice meal on Good Morning Oklahoma it has to be SUPER low maintenance. As in, I can transport it easily to the station in the middle of the night and it takes very little prep work. Because it gets thrown together during commercial breaks and weather segments. The magic of TV may be ruined for you now - for this I am not sorry. We are busy behind the scenes!!

First... I peeked through my pins on Pinterest
http://pinterest.com/ktulchannel8/meals-naughty-and-nice/

Then I took to my facebook page to get your advice on what I should
make https://www.facebook.com/LauraNealMoss

You guys voted for Spinach Dip. Thank you. Crazy easy and it's not bad for you!

This is where I found the idea:

http://foodiesnpup.blogspot.com/2012/09/hot-skinny-spinach-dip.html


You will need:

12 oz bag frozen spinach
2/3 c fat free Greek yogurt
4 green onions, finely sliced
3 clove garlic, minced
1 c shredded part skim mozzarella
1/2 c shredded Parmesan
1/2 can artichoke hearts drained and chopped
pepper or red chili flakes (to taste)

Completely thaw your spinach either in the microwave or by letting sit for a day in the refrigerator.

Squeeze out as much liquid as you can by hand and then press between two paper towels to remove the rest.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 4x4 dish or four 1-inch ramekins with non-stick.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.

Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, until dip is bubbling and the cheese is starting to brown around the edges.  Serve hot.

This dip can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or so before it is baked.  Just cover a ramekin to store and pop it in the oven when you're ready to eat it.

You could also put more cheese or panko bread crumbs on the top for some crunch!

This recipe makes 8 servings. With out the chips or crackers, this comes to 110 calories per serving! Find a low cal chip and dig in ;)


YUM!

Question For You:

What's your favorite dip?

XOXO!

NICE: Cheeseburger Wraps

If you've been watching GMO, or the evening news on KTUL you've noticed a bit of a burger obsession by our very own Charles Ely:

http://www.ktul.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8350635

Chuck has been trying burgers all over town... and making us hungry. Andrew and I went to Claude's one day to have one and I've been craving burgers ever since!!

Luckily... I recently "Pinned" a healthier version. So, I tried it of course! It's delicious.

This is where it started:

http://www.semihomemademom.com/2011/09/grilled-cheeseburger-wraps.html

You Will Need:

1 lb ground beef (93% lean)
1/2 chopped onion

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I used a little more to taste)

1 tablespoon ketchup (organic and or low sugar)

pepper and salt to taste

5 whole wheat tortillas

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

sliced tomatoes

yellow mustard (Dijon tastes delish!)

spinach

 

First, caramelize your onions.

 

 

Then add ground beef and brown.

 

 

Drain out the grease. Add Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and salt and pepper. Let simmer for 5 minutes.

 

Assemble your wrap!

 

 

In the tortilla add some shredded cheese, 1/5 of your meat mixture, a squirt of mustard, couple of slices of your tomato and some spinach. Wrap it up and place it seam down on the skillet or grill.

 

 

Brown on both sides. Serve with fruit and another veggie!

 

YUM! These are fantastic and the toppings can also be used on some greens for a "cheeseburger salad".

 

 

Question for you:

 

What's your favorite indulgence?

 

xoxo!