Monday, January 3, 2011

Pasta salad & fruit crumble bars

It is now January 3rd.... and I am sitting here thinking about New Years Resolutions....  My goal is to make small managable changes in my diet (healthier eating) and to incorporate excercise at least 3 times a week...Also hoping with these changes that the 15 lbs that I have gained since last summer goes away by summer 2011.... so with that I decided to make a healthy pasta salad with lots of veggies in it... and since my family still loves dessert a fruit crumble...hey a girl has to have a little something to "sweeten" her up doesn't she.... diet coke doesn't count ;)  LOL.. enjoy and here's to a healthier 2011 :)


Pasta Salad

1/3 of a box of orzo pasta, cooked and drained
1 can tuna, drained and flaked
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 tbls green olives sliced
1/2 each red, yellow & orange bell peppers, diced
1 stalk of celery, thinly sliced
1 carrot, diced


dressing:

Lite Miracle Whip, (I used about 1/2 cup)
2 Tbls. yellow mustard
2 tbls. dill pickle juice
1 tbls regular mayo
 Seasoned salt & pepper to taste


In serving bowl combine dressing mixture.  Add remainder of ingredients mixing well.  If salad is still dry can add a little more Miracle whip and a little additonal pickle juice to thin it out and give it flavor.  Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.



Fruit filled crumble bars

1/2 yellow or white cake mix
1 3/4 cups oatmeal (I use old fashioned oats)
2/3 stick of butter, melted
1/2 cup jam (can use whatever flavor you like, raspberry, strawberry etc)
2 Tbls. hot water


In large bowl mix cake mix & oatmeal.  Add melted butter and mix until crumbly.  Press 1/2 mixture in an 8x8 ungreased square pan.  In another bowl mix jam and water until mixture is thined out.  Pour over crust mixture spreading out over top (be careful and not get too much attached to the sides of the pan cause the sugar has a tendancy to burn), sprinkle remaining cake mixture over top pressing down slightly to even out.  Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes (mixture will look not done, and will be pale and not brown), but any additional cooking will burn the bottom.  Cool and cut into squares.  Enjoy

3 comments:

  1. They both sound yummy!! I have a couple bread mixes that I probably won't use to make the bread. I wonder if I could use one in place of the cake mix?
    Here is a suggestion that worked for me: If you get completely away from carbonated beverages, you should drop 10 pounds right away. Like I said, it worked for me. Water is my main beverage. I don't even buy soda.
    I am fighting the same battle for 2011, but my weight loss amount is 30 pounds.

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  2. I really need to lose 30 lbs... that is my total goalf or 2011.... But trying to take it 15 lbs at a time.... geesh 30 lbs for me seems like so hard but 15 seems managable??? Don't know about the bread maybe try it??? Just had a thought why not add a little sugar to the bread dough mix and make cinnamon rolls, adding butter, brown sugar & cinnamon to the dough after rolling out...or maybe use the mix to make pizza pockets or pizza's... just a thought..or pasties... that should be my next blog..pasties.. easy & yummy....

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  3. oops forgot the pop....Diet coke I so love it.... drink a couple glasses a day... that is gonna be a hard one for me....trying to drink more water which I am a water drinker...but love diet coke too.... maybe cut it down to one glass a day???

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