Hash brown casserole

	6 slice(s) uncooked turkey bacon, sliced crosswise into 1⁄4-inch strips
	3 cup(s) frozen hash brown potatoes, 12 ounces
	1/2 medium onion, diced
	3 large eggs
	3 large egg whites 1/2 diced red pepper * (optional)
	3/4 cup(s) 1% low-fat cottage cheese, small-curd
	2/3 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
	3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
	3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
	3/4 tsp poultry seasoning, or ground sage
	1/2 tsp baking powder
	1/4 tsp table salt
	1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground   Place the oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat oven to 375ºF. Spray a 1 1⁄2-quart shallow baking dish with nonstick spray. Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until nearly crisp, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes. Add the onions and cook for another minute or two until lightly browned, then add the potatoes; continue cooking and stirring until tender, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Beat together the eggs and egg whites in a large bowl until blended. Beat in the cottage cheese, 1⁄3 cup of the cheddar cheese, the Parmesan cheese, flour, poultry seasoning or sage, baking powder, salt, and pepper until combined. Stir in the cooled potato mixture and spread evenly into the baking dish. Bake until golden and set in the center, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1⁄3 cup cheddar cheese. Let stand until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes, and serve hot or warm. Serves 6  (6 pt+)

Cheesy Scalloped potatoes and ham

This is a delicious comfort food that feeds a crowd and is perfect for using leftover ham.
 (you may omit the ham if you prefer)

Cheesy Scalloped potatoes and ham

1 TBSP Butter

2 TBSP flour

2 C milk

1 tsp salt (reduce salt if you are using ham)
1/2 medium onion (finely diced)
1/4 tsp pepper

1 TBSP. Parsley flakes

1 C reduced fat cheddar cheese (grated)

2 pounds red potatoes (thinly sliced)
6 oz ham, cubed

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until onions are translucent. Mix in the flour , and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Add salt, pepper, and parsley. Cook until mixture has thickened (will be several minutes). Stir in cheese and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds.

Add potatoes and stir to mix thoroughly. Then pour mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish. 

Cover with foil and cook for 25-30 minutes. Remove tinfoil and continue cooking another 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. 


Serves:


6 servings  -  7 pt+  (without ham  5 pt+)


8 servings  5 pt+  (without ham, 4 pt+)

UNDER CONSTRUCTION....my little blog remodel

It's been a long time since I posted--for good reasons, really. (if anyone out there reads this blog anymore!!)

For those of you who don't know me personally or read my family blog, I can tell you it's been a BUSY few months! I had my baby in July, my appendix out in August, school starting in September, my husband gone the whole month of October, and obviously holidays and such in November...lots has been going on.

And on top of that, I've been working like a madwoman to lose some weight that I have been carrying around for WAY too many years! I joined weight watchers at the end of July, and since then have lost 43 pounds to date! I FEEL SO GOOD.

I have a lot of people asking me what I have been eating to lose weight--and the simple truth is, I eat what I already was making...I just know the correct portion size now and have found some ways to make certain dishes with less fat and unhealthy stuff. I personally love food too much to abandon it for salad. :) But finding a happy medium  has been JUST what I needed to be healthier.  The weight loss journey I have been on isn't just to shed the pounds...it's been for my whole family to become healthier overall, so that we can hopefully raise our children embracing a lifestyle of health and wellness--tasty food AND dessert included! :)

While I can't promise each recipe can be remade in a healthier way (sometimes you've just got to splurge!), I DO plan on going back through each of my posts and making each dish according to the recipe I have written and updating them as I make changes (because sometimes I tend to do that without thinking, and the new way is really the easier or better way! :)

Am hoping to be able to put nutrition facts with my meals, as well as portion size--but I will be adding the new WW points plus values to each my my recipes--if for no other reason than my own reference, because we as a family plan on eating healthy for  life! If you know people who are doing WW or plan on joining, send them over! I hope to help prove that you don't need a bunch of frozen diet meals and salad to lose the weight and be healthy--

:) Anyway, please excuse the virtual dust as I make over these recipes (and pictures!!) so it will be a more user friendly (and healthy) place...