• stirrin’ things up with some stir fry

    So how do you feel about stir fry?  This was a question posed to me not too long ago and to be honest I didn’t have much of an answer.  I mean I have had my fair share of stir fry, ok maybe not my fair share but at least a couple here and there and they were always ok.  Probably my favorite was this one that I fixed last year (yes, I don’t fix stir fry that often) but for some odd reason I was craving a little stir fry. I was at the grocery store when the craving hit me and I immediately went back to the produce…

  • the skinny on cornbread

    If you were to ask The Hubby what his favorite all time side is you might be surprised what his answer would be…some might say mashed potatoes (Ok I would say mashed potatoes), some might say rice or broccoli but The Hubby would say cornbread.  He LOVES cornbread!!  There is just one problem…cornbread can be crazy fattening and not very conducive to a healthier eating plan, so I have been working on a lightened-up version of The Hubby’s favorite…only in muffin form! So why muffins…two reasons really.  They make it easy for portion control and they are cute….so its a win all the way around.  If you do not want to make…

  • all day beans…pinto beans

    I don’t know about you but this weekend is going to be all about finishing up some around the house projects and enjoying the nice weather we are going to be having…nice like in weather in the low 80’s with a nice breeze.  This is one of the many reason I love living in SE Texas in February…now of course ask me how I feel about it in the summer and I might be singing a different song then…but for now I will take this crazy nice weekend and enjoy a nice pot of beans when all the work is done.   So you might be asking why would would…

  • skinny oatmeal n muffins

    Mornings are made for muffins…like these blueberry muffins, strawberry muffins, chocolate chip muffins or even these bran muffins  but sometimes muffins can be really full of all that stuff we don’t need (i.e. fat, calories & points)…but don’t worry I found these muffins!   First off I love oatmeal & I love muffins so the idea of putting oatmeal in a muffin made me a little giddy and then add in some brown sugar and maple syrup and I get super giddy.  Not only are these muffins loaded with things I love but they also taste anything but skinny, they actually taste very indulgent and you might even have some thoughts of guilt…

  • a skinny tetrazzini…but don’t tell anyone

    Some of my most favorite dinners are those from my childhood and chicken tetrazzini is one for sure.  There is just something so good about pasta, chicken and a creamy sauce all cooked together in a casserole.  To be honest I am not sure if it was the actual dish or just the fact that I LOVED casseroles.   My love of casserole’s started at an early age, some of my first memories of family dinners included a casserole of some sort or another.  My mom would make everything from a mac-n-cheese hamburger casserole to this enchilada casserole and of course her classic chicken tetrazzini, but as I have grown up I realized…

  • takin’ it slow with pork chops

    Happy Monday and Happy (day after) Valentines Day.  I hope your weekend was something to remember.  We had a busy one here in…my uncle came in for my Mammaw’s 89th birthday, we had a birthday party for her (recipes from the party will be coming soon), we played her favorite marble game and then yesterday The Hubby treated me to a special dinner and then a little chocolate treat after…it was truly a special weekend that we will treasure for a long, long time. Now that all the fun is over (at least for now) it is time to start getting back on track and this slow cooker pork chop…

  • have I mentioned I LOVE pink velvet?

    Valentines is one of my most favorite holidays…it has lots of chocolate, pink, and hearts everywhere…what could be better?  OK, now I know Christmas has it’s beauty as well, but there is just something so special about all the pink & red hearts and celebrating love.  BTW…it is also my Mammaw’s birthday so it is a special day just for that…and it calls for these pink velvet cupcakes for sure. In my world Valentines Day is all about pink everything and these pink velvet cupcakes are AMAZING!  Not only is the cupcake itself pink but I also tinted the icing making it a darker pink than the cupcake…giving it the perfect…

  • a memory remade for my love from veracruz

    Do you and your love go out to eat on Valentines Day or do you stay home and enjoy a quite night without all the crowds.  The Hubby and I have done both, and we both agree staying home is really nice.  You can fix exactly what you want (like this tilapia veracruz) and then you can watch your favorite romcom and call it a night…it is a win win for everyone. Now most Valentines Day that we stay home The Hubby will grill steaks and I will fix some sides that we both love, such as twice baked potatoes, creamed spinach and then something yummy for dessert…but this year…

  • skinny brownies full of fudgy goodness

    If you have been around Half Baked Land very much you know that brownies are a favorite for The Hubby and I both, but lets be real brownies are not the best option when you are trying to watch your waistline and what you are eating….that is until now….now we have skinny brownies. Now in my quest to find a delicious, fudgy and rich skinnier brownie I went through several versions that were not so delicious, or fudgy or rich.  I found a few that were too cakey or too bland or even worse way too dry, but finally it all came together and this pan of brownies came out…

  • fryin’ up a super yummy onion strings

    What are you serving up this weekend for the Big Game?  Are you doing all appetizers, BBQ, pot luck, or burgers and hot dogs?  Whatever you are serving these onion strings are amazing and will be a hit with all your guests for sure!   Ok, now I know I have been trying to eat healthier and post healthier recipes but sometimes you just have to splurge a little and for me Super Bowl Sunday is always one of those days.  Now I am not saying you have to go crazy but a little splurge here and there will be ok.  For me a splurge is either going to be…