Cinco de Mayo!

OK, so I'm a few weeks late! I love Mexican food and I've been trying to find as many ways as possible to enjoy it while on NS (if anyone at Nutrisystem Headquarters is reading- bring back the Beef Tacos!!!!). I read about a great way to adapt the veggie fajita into a delicious Mexican dinner.

Vegetable Fajita (Dinner):


Make it into Mexican lasagna, of course!


1 pkg vegetable fajita
chopped onions, green peppers, tomatoes
8 oz water
garlic powder, pepper, chili powder, and cumin (to taste)
1 tbsp green chilis
1/4 cup red enchilada sauce
1 tortilla
1/2 cup cheese
2 tbsp sour cream
chopped green onions and tomatoes for garnish

In a pan, saute chopped onions, bell peppers, 8 oz water, fajita mix, spices, and chilis until thickened. Add enchilada sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cut tortilla in six equal triangles, then start layering into lasagna, alternating tortillas, cheese, sour cream, and fajita mixture. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, and garnish with sour cream, diced tomatoes, and green onions.

This is SO filling and delicious. I was stuffed by the time I finished the bowl. The best part is, since everyone gets to add a carb with the veggie fajita, anyone can enjoy this recipe. I happen to be one of those nuts who like the fajita just the way it is, but it is definitely improved when served like this!

Flex Meals (Breakfast):

Here are the stats for a breakfast on your own:

Breakfast

1 Dairy Serving
1 Lean Protein Serving
1 Fruit Serving
1 Low Glycemic Carbohydrate Serving

I got this recipe idea off the NS boards, and while it's not very photogenic- it's delicious! It does require some prep time though so unless you're lucky enough to be on maternity leave like I am, you might want to save it for a weekend treat.

Cherry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast Bowl


2 pieces of low calorie wheat bread
2 oz fat free cream cheese
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp Splenda
1/4 cup + 1 tsp Egg Beaters
1/4 cup fat free milk

1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp Splenda
1/3 c sugar free cherry pie filling

Spray a single serving casserole dish with PAM spray. In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with lemon juice, 1 tbsp Splenda, and 1 tsp Egg Beaters. Set it aside. In another small bowl mix together 1/4 cup Egg Beaters, milk, vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp of Splenda. In the casserole dish, break up one slice of bread into small chunks. Top it with the cream cheese mixture. Add the cherry pie filling, then the next slice of bread, also broken into chunks. Pour the egg mixture on top and press the bread down well to make sure all the egg mixture soaks up into it. Spray the top with some cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Let it sit for a few minutes after you take it out of the oven before you devour it!

Will someone please tell me how it is possible to eat such yummy things for breakfast and still lose weight? Bueller?


And here's another review of a tasty NS dessert item. Don't forget that chocolate melts during the summer so if you want to order some of these, do it soon!

Thin Mint Crisp Bar (Dessert):


Yum! This is basically a chocolate granola bar with mint flavouring drizzled with chocolate. I do like the Mint Chocolate Crunch Bar better but that's because I prefer just plain chocolate. I do enjoy this for a change of pace though- definitely give it a try if you like mint.

Mmm...

It's been a pretty good day. I tried four new things again, and liked them all!

For breakfast, I had the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. My bad though, I left it in the microwave for too long and it dried out a bit. If you order this, put it in for 2 1/2 minutes, not 3! It still tasted pretty good but it was nothing special. It doesn't look great in the picture but then again, oatmeal isn't all that photogenic anyway, especially when it's been nuked for too long. Honestly, I probably won't order this much next month but that's only because I really love the baked goods like the blueberry muffin, apple strudel scone, and cranberry orange pastry.



For lunch, I decided to try the Fettuccine Alfredo. This comes in a little container like those ramen bowls, and same idea; you add water, let it sit, stir, and eat. At first I had my doubts... I saw all those noodles just floating in white tinged water and it didn't look very appetizing. But I followed the directions and covered it up with a tupperware lid while I ate my salad, and when I came back for it and stirred it up, the sauce had thickened and it looked pretty good. It tasted pretty good, too (which I am glad about because I ordered four of them and got two more in the free week of food that they choose for you!). Unfortunately no picture today since I didn't get lunch until after 2:30. The baby decided napping was for sissies, and I just wanted to eat! I'll get one next time.

Dinner was absolutely phenomenal. I decided to have a Veggie Fajita. When I opened the pouch and poured it into a bowl, I was starting to have reservations about it. It smelled really strongly and looked like nothing so much as one of those boxed Stouffer's stuffing mixes. You add a cup of water to it and microwave it for 5 minutes, stir, and microwave it again. I was still a little nervous about it when I spooned it onto a wrap (you provide your own) but Dan thought it smelled good. I took a bite, and WOW. It was fantastic. It was spicy (but not too hot), filling, flavourful, and delicious. I wish I had ordered more of these but I only have one more in my cupboard. I would definitely recommend this meal to everyone who tries Nutrisystem. The best part was, it kept me full all night. I wasn't even really hungry for my dessert! (Yes, there is a plate under the wrap- it's just a really small plate so you can't see it.)



Of course, I had to eat my dessert anyway- it's part of the program. I decided to try the Chocolate Nougat Bar. Also a great choice- when I bit into it, it tasted just like a regular candy bar. I was very impressed! It's on the small side but it's very rich and sweet so I didn't feel like I needed or wanted any more.



I really enjoyed my meals today- probably more than I would have if I was just eating random crap lying around the house. I certainly didn't have yummy desserts every day before I started Nutrisystem. Who woulda thunk it- go on a diet to eat dessert?