Spring is in the air...and it's time for another monthly edition of my Wendy's Great Eight column! This month, you might notice that I've included a new element: because I'm following the Weight Watchers plan, I'm going to include WW Freestyle™ SmartPoints® information for every food or beverage item that I highlight -- data is calculated on the WW Freestyle™ app. I hope those of you who are following this eating plan will find the information helpful...and that you discover some new food items to add to your repertoire.
(1) Litehouse™ FoodsOPA Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing. As the weather gets warmer, we start to include more main dish salads in our weekly dinner rotation. Lean protein, veggies, fruit, etc. are healthy additions...but then comes the dressing. Most regular dressings contain tons of excess fat and calories and make that healthy salad...not so healthy. I was thrilled to discover OPA Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing -- it's a healthier dressing that tastes amazing! This line of Litehouse™refrigerated dressings are creamy from Greek yogurt...so they require much less oil. I've tried two flavors so far: Feta Dill Greek and Avocado Cilantro. Both dresings add delicious flavor to my salads, but I'm especially partial to the Avocado Cilantro. This gluten-free condiment is definitely great on salads, but I also add it to my sandwiches/wraps in place of mayo...and drizzle it on tacos. To find the entire line of OPA Greek Yogurt Salad Dressings near you, check out the website's convenient Where to Buy feature.
WW Freestyle™ SmartPoints® for 2 tbs of dressing: Avocado Cilantro 2 SP; Feta Dill 1 SP
(2) Blossom Water Flower + Fruit Botanical Water. I'm always striving to drink more water every day...but plain water can be so boring! Enter Blossom Water, which is pure spring water infused with floral and fruit essences for flavor. The waters are sweetened with Stevia. The first flavor note is always the fruit essence (not juice): mango, lemon, plum, pomegranate, or grapefruit. Then comes a lingering whisper of a perfectly paired floral note: hibiscus, rose, jasmine, geranium, or lilac. Each bottle also contains as much immune benefit as a billion CFUs of probiotic. This water is so far from boring! We loved all five flavors, but my personal favorite is the Lemon Rose. It tasted like lemonade on the front end, then the fragrance/taste of rose on the end. Not bad for just 20 calories per bottle! I can see this being my signature beverage all Summer long. Blossom Water can currently be purchased online and shipped direct to you. WW Freestyle™ SmartPoints®: 1 SP for the entire bottle OR 0 SP for half of the bottle (8 oz.).
(3) The Spice Lab's Herb Blends Seasonings. I know that eating healthy is important...but I still need the Big Flavors I crave! Enter The Spice Lab's line of bold-flavored Herb Blends Seasonings, which feature plenty of bold flavor to chicken, seafood, and veggies. These spices definitely have an Italian/Mediterranean accent. I have been using the Mediterranean Citrus, French Onion Garlic, Sicilian Seasoning, and Spicy Italian Sun Dried Tomato blends in a variety of ways...all delicious! I have added the French Onion Garlic (with salt, minced garlic and onion, chili flakes, chives, thyme and parsley) to nonfat plain Greek yogurt for a tasty fat-free dip, and the Mediterranean Citrus (with salt, garlic, onion, black pepper, lemon oil, oregano, thyme and coriander)is perfect for seasoning grilled chicken breast and shrimp. These days, I'm all about adding robust flavor without added calories or fat, and these spices really deliver. These Herb Blends Seasonings can be purchased online at The Spice Lab's website
WW Freestyle™ SmartPoints®: 0 SP for herbs and seasonings!
(4) Brownie Brittle Chocolate Chip Blondie Crisps. Face it: sometimes we all want...need even...a sweet treat. Preferably one that won't break the calorie bank! I recently discovered Brownie Brittle's amazing new Chocolate Chip Blondie crisps. I've always been a fan of Sheila G's Brownie Brittle, but a version that tastes like crispy chocolate chip cookies? Count me in! Each one-ounce serving (4 pieces) is just 130 calories of buttery, chocolately goodness. A serving makes a delicious sweet evening snack -- the crumbs are delicious stirred into fat-free Greek yogurt too! Brownie Brittle products can be found at major retailers nationwide, and they also be purchased at Brownie's Brittle's online store. FYI...the Blondie crisps -- which also come in a Meyer Lemon version -- are a new item, so you may find it easier to locate via the online store. WW Freestyle™ SmartPoints®: 6 SP per ounce of both Chocolate Chip and Meyer Lemon varieties (four pieces of Blondie Brittle).
Signs of Spring are all around us here in Texas these days! The bluebonnets are blooming like crazy, it's staying lighter a bit longer in the evenings, and temps are slowly warming into the 70s a few afternoons per week. This is the time we naturally begin gravitating toward lighter meals -- including light, yet filling main dish salads. Today, I'm partnering with my friends at NatureSweet®, Fresh Express®, and Litehouse Foods to say "Bye Bye to Boring Salads!" Today, I'm sharing a delicious main dish salad that's bursting with all sorts of fun flavors and textures -- definitely not boring. My Chopped Shrimp Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette is light, but it's plenty filling thanks to all of the chunky ingredients incorporated!
Thanks to using tangy Litehouse Italian Marinade and Dressing,Fresh Express® Sweet Heart™ ready-to-use salad greens (hearts of crunchy romaine and tender butter lettuce), and delicious NatureSweet® Cherubs® tomatoes? This pretty and tasty salad is ready to eat in about 30 minutes. An added bonus: with the Lenten season here, this big-flavor salad is also an ideal Friday night Supper
This Chopped Shrimp Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette features grilled shrimp, creamy avocado, crumbled goat cheese (or feta if you prefer), sweet Cherubs®tomatoes, grilled zucchini, and a couple of fun crunchy components. Just before serving, everything is tossed in a sweet-tart vinaigrette.
Meal kit subscription companies are an awesome way to save time in the kitchen while preparing a delicious dinner on the busiest of weeknights. These days, there are so many options to choose from, so it can be really hard to figure out which option is best for you. I've been trying out DINNERLY in my kitchen -- and there's a LOT to love! DINNERLY is an affordable meal kit subscription service specifically designed with easy, quick weeknight cooking in mind. At just $4.99 per serving, DINNERLY customers receive the pre-portioned ingredients and printable digital recipe cards needed to make three simple, delicious weeknight meals. DINNERLY keeps costs low by reducing excess packaging and not providing printed recipes cards.
Today, I want to tell you about my personal experience using DINNERLY. I went to the website's home page and signed up for the service. The process was quick and easy! From there, I selected my three dinner recipes from the eight available options that week. I selected Oven-Fried Beef Taquitos, Seared Chicken and Broccoli, and Caramel Chicken Stir Fry. I learned that DINNERLY recipes are made with quality proteins like grass fed ground beef and antibioticfree chicken. My chilled box arrived at my front door a few days later. I opened the box, and all of the ingredients for my recipes were carefully packed with chill packs in a Styrofoam cooler. Inside, the ingredients arrived in perfect condition.
With simplicity in mind, all DINNERLY recipes use five ingredients (or less)! That streamlined approach really appealed to me. The first meal from my kit that I made were the Oven-Fried Beef Taquitos. My first step was to pull up the digital illustrated step-by-step recipe card that was e-mailed to me on my iPhone.
I have been curious about air fryers for months, so I was thrilled when my friends at Hamilton Beach sent me one of their 2.5-liter capacity Digital Air Fryer to use in my kitchen to create a fun healthy recipe to share with you! This air fryer uses hot air and little -- or even no -- oil to cook everything from fries to a bone-in turkey breast! Users have two cook options via the air fryer's digital touchpad: (1) manual mode to select a specific time and temperature, up to 400 degrees, or (2) selecting one of six pre-programmed settings for French fries, chicken, seafood, steak, baked goods, and veggies. When your food is ready, the large-capacity nonstick cooking basket can be removed for easy cleaning.
Hamilton Beach's versatile air fryer delivers quick, even heating...so you can use it to cook meats, vegetables, baked treats, and more. Simply place whatever you're cooking directly into the air fryer's basket, select your time and temperature -- or choose from a pre-programmed setting. The air fryer lets you know when your food is finished cooking via an audible beep. I especially love that the air fryer lets me enjoy delicious foods in a healthier way! Frozen foods require no oil for air frying, and other foods require only a light spritz of oil. A bonus? Because so little oil is used, the air fryer's removable nonstick cooking basket is super easy to wash in soapy water. I used my Hamilton Beach air fryer to roast a small bone-in turkey breast in about 30 minutes! My Spicy Maple-Glazed Air-Fried Turkey Breast features crispy skin and moist, tender meat. It's flavored inside and out thanks to a generous amount of a simple homemade rub...and a sweet-spicy glaze. Turkey isn't just for Thanksgiving! This delicious recipe is perfect year-round...and roasting it in the air fryer means it's easy enough to make even on busy weeknights.
I was recently introduced to a revolutionary new meatless, plant-based protein burger: The Beyond Burger®. This burger patty is the first 100% plant-based burger that looks, tastes, and cooks like a traditional beef burger. Each 4-ounce patty provides 20 grams of healthy, filling protein! What Beyond Burger® doesn't have are GMO's, soy, or gluten. Beyond Meat has identified four main reasons to choose plant-based meats instead of animals: (1) improving human health, (2) positively impacting climate change, (3) addressing global resource constraints, and (4) improving animal welfare. If I can use a product that tastes great and provides that much positive impact? Count me in!
I was very eager to give Beyond Burger® a try in my kitchen. I used it to create my delicious Vegetarian Pesto Burger with Balsamic Mayo. This burger is bursting with big flavor from herbal pesto, a seasoned Beyond Burger® patty, vine-ripe tomato, sautéed shallots, fresh mozzarella, and a quick homemade balsamic mayo. The Beyond Burger® patty was seared outside...and juicy inside. The texture of the cooked Beyond Burger®was very close to a traditional meat burger, and it tastes great! This burger makes eating meatless simple -- we try to eat vegetarian one or two days per week, and Beyond Burger® will definitely help us stick to our healthy eating goals!
Mardi Gras is coming up on Tuesday! Why not have a fun at-home celebration? Fire up some festive zydeco music, put on some Mardi Gras beads...and make a simple, spicy dinner. My comforting Red Beans & Rice-Sausage Soup is an economical, delicious meal-in-a-bowl that's perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras! This hearty soup starts with a package of red beans and rice mix, and it's ready to eat in less than an hour. Most of that time is hands off while the soup simmers on the stove, though. This recipe makes a large pot of soup. We typically enjoy large bowls of soup for dinner, then have enough left to freeze a container to enjoy on another busy weeknight!
Our home base for the final two nights of our Memphis trip was the newly remodeled Sonesta ES Suites Memphis, located on the city's east side. This extended stay property has been remodeled from top to bottom and offers guests large one- and two-bedroom suites. It's an ideal property for families or couples traveling together -- and the action of Beale Street is a short 20-minute drive away. We stayed in a spacious 850 square foot two-bedroom loft suit. It featured a King bed and full bath downstairs...and a Queen loft with full bath upstairs. The downstairs common area included a living room with comfy couch...and a full kitchen with fridge, stove, microwave, and coffee maker. When we arrived, a welcome note, wine, and cheese & crackers was waiting for us on the bar -- such a nice touch! Other amenities offered by the Sonesta ES Suites Memphis include plenty of free on-site parking, complimentary high-speed Internet, and a large flat-screen television. Further, a breakfast buffet of hot and cold menu items is available to guests every morning...but that's not it! Tuesday through Thursday evenings, Sonesta ES Suites Memphis hosts Evening Socials that feature complimentary beverages and light appetizers. As this video shows, our stay at Sonesta ES Suites Memphis was fantastic!
Traveling with your four-legged friend? No problem...Sonesta ES Suites welcomes up to two pets per room! A mandatory non-refundable pet cleaning fee will be charged to your account at check in. For stays of 1-2 nights, the fee is $75. For stays of 3 or more nights, the fee is $150. However, if extensive cleaning/repairs are necessary, guests may be charged additional pet fees. Before long, it was time for us to leave for our dinner reservation at the Beauty Shop restaurant. This hip restaurant is located in Midtown Memphis' Cooper-Young neighborhood. The restaurant is located at the former site of a 50's era beauty shop where Pricilla Presley was once a customer...how fun! Executive Chef/Owner Karen Carrier opened Beauty Shop in 2002. The menu is globally inspired and creative...with a Southern accent thanks to the use of locally sourced ingredients. We immediately noticed how the building's beauty shop origins were incorporated into the décor -- including seats featuring hooded Belvedere hair dryers! We sipped fun cocktails from Beauty Shop's creative mixology menu while we anticipated the tasty menu items Chef Shay Widmer personally selected for us to try. We started with a quartet of appetizers and salads. First was Watermelon & French Feta Salad w/Mint, Shiso, Pickled Strawberry, and an Aleppo Mirin Lime Vinaigrette.Then came a Tennessee Heirloom Tomato Salad w/Tempura Fried Okra and Roquefort, Garlic Chips, Shiso, Radish, Red Onion, Petite Herbs, Honey, and a Jalapeno Cucumber Chive Crema. The third selection was a Peach, Arugula & Warm Burrata Salad w/Tempura Fried Long Beans, Petite Herbs, and a Sour Cherry Vinaigrette. We also sampled the Hawaiian Tuna Agua Chile w/Tomato, Lime, Kirby Cucumber, Cocoa Spice Dust, Toasted Sesame, Benton's "Proscuitto," Shiso, Cilantro, and Thai Basil. These menu items were light and refreshing, and bursting with fresh produce and bright flavors!After these starters, Chef Shay sent out a chilled charcuterie plate and two warm main dishes. The Asian-inspired Kobe Beef Lucky Pot w/Coconut Lemongrass Green Curry Broth, Kaffir Lime, Noodles, Watermelon, Avocado, Shiso, Thai Basil, Peanut, Black Garlic, and Bok Choy blew our minds -- so many interesting flavors and textures! We also shared Sugar-Spiced Crispy Duck w/Corn Butter, Muddled Blackberry, Root Vegetables, Toscano Kale & Pomegranate Salad, and an Almond Sherry Skordalia. Our final selection was chilled Benton's "Prosciutto" Style Country Ham served with Tennessee Peach, Petite Herbs, Baby Blue Cheese, and Double Dutch Toast with Papaya Lime Chile Butter and Blueberry Preserves.
These items were beautifully plated and full of creative flavor combinations. We thoroughly enjoyed every menu item Chef Shay selected for us. The dishes featured familiar ingredients in unique combinations, as well as creative seasonings. We were quite full, but we couldn't resist sharing a slice of homey scratch made Strawberry Cake to end our meal
After dinner, we headed back to the Sonesta ES Suites to get some sleep ahead of our last full day in town. The next morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotels and headed out for a day of exploring. Our first stop was the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum. For music lovers, this museum is a definite must visit! This Smithsonian curated museum opened in 2001 and is located on Beale Street, as part of the FedEx Forum sports and entertainment complex. The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum tells the story of musical pioneers who created Memphis music that changed the music world.The museum’s self-guided digital audio tour guide contains more than 300 minutes of information -- including 100+ songs. Visitors explore the museum at their own pace through seven galleries. Included are audio visual programs, 30+ instruments, and dozens of costumes. The informative museum exhibits examine the entire range of Memphis music starting with the field hollers, work songs, blues, country, and gospel of sharecroppers in the 1930-40s. The exhibits then show how this music combined with blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, rhythm & blues, and soul music.
The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul museum and gift shop are open daily from 9:30 AM to - 7:00 PM. Tickets are $12.50 for adults and $9.50 for guests ages 5-17. The museum also offers special discounts for AARP and AAA members, Smithsonian members, and members of the military. After a morning exploring at the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, we were hungry! We hopped in our car and made our way to lunch at Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken in Downtown Memphis. As we discovered during the course of our meal, there's fried chicken...and there's Gus's fried chicken! Brined for 24 hours, it's spicy and juicy all the way to the bone...and fried perfectly golden crisp on the outside. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken does one thing. They fry chicken...and they do it very well! Their original 1953 recipe belongs to the Bonner family of nearby Mason, Tennessee. The Memphis location of Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken opened in 2001.
As this video shows, our visit to Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken was casual, fun, and delicious! Gus's is very popular, so try to arrive early to beat the lunchtime crowd. You'll be rewarded with perfectly fried chicken, comforting Southern side dishes, and homey desserts!
This Oscars are tonight! Even if you'll be watching in your pajamas from your living room...you can get the "red carpet treatment" by cooking an indulgent meal to enjoy as you watch the winners announced! To me, nothing is quite as indulgent as creamy risotto...especially if it includes lobster and champagne! My Indulgent Lobster-Champagne Risotto is the perfect meal for enjoying the Oscars tonight --- it's flavored with a bit of pesto and parmesan cheese, with plenty of tender lobster meat. If you're intimidated by the idea of making risotto...don't be! It's not hard, but you do have to be patient and have 20 or so minutes uninterrupted to stand at the stove and stir and add the broth as it cooks. Put on some good music...your patience will be rewarded with one amazing meal!
Confession: I love breakfast foods...but not so much in the morning. But for brunch...or breakfast for dinner? For me, that's perfection! Today, I'm sharing a delicious baked oatmeal recipe that's a comforting meal ANY time of day. My Tropical Coconut-Orange Baked Oatmeal is delicious, dairy free, and features a secret ingredient: Coffee mate natural bliss® Vanilla Almond Milk creamer! This yummy creamer is made with natural ingredients like almond milk, a touch of cane sugar, and Madagascar vanilla extract. Along with a bit of maple syrup, the creamer provides the finished oatmeal a light sweetness and warm vanilla flavor. Assembling this recipe takes about 15-20 minutes, but the baking time is totally hands off...and you'll be rewarded with six servings of delicious oatmeal to enjoy!
After a holiday break...Wendy's Great Eight is kicking off for 2019. This month, I'm sharing eight fabulous new foodie items that you're definitely going to love! Whether you're looking for a healthy on-the-go breakfast...a new way to enjoy your daily coffee...big-flavor meal enhancers...or a party guide with a distinctly Southern accent...I've got ya covered. Let's get rolling!
(1) The Most Stuf Oreo. I've been a fan of Oreo cookies for ages. Long before Oreo Double Stuf cookies were available, I made my own as a kid by double stacking separated original Oreo cookies. To this day, I'm all about the cream filling "stuff" in between the dark chocolate cookies! I'm a huge fan of Double Stuf and Mega Stuf Oreo cookies, so I could barely contain my excitement when I saw Nabisco's latest Limited Edition Oreo is The Most Stuf! As you can see, these cookies truly maximize the amount of "stuf" in each cookie. If you're like me...these will be Oreo cookie nirvana for you! If you want to try The Most Stuf, you need to act fast, because they're a Limited Edition flavor. They are available at major grocers nationwide. For my Texas readers, I have seen them at H-E-B and Walmart locations. (2) Chosen Foods Lemon Garlic Dressing & Marinade. I'm all about cooking with bold flavors, so it was love at first bite when I tasted Chosen Foods' amazing citrus-garlic sauce! Versatile Chosen Foods Lemon Garlic Dressing & Marinade can be used as a salad topping...or as a marinade for meat or tofu. I've used it as a marinade for chicken fajitas and pork chops...and we love it! Because it's made with simple ingredients, their natural bright flavors shine! This dressing/marinade is made with Chosen Foods' 100% pure avocado oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. That's it...yummy ingredients I can feel good about eating! Chosen Foods offers a broad range of products, including: avocado oil and infused avocado oil sprays, dressings and marinades, healthy mayonnaise, keto-friendly products, and a vegan line. To find Chosen Foods products near you -- including this dreamy Lemon Garlic Dressing & Marinade -- check out their handy online Store Locator. They also offer a convenient Online Store for home delivery.
(3) Thrive! Ready to Blend Smoothies.Mornings are hectic, yes? What if I told you there's a delicious way to save time and ensure you start the day right? That's exactly what Thrive! Ready to Blend Smoothies will do! Thrive! is an all-natural line of frozen smoothies sold in cups of pre-chopped fruit and veggie ingredients. Thrive! smoothies come in five great-tasting flavors that feature superfood ingredients and no added sugars or preservatives:
Energy (my FAVE): strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry for a vitamin-packed berry blend. Plus mango, orange, cherry, and banana for a delicious energy-packed boost.
Defend: orange, strawberry, mango, pineapple, and banana for a Vitamin C smoothie to give your immune system a delicious boost.
Rise: strawberry, banana, and mango -- a fresh twist on a smoothie classic to help you conquer your day.
Glow: mint, cucumber, and ginger for a unique taste...along banana, kiwi, and strawberry.
Green: green apple, cucumber, and spinach for a punch of good-for-you “greens.” Also banana, pineapple, and mango for well-balanced taste.
To make, simply add the frozen smoothie contents of the cup -- along with your favorite liquid based (coconut water or almond milk are recommended), then blend. You can even pour back into the lidded cup to drink your smoothie! Thrive! Ready to Blend Smoothies are currently available in the Freezer section of Target locations nationwide.
(4)Coffee mate® natural bliss® Almond Milk Coffee Creamer. One of my favorite morning indulgences is a dairy free iced latte...with creamer. Thanks to Coffee mate's® natural bliss® line of almond milk creamers, I can enjoy flavored creamer while ensuring my morning iced latte is dairy free! This natural bliss® line is made with almond milk, cane sugar, and all natural flavors. What it doesn't have? GMO ingredients! Coffee mate's® natural bliss® almond milk creamers come in three flavors: Vanilla (flavored with Madagascar vanilla bean extract), Caramel, and Hazelnut. My personal favorite Coffee mate's® natural bliss® almond milk creamer is the versatile Vanilla, because it provides a deeply vanilla flavor that compliments any coffee flavor I decide to brew on a given morning. To locate natural bliss® Almond Milk Creamer near you, check out Coffee mate®'s online Where to Buy feature.
(2) Blossom Water Flower + Fruit Botanical Water. I'm always striving to drink more water every day...but plain water can be so boring! Enter Blossom Water, which is pure spring water infused with floral and fruit essences for flavor. The waters are sweetened with Stevia. The first flavor note is always the fruit essence (not juice): mango, lemon, plum, pomegranate, or grapefruit. Then comes a lingering whisper of a perfectly paired floral note: hibiscus, rose, jasmine, geranium, or lilac. Each bottle also contains as much immune benefit as a billion CFUs of probiotic. This water is so far from boring! We loved all five flavors, but my personal favorite is the Lemon Rose. It tasted like lemonade on the front end, then the fragrance/taste of rose on the end. Not bad for just 20 calories per bottle! I can see this being my signature beverage all Summer long. Blossom Water can currently be purchased online and shipped direct to you.
(4) Brownie Brittle Chocolate Chip Blondie Crisps. Face it: sometimes we all want...need even...a sweet treat. Preferably one that won't break the calorie bank! I recently discovered Brownie Brittle's amazing new Chocolate Chip Blondie crisps. I've always been a fan of Sheila G's Brownie Brittle, but a version that tastes like crispy chocolate chip cookies? Count me in! Each one-ounce serving (4 pieces) is just 130 calories of buttery, chocolately goodness. A serving makes a delicious sweet evening snack -- the crumbs are delicious stirred into fat-free Greek yogurt too! Brownie Brittle products can be found at major retailers nationwide, and they also be purchased at Brownie's Brittle's online store. FYI...the Blondie crisps -- which also come in a Meyer Lemon version -- are a new item, so you may find it easier to locate via the online store.
