Labor Day Menu 2013 ♥

 Here is a menu of my favorite recipes for Labor Day. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Labor Day! enjoy! ♥

Start off with an appetizer, a crowd pleaser, my skinny taco dip...♥

http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2013/06/skinny-taco-dip.html 

"skinny" taco dip ♥ 

 

  1 (8 oz) package light cream cheese

  1 (16 oz) container of light sour cream

  1 packet of taco seasoning mix

  Shredded cheese light 1 bag

  Lettuce half a head

  Black olives ( I use low sodium ones)

  Tomatoes 2 chopped

Combine the softened cream cheese with the sour cream and taco seasoning mix (you can add more or less to suit your taste). Spread in a 13X9 pan. Top with chopped lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes and black olives. Refrigerate. Serve cold with low carb tortilla chips. ( I like to use Hemp low carb tortilla chips, you can purchase them at Whole Foods http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ they are low carb, low sodium and gluten free! thats so much healthier than regular tortilla chips! enjoy! ♥

 Here is a perfect salad for cookouts, my skinny italian pasta salad!

 http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2013/08/skinny-italian-pasta-salad.html

"skinny" italian pasta salad ♥

• 1 pound whole wheat short pasta, such as fusili, bowtie or penne
• 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup pearl-sized fresh mozzarella, drained
• 1/4 pound salami, ( I use turkey salami)  sliced about as wide as the pasta you are using
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves, julienned
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (use the lower amount if you prefer a more tart dressing)
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Boil the pasta in salted water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente.

Meanwhile, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, oil, mustard, salt and pepper flakes in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, onion and basil on top of the dressing.

When the pasta is cooked, drain it and add it to the large bowl. Toss to combine. Serve warm, at room temperature or cool. enjoy! ♥

here another crowd pleaser, baked beans, I add a twist with bourbon! 

http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2013/08/skinny-bbq-bourbon-beans.html 

Instructions ♥
        Soak beans overnight
        Soak the dry beans overnight. Drain the beans when you are ready to cook. If you use plain, canned navy beans for this recipe, skip this step.
        Chop bacon into large bits and fry.
        Add onions and pepper and dash salt to the bacon grease. Saute for a few minutes just to wilt.
        In a bowl add tomato sauce, ketchup, onions and peppers, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, more salt and pepper and mix.
        Add in bourbon and taste. You might want to add a touch more. The alcohol will bake off. The beans must be thoroughly in the liquid and keep in mind the liquid will reduce down. Add in water as needed.
        Mix with beans in a shallow baking dish and add in bacon.
        Bake at 300 for about 4 hours or until it gets gooey and caramelized and beans are cooked.
        Option: Put the beans in a slow cooker overnight on low or for about 6 hours until done. enjoy!  ♥

• Now for the burger! Here is my version of the skinny all american burger!
•  all american "skinny" burger 

     Ingredients ♥
   
    1 1/2 lbs ground turkey (lean meat)
    1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    1 egg
    2 tablespoons parsley, minced
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/4 teaspoon pepper
    Olive oil for brushing
    4 toasted wheat buns

      Directions ♥

1. Preheat grill to medium.
2. In a large bowl add all of the ingredients. Mix well. Make 4 6 ounce patties. Brush each side with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on hot grill. Cook for about 10-12 minutes flipping burgers once. Serve with toasted wheat bun.

 

for dessert how about my cute watermelon jello shots!  

 

 

Ingredients ♥ 
 
1 package of strawberry or watermelon flavored jell-o ( flavor of choice)
If you are going the strawberry route you need a 1/2 cup of strawberry puree
3 limes halved and cored 
2 tablespoon of roasted sesame seeds

Directions ♥  
1 ) In a medium mixing bowl add one cup of hot water to jell-o and stir until jell-o has fully dissolved and then mix in one cup of cold water. 
2) Place the bowl in the fridge for thirty minutes and then add the strawberry puree if you’re using the strawberry jell-o if not disregard adding the strawberry and simply move on to step 3. 
3) Pour the jell-o mixture into the lime halves then refrigerate for about three hours or until firm.  
4 ) Then slice the lime halves in half and sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve enjoy! :)

 

and of coarse you gotta have cocktails, try my  "skinny girl "smore's martini!  

 

 

 

Chocolate syrup low fat and sugar free
2 whole graham crackers crushed
1 large marshmallow fat free
1 oz chocolate vodka
1 oz coffee liqueor
1 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz light half and half cream

 Dip the rim of a martini glass in chocolate syrup,then into the crushed graham crackers,
 Chill glass in freezer until ready to use.
 Coat marshmallow with the cocktail in chocolate syrup and graham cracker crumbs, set aside.
 Pour all the liquid ingredients into a martini shaker with ice, and shake until mixed well.
 Pour mix from shaker into glass and sprinkle with a pinch of graham cracker crumbs. Garnish with the marshmallow thats drizzled in chocolate syrup and serve. enjoy! ♥

Hope you enjoyed my Labor Day menu! 

xoxo,

♥     Kira 

 

Bye Bye Summer :(