Pretzel Rachels

OK...purely coincidence it is German heritage, David Hasselhoff's birthday...this is a Reuben inspired sandwich made a bit healthier with low calorie dressing and turkey instead of roast beef.  The pretzels, well they are just divine so they HAD to be used!

Quite possibly the BEST sandwich EVER!


INGREDIENTS:

Homemade Pretzels  - this is the recipe I use
Walden Farms ZERO calorie Thousand Island - sometimes I use Bolthouse Yogurt Thousand Island Dressing
Sargento thin sliced Swiss cheese
Sauerkraut, drained
Hormel Natural Smoked Turkey Breast sandwich meat

DIRECTIONS:
Assemble...eat...yum!

Cold & Popcorn (Recipes too!)

Is it possible to sweat in 34 degree weather. Yes.

Running today burned my lungs but well worth it!



On a lighter note..

Today is National Popcorn Day.

Fun Facts about popcorn...

• Americans consume some 16 billion quarts of popcorn.
• I alone eat half of that LOL
• Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil-popped is only 55 per cup.
• SEE why I LOVE this stuff.
• Most U.S. popcorn is grown in the Midwest, primarily in Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri.
• Thank you all you states I think flat and boring, you will now 'pop' into my gratitude as I munch daily on my fave snack!
• The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.
• Ummm...they haven't checked my purchase records obviously!
• Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens. Most microwave ovens have a "popcorn" control button.
• Even so, I prefer my air popper!
• "Popability" is popcorn lingo that refers to the percentage of kernels that pop.
• "Old Maids" refers to the kernels that don't pop
• Popping kernels can pop up to 3 feet in the air.

HAPPY NATIONAL POPCORN DAY!!!

I will be proudly popping my 8 cup bowl to the brim in celebration...I may even have seconds!

My fave recipes:

1. Lightly misted with olive oil spray and sprinkle salt and pepper
2. Cheddar cheese sprinkles (yes I know...not 'green' or 'natural')
3. Spritz of lime juice and salt, VERY great on Mexican night!!
4. Parmesan
5. Garlic powder and Parmesan!!
6. Cinnamon and Ideal Sugar
7. Chili powder, garlic, cumin, salt...delish Southwestern flair
8. Dried buttermilk, onion powder, mustard powder, garlic powder, white pepper, taste like Ranch

Strawberry Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose, unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup Ideal Sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped strawberries (for muffins, not jam)
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup- 1 cup chopped strawberries & 1/2 cup Ideal sugar for jam
• 1/4 cup applesauce

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients
2. Add in egg, vanilla, milk, applesauce, and mix well
3. Fold in strawberries.
4. Bake at 350 until golden (around 20-25 mins)
5. While baking cook jam
1. Mix strawberries and sugar
2. Cook over medium heat until thick and mash if needed
6. While muffins are hot core a center hole or simply mash in a tsp or 2 of the warm strawberry jam.

If ya want to...

**over low heat melt 1/4 cup cream cheese and add in 1/4 cup Ideal sugar, drizzle over muffins

Mix Dry Ingredients for muffins

**no picture but add wet in and mix well

**fold in strawberries

Chop up more strawberries for the jam filling

Cook strawberries with a bit of sugar to make the jam

Mash Up strawberries and cook until they are thick

Make holes in muffins and place a few teaspoons of the strawberry jam