Taste of Thyme: Good & Good for You Food

I kept hearing people talk about brownies with black beans. Unfortunately, no ome could give me a recipe or had actually tasted them! So I started looking around for ideas or recipes. I came across a funny conversation on a Weight Watcher discussion page and came up with a simple idea to try. I liked the results a lot. I got a really moist brownie that was really chocolaty. I decided to take them to a party (they were a huge hit) but I dressed them up a little bit. Here's what I did: CHOCOLATE BLACK BEAN BROWNIES 1 box brownie mix 1 15 oz can black beans (NOT drained) 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon instant coffee Blend the beans (and the liquid), instant coffee, and cocoa in a blender until smooth. Empty the contents of your mix into a bowl. Add the bean mixture and mix by hand until smooth. Bake as directed on the package. Mine, cut into 24 pieces, were 1 point each. This will vary depending on the mix you use and the beans. You'll have to do the math. To dress...

I hear Weight Watcher members talk about metabolism a lot! The problem is we usually talk about it without really understanding what it is and how much control we have over it. Here is some information from Weight Watchers that can clear up some of those things we might believe (or not). METABOLISM...is the number of calories the body burns: ♦ At rest ♦ By digesting and absorbing food ♦ During physical activity What is TRUE about Metabolism? 1. If I have a slow metabolism I have to just work with that. Increasing physical activity, especially strength / resistance training to minimize loss of lean muscle mass will increase your metabolism. Eating a well balanced diet (vitamins & some minerals are required for metabolism)and smaller more frequent meals will increase your metabolism. 2. We can’t stop the slowing of our metabolism due to age. Aging lowers metabolism only because people tend to be less active and may not maintain their muscle mass. 3. The body goes into ‘starvatio...

These are the truth about carbs that we discussed last week at Weight Watcher meetings. Below is a potato soup full of good carbs - ENJOY! MYTH # 1: All carbohydrates are created equal. There are two main types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates (simple sugars) include: • table sugar (sucrose), which is plentiful in soda and candy • fructose and lactose, which are found in healthier foods such as fruit and milk, which supply other nutrients Complex carbohydrates , "starches": • are found in foods like breads, legumes, rice, pasta, fruits, and vegetables such as potatoes. • take longer to digest and can help you feel more satisfied. • contain many more nutrients than simple carbohydrates. As with simple carbohydrates, some complex carbs are healthier than others. ∗ Whole grain versions of complex carbohydrates include oatmeal, bulgur, brown rice, whole cornmeal, quinoa, spelt, foods made with whole wheat, etc. Opt for whole ...

4 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed and diced 2 large leeks, cleaned and sliced 1 onion, diced Salt and Pepper to taste 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth cooking spray Heat a 4 quart stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray and add the leeks and onions. When onion softens (about 4 minutes) add the potatoes to heat through. Add the broth, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes or until the potatoes are completely tender. Puree the soup in batches in a blender or food processor. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Each one cup serving is only 1 point. You may want to garnish with chives or scallions and a dollop of plain yogurt.

Okay! I love pasta. When I eat macaroni and cheese I want it cheesy and creamy. I don't want to sacrifice favor and comfort for anything. But it would be nice to have big portion and know that I am within my daily points target or even getting some of the good health guidelines. So when I created this recipe it had to be just darn good! I also didn't want it to taste "healthy" and be fussy to make. This does the trick! And I even used Velveeta (yes it is real and made from milk) which should be quite a plus for my friends at Kraft! The best part is, when I calculated the points value it was 14 points per serving before and now it is only 6 points! MACARONI AND CHEESE - the cheesiest! 12 oz whole wheat pasta - I use penne but you can use any kind you prefer 4 T flour pinch nutmeg 1 qt nonfat milk 1/3 cup dry milk (optional) ½ t each S & P (or to taste) 4 oz Swiss cheese, grated 4 oz Velveeta Light (2%) 10 oz box frozen butternut squash puree, defrosted 2 T ...

When I was a child I always wanted to taste a fresh strawberry pie (you know the ones you see in the revolving pie case in restaurants). It just looked so good to me. My mother thought I wouldn't like it so I never got to have one. She wasn't stingy with desserts, she just preferred strawberry shortcake or just about anything else. Then I was living in Peoria, Illinois for a few years after college and I was having dinner at a diner with a fellow teacher. She order us each a pieceof pie for dessert. By this time I was convinced I wouldn't enjoyed the glazed berries. But I found that it was very delicious...my mother was wrong! Years later, in Bloomington, Illinois, my friend, Adrie (one of the best down home cooks ever) made a strawberry pie for dessert one night. I was quite impressed and pleased. Then he shared the recipe with me, which was shockingly simple. Well, I have cut the points in half from the original but the flavor is fully indulgent. I think my mother would h...

The easiest and lightest way to make a great salad is to just remember my formula. I find that a salad - if it is quick - makes a satisfying snack or can really fill out a meal that just seems too small to satisfy. Try this... Mix your salad greens (lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, parsley - whatever you have on hand). Make sure all of these greens are dry. Toss with ONE teaspoon of health oil, such as olive oil. When I say toss I mean really toss to coat all the leaves - one teaspoon will do it. Add ONE teaspoon of Dijon mustard and toss again - at this point you can add spices if you like. Add ONE teaspoon of vinegar (any flavor you like) and toss again. Enjoy! This is only one point. The reason it taste like a fully dressed salad with 3 or 4 points of dressing is because you tossed the oil in before the other liquids. The oil then has a chance to coat everything. If the other liquids are mixed with the oil or added at the same time the liquids will ...