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Welcome to Tweaked at Chez Jan de la Dayton....translated to 'tweaked at Jan's house in Dayton'! Sounds fancy, but it's not. If you choose to share a recipe, be kind and give me kudos for it. The pictures are NOT to be taken off this blog unless used in a direct link to this blog. Once upon a time I was a Weight Watchers leader....that chapter is closed. But I still like to eat and bake and don't like the weight that finds its way to me too easily. So I go find delicious-sounding recipes and tweak them. Some recipes, however, just don't turn out right if they're tweaked. I've not posted anything....so far.....that isn't WW friendly. That might change, and I'll warn you if I post something with 'scary' P+ values. For those who don't use substitutions, the ratio for Splenda granulated/sugar is 1:1 and the ratio for egg substitute/eggs is 1/4 cup of egg sub = 1 egg. NOTE: The Points Values on these recipes are OLD, so figure the new ones out on your own. I'm no longer with WW. Now.....let's have some fun in the kitchen!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Hasselback Zucchini

You've heard of Hasselback Potatoes? Well, I came across this recipe on Eating Well.....and did NOT change it one bit! It was just that good 'sounding'....and ended up tasting amazing! I bought the zucchini when I bought the box of tomatoes.....but only got 6 zukes! I'll probably make zoodles with the other 2.  This is really good and would be a fun/sneaky way to get the kids to eat their veggies!

HASSELBACK ZUCCHINI
Makes 4 Servings


1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
4 small zucchini
Very thinly sliced Parmesan cheese


Please see the end for cooking instructions!!!!


Combine all but the zucchini and cheese in a small bowl.


Cut the ends off each of the zucchini. Make crosswise cuts every ½ inch along the length of each zucchini, slicing ALMOST to the bottom, but making sure you don't cut all the way through. Place on a double layer of aluminum foil if doing on the grill or in an 8” square baking dish lined with aluminum foil.

Gently separate the cuts and put a thin slice of cheese in each cut.


Brush the olive oil mixture over the top of each zucchini.



If you do this on the grill, place the zukes in the foil on the grill at medium – high heat for @15 minutes. If you do this in the oven, preheat the oven to 425°. Place a layer of aluminum foil in an 8” square baking dish and bake @25 – 30 minutes.



Later!
Loving Life!
Peace
Jan

Cuke & Tomato Salad

If you ever get the opportunity to go to an Olive Oil store/company, do yourself a favor and GO!!! We went to one in Blue Ridge and then another one in Dahlonega (both in GA for those who aren't familiar with those towns). I seriously could spend hours in there sampling and tons of money. I bought small bottles of several oils and vinegars and am now wishing I bought the large of the two in particular that I used in this recipe.  They are the Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil and the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. These two combined are just about good enough to drink! They're the first two we sampled in the Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company, also their biggest sellers and most popular 'pairing'.   Anyway......I did another variation on a tomato/cucumber salad, but with the really good oil and vinegar, this one tops it! Go get some good stuff and make this! You will NOT be sorry! (PS - If anyone local to me does a 'road trip' to Blue Ridge, let me know if you need some company!)
 
 
  CUKE  AND  TOMATO  SALAD
Makes A Lot


3 tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced*
½ onion, sliced thin*
Cracked pepper to taste
½ cup olive oil*
½ cup vinegar*
½ cup water


Place all the veggies in a large bowl that has a cover.


Sprinkle pepper over the veggies. Pour the liquids over the veggies and stir.


I put the vinegar in the measuring cup and then the olive oil. Love the way the olive oil poured off first.

 
Refrigerate 1 – 2 hours. Stir before serving.

*MY SPIN: I not only peeled and sliced the cukes, but cored the seeds out of them. My husband isn't crazy about onions (he'll eat them, but.....) so I only used ½ of an onion, cut the half in half and then sliced thinly. You can use apple cider vinegar and regular olive oil.

Loving Life!
Later!
Peace
Jan

Best Stewed Tomatoes Ever

Seriously. WHAT was I thinking when I bought a box of tomatoes??? I must have been out of my mind!!!!  But....we love stewed tomatoes and thought I'd make them all into stewed tomatoes, leaving a few out for a delicious tomato/onion/cucumber salad. Well, after using THIRTY tomatoes, tossing a few out in the yard that were funky-ish, I still have 20 tomatoes left. Tomato soup might be my next adventure. On a positive note, these ARE the best stewed tomatoes I've ever made. Can't wait to have some with dinner tonight! I didn't even think to take pics of all the ingredients, but this was truly a 'winged' recipe! 
 
BEST STEWED TOMATOES EVER
Makes 5 Quart Bags and a Little Extra
 

30 tomatoes
1 TBSP salt
2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
½ of a large green bell pepper, diced
½ of a medium onion, diced
 
In a large pot of boiling water, plunge the tomatoes in for @30 seconds; remove to an ice bath. (I did this in 2 large stock pots....10 tomatoes at a time)
Peel the tomatoes and discard the skins. Cut the tomatoes to the size you want.
Put all the ingredients in a large stock pot, stir. Let simmer for @an hour.
 

Put the stewed tomatoes in quart-size freezer bags and the 'little extra' in a bowl to use now.
 
 
Freeze for future use.

MY SPIN: You could also dice some celery in these.

Later!
Loving Life!
Peace
Jan

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Peach Blueberry Muffins


Well, I still had peaches and blueberries and I absolutely hate wasting food! I also had company coming in. So, at the last minute, I decided to make some muffins. These are some BIG muffins!!! I think warming them up and putting some butter on them would just be delicious with a cup of coffee.....
 
PEACH BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
Makes 8 Big Muffins


3 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup Splenda granulated (or sugar)
½ cup brown sugar
1 TBSP baking powder
1 pinch of salt
3 eggs (or ¾ cup egg substitute)
1 cup reduced fat milk
½ cup melted light butter
1 cup blueberries
1 cup peaches, peeled and diced
OPTIONAL TOPPING:
2 tsp Splenda granulated (or sugar)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
2 TBSP melted light butter


Preheat your oven to 400°. Lightly spray a muffin tin or line with paper liners.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ½ cup Splenda granulated (or sugar), brown sugar, baking powder and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, milk and ½ cup of melted light butter until well combined.



Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just blended. Fold in the peaches and then the blueberries.




Fill muffin cups. Bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until the tops spring back when touched lightly.


OPTIONAL TOPPING: Mix together the Splenda granulated (or sugar), cinnamon and nutmeg. Brush muffins with the 2 TBSP melted light butter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon mixture.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack.



MY SPIN: I didn't make the topping even the the ingredients are in the picture.....I ran out of time since I had company coming. If you don't make the topping, I would suggest putting the cinnamon (and maybe even a heaping tsp of it) in the batter.


Later!
Loving Life!
Peace
Jan