Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Out of Gas Dinner…..with Healthy Onion Rings

This afternoon I made a super creamy, chocolately Amazing Grass Smoothie.  I have to say this is the first flavor combination that I could not taste the “grassiness” and it rocked!  After reading all your comments on my giveaway the Chocolate Flavor seems to be everyone’s fav ~ so I had to try it out.

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It’s not GREEN like the others, but, BROWN.

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1 c ice

1 small banana

1 Tbsp PB&Co Dark Chocolate Dreams

Splash of FF milk and water – enough to blend

All whipped up it makes a Brown Monster!

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I actually LOVED this one~ it honestly tasted just like a chocolate peanut butter Milk Shake.  This is by far my FAVORITE Amazing Grass Product so far.

My NY&Co shopping trip was a complete success!  All their summer stuff was on clearance and I was able to use my 20% off coupon plus my $25 rewards.  I paid less than my total savings and scored a TON of stuff ~ two cute work tops, a dress, 7 reversible tanks, 1 work tank, a necklace and matching earrings ~ Fun!

Now dinner on the other hand was a TOTAL flop.  I knew I should have mentioned to The Husband that we get take out after shopping!

I started out prepping the Healthy Onion Rings that I promised you all earlier.

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Tip: I honestly think these taste fantastic when “fried” in oil and eh, ok when baked.  They get crispy and crunchy when baked, but, they tasted healthy to me.

1/3 c whole wheat flour

1 c lowfat buttermilk

1/2 c bread crumbs (panko cxrumbs would be awesome!)

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp cajun seasoning & paprika or 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning

1-2 Large Sweet Onion, cut into 1/2 inch rings

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.

Place your flour in a large ziploc bag.  Place your bread crumbs in a bowl.

Combine your buttermilk with the salt, pepper and seasoning.

Toss your onions in the flour in the bag.  Dip in the buttermilk shaking excess off before dunking them in the breadcrumb mixture tossing to coat.

Place your onions on your cookie sheet as you prepare each one.  Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 4 servings, 8 slices each for only TWO Weight Watcher Points!

Here is a photo recap of all the steps. 

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I cooked them a little bit too long so they got a little burnt. 

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The Husband wanted to take the extras and “fry” them up in some Canola Oil. 

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I have to admit the fried version is ALOT better.  I think I’d like to experiment next time and use my TWO TEASPOONS of healthy oil to “fry” up 8 onion rings.  I bet it works fantastic because a little oil goes a LONG way.

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Right about this time our GRILL ran out of gas.  No worries, we have a second can.  Guess what?!  That one was OUT of gas too *sigh* The rest was prepped in the oven from this point forward.  The veggies were tossed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Garlic Salt and Pepper.  They jumped out of the grill basket……

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And into the oven to broil along with the now sliced up Tri Tip.

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Despite being out of gas, everything still turned out pretty good. I think the VEGGIES were the best – the green beans were amazing…I am definitely buying purple ones again – so fun!

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The Tri Tip in my opinion was eh, ok – too salty.  I cooked up the Morton’s Steakhouse one that The Husband picked out at Costco.  I really think meat tastes so much better in your own marinade versus pre-marinated ones.  Morton’s is a popular steakhouse so I thought it would be amazing…..not so much.

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I had about 4 of my onion rings and 3 of The Husbands :D (while everything was attempting to cook)

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All together with a Perrier fizzy water.

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Dessert was a couple of pieces of Salt Water Taffy.

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Alright all ~ You have less than 3 hours to enter my Amazing Grass Giveaway – Click HERE before Midnight for your chance to win.

I am off to read, relax and get ready for the week to be HALF OVER tomorrow – yeah!

Nite!

15 comments:

  1. I'm not a big fan of onion rings, but my dad says onions are very healthy... The breading and deep frying is what kills it. Lol. But these seem like healthier alternatives!

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  2. Sorry dinner didn't turn out the way you wanted -hate that! Everything looks great, though!

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  3. i love onion rings, but have never tried making my own! Dinner still looks great even though the plans changed. We've done the whole plan-to-grill and realize we're out of gas, too.

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  4. Mmm...I love onion rings. I think I have tried the baked version before and was a little disappointed. I would rather save up points for the "real thing!!"

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  5. This smoothy sounds interesting. I really need to stop being lazy an get that blender out this summer.

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  6. I agree, I think onion rings are something that just have to be fried. :(

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  7. Imee ~ I suppose that would be true - it's just a veggie without all that. Now if I can only convinced myself I don't need the bread and the "frying" :)

    Marisa ~ Thanks - me too! But, it doesn't happen too often so I suppose I can't complain. Lesson learned :)

    Brandi ~ Thanks - it was tasty, but, I think my "attitude" is what made it not as good LOL.

    TheAngryDieter ~ I agree - I think next time I am using my 2 tsp of healthy oil for an additional 2 pts and see if that works. A little oil goes a LONG way.

    Kristi ~ It was surprisingly tasty. I haven't been in love with too many of the Amazing ones I've made yet....but, this one, this is LOVE :)

    Danielle ~ Maybe I shouldn't have tried his "fried" version first....then, I may not have noticed? :)

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  8. Your onion rings look good to me! Have you ever tried the Hungry Girl rings? You crush up Fiber One and dip the onions in egg beaters. I tried them and they weren't bad!

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  9. I love faux fried veggies. Boo on running out of gas :-(

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  10. running out of gas is the worst! at least it was not the car, eh? the onion rings look good, both baked and fried. and those mushrooms?! humungo!

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  11. healthy onion rings?! i'm speechless...

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  12. oh but of course the fried ones taste better....sigh....

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  13. Missy ~ thanks for the review on the HG onion rings. I have heard good things about them.

    C.G. ~ Me too, I just wish these were a hit like the others I've made :)

    Janetha ~ thanks! The mushrooms DID rock!

    Jenny ~ You are funny.....now if I could get them to just taste as good as the real deal.

    The Actor's Diet ~ *sigh* you are soooo right!

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  14. The chocolate amazing grass is def. my favorite so far! And those onion rings look delicious. The recipe sounds great :)

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  15. Anne ~ I agree with you on the chocolate so far :)

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