Sweet and Smoky Grilled Cheese -THM S

Okay so I haven't blogged in quite a while but I HAVE to share this recipe.  This was inspired by something my husband had ordered at a restaurant. This has my two favorite things in the world to eat. Bacon, pecans and cheese. Okay that was my three favorite things. I first made this sandwich a week or so ago when my good friend Chrissy Benoit (Visit her blog here, she has lots of yummy recipes) was visiting with her family and when my hubby said she had left her smoked cheddar in my fridge when they left, I knew she was a friend for life. (Visit her blog here, she has lots of yummy recipes)

This sandwich is sweet and smoky. Since I did as I usually do when I cook, throw things in, I don't have actual measurements. So you are going to have to wing it. 

First thing to do is cook up some slices of bacon. However many you think you can stuff in. 

Then you melt a 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a clean skillet and throw a handful of pecans in. To sweeten them up I sprinkled on two packets of Sugar Twin Stevia. Let those toast quickly and set aside. As you can see I let mine get a little too toasty. New stove and I'm not used to how fast it cooks. 

Then you take a pita. I use Joesph's low carb pitas.   Cut it in half and open it up so you can get all that goodness in. 

Slice your cheese. I used two wedges of laughing cow cheese, some slices of smoked cheddar and some smoked Gouda. (Can you tell I love smoked cheese? I was in love when I was in the cheese factory we went to in Amsterdam. Smoked goat cheese is amazing!)

Now it's time to assemble. First spread one wedge of laughing cow on the inside of the half pita, then half the Gouda, then half the pecans, then half the bacon and then half the cheddar. Repeat with the other half of the pita. You have to make sure that you have cheese on either side of the pecans and bacon because that's what holds them in. 

After you have it all assembled, melt some butter on your skillet and carefully place both half of your sandwich onto it. Cook on both sides until toasty and the cheese is melted. 

You will not regret making this sandwich. It is absolute to die for!  I might just make another one tomorrow. 

Healthy bacon wrapped smokies? THM -S

So we started a family tradition last year for New Years Eve. As the kids got older, and we parents got older we found that it was more fun to let the kids invite some friends over, have appetizers and play games until midnight.

Appetizers.....mmmmm my favorite. My problem being on the Trim Healthy Mama plan is that I have to find new or modify my favorite appies. I must confess something here. I totally went off plan for three days over Christmas. And in the process gained a whopping 10 pounds in those three days. Now I hunkered down and managed to lose those 10 pounds in between Christmas and New Years so I was determined not to let New Years derail me again. One of my all time favorite appetizers are bacon wrapped smokies. My kids love them too and they were requested by all four of them in the weeks leading up to Christmas. So inset about trying to figure out how to make some so I could eat them. And that's how I came up with this recipe. 

Sweet and Spicy Bacon Wrapped Smokies THM-S

1 package of cocktail wieners

1 package of bacon

2 TBSP THM Super Sweet Blend 

2 packets of Truvia

1-2 tsp of your favorite spicey blend (I use a homemade blackening spice blend)

Instructions:

1. Cut your package of bacon in half. Wrap each half piece of bacon around the cocktail wiener and secure with a toothpick. Place them all into a 13x9 baking dish. 

2. Mix the sweeteners and blackening spice together. Sprinkle evenly over the smokies and bake at 325 for 40-50 mins or at 350 for 30 mins or until bacon is crisp. 

I was so excited when I tasted them to find that they tasted just like the sugar filled version I had made the rest of the family . I even remembered to take a picture right before I devoured them. (Don't worry I did share) after I took the picture I had realized that they needed to head back to the oven to crisp up that bacon a bit more. 

Thanks so much for reading and just a reminder. J and I are still fundraising for our trip to Mozambique. We have done pretty good with various projects but still need a bit more to reach our goal. If you would like to learn more about our trip Click Here.  If you would like to donate you can click  on the right hand side of the blog. You could also send a cheque with a note saying who it is for (Natasha) to Summerside Community Church. Please make your cheque payable to:

Summerside Community Church
150 Industrial CrescentSummerside PE C1N 5N6

Thank you so much for your support! Please continue to pray for us as we move forward towards this goal.