Secrets of Success

lower calorie banana bread

For a lower calorie, fat free banana bread, substitute unsweetened applesauce for the shortening and splenda for the sugar. It's good and moist.

I trick my salad

I add some water to 1 tsp of olive oil to make it go further on my salad. After adding the vinegar you can't tell the difference.

Shirataki

Get the pasta feel without all the pasta. Drain it, rinse it and parboil to get rid of the odor. You'll get used to the texture - I promise

Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker!!!

This one dish has been a lifesaver for me in terms of preparing quick, healthy meals - if I'm short on time, it keeps me from ordering bad food!

2 Chx Breast, red and yellow peppers, garlic, lime juice and low sodium taco seasoning - 12 minutes in the microwave for low fat chicken fajitas for 2!

Added Flavor

Use fresh herbs to add flavor to anything.

Herbs are the best helper

I do not use salt, I use herbs in almost everything I cook, rosemary under the steak on the grill, mint in the zucchini, cinnamon in the coffee. Try yourself and find your favorites.

Adding helpful kitchen aids to your Sparks grocery list

If you come across a handy kitchen aid you want to buy you can add it to the weekly shopping list.

Go to "My Nutrition" page,
"Add/Edit Extra Meal category",
In the pop-up "New Extra Meal Category" enter a word like "shops",
"Save settings",
which sends you back to "My Nutrition" page.

There is now a section for "shops"

Add kitchen aid under "Enter food not listed" then add it to the new "shops" section.

Press "Grocery List" and the new aid now appears under "Manually entered".

SLOW COOKERS

I use a liner in my slow cooker to save time on cleaning it.

Healthier cake

When you buy cake mix instead of adding oil and water you can add aplle sause or diet cola

Breakfast

instant cream of wheat made with non-fat milk and sugar free apple sauce is quick and filling!