My Cookbook Confession!

Hi my name is Maurilia and I have a confession to make.. I am addicted to cookbooks! I simply love them. First off I love food and more so love to eat a tasty meal full of flavor. Better yet I love to create such a meal. It's so rewarding to me to create a satisfying meal for my family and friends. I am not a great chef by any means. Basically I am only as good as the recipes I find. I guess that explains my obsession with finding the perfect cookbook. The thrill of finding awesome recipes. If I had to guess I bet I have over 100 cookbooks, which include baking and cooking. Before the baby arrived, I had most of them displayed on bookshelves in the office. But since her arrival space was limited and all these had to be packed away in storage bins, only displaying a handful that I mainly use in the kitchen. This past month since I have been calorie counting I have been reconnecting my love in the kitchen again and trying all sorts of baking and cooking recipes. I had forgotten how much joy it brings me and I am enjoying it again. Over the past two weeks I have downloaded 3 cookbooks onto my Nook e-reader and bought 2 books at the bookstore. I'm feeling a little guilty with my recent purchases but I must say I have whipped a few satisfying keepers. So it was worth it! Really there are worst obsessions I think or so I keep telling myself! HA :)

So we had another good weekend. Victor had to work most of it, so that left Ava and me. On Friday we enjoyed a nice dinner at Nana & Vovo's. Mom grilled per my request, salmon. I had been craving it for a while now. Victor isn't much of a fan so I don't cook it often at home. Mom grilled this is up and it was delicious! Ava & I also spent some time visiting our friends Jackie & Ava Sophia. We had a great time catching up with them as always. And despite Victor working all weekend there was some progress made in the bathroom. We picked out a pretty shade of blue green for the walls and painted the Wayne's coating. Already the transformation is beginning to take place. We are getting there :)

I also got a couple of good recipes. Pancakes on Sunday morning made w/ sweet potato. These were tasty and filling. For dinner, turkey enchiladas from my latest cookbook purchase, "Now eat this" by Rocco DiSpirito, which features meals ALL under 350 calories!. The enchiladas calls for tomatillo salsa which I had never bought at the supermarket. Victor & I loved it! Such a nice change from ordinary salsa. I served this along a side of Spanish rice, yum! Please find both recipes below.

Cheesy Turkey Enchiladas with Tomatillo Salsa and Cilantro
Now Eat This! by Rocco DiSpirito
Servings: Serves 4

Ingredients                                             

• 12 ounces ground turkey breast
• 4 low-carb tortillas (9 inches each)
• 2/3 cup fat-free spicy black bean dip - I used fat free refried beans since I couldn't find a bean dip 
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 jar (12 ounces) tomatillo salsa - I used Frontega Brand
• 1 cup reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend , such as Weight Watchers
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro as garnish

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450°.

Heat a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, stirring to break it up a little, until it is just cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, using flameproof tongs, char the tortillas lightly on each side over an open flame, or toast them under a preheated broiler. Keep the tortillas warm by covering them with a clean kitchen towel as you go. I omitted this step since we do not have a gas top oven.

Stir the black bean dip into the turkey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Lay the tortillas on a work surface, and divide the turkey mixture among them. Fold the sides of the tortillas in over the filling and roll the tortillas up tightly to encase the filling. Lay them side by-side in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Spoon the salsa over the tortillas, and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the enchiladas are hot throughout, 10 to 12 minutes.

Sprinkle the cilantro over the enchiladas, and serve.
Nutritional Information: Before: 33g fat, 990 calories, After: 9.9g fat, 314 calories!!!

Pancakes (with Sweet Potato)

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld
Servings: Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sweet potato puree
• 1/4 pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup pancake mix - I used Krusteaz Buttermilk mix
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Pure maple syrup, for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, mix the water, sweet potato puree, and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, if using. Add the pancake mix and stir just to combine—the batter should be lumpy.

Coat a griddle or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil, and spoon the batter onto the griddle or pan, using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake.

Cook until bubbles form on top of the pancakes and the batter is set, 2 to 3 minutes. Then use a spatula to flip the pancakes and cook them until golden brown on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!!!