Weight Loss Goddess

What You Need:

2 (8 oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls

8 slices of deli ham

8 slices of Swiss cheese

16 frozen breaded chicken breast tenders, thawed

How to Make It:

Adjust the oven temperature to 375 and allow the oven to heat.

Unroll both cans of the crescent rolls.

Separate each roll of dough into 8 rectangles.

Press the perforations in each rectangle to seal.

Place the dough rectangles on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Place one slice of the ham onto each rectangle.

Top with ham with a slice of the cheese.

Place 2 chicken tenders over the ham and cheese making sure the tops of each tender is place within 1 inch of the top edge of the dough.

Fold the bottom of the dough over the chicken tenders about half way up.

Press the side of the dough with a fork to seal.

Bake 15 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and the tenders are hot.

Makes 8 servings

To thaw the chicken tenders spread them on a plate and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour or thaw in the microwave on defrost for about 4 minutes.  Use ketchup and mustard to make funny faces on the chicken tenders before serving. 

Preparation Time:  approximately 25 minutes

Baking Time:  approximately 15 minutes

Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information per serving:  (approximate values)

Calories 430; fat 23 g; sodium 1,650 mg; carbohydrates 33 g;

sugar 9 g; protein 23 g

What You Need:

6 (8 oz.) containers of vanilla yogurt

3/4 C of orange juice

3 bananas

3 C of frozen whole strawberries

Trix cereal, crushed

How to Make It:

Place the yogurt into the blender.

Add the orange juice and stir just slight to incorporate into the yogurt.

Peel the bananas and break each banana into chunks.

Place the bananas and strawberries into the blender.

Cover and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Pour into glasses and top with the crushed cereal.

Makes 10 servings

This healthy drink is great to serve to kids for their New Years Eve party.  It’s not as cold as a milk shake or as time consuming as punch.  These smoothies can be topped with miniature chocolate chips or cut up pieces of fruit if you prefer. 

Preparation Time:  approximately 15 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 15 minutes

Nutritional Information per 1 C serving:  (approximate values)

Calories 230; fat 2 g; sodium 90 mg; carbohydrates 47 g;

sugar 38 g; protein 8 g

1.      Write yourself a letter. In this letter, write about the goals for yourself for the year and why they are important to you. Seal them when you are done and address them to yourself. Place the letters in a safe place until December. Have mom add stamps and mail them from the post office. When you receive your letter, open it. How did you do?

2.      Get advice from those who know you. This is a take from a baby shower game. At your family New Year’s Eve gathering, give each person one sheet of paper for each family member. Have each person in turn say a resolution. The others will write their advice for that person on the designated paper. After everyone has voiced all of their resolutions, distribute the papers to the right person.

Use the New Year’s Eve tradition of making resolutions to give you a jumpstart on the coming year’s goals with these five ideas.   

What You Need:

1/2 C of strawberry cream cheese, softened

1 large red apple, cored and chopped small

2 bananas, chopped small

4 cinnamon flavored bagels

How to Make It:

Place the cream cheese in a bowl and stir until smooth and creamy.

Fold in the apples and bananas until well coated with the cream cheese.

Split the bagels in half and toast each half in the toaster until slightly crispy.

Cut the toasted bagels into bite size pieces.

Serve the bagel pieces with the spread on the side.

Makes 8 servings

Any flavor of bagels will work with this recipe.  If you are having trouble finding cinnamon bagels you can use regular bagels.  Cut the bagels in bite size pieces before toasting.  Coat the bagels with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon.  Toast in a 375 degree oven in a single layer on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes or until crispy.  Turn the pieces often during baking time to toast them evenly on all sides.  Allow the toasted bagels to cool completely before serving. 

Preparation Time:  approximately 20 minutes

Toasting Time:  approximately 10 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 30 minutes

Nutritional Information:  (approximate values)

Calories 160; Fat 6 g; sodium 200 mg; carbohydrates 24 g;

sugars 6 g; protein 4g 

What is it that they say about resolutions? After a month or two, they seem to fade into the woodwork. This doesn’t have to be the case. Break that cycle with these family ideas.

2.      Place your resolutions in a hat. During your family time on New Year’s Eve, give every family member a piece of paper. Write down one or two of the most important things you want to accomplish in the coming year. Don’t write your name on it but put it into a hat. Then, each member picks a piece of paper from the hat. Try and guess whose resolutions you have. During the year, you can help that person reach their goals.

3.      Lift your resolutions to the heavens. This requires helium balloons and some ribbon. On a slip of paper, each family member will write a single goal for the next year. You can write as many as you want on different slips of paper. After all are written, the family can gather in the back yard. Read your resolution and tie it to a balloon. At the same time, release all of the balloons.

What You Need:

1 (11 oz.) can refrigerated breadsticks

How to Make It:

Adjust the oven setting to 375 degrees.

Remove the dough from the can and unroll.

Separate the dough at the perforations to form 12 strips.

Shape the strips into letters spelling Happy New Year.

Place the letters on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 15 minutes or until the dough is a golden brown.

Allow to cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheet.

Makes 12 letters

This is a cute way to wish your children and their guests a Happy New Year.  Serve these dunkers with a fruit dip.  Brush the tops of each letter with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese then serve with a pizza sauce.  They can also be sprinkled with dry ranch dressing mix and served with ranch dip on the side.

Preparation Time:  approximately 25 minutes

Baking Time:  approximately 15 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Value per 2 letters:  (approximately value)

Calories 170; fat 4 g; sodium 550 mg; carbohydrates 28 g;

sugar 4 g; protein 5 g

In most religions, worship is a time to celebrate their blessings. This is done through music, vesper services, liturgical dance presentations and candle ceremonies. The worship leader leads the group in their form of worship.

Home Celebrations

Before departing for a formal church service, worship on New Year’s Eve can begin at home. Gather the members of your family together. In a more informal service, everyone can use the time together to share and reflect on some of the following points:

·         What you have learned in the past year about yourself

·         Your expectations for the coming year

·         What you are thankful for in the past year

·         Something you have learned about your family in the past year

Any one of these questions (or others you may have in mind) can spark a conversation or moment of sharing amongst you. This can be a new tradition that you pass down to your children and they in turn can keep going in their own lives with their families.

It is truly a blessing to see one year leave and another come to pass. Celebrating that with your family creates a sacred memory that you will treasure for years to come.

What You Need:

2 C of applesauce

6 T of vanilla yogurt

1 t ground cinnamon

How to Make It:

Place the applesauce into a serving bowl.

Fold in the yogurt until well combined.

Sprinkle in the cinnamon and stir until blended in well.

Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings

Serve this dip to the little ones who want to be a part of the party but can handle the other snacks and appetizers on the table.  Choose your child’s favorite dunkers such as animal crackers, graham crackers, vanilla wafer or lightly frosted shredded wheat cereal.

Preparation Time:  approximately 10 minutes

Chilling Time:  approximately 30 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information per 1/4 C serving:  (approximate values)

Calories 170; fat 4 g; sodium 115 mg; carbohydrates 33 g;

sugar 21 g; protein 2 g

Traditionally the last night of the year is a time to reflect on the past and also to look forward to the coming year. You can opt to use this time to spend with family in the act of worship.

A watch night service is held on New Year’s Eve for holy worship. People gather to usher in the New Year as a family. Services occur in the evening. It may not be a long service but it is filled with silent moments and prayer. Different churches have different formats for conducting this service so check with your local church to see when and what is involved.

Watch Night Vigils

This is a type of worship service that lasts longer than a watch night service. Because it is a vigil, the parishioners faithfully watch the old year go out and the New Year come in. the ceremonies involve prayers, lots of music and the taking of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist). These services typically start around 10 p.m. and last well after midnight.

Because of the length of the service, many churches also offer a meal once the worship piece is over. Families are invited to sit down and share a meal (usually breakfast) together before leaving to return to their own homes.

What You Need:

1 C of sour cream

1 C of mayonnaise

2 (1 oz.) envelopes of dry ranch dressing mix

4 T of vegetable oil

2 (16.2 oz.) cans refrigerated flaky biscuits

2 (6 oz.) pkg. cooked chicken strips

4 T of butter, melted

How to Cook It:

Preset the oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Spray a cookie sheet generously with a non stick cooking spray.

Place the sour cream and mayonnaise together in a mixing bowl.

Stir the mixture until blended together well.

Sprinkle in the ranch dressing mix and blend it in well.

Remove the biscuits and place on the prepared cookie sheet.

Use the tip of your fingers to press out each biscuit into an oval.

Spread 1 t of the dressing mixture over each biscuit.

Place 3 chicken strips crosswise in the center of each biscuit.

Bring the sides of each biscuit up and over the chicken and press to seal.

Brush the tops of each chicken wrap with the melted butter.

Bake 20 minutes or until the biscuits are a golden brown.

Makes 16 wraps

These little wraps will be the hit of the party.  Serve with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.  If your children like a little more spice use taco seasoning mix instead of the ranch dressing mix and serve with salsa for dipping.

Preparation Time:  approximately 25 minutes

Baking Time:  approximately 20 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information per wrap:  (approximate values)

Calories 430; fat 29 g; sodium 1,140 mg; carbohydrates 30 g; sugar 10 g; protein 12 g