Dinner at Our House: Garlic Knots

A little more golden than I wanted, but they tasted quite yummy!

These are the side that I made to go with our Christmas Eve dinner at my house. I spent most of the day baking different things so I wanted to make a quick thing to go with dinner. These were very easy to assemble. I highly recommend them for something a little different but still simple. I modified a recipe from here. Because I used the lighter version of the butter it really helps save a point or two if you are on the WW system. Two knots = 3 points! Not too bad :)

Ingredients

• 1 container refrigerated breadstick dough
• 1/4 cup yogurt butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Tie the dough into 12 knots and place them onto a cookie sheet. Melt the butter and add in the garlic powder. Brush the knots with the mixture, and sprinkle the rosemary onto the knots. Bake the knots according to the package directions.

Happy Holidays (a little late)

Sorry again for the lack of posting. We have been busy with the holiday season visiting around, shopping and relaxing. I thought I would catch everyone up with a photo update. Enjoy!

Before Christmas, we went to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway.

Toy Solider

Teddy Bear

Tim and I on the Jolly Trolley

IDK what happened but it looks super cool...

Whhhhirrrrr

Snowflakes

Poinsettias

Swans!

My favorite.

Mmmmmm Gingerbread!

The next night was Christmas Eve. I made dinner for my family. I'll make a separate post with the recipe for the Garlic Knots, but it was Baked Ziti with Garlic Knots and salad.

The next morning was Christmas! Wooo! The cats had a lot of fun.

Elliot vegged out by the fridge

Elliot opening her toys from Nana and Papa

Scooby being the present devil

Laser cat Jackson

We also visited Tim's family after Christmas for a few days. All around it was a great break and now we are looking forward to 2011. More on that soon :)

Cat Tube: Ice Water Fun

Just because we found it to be slightly hilarious the other night:

Snacking at Our House: Cupcakes!

Sorry it has been a while. Big project at work going on. Plus, I've started work on our annual holiday letter for family and friends. But, tonight I wanted to share a recipe with you all that I tried. I made Chocolate Cupcakes that are only 3 WW points each.

These were my first attempt at "dusting" any food item with powdered sugar.

My cupcake before it was eaten.

Recipe from here:

Ingredients

• 1  cup  all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 1/3  cup  unsweetened cocoa
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/8  teaspoon  salt
• 2/3  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/4  cup  butter, softened
• 1/2  cup  egg substitute
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla
• 1/2  cup  1% low-fat buttermilk
• 1 1/4  ounces  dark (70 percent cocoa) chocolate, finely chopped
• 2  tablespoons  powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined (about 3 minutes). Add egg substitute and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to granulated sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with muffin cup liners. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.