Lite & Yummy for Summer!

Today~ I started my diet! How many times do we say that? Myself~ way to many =) Four weeks ago I gave up coffee..I know how can I give up coffee??? It was pretty easy! I stopped going to Starbucks and I didn't buy anymore Vanilla Creamer to make it at home. Today~ I gave up soda and sugar... for those of you who have known me forever..know that I was a Coke drinker. You would hardly ever see me without a Coke in my hand. A few years ago I cut way back on the soda drinking and replaced it with water. I could never truely give it up...until today!

For summer and to support my new diet... I want to post a few yummy recipes that taste great and are super easy to make. Here is the first of the many to come =)


Grilled Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwiches

Ingredients
Makes 16
1 loaf thinly sliced white sandwich bread (32 pieces), preferably Pullman
2 pounds salted fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
4 medium tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
Directions
Using a 2- or 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter (depending on size of tomatoes), cut out bread and mozzarella.
Season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Sandwich 1 tomato slice and 1 mozzarella slice between 2 slices of bread. Repeat with remaining tomatoes, mozzarella, and bread to make 16 sandwiches.
Preheat a grill to medium, or heat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush outsides of bread with butter. Grill sandwiches until golden brown and mozzarella is soft but not completely melted, about 5 minutes per side.

Grilled Blueberry-Rhubarb Crumble~ Yummy!!!

Growing up rhubarb just seemed really gross... never wanted to try it and said I didn't like it. Boy, I was missing out. From our house in Fife, Wa when you looked out our backdoor there was a veggie farm. Springtime would come and they would put up these plastic greenhouses. We found out that they were growing rhubarb. One day I decided to look up some recipes that rhubarb was in... I came across this one. Grilled Blueberry-Rhubarb Crumble. My husband loves to grill so I thought what the heck. This changed my mind forever about rhubarb =)
Yummy & Enjoy~

Ingredients
3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
2 cups fresh or frozen diced rhubarb
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine
Whipped cream (optional)
Directions
1. In a medium sauepan, combine the blueberries, rhubarb, granulated sugar, and the 2 tablespoons flour. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Transfer fruit mixture to an 8x8x2-inch metal baking or foil pan; set aside.

2. For topping, combine oats, brown sugar, the 1/4 cup flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over fruit mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil.

3. Grill for 20 to 25 minutes or until topping is set. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 298, Total Fat (g) 9, Saturated Fat (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 101, Carbohydrate (g) 56, Protein (g) 3, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet