zero is my hero.

two updates in one day?? YES!

i just have to mention that one of my new obsessions is Vitamin Water Zero & Zero Calorie Water from Walgreens (a cheaper, but still oh so yummy version of Vitamin Water Zero available only at Walgreens).

as someone who fights the need to drink 8 glasses of H20 everyday, these waters are a welcome change to boring ole water. and now that there is a zero calorie version of flavored water, you don't have to worry about the added sugar (and POINTS) that comes with the fruity flavor!

just be careful when buying vitamin water and make sure it says Zero. i made this mistake last night but thankfully the hubs caught it before i had my second sip, once again saving me from messing up my POINTS for the day! (no worries, it didn't go to waste..hubs drank it right up!)

they are giving my Crystal Light a run for it's money!

daily eats.

i've had a few people ask me what i eat during the day for breakfast & lunch. i completely agree that these two meals for people watching their weight or creating a healthy lifestyle are the hardest. sugary cereal, pastries, high fat soups & sandwhiches used to rule breakfast & lunch time but no more! here are some of my favorites.

breakfast: breakfast for me changes with my plans for the day. i try to have a more substantial breakfast before or after a big work out & a smaller breakfast for days when i'm not working out.

yogurt parfait -- i can make this anywhere from 1 point to 4+ points depending on the day, my hunger level & what i have available in the house. the 4 point version is my favorite for a post-morning workout. it get's my energy back up for the rest of the day
1 point: 1 cup fiber one cereal & 1 fiber one yogurt mixed
2 points: 1 cup fiber one yogurt, 1 fiber one yogurt and 1 cup strawberries
4 points: 1 cup fiber one yogurt, 1 fiber one yogurt & 1 plain fat free greek yogurt mixed & 1 cup strawberries **pictured below
5+ points: add in fruits like blueberries, blackberries, etc.

light english muffin--
1 point: muffin with cinnamon and spray butter
2 points: muffin with 1 weight watchers cream cheese
*add a fiber one yogurt for 0 points and cover a dairy serving
3 points: microwave one serving (1/4 cup) of egg beaters in a microwavable cup sprayed with non-stick spray, melt 1 slice fat free cheese over egg and place on muffin ala egg mcmuffin (add 1 point for turkey bacon)

yogurt parfait: 4 point version

lunch: what i eat for lunch also depends on my activity for the day.

egg white scramble -- i'm pretty bad at making omlets with egg whites, so i decided to pack in more veggies than your typical omlet and scramble everything instead
2 points: in a nonstick pan cook your favorite frozen or fresh veggies (i like peppers, onion, green onion, and occationally squash & zucchini) over medium/high heat. remove from pan. whish 4 egg whites with a splash of skim milk. lower heat and spray pan with nonstick spray. add egg whites. scramble until fully cooked. add in cooked veggies, 1/4 cup fat free feta or fat free cheddercheese, & hot sauce (if you like a kick to your eggs). **pictured below

veggie wrap -- easy & quick when you dont want to turn on the stove
1 point: 1 whole wheat/high fiber wrap, your favorite veggies cut into strips, mustard
2 points: 1 whole wheat/high fiber wrap, your favorite veggies cut into strips, 1/4 cup shredded fat free cheese, mustard

soup -- a favorite 0 point - 3 point soup that i can have as a full meal at 3 points or 0 points when i'm running low on points for the day!
0 points: 2 cups chicken broth. i add in chopped onions (found in the spice section to add texture & flavor for no extra points)
1 point: add in 1/3 cup barley, cous cous or whole wheat pasta
2 points add in 2/3 cup barley, cous cous or whole wheat pasta
3 points: add in 1 cup barley, cous cous or whole wheat pasta


veggie stir fry -- recipe posted below


mini pizzas -- these are super yummy and easy to make! you can also make this using a whole wheat/high fiber wrap as the base of the pizza.
3 points: 1 sandwhich thin toasted, 1/2 cup light spaghetti sauce, 1/4 cup shredded cheese. top each toasted sandwhich thin half with sauce & cheese. place in toaster oven or on a baking sheet in oven until cheese is melted. (i add in garlic & a dash of splenda to the sauce to make it more like pizza sauce)


grilled cheese & tomato soup -- i also make these for dinner on occation. i cook the grilled cheese half in the toaster & half in the microwave becuase 1. whole wheat bread and fat free cheese tend to cook funny on the stove & 2. it's quick and easy.
3 points: 1 sandwhich thin or 2 slices of high fiber/whole wheat bread, 1 slice fat free cheese. toast sandwhich thin, 1/2 cheese slice on each half of the thin or bread. microwave for 20 seconds. serve with 1 cup Progressive High Fiber Tomato Basil soup. (add one point for an extra slice of cheese)


salad -- my favorite lunch/pre-dinner salad. i convinced myself that egg whites can take the place of croutons so i no longer want croutons in my salad!
1 point: iceburg lettuce or spring mix, sliced red onion, sliced peppers, 1 egg white, 1/4 cup fat free feta or shredded chedder cheese & spray dressing (my current favorite is raspberry vinagerette)
2 points: add 1/2 cup sliced seedless grapes & 1.2 cup of sliced strawberries for a summery take on salad.

egg white scramble: 2 point version

i always follow lunch with an afternoon snack of some type of fruit: apple, grapes, kiwi, clementimes.. it helps fend off hunger 'til dinner time.

also, remember that breakfast and lunch dont nessecarily mean that you must eat those types of food at that meal time. if you want mini pizzas for breakfast..go for it! if you want a yogurt parfait for lunch..eat it!

turkey chili.

since the weather decided to get chilly (no pun intended) again this week, i decided to bring out the slow cooker & make some delish turkey chili! best part is that it makes the house smell amazing all day!


2 lbs lean ground turkey
1 small can tomato paste
1 can kidney beans
1 can canelli beans
1 can diced tomatoes
16 ounces chicken broth
1 yellow squash, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cajun seasoning
salt & pepper to taste

You can also add red & yellow peppers, jalepeno peppers to your taste, more spices to your taste, hot sauce to taste. If you like a really meaty chili add 1 or 2 browned lean turkey sausages (casings removed) for an extra 1 point per serving.

Brown turkey chili in a non-stick pan. Put all ingredients into crock pot & set on low for 5-6 hours.

POINTS: 4 points for 1 heaping cup.

greek tomato & feta chicken.

this dish was super yummy & light! i'm a huge fan of feta cheese so finding a fat free version made my day!

4 - 3 ounce thin sliced chicken cutlets
1 teason dried oregano
salt & pepper
olive oil spray
1 can diced tomatoes
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup diced cucumbers
1/4 cup fat free feta cheese
fresh mint for garnish

Sprinkle chicken with oregano, salt & pepper. Spray a large skillet with olive oil spray. Brown chicken over medium-high heat. Remove chicken from pan. Keep warm on a serving dish.

Re-spray pan & add tomatoes, lemon adn garlic to pan. Cook over medium-high heat until tomatoes are soft, about 3 minutes.

Spoon sauce over chicken and sprinkle with cucumber, feta and mint.

POINTS value: 3 for 3 ounces of chicken, 1/4 cup sauce, 1 Tbsp feta & 2 Tbsp cucumber.

I served this over 1 cup of cous cous for 3 points.

soda pop chicken.

i debated trying this recipe for a while becuase it sounds so disgusting, but it's so simple that i had to give it a shot! surprisingly, it was amazing. so good that the hubs ate seconds & asks for me to make it all the time now. we're even going to use it as a marinade this weekend instead of in the crockpot.

4- 4 ounce chicken breasts
1 can diet soda
1 cup of ketchup

Place all ingredients into crock pot. Set to low and cook for 5-7 hours.

POINTS: 4 per 4 ounces of chicken

hummus.

i whipped up this hummus with some things i had around the house. super quick & super easy!

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained & rinsed
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp garlic powder (or 2 cloves of garlic)
2 Tbsp fresh dill or cilantro
1/4 cup water
pinch of chives
salt & pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until creamy (about 2 minutes).

POINTS value: 2 for 1/3 cup.

Serve with veggies, whole wheat tortillas or toasted sandwhich thins.

Sorry the photo isn't prettier! I had to put it away beofre I ate it all!

1-2-3

so excited for Lisa Lilliens new Hungry Girl book "1-2-3"!

after skimming the recipes & finding point values for the ones that sound amazing, i am so ready to start cooking! i'm loving the section on healthy crock pot meals. everyone should have a crockpot & use it. so easy. those recipes look great.

also, it's great that she's starting to cook for more than one person. her other books focused a great deal on one serving recipes. altho they are easy to double, it will come in handy to families with more than one person watching what they eat.

i still have trouble finding a few things at times that you need for a lot of her recipes, but there are usually alternatives to these items. and there are things i'm still iffy on..tofu noodles? umm..

i do like how at the top of the page every recipe lists what equipment you will need. makes everyone life a lot easier! another thing that makes life easy..the microwave section! i'm a huge fan of nuking my food (must get that from my dad..the microwave master) & having some ideas using a coffee mug as the main equipment sounds great to me! the smaller the clean-up, the better!

look for some Hungry Girl recipe tests in the next few weeks!

bean salad.

i spent a good part of the day baking for a bake sale & it felt like i was just breathing in loads of fat. so i needed to make something super healthy to make up for it!

this salad can be served warm or cold, which is great to fit the salad to the season!

2 cans kennelli beans, rinsed & drained
1 carrot, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 celery stick, chopped
2 hard boiled egg whites, chopped
1/2 tomato, seeded & chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded & chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded & chopped
1/2 red onion (or one full onion if smaller), chopped
1 Tbsp, red wine or sherry vinegar
freshly ground pepper & salt
1/4 cup parsley

optional ingredients: 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (i sprayed some EVOO) or lemon juice. 12 large green pimento stuffed olives (i'm not a huge fan).

Place beans in a large pot & cover with water. Bring to a boil. Add carrot, onion & celery. Reduce heat & simmer until beans & veggies are tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain & let cool. **

Add egg whites, tomato, peppers, red onion, vinegar (or oil) & spices. Toss gently.

**If serving warm, drain beans & veggies then immediately mix with all of the ingredients. Serve warm.

POINTS value: 2 per 1 cup. 3 if using regular oil.

barbeque sweet potatoes.

this was a great side to burgers last night. there's two ways to make these - one on the grill & one in the oven. i don't have a grill yet so i used the oven and they turned out just fine, maybe just a little less crispy than they woudl be on a grill. but still oh so yummy! sorry for not having a photo, we were so hungry & ready to eat these that i forgot!

1 pound sweet potatoes, cut into strips
3 Tbsp ketchup (i like reduced sugar, regualr is packed with sugar)
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp yellow mustard
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

If grilling - spray grill rack with nonstick spray. Heat grill to medium high fire.
Mix together ketchup, worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard & pepper in a small bowl.
Brush the potato slices on all sides with sauce. Grill potatoes 5 inches from heat, turning frequently, until browned on the outside & tender when peirced with a fork (about 8 minutes)

If baking - spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray. Set oven to 375 degrees. (If you are like me, you can pre-cook the sweet potatoes in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes to soften & lessen the time in the oven) Mix sauce ingredients. Brush sauce on all sides of sweet potatoes & place onto baking sheet. Bake potatoes for about 15 minutes if pre-cooked, 45 minutes if not pre cooked. You should be able to pierce the potatoes easily with a fork.

I made extra sauce for dipping as well.

POINTS value: 1 point per 1/2 cup.

on-the-spot pasta salad.

after being invited to a spur of the moment cookout at a friend's house, the hubs & i decided that we needed to bring something. that meant either stopping at the store to buy something or whipping up something easy with things we had around the house. of course the house being my house, we have mostly healthy foods. we came up with (ok, it was the hubs idea..but i'll take the claim for the purpose of this post) our on-the-spot pasta salad!

another good thing about it is that it can be halved or doubled for how much you need. AND bringing it to a party can keep you on track! i had some of this with a grilled chicken breast & fruit knowing that it was a healthier option.

1/2 box of rotini/spiral/shell whole wheat pasta (i used smart taste brand)
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1/4 purple onion, diced
1/4 cup fat free parmesean cheese (i use wegman's brand)
3 weight watchers mozzerella string cheese, cut into small peices
1/4 bottle of fat free italian dressing (we had fat free italian/ceasar..still very good)
parsley, salt & pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta & rinse with cold water until cool. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve chilled.

POINTS value: 1 heaping cup = 4 points

matzo ball soup.

before i begin, i'd like to warn you that i am not jewish & therefore do not follow hebrew practices in the consumption & preparation of matzo. i'm merely a fan of matzo. just ask my college best friend, hope. i used to eat her matzo bread & loved when we would celebrate hebrew holidays in our college apartment. and because passover is approaching, it seemed like the perfect time to eat some matzo ball soup!

so it goes without saying (to some people at least) that matzo ball soup is one of my favorite soups. why? 1. it's simple. 2. there's no extra stuff in it that i dont like (i'm used to be a very, VERY picky eater) & 3. its fun to watch the balls grow to be three times their original size (it's the little things in life, i guess)

this recipe is from a weight watcher's recipe & i couldn't resist when i saw it, especially when you can make this meal as low or high in points as you like.

2 large eggs
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 tsp salt (i probably used less..i'm weird with salt)
3/4 cup matzo meal (it equalled to about one packet with the brand i bought. in the international food aisle.)
3 tablespoons seltzer (it exploded on me, so be careful)
4 (14.5 ounce) cans reduced soduim vegetable broth
1 tsp. dried parsley*


Whisk the eggs, oil & salt together in a bowl. Stir in the mazto meal and seltzer just until smooth. Cover & refrigerate 30 minutes. Wet hands as needed & form into sixteen 1-inch balls.

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Gently drop the balls into the water. Cover & reduce heat to a simmer. Cook about 30-45 minutes, until the balls are soft throughout. Drain matzo balls & set aside.

**If you're like me & like to prepare things ahead of time, you can stop here & refrigerate the balls on a lined cookie sheet so that they aren't on top of each other, up to a day ahead of time.**

Add broth to the soup pot and bring to a simmer. Heat the cooked matzo balls until they are warm (about 5 minutes). Stir in parsley at the end of cooking.

POINTS value: vegetable broth - 0 points; 1 matzo ball - 1 point


*You can add fresh parsely & dill if you wish. I didn't have any handy.

a note on hungry girl.

i love hungry girl! if you're not familiar with Lisa Lillien & her books, you should be. especially if you are trying to loose weight or eating healthy.


i love her 200 recipes under 200 calories book as well as her original hungry girl book. they are packed full of weight watchers freindly recipes (as well as being the only cookbook endorsed by weight watchers so far). she gives you ideas of things to keep around like fiber one cereal & vitatops (a great, filling organic "muffin" top that tastes wonderful with some frozen fat free cool whip ala ice cream sandwhich).


Lisa also has a website http://www.hungry-girl.com/ & daily emails with tips, tricks & recipes.





some of my favorite recipes so far:
cheesy cauliflower casserole
white pizza
veggie burger wrap
a vast array of her dips (too many to name)

i highly recommend either signing up for the emails and/or getting her books. they are a great investment!

potatoes o'brien & cabbage

happy st. patricks day!
tonight i decided to make potatoes o'brien & cabbage to satisfy the irish in me & my growling stomach. it was very tasty & will be served along side the corned beef i made the hubs (i'm not a fan of corned beef or the points that i'm sure are in there somewhere). but if you're like me & can live without meat at dinnertime, it's certainly filling enough!

3 large potatoes
1 green pepper, seeded & diced
1 red pepper, seeded & diced
1 large onion, diced
1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
salt & pepper, to taste

You can boil the potatoes the traditional way, or you can nuke them in the microwave like I do for 8-9 minutes until a fork can easily slide into them. Let cool & cut into 1 inch bites.
In a large skillet spray olive oil and add onion, peppers & potatoes. Add salt & pepper to taste. Cook over medium high heat until potatoes brown and onions are translucent.
In a separate skillet, spray olive oil & add cabbage. Cook until cabbage is "sweet" (I also like it browned a bit). Mix in with potatoes at end of cooking.

*I cook the cabbage separately becuase otherwise the skillet is too crowded & not everything cooks evenly.

POINTS value: 4 for 1 cup. I try to fill the cup up with mostly potatoes since that's where all of your points are, then add the veggies & cabbage afterwards since they are "free."

spicy garlic lemon chicken

i think this is one of the best chicken dishes i've made in a while.


3 - 3 ounce chicken breasts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 garlic gloves minced
spray olive oil
spray butter
3 Tsbp lemon juice

Mix spices in a small bowl. Generously sprinkle both sides of chicken breast.
Spray olive oil & butter in a non-stick skillet. Add garlic & chicken and set to medium-high heat. Add lemon juice half way through cooking. Brown chicken until no pink is left inside. Add extra spray olive oil & butter if needed as cooking.

POINTS value: 3 points for 3 oz. chicken.


I served this over 1 cup of cous cous (3 points) & 1 cup of red beets (0 points). I also squirted a small amount of lemon juice over everythign for an extra punch.
The lemon can also be replaced with lime juice, if you prefer.

colorful chickpea salad.

i love making things in advance so i can spend more time relaxing with the hubs when he gets home. i plan on serving this very colorful salad with some BLTs (mine with turkey bacon & fat free mayo on a sandwhich thin) for dinner.


2 cups, broccoli florets (i used frozen because it's easier & cheaper)
1 jar red & yellow roasted peppers, drained & patted dry (especially if in olive oil)
2 cans chickpeas, rinsed & drained
1/4 tsp lemon zest
1 1/2 Tbsp seasame or canola oil
3 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook until tender-crisp (about 3 minutes). Be careful not to overcook. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pat dry.

Meanwhile, mash garlic, lemon zest & salt with the side of a large knife until it forms a paste. Transfer to a serving bowl. Slice peppers into long strips.

Whisk oil, pepper & lemon juice into paste. Stir in peppers broccoli & chick peas. Serve cold.

POINTS value: 2 points per generous 1 cup serving.

*I would reccommend that if you are pre-making this salad earlier in the day or week to half the oil/lemon juice mixture and add the other half at serving. Or add a little bit more lemon juice & splash of oil prior to serving. Without this the salad could dry out a little bit loosing some of the flavor in the chickpeas.

strawberries.

i love this time of year when it comes to produce.

strawberries are finally getting less expensive. they are one of my favorite weight watchers friendly fruits. 1.5 cups for 1 (yes, ONE!) point.

i like having a half serving in the morning with my fiber one cereal & then have the other half at night for a dessert or snack with some fat free cool whip. or you can add some to that greek yogurt with some splenda (or other 0 calorie sweetner). delish!

lifetime!

proof that weight watchers & these recipes work..

i made lifetime this morning!! it's a long time coming.

lost 40 pounds since january 2009 & 25 since joining WW in may 2009.

before & after pics to come soon..

balsalmic chicken with rosemary.

i'm a huge fan of my crockpot. found this in a light crock pot cookbook so that's proof that you dont need a WWs cookbook to make all of your meals.

4 - 4 oz chicken breasts
1/2 cup dry white wine (i recommend pinot grio or chardonnay)
2 tsp balsalmic vinegar
1 tbsp lemon rind
salt & pepper
1/2 chopped tomato
1 tbsp dried rosemary

place chicken in crockpot.
mix wine, vinegar, lemon rind, salt & pepper ina small bowl. pour over chicken. Set to low for 6 hours or high for 3.
at around 45-30 minutes before end of cooking put tomatoes and rosemary over chicken.

POINTS value: 4 for 1 chicken breast with tomatoes

i served this over 1 cup of cous cous (3 points)

chicken tortilla soup.

this is an older recipe from WWs that i got in a $5 sale cookbook at my meeting. even tho i trust WWs POINTS values, i still try to figure it all out on my own especially when i re-work the recipes to my taste.
it was a tad on the spicy side but you can mess with the spices (or omit them completely) to suit your taste.

spray olive oil
onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/2 - 1 tsp chili powder
1/2 - 1 tsp cajun seasoning
1.5 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (i prepared this earlier in the day with some parsley)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
14 baked tortilla scoops (best part!)

Spray a large non-stick skillet with spray olive oil. Heat the onion, pepper, & garlic over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until softened & lightly browned. About 5 minutes.

Add broth, tomatoes, corn, & spices and bring to a boil over high heat.

Add chicken and lemon. Reduce heat & simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips.

POINTS value:
3 for 1 1/5 cups of soup
2 for 14 tortilla chips

* you can save prep time by using frozen onion & peppers

spring/summer faves

here's some of my new WW foods especially for spring/summer!

fiber one yogurt: 0 points --amazing & filling! i thought they were going to be horrible, but they weren't & there's not even that weird fat free food after-taste.

fat free plain greek yogurt: 2 points -- i love greek yogurt. if you get plain (2 points) then you can make your own flavors for 0 points like adding in the fiber one yogurt. some flavored greek yogurts are 3 points already. or you can take the plain & add it to chicken salads instead of mayo or make it into a great fruit dip. add honey, fresh fruit or similar flavors, yogurts for 3 points. love the thickness.

green giant WW endorsed sides: 0 points -- yummy & cheesy! so good, the hubs loves them too!

jell-O: 0 points -- the old WW go-to! pair up with some frozen fat free cool whip for just an extra .5-1 point! (btw, frozen fat free cool whip is an awesome alternative to ice cream)

clementines (2 small): 1 point -- one of my favorite fruits in the spring/summer. i stick a couple in my purse for an on-the-go snack or you can snack on them throughout the day when hunger (or boredom) starts to sneak up & you won't feel bad!

Laura's Lean 96/4% lean ground beef: 1 point per ounce - love the idea of red meat! great for burgers on the grill without cutting into the points.

sandwhich thins (nature's own, arnolds, etc): 1 point per bun --great for those burgers & grilled cheese!

easy-peasy stir fry

this is my go-to stirfry for quick easy lunch or a pre-weigh in dinner.

frozen onions
frozen pepper mix
frozen green beans
frozen broccoli florets
2/3 cup of barley or cous cous, precooked (see below)
low sodium soy sauce
spray olive oil
your favorite seasoning mixes (i like pepper, minced onion, ginger, table blend seasoning)


spray a skillet with olive oil. place all frozen veggies in skillet. cook on medium high until veggies are cooked through (be careful not to overcook) add about 5 splashes of soy sauce to mix. add in balery or cous cous and let cook through, about 2 minutes.

POINTS value: 2 points




To cook pearled barley: bring about 2.5 cups of water to a boil. add in 1 cup of barley and let it cook for up to 45 minutes until tender.
To cook cous cous: bring 2 cups of water toa boil. Add 1 cup cous cous and take off of heat. Let stand for about 2-3 minutes as it plumps.

I like to make these two things ahead of time and add them to stir fry, as side dishes, to chicken broth, etc. By the way, barley is a great way to get some extra fiber in your diet!

granola

watching good morning america today made me and hubs crave some granola..i plan on taking some to my meeting this weekend with the recipe.

3 cups uncooked quick cook oats
2 cups ready-to-eat puffed cereal
6 Tbsp honey
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup apple juice (i used light Motts)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tspground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup dred cranberries
1/4 cup rasins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine oats and cereal. Mix & spread onto a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Meanwhile, combine oil, juice, honey & spices in a small bowl.
Pour oat/cereal into a mixing bowl. Add almonds & oil/juice mixture. Stir and spread onto same baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring occationally.
Pour mixture back into bowl and add fruit. Let cool before serving.

make's 10-11 servings.

POINTS value: 3 per 1/2 cup

chicken noodle soup.

this is my mom's semi-homemade recipe. and honestly, it's pretty darn weight watchers friendly. you can change the amount of chicken or noodles to change total POINTS value. also, if you're like me, then you can remove the whole veggies for a plain chicken soup..or if you are like my hubs, you can chop them up if you like that in your soup.

4-5 boxes of low soldium chicken broth (i just used store brand)
2 lbs chicken breast, trimmed

G. Washington's Seasoning packet or 1 Tbsp similar all purpose seasoning (i can't find GWashington's here)

onion, cut or whole
celery, cut or whole
carrots, cut or whole

place all ingredients into a large stock pot. bring to a boil, then let simmer until chicken is fully cooked. add water & lower heat if liquid begins to evaporate.

serve with whole wheat noodles or cous cous. add whole wheat/high fiber bread or sandwhich thins for an extra 1 point.

POINTS value: 6
3 oz chicken (i take mine out, pat dry with a paper towel & then weigh on a scale) = 3 pts

1 cup whole wheat pasta/cous cous = 3 pts

broth = 0 pts

turkey sausage & pepper pasta

i got this recipe from my weekly WW's newsletter. i changed it a bit..

1/2 pound italian style turkey sausage (about 2 large links), casings removed
2 yellow pepper (if you want to save money..i say red & green peppers are fine, chopped into chunky strips
1 medium onion, cut into thin bits
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes (fire roasted recommended..but i couldnt find it)
1/2 cup dry red wine (i used merlot)
1 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
8 oz. whole wheat fusilli or rotini (i like smart taste brand)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (or more to tate)
salt & pepper, to taste
fresh basil (or you can be like me and just top it with dried basil)

cook pasta according to package directions.
in a large skillet brown turkey sausage, breaking it up as you go. remove to a plate.
in same skillet spray olive oil spray & add peppers and onion. cook until lightly browned (about 5 minutes). add wine & garlic and cook until liquid is almost gone (about 1-2 minutes).
add crushed pepper, turkey, and salt & pepper. cook to a boil then cover & simmer for about 10 minutes.

POINTS value: 5 total
2 points per 1 cup sauce
3 points per 1 cup of pasta

pairing suggestion: Celler 8 Merlot. 5 oz. for 3 points (bc it's wicked dry)

meatballs.

i make meatballs a lot for the hubs for pasta night. and i got tired of just having one meatball (for 1.5 points mind you). so here is the new and improved recipe. and the best part..the hubs didn't even notice.

6 oz 93/7% lean ground beef
1 egg white
1.5 slices white bread
2 Tbsp fat free grated parmesean cheese (so far the only place i've found this is at wegman's)
1 Tbsp garlic
parsley
oregano
salt & pepper

chop bread into small pieces. mix all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. add a splash of water if the mixture is too dry. wet hand (to help with sticking) & form 16 1-inch balls. place in a skillet (coated in cooking spray & spray olive oil*) & cook over medium heat until browned on all sides.
POINTS value: 1 pt for 2 meatballs.

*spray olive oil is a WW's best friend.

oooh yumm.

i decided to start a blog just for my weight watchers friendly recipes.

i am 3 weigh-ins away from being a lifetime member and i can't wait!

so i hope you enjoy & bon appetite!



"i am worth it! i deserve it! i can do it!"