Egg Bake, part 2

Recipe From: my mom, recipe was posted here before, here it is

Ingredients: same as before, minus bacon

With a side of fruit.

Rating: still delicious

Notes:

• Today I used regular eggs, fat free cottage cheese, reduced fat cheddar, reduced fat margarine - the rest was the same (swiss cheese, green onions...).
• Used 1 1/4c of each of the cheeses.
• Still made them in muffin tins, 18.

WW PointsPlus*: 4 per "muffin"


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Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

Recipe From: found on Pintrest, here's the original page

Ingredients & Directions: please click link above

Rating: pretty tasty
Warming Up:
Notes:

• I didn't use the poblanos, and used a green pepper instead.
• I'll probably use less cumin next time.
• I baked in a 11"x7" baking dish and got 6 servings.

WW PointsPlus*: as I prepared, 10.

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

I made this recipe in late spring/early summer, and am just now getting it posted. Enjoy!

Recipe From: Cooking Light Magazine

Ingredients & Directions: Click link above.

Rating: Yummy!
Warming Up: The patties warm up fine.
Notes:
I don't care for the taste of arugula, so I used different toppings.
Use any leftover pitas to make Pita Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Herbs.

Pita Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Herbs

I made this recipe in late spring/early summer, and am just now getting it posted. Enjoy!

Recipe From: Cooking Light Magazine

Ingredients & Directions: Click link above.

Rating: Tasty
Warming Up: It's a salad - no warming up necessary, but store the pita pieces separate if you have leftovers so they don't get soggy.
Notes:
I used wheat pitas.

Upside-Down Pizza Remix

This weekend I decided to revisit the Upside-Down Deep Dish Pizza recipe. I really liked the original way of making it, but thought I'd switch it up a little this time.

The changes I made:

• added green onions to the meat and cooked them a little before adding the sauce
• mixed low-fat ricotta cheese with the broccoli instead of using mozzarella on top
• used refrigerated crescent sheet instead of pizza crust
• added sliced tomatoes and a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan cheese to the top before baking

This version did need to bake longer - I'm not sure if it was the crescent rolls topping or the tomatoes on top, but I think I ended up baking at 375 for 35-40 minutes, just check on it while it's baking.

This time the dish was equally as delicious and I used the extra crescent sheet to experiment with appetizer options. Maybe I'll have to do a post about that sometime soon. :)

Lettuce Tacos

A few weeks ago I went to PF Chang's with my brother and his wife. When we were there we had some delicious lettuce wraps. On the way home I thought, "I could make tacos the same way." Tonight was the night I did.

Ingredients:
ground turkey
taco seasoning
green onions
reduced fat cheddar cheese
lettuce (I used green leaf)
---------------
salsa
avocado

Directions:

1. Brown ground meat. Add sliced green onions. Cook until onions are semi-soft.
2. Follow directions on taco seasoning.
3. Wash lettuce leaf and pat dry.
4. Top with meat mixture, cheese, and any other taco toppings you like.
5. Wrap lettuce around inside ingredients before eating.

Rating: pretty good, just have to get your brain around the fact that there's no shell
Warming Up: just warm up the meat like you would a normal taco...should warm up fine.
Notes:

• I feel that this recipe has a lot going for it:
• It's healthier than the normal alternative, and if you don't like it the first night you still have everything you need for a nice taco salad.
• The lettuce leaves seem to fit less meat and filling than a taco shell (well, I suppose that depends on the lettuce you use), so there's more calories saved.
• Lettuce tacos are a little messier than normal ones, so maybe you'll eat less because you won't want to get too messy.
• Also, since you're saving some fat, calories, carbs, etc., there's room for dessert. :)
• Next time I'll probably pair it with Apple Straws - one of my new favorite snacks. (I feel a future blog entry coming on...)

WW PointsPlus*: the only points here are the cheese and meat mixture so it depends on how you make it and what additional toppings you use.

Potato Chowder

One of my favorite soup recipes. Easy to make and delicious - a winter time stand-by.

Recipe From: my Weight Watchers leader, Kathy

Ingredients:
2 bags Ore-Ida Hashbrown Potatoes (cubed, southern style) - 8 cups total
3 cans low sodium chicken broth
1 can reduced fat cream soup
8 oz fat free cream cheese
1 can corn (optional)
onion to taste
seasoning to taste


Directions:
Open, pour, simmer (about 2 hours), stirring occasionally.

Rating: tasty
Warming Up: never have a problem warming this up for lunch
Notes:

• I use cream of celery soup, the recipe call for cream of chicken. I also use green onions.
• This soup looks interesting as it cooks, but trust me...the potatoes break down and everything comes together to make a great, thick chowder.
• This makes a lot of chowder, so I typically make a half batch. Making a full batch is fine too, this chowder freezes well.
• Even more delicious when served with a little reduced fat cheddar cheese on top. I also think you could easily turn this in to a "stuffed baked potato soup" by adding bacon bits, broccoli, etc.

WW Points*: 3 points per cup

Cranberry Feta Pinwheels

Recipe From: a magazine that I can't remember the title of - sorry!

Ingredients:
8oz whipped cream cheese (soft)
1 cup (8oz) feta cheese crumbles
1/4 cup green onions
1 pkg (6oz) craisins
4 tortillas 

Directions:

1. Combine cheeses and onion.
2. Stir in craisins.
3. Spread 1/2 cup on each tortilla and roll up.
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for an hour.
5. Cut in to slices and serve.

Rating: yummy!

Notes:

• Using reduced fat cream cheese and wheat tortillas help this recipe have lower fat.
• I have also added deli sliced turkey on top of the cheese spread before making the rolls.

My Turkey Chili

Today was the perfect day to make chili - a big football game on tv and frigid temperatures outside. My recipe for chili changes almost every time I make it, but does have some common ingredients. Below is today's version. (amounts are in italics because that's what changes each time) Also, I tend to "eyeball" the measurements. I don't like a lot of beans in my chili, so today's version had a total of about one can between the two types.


Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
5 green onions, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes (with onion and garlic)
1/2 can low sodium black beans
1/2 can chili beans (medium sauce)
12 oz low sodium V8 juice
Emeril's Southwest Seasoning
other spices to taste


Directions:

I am a big fan of "less dishes to do, the better," so I make this in one pan.

1. Brown ground turkey, adding spices as desired. (I've found that the ground turkey in a tube falls apart more easily, making it perfect for this recipe. I add garlic at this point - because I add garlic to basically everything.) Drain meat, if needed.
2. Add green onions, tomatoes, and beans. Stir, cooking for a little bit, letting everything get incorporated.
3. Add juice and Emeril's Seasoning (to taste), stir. 
4. Simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally. (Today I let it cook until the game was over - about an hour and a half.)
5. Serve with condiments you like. (for me: light sour cream and cheddar cheese, today: beer bread on the side.)

Rating: I tweak the recipe every time, but it's always tasty!
Warming Up: always warms up nicely.

Egg Bake

Recipe From: my mom

Ingredients:
8 eggs
2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup melted oleo
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 1/2 cups shredded swiss
4 oz mushrooms
1/2 cup diced onion
1 lb browned sausage

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat eggs until foamy.
2. Add cottage cheese, oleo, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
3. Stir in cheeses, mushrooms, onions and sausage.
4. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake, covered, at 350 for 50 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes.

Rating: Delizioso!
Warming Up: warms up well.
Notes:

• My latest variation of this recipe is to use one container of egg substitute (equivalent of 7 eggs), one small container of low fat, small curd cottage cheese, reduced fat cheddar, no mushrooms, green onions, and turkey bacon.
• I typically make this and bake it in muffin tins. Then I freeze these mini-bakes for warming up later.

WW PointsPlus*: 4 (based on latest variation, making 18 muffin-sized bakes)

Beer Cheese Soup

Recipe From: my friend Penny, who got it from a friend

Ingredients:
4 cubes chicken bouillon OR 32 oz of chicken broth
1 can light beer
4 cups water (if using bouillon)
1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes
1cup each of celery, carrots, and onions - chopped
20 oz package frozen cauliflower and broccoli (or use fresh)
2 cans condensed Healthy Request Cream of Chicken soup
8 oz Velveeta light, chunked


Directions:

1. In a large pot, over medium-high heat, dissolve bouillon in beer and water.
2. Add the potatoes, celery, carrots, and onion. Mix well and cook 15-20 minutes.
3. Stir in cauliflower and broccoli mix, heat 10 more minutes.
4. Finally, add the condensed soup and the cheese. Reduce heat to low and allow cheese to melt. Stir often.

• For a smooth soup, process in a food processor or blender, otherwise leave vegetable in chunks.

Rating: ok. I need to try it again in and may like it better processed.

Notes:

• I only made a half batch.
• I did use the broth option. I also used shoestring cut carrots (to save a little time) and the fresh cauliflower and broccoli.
• I found that I needed to add more cheese to get more of a cheesy flavor.

WW Points*: 2 points per cup (per recipe)

Chicken with Apples and Cider

Recipe From: Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced
1 Tbsp packed, dark brown sugar
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (4 oz each)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 medium onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1/2 c apple cider
1/4 c cider vinegar
2 c hot cooked wide noodles

Directions:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, melt half of the margarine. Saute the apple until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the brown sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 3-5 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate.
2. On a sheet of wax paper, sprinkle the chicken with the cinnamon, salt, and pepper. In the skillet, melt the remaining margarine. Saute the chicken until browned, 4-5 minutes on each side. Transfer to another plate.
3. In the skillet, cook the onion, covered until tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in the cider and vinegar. Reduce the heat and simmer 2 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet. Simmer, spooning the sauce over the chicken, until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid is reduced by half, 4-5 minutes.
4. Return the apples to the skillet. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Arrange the noodles on a platter. Top with the chicken mixture, pouring any remaining juices over the chicken.

Rating: tasty!
Warming Up: warms up well, but tastier the first meal
Notes: I made the recipe without the noodles and enjoyed it. I just put some apple and onion slices over the piece of chicken.
WW Points: 6 (according to recipe)