Monday, January 30, 2012

Menu Plan Monday! Week of 1/30/12-2/5/12


It's Menu Plan Monday!! Here is what we hope to make this week :)

Monday: Girl's Night Out (Applebees), Family will fend for themselves ;)

Tuesday: "Breakfast for Dinner"; Eggs, Turkey Bacon and Toast (Zumba Night)

Wednesday: Chicken Dijon

Thursday: Buttered Noodles (Zumba Night)

Friday: Pizza Night

Saturday: Family Fun Day!!! These week: Kids Make Dinner. They are making Mexican Items. Cameron will be making Cheese Quesedillas, Genin will be making Mexico City Dip, Reiner/Brandis/Matlyn will be making Mexican Corn and Fat Free Refried Beans and Kaplyn will be making Pecan Puffs for dessert.

Sunday: Beef & Portobello Burgers (Weight Watchers cookbook)

Will post all recipes and final photos after cooking. Don't forget to check back!

Garlic Biscuits

I love my bread, that is for sure. I try hard not to do a bread more than once a week, but when I do, it is a yummy one!! These garlic biscuits are from my 3,4,5 ingredient cookbook. They are very quick to throw together and are simply dropped onto a baking sheet. The smell from your stove is wonderful and my kids have said that they taste similar to the biscuits at Red Lobster :)

Weight Watchers: 2 pts each.

Ingredients:

5 cups biscuit mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth with roasted garlic
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced

Directions:

Mix all ingredients to form soft dough. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 425F for 10 minutes until brown.


Final photo taken my me :)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Easy Citrus Chicken (Crockpot Recipe)

Tonight was a busy night so we got the crockpot rolling this morning. By dinnertime, we had a heavenly meal :) Weight Watchers friends, a 6 oz piece is worth 7 pts.

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
Canola oil
1 (1 oz) packet dry onion doup mix
1 (6 oz) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Directions:

Brown chicken breast in a little oil in skillet and place in sprayed large slow cooker.
Combine onion soup mix, orange juce concentrate and 1/2 cup water in bowl and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low 3-5 hours. Serves 4-6.


Chef Salad

My husband made me the most unbelieveable chef salad after my Zumba class the other night. I am not a huge veggie person, but his was just delicious!!! If you are on Weight Watchers, it was 5 pts for 2 cups of this mix.

Ingredients:

Half head lettuce
1 large cucumber-sliced
3 stalks celery-chopped
1 large green pepper-chopped
2 tomatoes, medium, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
4 oz ham, chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Good season Italian Dressing packet, prepared

Directions:
Add all ingredients and toss.


I added 1/2 tsp bacon bits and sprinkled on Mrs. Dash Original Blend. Also had 5 saltines on the side.

Total Weight Watchers points for salad mix and saltines: 7 pts

Monday, January 23, 2012

Menu Plan Monday! Week of 1/23/12-1/29/12


This is what we plan on munching on this week :)

Monday: Zumba Night!!  Smart Ones Chicken Enchilada

Tuesday: Easy Citrus Chicken

Wednesday: Hamburger Potato Casserole

Thursday: Tuna Helper (kids love them!!)

Friday: Subs and Tomato Bacon Soup

Saturday: January/February Birthday Extravaganza....Pizza

Sunday: Pesto Pasta and Garlic Biscuits

Will also be putting a drinky/dessert in this week:

Frosty Grape Punch

Will be posting recipes, final photos and Weight Watchers point worth. Remember to check back!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Mexican Corn Bread

This was a nice bread to serve along with my fish dish for dinner :) For those on Weight Watchers, each muffin is worth 3 1/2 each so I just ate 2 to round it out to 7 pts :)

Mexican Corn Bread

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz) package corn bread mix
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 (8 oz) can cream-style corn

Directions:

Prepare corn bread according to package directions and stir in corn and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Pour into sprayed skillet or muffin tins and tops with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes.

South-of-the-Border Baked Pollack

I love this recipe!! It came from my 3, 4, 5 ingredient cookbook. I love any recipes that only take that little amount of ingredients. For anyone on Weight Watchers, I used a 9 x 13 pan and doubled the recipe. 1/8 of the pan is worth 7 pts (would weigh in at 7 oz after cheese and salsa).

South-of-the-Border Baked Pollack

Ingredients (for the single recipe, not doubled):

4 Pollack filets
Thick and chunky salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray and place fish in pan. Spread salsa over fish and top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until fish flakes with fork.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Pork Cutlets with Brussels Sprouts

This was so yummy :) Drizzle with the sauce and even put some on the plate to dip your pork in. Just the right amount of sweet :) If you are on Weight Watchers, 1 serving (4 oz piece of pork with cream sauce and 6 Brussels sprouts) is worth only 5 pts!!!!

Ingredients:

4- 1/2 inch thick boneless pork chops
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp paprika or smoked paprika
1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 Tbsp butter
1 8 oz carton light sour cream (fat free if you are on Weight Watchers)
2 Tbsp milk (used 1%)
1 tsp packed brown sugar

Directions:

1. Using meat mallet or heavy rolling pin pound pork, layered between plastic wrap, to 1/4 inch thickness. In shallow dish combine flour, half the paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Coat pork in flour mixture; set aside.

2. In large skillet cook sprouts in hot butter over medium high 5-8 minutes, until crisp-tender and edges are brown. Remove from skillet. Cover and keep warm.

3. In same skillet add additional butter, if needed. Cook pork 4 to 5 minutes, turning once, until golden outside and slightly pink in the center. Remove from skillet. Cover; keep warm.

4. For sauce, combine sour cream, milk, and brown sugar. Whisk into skillet. Heat through (do not boil). Serve sauce, sprinkled with remaining paprika, over pork and sprouts.


Final photo :)


Serves: 4
*Tip: can also bake the pork if you would rather not do in the skillet.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

This was a recipe that was in my Weight Watchers Weekly magazine...It was really good, not just for me, but the hubby and kids :) However, I think the peas kind of over powered the taste. Next time, peas on the side, not in the dish. It is worth 8 pts per serving.

Ingredients:

3/4 lb raw, spicy turkey sausage, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
10 oz frozen green peas, thawed,
2 Tbsp canned tomato paste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat ziti, cooked according to package directions
6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F.

Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.

Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seed, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese. Spread evenly in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before slicing into 8 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.



Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Serves: 8

Monday, January 16, 2012

Menu Plan Monday! Week of 1/16/12-1/22/12


Here is what we plan to eat this week :)

Monday: Baked Ziti w/Turkey Sausage

Tuesday: Confetti Sandwiches

Wednesday: Pork Cutlets w/Brussel Sprouts

Thursday: Fend for Yourself (probably a smart ones meal for the lady on Weight Watchers :)

Friday: Pizza Friday...have to find a nice light recipe!

Saturday: Century Inn with my hubby :)

Sunday: South of the Border Baked Pollack and Mexican Cornbread

Check back for recipes and final photos!!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Turkey-Apple Burgers with Dill Mayonnaise

Started Weight Watchers last week and am happy to say that I weighed in today at 3.4 lb lighter ;) Thought I would try out one of the recipes I came across :) These are just as yummy to anyone who isn't on Weight Watchers!!

Turkey-Apple Burgers with Dill Mayonnaise. Serving size 1 patty (6 pts)

*Burgers*
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup shredded peeled Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup fresh whole wheat bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 scallion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 coarsely ground black pepper

*Mayonnaise*
1/4 cup fat-free mayonnaise
3 teaspoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons dill weed
2 teaspoons pickling spice
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

4 thick slices beefsteak tomato
4 large Boston lettuce leaves

To make burger, combine all burger ingredients in medium bowl. With damp hands, shape mixture into 4 (1/2 inch thick) patties. Place in a casserole pan. Bake at 400F for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make mayonnaise, stir together all mayo ingredients in small bowl.

Divide tomato slices and lettuce leaves among 4 serving plate. Top each with 1 burger. Spoon mayonnaise evenly over burgers.




(Healthy extra: For an additional 3 PointsPlus value, serve each burger in a split and toasted light English Muffin)