Taco Soup

Wow! It has been so long since I have been on here that I actually forgot the password. Thank heavens I still have the facebook message that I typed it in. I think since this isn't working out like I planned maybe we could even just post 'normal' recipes. I know sometimes just easy meal ideas are just as good.
Seth has been barbequing for us lately. He is so good at it. Everything he makes is mouth watering (and spicy)! It is awesome because it is so healthy. I am glad he enjoys doing it as much as I enjoy eating it! But I am going to post 2 taco soup recipes. One I got at a ww meeting when they used to hang them up on the wall and the second I found online. I have verified the second recipes point value but not the first, but since I got it at weight watchers I would be shocked if it was wrong!

Weight Watchers Taco Soup:
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1 can pinto beans
1 large onion chopped
1 can hot chili beans
1 package hidden valley ranch dressing mix
1 can whole kernal corn
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 can stewed tomatoes mexican style
1 can stewed tomatoes

Brown meat and onion, drain. Add dressing mix and seasoning. Add all other ingredients. Let simmer for one hour. 1 cup is 2 points.

Taco Soup:
1 lb extra lean ground beef (95 lean)
1 large onion diced
3 15oz cans of chili beans
1 15 oz can black beans
2 cups of corn
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups of water (I almost always leave this out, I like it thicker!)
1 4 1/2 oz can diced green chilies
1 package of taco seasoning
1 envelope ranch dressing mix

Brown meat, drain. Add all ingredients. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for one hour. 1 cup is 5 points.

I love to have a tablespoon of fat free sour cream on it or a few light tortilla chips. The second one is a little more filling but the first is only 2 points! I love them both though!

Chicken cordon bleu

I have always loved chicken cordon bleu so the other day when this recipe came from hungry girl I was so excited! (Does everyone get the hungry girl daily email? If not go to
hungry-girl.com and sign up for them! I love them!)

Ingredients:
1 5 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast cutlet, pounded to 1/4" thickness
1 wedge laughing cow light original swiss cheese
1 oz (about 2 slices) 97-98% fat-free ham
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Spread cheese over chicken and top with ham. Tightly roll it up and secure with toothpick. Place in a baking pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with foil. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, remove foil, and bake for another 15 minutes!

This recipe makes one serving so if you are making more you would just do the same thing with more. One serving is 5 points.

Craving Italian!

I have been craving Italian food for 2 weeks and I have eaten it and still want more! I feel like I am going crazy! So I looked at the website Ang said and found one of Gina's recipes to try tonight. (or tomorrow if Brocky doesn't get feeling better soon!)

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:
4 chicken breast halves sliced in half
3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 T butter melted
3/4 reduced fat mozzarella
1 cup of marinara
cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450. Spray a large baking sheet lightly with spray. Combine breadcrumbs and parmesan in a bowl. In another bowl melt butter. Lightly spread butter on chicken and then dip into breadcrumb mixture. Place chicken on baking sheet and lighlty spray again. Bake for 20 minutes, turn chicken over, and bake another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and spoon sauce over chicken and top with shredded mozzarella. Bake 5 more minutes!

My mouth is already watering. Each piece is 5 points and 2 would be 11 (5.5 each).

On that note I have a question for you guys. Do you guys count half points? I never have and have never been told to. However I noticed in the weight watchers magazine that they sell in the stores an article about a lady and it went over her points for the day and she counted half points. Have I been doing this wrong for over 3 years? The calculator that they sell at meeting doesn't do half points and the recipes in all the material never say half points... I always figured some things are closer to the upper end in the point and some things are lower so they even out. If I calculate something and it is 3.9 points I would count if 4, but other then that I just take what it says!

Stuffed French Toast

This isn't an exact recipe I just threw it together but it was really good.

2 slices of bread (2 points) or whatever bread you use
1/2 banana (1 point)
2 tbsp fat free strawberry cream cheese (1 point)

Wash: The wash made enough to make 4 stuffed french toast(such a small amount is used on them that is was 0 points)
1 egg
splash of milk
vanilla

Then just build and cook them. I use the sugar free syrup so 1/2 cup is 1 point

-Samantha-

Angela's 2 Centsworth

Hi Guys!
I'm so excited about our blog. So here's what I've found so far:

I like Gina's ww recipes found at http://weight-watchers-points-recipes.blogspot.com

I also eat a whole bag of Jolly Time popcorn which has 4 points for the whole bag, but takes a long time to eat and fills me up.

I like scrambled eggs made with 1 whole egg + 3 egg whites and salsa: only 3 points

I also like the fruities they sell at the meetings because they are sweet and like gummy bears.

That's all I have so far.

Love, Ang

Snack's and Food Samantha Likes

Real quick, this week starting tomorrow at Macey's and A Fresh Market they are having the Fiber One yogurts (0 points) for $1.50 a four pack. There are also some internet printable coupons, if you go to http://www.sheshopssmart.blogspot.com/ and click the grocery smarts link on the left hand side, then select Macey's or A Fresh Market as your store, if you run down there shopping list next to fiber one yogurts you will find the printable coupon.

I eat most of what Jenn put so I won't repeat any of her's.

1. Sugar-free maple and brown sugar oatmeal (2 points) I add a little sugar free syrup to it and it doesn't add anymore points
2. Fiber One yogurt (0 points)
I add a teaspoon of canola oil to my oatmeal and yogurt in the morning and I promise you can't taste it at all and it's an easy way for me to get my oils in
3. I, like Jennifer, love cottage cheese I put it with 1/2 cup of peaches and its 3 points
4. Orawheat sandwich thins are 1 point and I make a lot of sandwiches with them
5. Fat free sour cream 2 tbsp (1 point) obviously on other food :)
6. Skinny Cow's ice cream sandwiches (2 points)
7. Bryer's fat free ice cream 1 cup (2 points)
8. Veggie chips from Costco 16 chips (2 points)
9. Fat Free Pringles 16 chips (1 point)
10. Green Giant WW veggies and cheese (0 points)
11. Most pancake mixes are pretty low in points and with the sugar free syrup its a good treat meal for me when I'm really wanting a baked good.
12. Laughing Cow cheese like Jenn said on celery is one of my fav's

I promise Coley I will post some recipes later when I have a little more time. I hope this helps and that everyone is doing great with there weight lose goals!!

Jen's favorite diet foods

Coley really wants other people to post on this blog, but I don't have any recipes that I did't get from her. This is the best I can do Coley.

Diet foods that help Jen not starve

1. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray- This stuff has zero calories and is really good on steamed veggies. I like it on toast too.

2. Salad Spritzer

3. Cottage Cheese- It's only 2 points for 1/2 cup, and I find that it helps me not starve in between meals. I usually will have cottage cheese with steamed broccoli or green beans

4. Frozen/ canned veggies

5. Sara Lee 45 calories per slice bread- It's only 1 point for 2 slices, and it's very tasty.

6. Thin sliced turkey deli meat- Only 2 points for 6 slices.

7. Whole wheat pitas- 1 point

8. Salad

9. Chicken noodle soup

10. Laughing Cow cheese

11. Low-fat mozzarrella cheese- I love cheese, but I hate wasting points on it. Low fat mozzarrella is only 2 points for 1/3 cup.

12. Chicken

13. Frozen berries with equal

14. Sprite Zero (Coke Zero when I'm on caffeine)

14. Crystal Light pink lemonade with a little lemon juice

Dad's favorite dessert

I made this for Brock's party for those who are not on the double W... I was curious so I figured out the points... For 1/20 of a cake pan it is 10 points. I am still thinking of maybe saving the points for some ;) For those of us who will not be eating any I have some 1 point chocolate and some 1 point lemon double W cakes! How can they be so good and only be 1 point?

Mexican rice and beans

Ingredients:
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
10 oz frozen corn
1 cup long grain white rice
16 oz thick and chunky salsa
1 1/2 cup vegetable juice
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp dried oregano

Directions:
Heat oven to 375. IN a 13x9x2 rectangular pan combine all ingredients. Cover and bake 55-60 minutes stirring once halfway through cooking time. 1 point for every 1/4 cup.

Seth and I love this one! It is soooo easy to make and then I just throw it into a tupperware bowl and whenever we need a couple points or can't think of what to do for lunch we have it! You can add chips, cheese, cottage cheese, or whatever you can think of. Seth usually eats 1 1/2 cups for 6 points and I usually have 3/4 for 3.

tex-mex bean salad

Ingredients:
1/3 cup fat free salsa
3 tbs reduced fat sour cream
1 tbs apple cider vinegar
3 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup canned corn
1/2 cup diced avocado
1/2 cup sliced scallions
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
6 cups shredded romaine
2 oz pepper Jack cheese
24 baked low fat tortilla chips

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir together salsa, sour cream, and vinegar until blended. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, scallions, and cilantro. Toss to mix an coat.
Place 1 1/2 cups of lettuce on each of 4 plates and top with 1 1/2 cups of bean mixture. Sprinkle each with 2 oz cheese and 6 torilla chips. 8 points per serving, serves 4.

This is Coley again! I copied this recipe out of book 8 from the double W. (This is even the same picture they have in the book!) I haven't made it yet but I thought it looked really good, so here is to tonight! I will let you guys know how it is!

Pita pizzas

One of my favorite easy meals to make is pita pizzas! They are so yummy and filling! There isn't really a recipe for them because, like normal pizza, you can add all sorts of things! You could add pineapple, peppers, canadian bacon, turkey pepperoni, you name it! When ever I make them I just bring my calculator with me to the store so I can pick pitas with the lowest points. Then I get a jar of pizza sauce, 2% milk fat mozzarella, candian bacon, and turkey pepperoni. But you can put whatever you like on them, what ever kind of cheese, meats, and veggies. I am just not a fan of much on my pizza. I usually can make mine for 5 points. The best thing about these is the boys love them too! This is another post by Coley!

Not so porky pig!

I am very excited about starting a recipe blog! I really hope everyone will share recipes and tips so we can all be motivated and healthy together! I will share a recipe first I guess! I got this

recipe in my hungry girl daily email! I haven't made it yet, I am tonight.

Ingredients:

1 morningstar farms hickory bbq riblet (found in freezer section) 4 points per package

1 orowheat sandwich thins (they look like skinny hamburger buns) 1 point per bun

3 hamburger pickle chips and 3 thin slices of onion 0 points

Directions:

Prepare riblet according to directions on package. Split bun in half and lightly toast. Stack riblet, onion, and pickles inside the bun. Enjoy! (This recipe makes one serving!) 5 points made per recipe.

This recipe is obviously one for a busy day where you don't have time to cook! I hope it tastes good! Oh and always remember to put your name with your post so we know who is sharing! This is Coley.