Pasta Fagiloli

This was so good! I loved the blend of the Italian spices! If you blend the beans according to the recipe, you will not even taste them; they just add texture. Next time I will leave the beans whole to make this even heartier.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb lean ground beef
32 oz of chicken broth
15 oz can tomato sauce
3 cloves of garlic, diced
1 stalk of celery, thinly sliced
2 carrots, diced
1 15oz can cannellini beans (or any white beans)
1 large bay leaf
1 tbs parsely
1 tbs basil
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups dried pasta (any small pasta will work; I used elbow)

Directions:
Add the can of beans undrained and one can of water to the blender; blend until smooth.  Add bean mixture to crock pot.  Brown ground beef and add to crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients except pasta to crock pot.  Stir and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until vegetables are tender. Cook pasta and add to soup just before serving. Serve with shredded parmesan cheese.

If this is divided into 6 servings, each serving is 5 weight watcher points.

Parmesan Spaghetti Squash

We had this as a main dish because we try to have at least one vegetarian meal a week, but I have to say that this would be awesome served on the side of the parmesan crusted chicken recipe I posted a while back. I slightly overcooked the squash. You  should be able to see the strands more clearly.

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1/3 cup reduced fat parmesan cheese
desired amount of cherry tomatoes, diced
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp olive oil
shredded italian cheese, for garnish

Directions:
There are several ways to prepare a spaghetti squash.  Click here to see your options.(note: I baked mine, but I skipped the olive oil step). Once your spaghetti squash is done and shredded into strands, set it aside. Dice garlic and saute it lightly in the 1 tsp of olive oil. Add the garlic mixture to the spaghetti squash; add remaining ingredients and toss to mix. Serve the squash in one half of the shell and garnish with cheese.

The entire recipe is only 4 weight watcher points.

Cauliflower with Cheese and Bread Crumbs

Monday, the day I happened to do my grocery shopping, I also happened to be having an extreme vegetable craving. So, now I have a fridge full of fresh produce, and I'm looking for creative, new ways to cook them. I stumbled across this recipe for cauliflower and decided to give it a try. It was pretty good. Like most things, it would be better with extra cheese! :-)

Ingredients:
1 head of cauliflower
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese
non-stick cook spray
garlic salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cut cauliflower into florets and cook in a steamer basket until tender.  Add bread crumbs, garlic salt and pepper to a skillet sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook until bread crumbs are browned.  When cauliflower is tender add it to the skillet with bread crumbs; stir to mix.  Sprinkle cheese over top and allow to melt.

Recipe makes 4 serving.  Each serving is one weight watcher point.

Basic Vegetable Soup

I love this soup because it's so adaptable! I rarely make it the same way twice. Once you've made the broth, you can add just about any veggies you like. It's a perfect cold-weather meal and a great way to use up leftover veggies.

Ingredients:
(Basic Broth)
1 large can V8 vegetable juice (48 oz)
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks of celery, sliced thin
3 cups of water
6 beef or vegetable bouillon cubes
black pepper to taste
(vegetables/add in ideas)
you can use fresh, frozen or canned veggies.
mixed veggies
carrots
potatoes
corn
green beans
spinach
any kind of beans (kidney, lima, etc.)
diced tomatoes
zucchini & squash
broccoli & cauliflower
any variety of pasta
and the list could go on and on....

Directions:
add all ingredients except pasta to the crock pot and cook on low for at least 6 hours. Frozen and fresh vegetables may require longer cooking times. If you are adding pasta to the soup, I suggest cooking your pasta separately and adding it to the soup just before serving. If you cook the pasta in the crock pot it tends to absorbs too much of the broth. I like to serve this soup with oyster crackers and grilled cheese sandwiches.

The basic broth for this soup is zero weight watcher points. The addition of pasta and starchy vegetables will add points.

Creamy Chicken & Broccoli Over Rice

Can I just say that I LOVE the crock pot. I am seriously sick today....like finding it hard to move....possibly might die sick! :-) But of course, dinner still must get made. So I quickly came up with this recipe, tossed in the ingredients and let the crock pot do the rest. It was that simple and surprisingly good!

Ingredients:
8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 cans 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup Kraft fat free parmesan cheese
1 bag frozen brocoli
1/2 TBS garlic salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
rice

Directions:
Put chicken in crock pot and cover with soup. Sprinkle spices and parmesan cheese over top and cook on low for 6 hours.About a half an hour before serving add broccoli to a  pot of water and cook on the stove over high heat until broccoli is tender. Shred chicken with a fork and return to crock pot. Drain broccoli and add to chicken mixture. Serve over hot rice.

The chicken mixture is 4 points if divided into 4 servings. White rice is 2 points for a 1/2 cup or 4 points for cup.

Fruit Dip

I made this the other day for a party, but I forgot to take a picture. So the picture above is not mine; it was just an image I found on the internet. Anyway, this recipe is so easy, inexepensive and yummy!

Ingredients:
1 8 oz. tub fat free cool whip (thawed)
1 small box vanilla instant pudding

Directions:
Combine cool whip and dry pudding mix. Stir with an electric mixer until completely blended.(about 2-3 minutes) If you don't mix thoroughly, the pudding will not dissolve and taste grainy. Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve with a variety of fresh fruits.

If you divide the dip into six servings, each serving is 3 points. Be sure to add additional points for fruit.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients:
1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
1/4 cup reduced fat, grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbs olive oil

Directions:
Mix cheese, garlic salt and pepper together in a small bowl.  Rub parmesan cheese mixture into both sides of chicken breasts.  Heat oil over medium low heat.  Add chicken breasts and cook for 7 minutes on each side. (depends upon the size and thickness of chicken)

Each serving is around 4 weight watcher points if this is divided into 4 servings..