Creamy Potato Ham Bake

This meal is definitely a remake! My husband could not stop talking about how good it was. He was surprised to find that it is another awesome weight watchers recipe! It took almost no time putting together. Perfect for busy weeknights! I definitely recommend all try this one. I think the cheese adds that extra flavor.

Creamy Potato Ham Bake
4 points/serving, makes 4 servings
From: http://darcithelbloser.blogspot.com/

Ingredients:
16 oz raw shredded potatoes or thawed hash browns
1 full cup 97% fat-free lean ham
1 can green beans
1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 can Healthy Request Cream of Celery soup
3 oz Velveeta Lite, cut up in small pieces

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Place mixture in sprayed 8X8 baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.


That's it! Enjoy!

Mexican Shepard's Pie

This recipe was great! I loved it. My husband added some more cheese to it, but he is a cheese guy. I loved it as is. The portion size was huge and for low points. It was pretty easy to assemble for a weeknight dinner. I might use a packet of taco seasoning next time to give it a bit more of a Mexican flavor, but definitely a remake!


Mexican Shepherd's Pie
From WW Community Board
Servings 8
Estimated Points per serving 6

Ingredients
1 medium onion ( I used onion powder)
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb extra lean ground beef
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp black pepper
8 oz can tomato sauce
15 oz can diced tomatoes
8 oz can diced green chili peppers
15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained
2 boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1 8oz bag reduced fat Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese

Instructions

1. In a skillet, saute onion, garlic, and diced red pepper until tender

2. Add ground beef, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook until ground beef is browned

3. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, diced green chili peppers, and drained kidney beans to meat mixture. Simmer until warmed

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

5. In a bowl, mix Jiffy Corn Bread mixes per package instructions

6. In a baking dish/pan, spread the meat mixture on the bottom

7. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the meat mixture

8. Pour Corn Bread batter on top of the shredded cheese, spreading evenly

9. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the Corn Bread is golden brown. Enjoy!

Barbecued Ribs

Ribs were on sale at Kroger the other week, so I decided to pick some up. Who doesn't love ribs? I have never used the same recipe for ribs more than once. I found this recipe in my Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. It was good and my husband loved them. It isn't' exactly what I am looking for. I am still looking for that perfect oven baked ribs recipe. Although the recipe is really easy, I may try to make a few changes next time. Just haven't figured out what yet.
Barbecued Ribs
From: Better Homes and Garden Cookbook
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:
3 to 4 pounds pork loin back ribs
3/4 cup catsup
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup finely chopped onion ( I omitted)

1. If desired, cut ribs into serving-size pieces. In a large shallow roasting pan place the ribs with the bone sides down. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Carefully drain off liquid in roasting pan.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine the catsup, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chili powder, black pepper, salt and red pepper. Stir in onion. Pour mixture over ribs. bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes more or until ribs are tender, basting once with sauce. Pass sauce with ribs.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 298 cal, 15g total fat, 1g fiber

Chocolate Chip Blondies

Ok, I know that is isn't exactly 'healthy' or 'low fat' but sometime you just have to splurge. I was bored one Saturday afternoon and was looking through my Kitchen Aid Cookbook and came across this recipe. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I decided to give it a try. I am just learning to bake and taking baby steps, but these turned out great! My husband isn't a big sweets person, so instead of having them in the house all week, I had him take some to work. His co-workers loved them! I might try my hand again a baking......

Chocolate Chip Blondie's
From: Kitchen Aid Best Loved Recipes Book
Makes 2 dozen bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 13x9x2 pan. Place butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl of electric stand mixer. Turn to medium-low and mix 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl.

2. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Turn to low and mix 15 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Continue mixing on low, and add nuts and chocolate chips, mixing just until combined.

3. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake 20-25minutes. Cool in pan, and then cut into 3x1 1/2 inch bars.

Enjoy!

Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops

This recipe is beyond easy and totally delish! It only has three ingredients. I will definitely be making this again. I served it with some rice and peas. Sorry I forgot to take a picture.

Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops
From:http://www.carriessweetlife.com/ (From: Picky Palate)
6 servings

6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick (I just used 3)
1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
10 oz can Cream of Chicken Soup

Place pork chops, Ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.

How easy is that! Enjoy!

Savory Turkey Burgers with Garlicky Mayonnaise

I found a new website,www.eatbetteramerica.com, that was mentioned on the WW community board. It is great! Definitely a new one I will be going to frequently. I found this recipe on there and decided to give it a try. It was delicious! My husband said that he liked it, but feel that secretly he was kind of disappointed. I believe he thought it would be more like a burger, and was kind of disappointed when it wasn't. In the end he had 1 and half turkey burgers so it couldn't have been too bad! I served with with some homemade oven fries. I added a little garlic and some extra seasonings to it since some of the reviews said it was kind of bland. I loved it and will definitely be make it again!


Savory Turkey Burgers with Garlicky Mayonnaise
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:25 min
makes:4 sandwiches
5pts.
From: http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/

Garlicky Mayonnaise
1/4 cup fat-free or reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped garlic

Burgers
1 lb ground turkey breast
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt-free seasoning blend
1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup) ( I used onion powder)
1 egg white
Some chopped Garlic
4 whole wheat burger buns, split
4 lettuce leaves ( I didn't have any so omitted)
4 tomato slices

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.

2. In large bowl, stir turkey, oats, soy sauce, seasoning blend, onion and egg white until well mixed. Shape mixture into 4 patties, about 3/4 inch thick.

3. Place patties on grill. Cook uncovered over medium heat about 15 minutes, turning once, until thermometer inserted in center of patty reads 165°F.

4. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on bottom of each bun. Place burgers over mayonnaise; top with lettuce, tomatoes and top of buns.

Nutritional Information 1 Sandwich: Calories 270 (Calories from Fat 30); Total Fat 3 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 75mg; Sodium 520mg; Total Carbohydrate 26g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 7g); Protein 34g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 8%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 4 Very Lean Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 My Pyramid Servings: 1 tsp Fats & Oils, 2 oz-equivalents Grains, 3 oz-equivalents Meat & Beans, 1/4 c Vegetables *% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

BBQ Meatballs

I got this recipe from the famous Pioneer Woman's website and like always she never fails to give a great recipe. My husband loved this meal and said that the leftovers were even better! It was fairly easy to make. I think next time I will keep them in the freezer a bit longer because some of my meatballs fell apart when I tried to brown them. But never fail, over all it was a success! I made about 23 large sized meatballs, and surprisingly they were fairly low in points. You can probably make some more adjustments or smaller meatballs for lower points. I served these with some mashed potatoes. Yummy!

(My husbands plate)

BBQ Meatballs - Comfort Food to the Max
From: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
(I made 23 meatballs at 2pts per meatball)

Meatballs
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I used 93% lean)
3/4 cup oats
1 cup milk (2%)
3 tablespoons very finely minced onion
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
Plenty of ground black pepper

Sauce
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
4 to 6 tablespoons onion (I omitted)
Dash of Tabasco

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all meatball ingredients. Roll into medium-small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in freezer for five minutes.

Remove from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour. Brown meatballs in canola oil until just brown. Place into a baking dish.

Combine all sauce ingredients. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or crusty french bread.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken Casserole

This one was good but I felt it was kind of dry. I think next time I will use cream of chicken or mushroom soup in place of the milk and egg. I am going to try and make this one again. It was a nice quick, easy and healthy weeknight meal. My husband enjoyed it.


Cheesy Chicken Casserole
From: http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/
Serves 6
8 pts/serving

Ingredients:
1 cup dry rice, cooked
2 chicken breasts, ground and seared on George Foreman ( I used leftover rotisserie chicken shredded)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (2%)
1 tablespoon EVOO
1 egg
1 cup skim milk ( I used 2/%)
2 cups broccoli florets, chopped finely and steamed in microwave for three minutes
Pepper and salt to taste

Preparation:

Mix cooked brown rice, seared ground chicken breast, shredded cheddar cheese, EVOO, egg, milk, steamed broccoli florets, and salt and pepper in a bowl

.Spread into greased casserole dish.Bake 375 degrees for 30 minutes.Add a little cheese to the top and broil for another few minutes.