Easy Egg White Omelette (WW 2 Points+)

I have found a lovely way to get in THREE OR FOUR FOOD GROUPS in the mornings without hardly even thinking about it, AND it's only 2 Points...not a bad start to the day!  Here are my easy egg white omelettes!

INGREDIENTS:

3 Egg Whites
3/4 c. frozen or fresh finely chopped veggies (for EASE in the mornings I buy the seasoning mix, which includes frozen onion, celery, and peppers, as well as a package of chopped frozen spinach...it's all pretty cheap and I hardly have to work at all for it!)
1 Tbsp. shredded cheese

1. In a small bowl, beat egg whites just until they start to change color--hardly at all, but nice and scrambly for sure.  Add in the veggies.
2. Spray a medium-sized frying pan with 1 spray of olive oil or vegetable oil.  Pour in the egg/veggie mix and, if necessary, flatten/spread out with a spatula (my frozen veggies need this sometimes, but I don't think they would if they were fresh).
3. Cook until the top loses its shine.  Sprinkle cheese on top, fold in half, and slide onto a plate.

Serve with a side of fresh fruit and enjoy!  Protein and TWO fruits/veggies servings in one meal.  (P.S. If you want carbs and to make it an even more complete breakfast, you could serve it alongside a whole grain English muffin--only 3+ Points more!)

Digiscrapping Blog Trains Galore!

There are some FANTASTIC freebies out in the digiscrapping world EVERY start of a new month, but I found this month's to be extra fun and wanted to remind you all about them!  Remember, digiscrapping is the most fun when it's FREE!  :)

First up, how cute are these lil' monsters?  With a fun, bright palette, this MEGA kit by dozens of designers is perfect for tickle monsters, silly faces, or any other fun pics of your own little monsters.  I am actually thinking about having this exact color palette and monster theme in my classroom someday (after I get tired of the LEGO one, of course!) and can't wait to use this kit as part of the decor!  Check out "Monsters, Monsters Everywhere!" at Stuff to Scrap!

Next up, take a ride to the Orient with Digi Scrap Forum's "The Chinese Orient."  If you eat Chinese/Japanese/Thai takeout as much as we do, or if you have fun celebrating the Chinese New Year, this kit is perfect for you!  And even if you don't, the orangey pinky red colors are beautiful and well-worth investing in just for the normal papers and generic embellishments!  Check it out HERE!

And, last but not least, who is ready for SPRING?!  I know I sure am!  This superkit from the Digi Shop Talk blog train, "Bright Days Ahead," is perfect for the dreamy and sweet springtime pages soon to come!  It's amazing to me how the same color palettes look so different from designer to designer--not that the colors don't blend, but how one can be dark and rich, while another can be light and fresh!  Anywho, without further ado, check out "Bright Days Ahead" HERE!

 

As always, happy scrapping!

Tuna Salad in Cucumber Cups (WW 6 Points)

Light and fruity, served in cute lil' cucumber cups, these tuna salad fingerfoods are great dinner fare or appetizers at your next party.  They saved for several days, so I was able to take them into work for a while, and everyone oooohed and aaaaahed at my mad culinary skillz.  Too bad it was a Pinterest idea, a WW recipe, and SO EASY I really didn't feel impressive at all.  But I was happily satisfied, for sure!  These are delicious.

TUNA SALAD IN CUCUMBER CUPS

INGREDIENTS:
3 cans tuna in water, rinsed and drained
1/2 c. light Miracle Whip
1 c. dried cranberries
2 small fresh apples, diced (I think I only used one)
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbsp dried dill weed
6 small cucumbers, sliced into 1 1/2" "cups", using a melon baller to scoop out the cup part. (Almost all the way to the bottom and around the edges)
1 c. raw celery, chopped finely

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine tuna, mayo, apples, cranberries, celery, lemon juice, and dill in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Spoon tuna salad into cucumber cups, heaping over the top of the cucumber.

About 1 cup of tuna salad per serving, yields six servings (at 6 WW+ Points/piece)

I ended up with 30 cups, so 1 cup tuna salad per 5 cups (1 cucumber's length).  The amount of cucumber you use doesn't actually affect the point total at all, so just make sure you're splitting the salad itself into about 6 servings if you're watching the points.  :)

Hot Dog Dogs (WW 7 Points)

I saw this on Facebook and decided to make a slightly healthier version for my puppy-loving hubby.  :)  Lean hotdogs are actually not too terrible for you, comparatively at least.  I couldn't find a low-fat version of the flaky biscuits, but if I had it would've been even lesser points!  This was a cute, fast meal for a busy weeknight--pair it with some pepper slices or other snackable veggies, and enjoy!

HOT DOG DOGS

INGREDIENTS:
Pillsbury Flaky Layers Biscuit (refrigerator mix), 1 can (enough for 8 biscuits)
8 lean beef hot dogs
a handful of black beans, for eyes and nose

DIRECTIONS:
Using a sharp knife (I found serrated was best here), cut slits in the top sides of each biscuit (to make ear) and pull the parts slightly away from each other.  Cut a slit for the "mouth", and lay on baking sheet.  Insert hot dogs, then place one black bean for each eye and nose (24 in all).  Bake according to package directions or until golden brown.  Serve with ketchup and a side of veggies!

Breakfast Fruit Pizza with Nutella (WW 8 Points)

I may have mentioned this before, but fresh fruits and veggies are 0 points under the 360 program.  I love that, because even though I KNOW they have calories, I don't feel guilty about piling them in.  And if I'm running low on points for the day, I'll bite into a peach or an apple instead of a 2-point brownie.  Sneaky, sneaky, Weight Watchers People!  :)

Anyway, the joy of this breakfast fruit pizza is that you have the natural sweetness of fresh fruit, the chocolatey-hazelnutty goodness of Nutella, and the wholesome whole grains of a whole wheat English muffin.  There isn't much to post as far as a "recipe"--cut the muffin in half and toast (3 points), spread on a Tbsp of nutella on each side (for 5 points total), and top with fresh berries, bananas, or other fruit of choice (which adds 0 points, yay!).  Delicious way to start your morning without feeling even the teensiest bit deprived.  I love it.  :)

Boyack De-LIGHT! (WW 3 points)

I'm sure it comes as no surprise that, while dieting, all I've wanted is CHOCOLATE.  ICE CREAM.  BROWNIES.  PUDDING!  :)  Lucky for me, a few tweaks to our family's favorite dessert literally cut the calories in half.  This sweet treat is a frozen pudding-pop like dessert, made all the better with the buttery saltiness of the Ritz crackers.  Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 gallon low fat vanilla ice cream
1 large box fat-free, sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
One sleeve Ritz Reduced Fat Crackers, coursely crushed

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Melt ice cream in a large mixing bowl just until soft enough to mix (with hand mixer is fine, but I like to do it by wooden spoon...it really seems to change the texture).
2. Mix in pudding mix.
3. Sprinkle half the cracker crumbs on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Spread ice cream mixture in pan and smooth with a spatula (it should be kinda tough but not impossible to do).  Sprinkle remaining crackers on top.
4. Freeze at least 2 hours, or until solid enough to cut into slices and serve.  Cut into 4x5 grid, to make 20 bars total.

1 bar = 1 serving = 3 WW+ Points

BBQ Chicken & Black Bean Pizza (WW 10 points)

BBQ Chicken Pizza is my FAVORITE KIND!  And this lighter version has all the flavors I love, with half the fat.  Even though it is only one slice per serving, that one slice is FULL of flavor and dense enough with proteins to be filling on its own.  Serve with a dressing-free salad!

BBQ CHICKEN & BLACK BEAN PIZZA

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pound cubed boneless skinless chicken breast (raw)
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
16 oz. pizza crust, pre-baked and ready to top and heat.
1 1/2 c. reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese
half a can of black beans, drained and rinsed. (7 1/2 oz)
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp (or more!) raw cilantro, chopped.

1. Place rack in center of oven.  Preheat to 450 degrees.
2. Spray a skillet and stir-fry chicken over medium-high heat 'til cooked through.  Toss with half of the BBQ sauce.
3. Place pizza on a baking sheet or pizza tray.  Sprinkle with 3/4 c. cheese.  Arrange chicken and black beans over the crust.  Sprinkle with onion and cilantro.  Drizzle with remaining BBQ sauce and add remaining 3/4 c. cheese.
4. Bake at 450 for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.  Cut into 6 large slices and serve immediately.

BLT Salad (WW 6 Points)

I love BACON.  Who doesn't?  And this salad is the perfect way to sneak in the real bacon flavor without eating TONS AND TONS of it.  :)  Since most of the fresh ingredients are 0 points with the 360 program, the bacon, cheese, and homemade mayo-based dressing give you the freshest version of my favorite sandwich, without all the carbs!

BLT SALAD

INGREDIENTS:
6 cups lettuce, any variety, chopped
5-6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
12 slices crisply cooked bacon (bake in the oven at 375 for about 20 minutes for a no-hassle bacon experience!)
1/2 c. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

For Dressing:
1/4 c. light Miracle Whip
2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
1/2 tsp. fresh parsley (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/8 tsp. table salt, or to taste

1. Crumble bacon.  Meanwhile, chop up veggies and toss in a bowl.  Stir in bacon and cheese.
2. Mix all dressing ingredients until smooth.  Pour over salad and toss (can serve on side if you want).  Serve immediately.

Serves 4.  About 2 cups of salad/serving=6 WW Points.

Light Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce (WW 8 points)

Chicken Satay is Paul's favorite Thai dish; he gets it every time we go to Basil Thai.  This dish is a little different than the one he gets, but it wasn't a bad substitute, and it was MUCH healthier!  I had to make some adjustments to the sauce and the servings, so what started out as a 4-point/serving meal turned into an 8-point/serving instead...but, just so you know, that's still REALLY good. 

CHICKEN SATAY WITH PEANUT SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 Tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 Tbsp minced ginger root (raw or frozen)
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp. lime juice
1 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin 2-inch strips

For Sauce:
6 Tbsp light coconut milk
5 Tbsp reduced fat chunky peanut butter
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp honey
Juice of one lime, and 1 tsp. lime zest
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS:
To Make Marinade:
1. Combine 1 1/2 Tbsp fish sauce, ginger, garlic, and 2 tsp. lime juice in bowl or baggie.  Add the chicken and coat.  Refrigerate, turning occasionally, at least one hour.
2. Meanwhile, soak about 16 skewers in cold water so as not to burn on the grill.

To Make Peanut Sauce:
Combine coconut milk, peanut butter, cilantro, honey, fish sauce and lime juice, and lime zest, and red pepper in a medium bowl; whisk 'til smooth.  (Best served warm, p.s.)

Thread the chicken onto the top halves of the skewers so that you can fill about 16 skewers with the meat.  Grill until cooked through.

Serve with 1/2 c. cooked white rice (an additional 3 points if you choose to) and about 2 Tbsp peanut sauce per serving (included in point count).

Serves 4.  4 Skewers=8 WW Points+.

Weight Watchers, week 2

Just had my second weigh-in.  I've lost 9 pounds in the last 2 weeks!  I don't really feel it or notice a difference yet, and I know it'll plateau soon, but I'm pretty stoked nonetheless.  Still adjusting to not eating ALL THE TIME, but at least I'm not starving!  With yummy dinners like:



The Chicken Satay from Last Week (8 WW Points)

BLT Salad (6 points)

BBQ Chicken & Black Bean Pizza (10 points)

Boyack De-LIGHT (3 points/bar...my dessert all week!!!)

Breakfast fruit pizzas with nutella (8 points)

 

Hot Dog Dogs (7 points)

We also had Papa Murphy's Hawaiian pizza (a mere 7 points per slice!), and Applebee's, which has a great Weight Watcher's menu (I got a roasted garlic sirloin for 13 points).

Recipes are linked in each caption!  :)

One thing I'm grateful for is that paying for Weight Watchers gives me an excuse to spend a little more money on things like fruits and veggies, Fiber One brownies, rice cakes, and ingredients for these awesome recipes I am trying.  It also FORCES me to cook more, which is important even though I don't particularly love it and I don't always feel like spending the time on it.  When I look at the restaurant app and see how many "points" I was consuming before on a weekly basis, it's not much of a surprise that I've been gaining weight like crazy this year.  It's sad that I need a reason to take care of ourselves and cook/eat well, but I do.  And this is it for me.  I can't wait to see what the next 3 months bring me, and hopefully it'll help me to develop better eating habits that I can enjoy for a lifetime.  If things continue as they have been going, I will definitely be continuing in WW, too.  :)