Mini Cheesecakes only 3 Points Plus each!

I am always in search of delicious desserts that are low in Points and do not taste "diet" or fake. This recipe is definitely a winner.  These individual sized cheesecakes taste good & are easy to whip up. These are great to keep in the house or bring to a party; no one would even know that its a Weight Watchers recipe :) I took this from the WW website but tweaked it a little to fit my own taste.

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (5 whole graham crackers crushed)
2 Tbsp light butter, melted (I used Smart Balance, Light Buttery Spread with Flaxseed Oil)
2/3 cup low fat cream cheese
6 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (I used 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice)
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup light fruit pie filling, cherry (I used premium raspberry pie filling & it still came out to 3PP!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put 12 cupcake liners in cupcake pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs & melted butter until crumbs are nice & moist. Spoon 1 Tbsp of crumb mixture into the bottom of each liner & press down to form a crust. I baked the crust for about 3-5 minutes just to solidify it & and give it a more crunchy texture. You can do this or skip this step & put it right into the refrigerator until ready to use.

Using an electric mixer, beat both types of cream cheese until fluffy. Add lemon juice, egg whites, vanilla extract and sugar; beat until smooth.

Remove muffin tin from refrigerator and spoon cream cheese mixture evenly into muffin liners (about 2 Tbsp of mixture per muffin liner). Bake until set about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on counter. Top each cheesecake with 1 Tbsp of pie filling of your choice. 1 of these little cakes is 3 Points Plus each! Enjoy!

Breakfast Wrap for Lunch

I went to BJs and found this delicious wrap called Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Square Lavash. As soon as I got home I had to try it. I was in the mood for eggs and veggies that day so I came up with this recipe. It tastes heavenly & it is only 7 Points Plus! You can make it with meat or you could omit it & enjoy it vegetarian style for 6 Points Plus.

1 Lavash square (3 Points Plus)
2 garlic & herb laughing cow cheese wedges (1 Points Plus)
1 egg + 1 egg white (2 Points Plus)
2 oz Applegate Farms Natural Turkey Breast, shredded (1 Points Plus)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup onion diced
1 small tomato diced
1 handful of baby spinach, chopped
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
Italian seasoning, to taste
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Salt & pepper, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste

On medium heat, in a non-stick skillet saute peppers & onions until slightly soft. While peppers & onion are cooking, scramble egg & egg white in a small bowl. Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, & garlic powder and mix well. Set aside. Now, add the turkey to the skillet and let heat for about a minute. Pour the egg mixture on top of peppers, onion, and turkey and scramble until eggs are just about cooked. Add the chopped spinach, basil leaves and diced tomatoes and toss. Leave on heat only for about a minute longer so that the spinach and tomatoes do not get too soft or wilted. While everything is heating through, take the Lavash bread & spread the cheese over it to cover the entire piece, then pour egg & veggie mixture onto the bread & wrap it up! Then you mangia!

Quinoa Veggie Salad

Quinoa is one of the healthiest foods we can eat! It's rich in protein, fiber, iron and magnesium. Here is a link to an article discussing 7 benefits of this supergrain: 7 Benefits of Quinoa. Truthfully, I used to be afraid of Quinoa... I always heard people say that if it is not prepared correctly it tastes like dirt, so I never really wanted to try my hand at making it. It was only this past year that I even tasted it... people at work brought it in and it was amazing! But, I still didn't have the confidence to cook it myself... until yesterday. For my first time, I think I did a pretty good job! I want to experiment with it more but I am happy with my final results. Here is what I used:

1 cup of cooked Quinoa
Curry powder (to taste)
Hoisen sauce, 1 Tbps
Soy sauce, 2 tsp
Garlic, diced (to taste)
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Onion, chopped (to taste)
Yellow squash, diced, 1/2 of a medium
Green pepper, diced, 1/2 of a medium
Tomato, diced, 1/2 of a medium
Baby kale (or baby spinach) 1 1/2 cups
Turkey breast (cut up) (2 oz)

First, cook the Quinoa according to the package in either chicken broth or in water with curry powder mixed in (this depends on how spicy you like it). Meanwhile, in a frying pan on medium heat, saute the garlic and onions until slightly tender. In a separate bowl, mix Quinoa, soy sauce, hoisen sauce, curry powder, & crushed red pepper. Add mixture to the skillet. Then add the squash, green pepper and turkey breast and stir. I only left the mixture on the heat for about 3 minutes because I like my veggies crunchy, but if you enjoy softer vegetables then I would suggest cooking it for longer. After everything is cooked, pour the Quinoa mixture onto a bed of baby kale or baby spinach and top with tomatoes. This whole meal was filling, healthy, and only 6 Points Plus on Weight Watchers!

Notes: I apologize that my measurements are not accurate, but I generally just cook "to taste." Also, this picture does not do the dish justice. I actually put the tomatoes on top of the kale first and then added the Quinoa mixture, that is one you only see one little tomato peaking through. I hope you all like it!

Attempt #1

Attempt #2: I made it again for lunch today except I put the tomatoes on top this time!

The Best Banana Bread

I don't have much to say in this entry except that I just made the best banana bread I have ever tasted! It was super simple & super delicious! I don't think it is very point friendly but in my opinion, it is worth the splurge. Here is the link to the recipe... The only change I made was that I added 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. I hope you all make this & enjoy!

Best Banana Bread

Chocolate Sunflower Seed Rice Crispy Treats

I came up with this recipe by accident. I had an idea of what I wanted, but I pretty much just took out a few ingredients from my pantry and produced this delicious treat! I call it Chocolate Sunflower Seed Rice Crispy Treats. My favorite part of these is the texture. I love the crunch of the rice crispies enveloped by the smooth chocolate and sunflower seed butter mixture. I initially made these for myself as a special snack for the times I crave something chocolaty but my husband took one bite and now they are almost all gone! Here is what you will need:

1 cup of crispy rice cereal
2 oz of dark chocolate
1/2 cup of sunflower seed butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Melt chocolate over medium/low heat on the stove. Mix in sunflower seed butter, vanilla and powdered sugar until well combined. Remove from heat and add crispy rice cereal. Stir until cereal is completely covered in chocolate/seed butter mixture. Press into an 8 x 5 glass pan and refrigerate or freeze until firm. Cut into 14 squares and enjoy for only 2 Points Plus each! I personally enjoy eating these right out of the freezer :)

Flat Bread Pizza

I love a quick and simple week night dinner! One of my favorite things to make is flat bread pizza. It's low in points, easy to make, and pretty versatile. I have made this using, bacon, pineapple, ham, pepperoni, mushrooms and any other topping that would be delicious on a pizza! Here is what you will need:

1 Flat Out Light Italian Herb Wrap (2 Points Plus)
1/4 cup Tuttorosso Crushed New World Style Tomatoes with Basil (0 Points Plus)
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (1 Points Plus)
1 Weight Watchers mozzarella string cheese (1 Points Plus)
2 pieces of cooked bacon (chopped) (2 Points Plus)
Diced pineapple (as much as you like)
Red pepper flakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the wrap on a non stick baking sheet and bake for about 7 minutes or until wrap is slightly crispy. Remove from oven. Cover wrap with tomato sauce and sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Then top with parmesan, mozzarella, bacon, and diced pineapple. Put back in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until edges are crispy and cheese is melted. Remove and enjoy for only 6 Points Plus!

This time around I made my pizza with bacon and pineapple. Other great combinations are onions and turkey pepperoni, ham and pineapple, mushroom and onion, etc.

Oatmeal Wheat Germ Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love to bake and the weekends are when I finally get the opportunity. This weekend I found a healthy and delicious cookie recipe! These cookies are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and full of flavor. I followed the instructions as listed, the only change I made was that I browned the butter because I have decided that browned butter can make almost any cookie taste delicious! Here is a link to the recipe:
Oatmeal Wheat Germ Chocolate Chip Cookies

It made 42 cookies. 1 cookie equals 2 Points Plus Value and 2 cookies equal 3 Points Plus Value.

Mini Oatmeal Banana Muffins

I am currently obsessed with breakfast cookies. I love oatmeal and I love cookies, so mixing up some oats with other great ingredients then shaping them into cookie form is a winner in my book!

I am pretty much a fan of any food that is mini and portable so I decided to get some ideas from a few breakfast cookie recipes that I had on hand and tweak them to make my own mini muffins! They came out great! They are not only cute & delicious, but are really simple to make and pretty versatile because you can use any flavor oatmeal and whatever add-ins you want. Here is what I came up with:

2 large ripe bananas
2 packs of BetterOats, Blueberry Muffin Flavored Oatmeal (Use whatever flavor you like!)
1 egg
Brown sugar (to sprinkle on top of each muffin)

Mash bananas in a bowl. Add the oatmeal and egg and mix until well combined (I did this in a medium bowl with a spoon.. no need to dirty your mixer). Spoon mixture into mini muffin pan then sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from oven, cool slightly and enjoy!

This recipe made 22 mini muffins.
1 muffin = 0 PPV
2 muffins = 1 PPV
3 muffins = 1 PPV
4 muffins = 2 PPV
5 muffins = 2 PPV

*PPV means Points Plus Value

Striped Delight

I had never heard of Striped Delight until I met met husband. It is his favorite dessert and he requests it every birthday. This year was no different, so Steve got his delicious treat :) I made the Striped Delight using all regular, full fat ingredients so I am warning you that it is not very point friendly. However, in the past, I have made it using low-fat ingredients. Both taste delicious! I am not a huge pudding fan but when I tried this dessert my taste-buds sang! The buttery graham cracker crust and the layer of cream cheese with sugar and cool whip is my favorite. All the ingredients really come together in this dish to make it taste great!

Striped Delight
1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs (I used one sleeve *9 graham crackers* put in the food processor)
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. melted butter
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip (I always get the big 16oz tub & use half for the cream cheese layer & half for the topping)
2 pkgs. (4 serving size) Jello brand chocolate instant pudding (This time I used Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate pudding & now I can never go back! It was amazing!)
3 1/2 c. cold milk
Sprinkle with nuts, sprinkles, any topping you want (I always shave chocolate on top of mine)

*Combine crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar and melted butter. Press firmly into bottom of 13x9 inch pan. You can let the crust chill for a couple of minutes or if you want a firmer crust, bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes then cool. This was the first time that I actually baked the crust and it made all the difference! I would definitely recommend baking it first! 

Beat cream cheese with sugar and 2 tablespoons milk until smooth. Fold in half the whipped topping. Spread over crust. Prepare pudding as directed on package using 3 1/2 cups milk. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill overnight. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding and sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

*One time I actually used crushed up Oreos in place of the graham cracker crumbs for the crust. Steve said it was too sweet for him but that was MY favorite way to eat this! You can also make it using your favorite flavor of pudding, it doesn't have to be chocolate.

Happy Birthday Babe!!

Flourless Peanut Butter Treats

I have a huge sweet tooth and it has definitely rubbed off on my husband. We love sweets but we try to be healthy about it so I am always on the hunt for dessert/snack recipes that have minimal amounts of sugar or are sweetened naturally. I stumbled upon this blog and felt like I hit the jackpot with these two recipes! Not only did I find two delicious recipes, but both are made with peanut butter... and we are big fans are peanut butter in this house!

The first one I made was called Flourless Peanut Butter Banana Muffins. These were delicious! I used chunky peanut butter because I like crunch in my food, but you could use smooth & add other things in like fruit or jam. These make a great snack and are 5 Points Plus each.

The second recipe I made was called Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies. These got rave reviews from my family! My husband loved them and my father-in-law (who can be a picky eater when it comes to sugary treats) could not get enough! The combination of peanut butter, honey, and dark chocolate chips was just right. I would suggest using your favorite peanut butter and your favorite honey (not the cheap stuff) because both tastes are pretty strong on this recipe. These are high in points due to all of the peanut butter but still a great treat! If you cut the blondies into 20 pieces they will be 5 Points Plus a piece.

Detoxinista has some other great recipes that I can not wait to try!

Ground Chicken & Chickpea Curry Stew

Over the weekend, I usually plan dinner for the entire week. This past weekend I was lazy and come Monday night I was at a loss. I found this great recipe online for a curry stew and it just so happened to be super simple, low in points and delicious! It just might be my husband's new favorite dish! I had almost everything on hand but I substituted a couple of ingredients & added a little of my own. Here is the link to the recipe:
Ground Chicken and Chickpea Curry Stew with Yogurt 

Here are the changes I made:
1. I omitted the oil
2. I used only 1 pound of ground chicken
3. I did not have much onion on hand so I used the little bit I had left & diced up a large red pepper instead
4. I used diced tomatoes with jalapenos because that is all I had in the house (warning: the jalapenos made this dish extremely spicy! If you like heat, I would suggest using the tomatoes with the jalapenos, if not, then just use the plain diced tomatoes & add your own hot sauce to taste at the end)
5. I did not have Greek yogurt on hand so I just used plain fat-free yogurt
6. I omitted the cilantro
7. I added minced garlic & a sprinkle of garlic & onion powder. I also served the stew over brown rice.

With my alterations, this recipe made 6 and a half cups of stew coming in at only 5 Points Plus per cup! I put it over 2/3 cup of brown rice for and additional 4 Points Plus. In total, my dinner was 9 Points Plus of spicy deliciousness! This meal will definitely be a weeknight staple in our home from now on!

Healthy & Delicious Italian Dinner

Since I have been on spring break I have had more time on my hands, which for me, means more time to cook & bake! Wednesday night I steered away my usual one pot wonders and made dinner that actually had 3 different components to it. It's one of my favorite meals because I love fresh, healthy, Italian food. It's also pretty simple to make and tastes delicious! Here is what you will need:

Chicken:
Boneless, skinless chicken breast (as many ounces as you want to eat that night) (I had a 3oz piece)
Garlic, minced
Basil, chopped
Tomato, sliced
Mozzarella, shredded (or as I call it, "mootz") (I used a Weight Watchers 1pt cheese stick for mine)
Salt & pepper
*Instructions: Take your raw chicken breast & sprinkle it on both sides with salt, pepper, & garlic powder, then cook on a nonstick skillet on medium heat. Since I am a Weight Watchers member, after my chicken was cooked, I took it off the pan & weighed it to make sure I had 3oz (3 PointsPlus value). After weighing the chicken, return to pan & top with garlic, basil, tomato, & mozzerella. Cover pan until the mootz is melted & everything is heated through.

Green Beans:
Green beans (I used fresh)
Grape tomatoes, cut in half
Garlic, minced (as much as you like)
Olive Oil (1 tsp)
Salt & pepper, to taste
*Instructions: In a large pot, place your green beans with enough water to cover them & bring to a boil. Let them cook until they are as soft as you like them. Drain water. Add grape tomatoes, garlic, salt & pepper and olive oil. Toss to coat. Cover pot & leave it on the burner for a couple of minutes until everything is heated through.

Farro:
Farro (1 cup dry)
Mushrooms, chopped
Best Life Buttery Spread (1 Tbsp)
Parmesan (2 Tbsp)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, to taste
*Instructions: Prepare farro according to package. Add in chopped mushrooms, butter, Parmesan, & spices.  Mix until butter is melted & all ingredients are well blended.

My whole meal was 9 Points Plus value. I had:
3oz chicken & 1 cheese stick: 4 Points Plus
Half of the green bean tomato mixture: 1 Points Plus
Farro (1/2 cup prepared): 4 Points Plus

*Some of my own recipes do not have exact measurements on certain ingredients because I usually just make things up as I go along & cook to taste. If there is anything I can clarify for you, please let me know! :)

Flourless Breakfast Oatmeal Cookies

If you like oatmeal cookies, you will like this recipe! You will also love me for posting a cookie recipe that comes out to only 1 Points Plus each (this PP value includes the optional 1/2 cup of raisins)! The cookies are called, Flourless Breakfast Oatmeal Cookies. This is not my own so please click the above link to get the full recipe.

Now, I say 1 Points Plus per cookie depending on how you use Weight Watchers e-tools. Weight Watchers has something called Recipe Builder, where you enter in all of your ingredients & the serving size & it calculates the Points Plus value for you. Some foods on WW have a 0 Points Plus value when you eat them alone (for example: bananas). However, when you enter them into Recipe Builder as part of a recipe, it takes everything into account & will assign the banana a Points Plus value (because it is part of a recipe now & not just a single entity). I spoke to my Weight Watchers leader about this once before & she said it is at my own discretion whether I want to count points for a zero point food or not. I chose not to & I still lose weight. So in this recipe, the reason these cookies come out to 1 Points Plus each is because I did not count the bananas, applesauce, almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Also, I used 3 very large bananas, so I actually made 24 cookies rather than 12. Whether your choose to count the zero point food or not, these cookies are a yummy, healthy, low-point treat! Oh, and they make the house smell delicious!

*Note: These cookies do not have your average cookie texture. They are dense & heavy & pretty much have the consistency of baked oatmeal in cookie form. These would be great for breakfast!

UPDATE: I made another batch of these cookies except this time I left out the nutmeg (because I am just not a big fan), added a little extra cinnamon, as well as 1/8 cup of maple syrup. These were DELICIOUS! I enjoyed this batch much better than the first one...my husband did too because they are almost gone! 

Wheat Germ is my new Chia

When I first learned about Chia seeds & the benefits of them, I sprinkled them on everything! I still do. Well, this weekend I was visiting my family in NJ & my dad bought lots of healthy ingredients to make some high fiber muffins. One of the things he bought was toasted wheat germ. I had never bought or used wheat germ in anything until this weekend. Now, I am mixing it with everything! Two tablespoons is only 1 Points Plus & packed with a lot of nutrients. I mixed it with my yogurt & oatmeal today (along with my Chia seeds!) and it was delicious & filling. Here is a link to an article on Dr.Oz's website talking about the benefits of Wheat Germ: Why You Need Wheat Germ

Couscous Salad with Smoked Turkey & Apples for Two

If you're looking for a quick, healthy meal, this is it! It's great for the summer time because there isn't really much cooking involved & it's on the lighter side but is still very filling. This is the second time I've made this dish & my husband and I enjoyed it even more this time around (probably because I added more curry powder & well... we are just a spicy family)! This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Cookbook called "What To Eat Now." 

You will need:
3/4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon curry powder (I used 2 full teaspoons in total)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole wheat couscous
1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed & drained
1 small apple, cored & diced
1/2 cup (2 ounces) diced, lean, low-sodium smoked skinless turkey breast (I used 4 ounces because upon entering it into my recipe builder, the extra 2 ounces did not add any extra Points Plus value!)
2 scallions, sliced (I did not have scallions in the house so I chopped up some red onion)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons flaxseed or canola oil
3 cups baby spinach leaves

Bring water, 1/4 teaspoon curry powder, and salt to a boil in small saucepan. Stir in couscous; cover & remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, mix together chickpeas, apple, turkey, scallions, lemon juice, oil & remaining curry powder. Add the couscous & toss until well combined. Divide the spinach onto two plates and top each plate with an even amount of couscous mixture. Then, enjoy!

The book says this recipe is 8 Points Plus per serving. I think this depends on the type of couscous that is used because with or without the extra turkey that I added, my dish still came out to 9 Points Plus per serving. 9 Points Plus for dinner might sound a little bit high for some, but this dish is worth it! 

Cherry Chocolate Energy Bars

I am loving trying out different ingredients in my homemade raw energy bars. Today I made cherry chocolate:

24 pitted dates
1/2 cup almonds (I used raw, whole almonds)
2 tablespoons Chia seeds (I always use black/organic from Whole Foods)
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup dark cacao powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp honey

Put the dates in your food processor and turn it on until dates form a paste. Add the almonds and pulse until they are all broken up. Then, add the rest of the ingredients & process until your desired texture. Press into a glass pan lined with parchment paper & cut into 14 bars. Each bar is 2 Points Plus each!

Lentil and Black Bean Chili

I am always looking for simple, healthy, one dish, low point recipes. Tonight, I made Weight Watchers Lentil & Black Bean Chili and it was all of the above. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cup dry lentils (French-variety) I just used regular Goya lentils

1 tbsp olive oil (I omitted this)

1 large uncooked onion, diced

1 large sweet red pepper, diced

2 tbsp minced garlic

3 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp dried oregano

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp kosher salt

29 oz canned diced tomatoes, fire roasted with chils, undrained (I used Dole brand with chipotle chiles) (I also used 2 average sized cans) 

31 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained (I used 2 average sized cans)

1/2 cup cilantro, fresh, chopped (I omitted this)

Instructions:
Place lentils in a large sauce pan and cover with water by several inches; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until lentils are tender but retain a little bite, about 10 to 15 minutes; drain well and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, pepper and garlic, stirring often, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes.

In a cup, combine chili powder, oregano, cumin, cayenne and salt; add to skillet and stir well to combine. Cook, stirring often, about 1 minute.

Add tomatoes and their juice, and beans to skillet; stir well to combine. Cover skillet and simmer so flavors can blend, about 5 to 10 minutes. Fold in lentils and cilantro; serve. Yields 1 cup per serving. Makes 8 servings. 6 Points Plus per serving.

*If you make this recipe using my changes, you should get 10 cups of this chili at only 3 Points Plus a cup! For dinner tonight I had a cup and a half of chili (5 points plus), mixed in 2 tablespoons of sour cream (1 points plus), 1 WW string cheese (1 points plus), and 1 hard taco shell broken up on top (1 points plus). This dish was yummy and filling. I would definitely make this again!*

Green Smoothie

Don't knock it until you try it! I was on Pinterest and saw a smoothie recipe by Paula Deen. I figured if Paula created it, it must be good! At first, I was a little skeptical about blending up Kale and Spinach with fruit, but the smoothie sounded so healthy and refreshing I just had to try it. Plus, it is only 1 Points Plus per serving! Here is the link to Paula Deen's original recipe:
Paula Deen's Good Morning Green Smoothie

I altered the recipe using ingredients I had it my refrigerator and freezer and it came out delicious! Try it out guys... I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

• 8.45 fl ounces of coconut water (I used this specific amount because I bought it in single serving juice box style.. but you can use more or less)
• 1 1/2 cups Dole Frozen Wildly Nutritious Signature Blends "Tropical Fruit" (the bag contains pieces of pineapple, strawberries, mango, banana, and papaya)
• 2 cups of baby spinach 
• Water (as much as you need to loosen it all up & make it your desired consistency)

*Just a little side note... Coconut water is really good for hydration. I definitely do not drink enough water & struggle with hydrating myself so I really like how this smoothie incorporates coconut water. Also, spinach has some great health benefits like providing your body with lots of fiber, vitamins & antioxidants. All in all, this smoothie is healthy, delicious & a great 1 Points Plus snack! 

Oatmeal

I am a big fan of oatmeal. I love to eat so I like the idea of sitting down with a big bowl of something & mixing in all kinds of toppings. My typical oatmeal recipe is:

1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla Silk
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of dry rolled oats
1 egg white
Cinnamon (I use a lot!)
2 tablespoons of sugar-free maple syrup
Stevia (to taste)
1 tablespoon of Chia seeds
Fruit (cut up apple, banana, berries, whatever you prefer)

Pour half cup of milk & half cup of water in a pot on the stove & bring to a boil. Mix in the oats & cook for about 5 minutes until liquid is evaporated. Mix in the egg white, fluffing with a fork. Put it in your favorite bowl, then mix in the rest of the ingredients. This is only 5 Points Plus! Oatmeal is great because you can play with it & make it taste however you want. Sometimes I will mix in sunflower seed butter, raisins, honey, etc, depending on what I am in the mood for and how many points I want to use. The recipe listed is my "go-to recipe" because it is yummy & low in points!

Beer Chili

One of my Weight Watchers cookbooks has a recipe called, "Beef, Black Bean, & Beer Chili". I love chili so I decided to try this one since it looked pretty simple & was different then my normal chili that called for kidney beans & tomato sauce. I did not have beef in the house so I used 99% fat free turkey (which brought the Points Plus down) and I omitted the oil because I usually just use a nonstick skillet with PAM. Whether you choose to make this recipe with my few alterations, or follow it exactly the way Weight Watchers makes it, I am sure you will not be disappointed! 

You will need:

1 teaspoon of canola oil (I omitted this)

3/4 pound ground lean beef (7% fat or less) (I used 1.3 lbs of 99% fat free ground turkey)

1 small onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed & drained

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with jalapeno peppers

1 cup light beer

1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add meat, breaking apart & cooking until no longer pink. Add onion, garlic & chili powder and stir for about a minute until well incorporated. Add beans, tomatoes  beer & salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until chili is slightly thickened, 15 minutes. 

I added Siracha sauce to mine, 1 tablespoon of sour cream (1 P+) & crumbled up 1 hard shell taco & sprinkled it on top (1 P+). The original recipe says it makes 4 servings (1 cup is a serving), at 6 Points Plus each. With my alterations, the recipe made 7 servings at 4 Points Plus each (not including my sour cream or taco shell). 

Chocolate Ricotta Dessert

What Italian does not like Ricotta Cheese? I have been eating it since I was a little girl. Every pasta dinner at Grandma's started off with a heaping scoop of Ricotta (or "Rigawt" is what it sounds like in Jersey slang) on the bottom of the plate, then topped with spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, etc. Pizzagaina, calzones, and many of the best Italian desserts are all made with Ricotta cheese. As you might guess, I almost always have some in my refrigerator! I have to say, if you can find the brand Sam Maulucci & Son, I would recommend you pick some of that up because it is by far some of the best Ricotta I have ever tasted. I have not seen that brand in a low fat or fat free version so I usually buy that one for special occasions like when I make my Italian Ricotta cookies or Manicotti  ("Manigawt") for my husband. I always buy Calabro's cheese and it is DELICIOUS! In my experience, many things (especially cheese) that are labeled fat free actually TASTE fat free and kind of gross. You will not get that with Calabro's. Their fat free Ricotta is delicious and only 1 Points Plus per half a cup! Often times for a snack I will measure out a half of a cup of cheese and top it with blueberries and strawberries and it's a nice, filling, 1 Points Plus treat. The other night I was craving something chocolaty for dessert so I decided to use Ricotta. Here is my recipe:

1/2 cup of fat free Ricotta Cheese (Calabro's is highly recommended!)
1 tablespoon unsweetened dark cacao powder (I used Hershey's)
1 individual sized bar of chocolate, chopped into pieces (I used 1 dark chocolate Ghirardelli's square & smashed it into pieces with my meat tenderizer)
Stevia (as much or as little as you like)
Whipped cream (optional) (I used 6 tablespoons of fat free reddi-wip because it is 0 points!)

Measure out half of a cup of Ricotta and put it your favorite bowl. Mix in the Stevia and dark cacao powder until well blended. Then, stir in the dark chocolate pieces and top with some whipped cream and you have yourself a delicious chocolaty dessert for only 3 Points Plus value!

*Note: If you are following Weight Watchers, make sure to check the individual nutrition facts on all of your products. Calabro's cheese is 1 Points Plus per half of a cup but most cheeses are 2 Points Plus.

Raw Bars

I absolutely love raw bars. I love the gooey texture of the dates, the crunchiness of the nuts and seeds and the taste of all the raw, healthy and delicious things all in one compact bar! One of my favorite treats is Whole Food's Organic Raw Cacao Goji Berry Energy squares. You can get them at Whole Foods in the self service bins that have all of the loose seeds, grains, and nuts. These goji squares have such a good flavor and are a great little 1 Point Plus per piece pick me up! I usually get them right from the store but I found a website that sells them too:
Organic Raw Cacao Goji Berry Energy Squares

My family's and my own health are always on my mind! I really want my husband and myself to lead a healthy lifestyle and when we have children, I want them to be healthy as well. One of the five year old girls in my class told me that she had never even tasted McDonald's. Her mom told her that the food is gross and unhealthy. This little girl's mother home cooks everything for her and it is some of the healthiest food I have ever seen. I would love it if I could get to that place in my life where I could eliminate all of the junk food and just eat raw, healthy foods all of the time. When I have my own kids one day, that is what I want for them!

So, this weekend I decided to try my hand at making raw bars! I looked in my pantry and took out all of the items I thought would taste good mixed in a compact little square and I am very happy with the results! These bars taste sweet, have a smooth, gooey texture and are so simple to make! Essentially, you just throw all of the ingredients in the food processor and let it do the work The best part is that my husband loves them too! This recipe makes 10 servings for only 2 Points Plus per piece. Next time I will double the recipe! Enjoy!

12 dates (pitted)
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon organic black chia seeds
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
dash of salt

I used whole almonds so first I put those in the food processor to chop them up into pieces, then I added the dates and let it turn into a thick paste. Next I added the seeds, salt, honey, and peanut butter and let them all blend together well. The mixture should be very thick and gooey. I used a spatula to scrape it out of the processor and press it into a small glass dish lined with parchment paper. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and press it down well. Put it in the refrigerator to firm up a bit, cut it into 10 squares and eat!

*UPDATE: The texture of these bars is very smooth and gooey. I just made another batch except this time I pulsed all the ingredients at one time together in the food processor rather then processing the nuts & seeds 1st to get smaller pieces, then just letting the processor mix it all. If you put all the ingredients together at once and just pulse it, the texture will be rougher like you see in the goji squares. You could see and crunch into the actual seeds/nuts rather then just having them all pureed together. Both taste great... it just depends on your texture preference!

Organic Raw Cacao Goji Berry Energy Squares from Whole Foods

My own homemade raw bars!

The 2nd batch of my own homemade raw bars!

Tropical Fried Rice

I have been feeling really under the weather this weekend so come Sunday night I definitely had zero energy and drive to cook dinner. My wonderful husband stepped up to the plate and made some delicious fried rice! Not only did it taste good but it was point friendly too :) He also just used whatever we had around the house, which is always a plus in recipes because you do not have to go out shopping to find the smallest ingredient that you will only use maybe twice a year. This recipe is not exact so you can play with the amounts according to your taste :) Here is what Steve created:

1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced (or however much you desire)
1/4 cup onion (diced)
1 scallion (diced)
1 egg
1/2 cup pinapple (diced)
2 cups of brown instant rice (dry)
5oz cooked ham (diced) (we used spiral off the bone ham)
1 teaspoon of terriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon of soy sauce
A dash of cinnamon

Cook brown rice according to package then aside. In a large pan or wok, heat the oil then add the garlic, onions and scallions. Saute for a couple of minutes (until garlic & onions are a bit soft). Add the ham to the pan so it browns. Add the egg & scramble it around the pan. Then, add the cooked brown rice, pineapple, cinnamon, terriyaki and soy sauces. Toss all ingredients together in the pan until well blended and heated all the way through. Steve & I topped ours off with Siracha sauce and garlic red pepper sauce because we enjoy spicy food!

This recipe makes 5 cups of this delicious rice and comes in at only 6 Points Plus per cup! I really enjoyed the taste of the coconut, pineapple & cinnamon in this recipe. However, if you are not a huge fan of coconut I would suggest to use only a teaspoon of the oil next time because the taste of the coconut oil was very strong. Hope you enjoy!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (My Weight Loss Story)

When I was three years old, I started gaining an unhealthy amount of weight. Throughout my entire childhood I continued to gain weight and was very unhealthy. Needless to say, I was pretty unhappy with my self image growing up. I couldn't shop at "normal" stores, boys never liked me, kids always teased me, and I was always the fat kid. I was on every diet that was ever created but nothing ever seemed to stick. I am only 5"2 and when I was 16 years old I reached my highest weight of 260 pounds. I wore a women's size 24. I was uncomfortable and embarrassed. At age 17, I decided that I just did not want to live that way anymore and something HAD to change. I set a goal for myself... I would be skinny for my senior prom! The summer of 2004 (going into my senior year of high school), I joined Weight Watchers and it changed my life forever. Starting that summer, I changed the way I ate, the way I moved and the way I thought. I exercised every day, ate my daily points target, and focused on being "skinny" for the dance. With God's help, I lost 110 pounds by my senior prom and I wore a size 10 dress! I never thought that would ever be possible! Not only did I look great but I felt great! My body and mind felt healthy and I actually had confidence. This was a huge milestone for me and definitely not an easy one.

After prom, I graduated high school and went off to college where I was surrounded by cheap, greasy, unhealthy foods. In the beginning, I tried my best to count points on my own and make healthy choices but it felt almost impossible. I was away from home, restricted to the high fat, high calorie foods that the college provided. I was back to an unhealthy lifestyle. Throughout my 4 years of college, I gained back about half of the weight I lost. I felt pretty bad about myself and wondered if I could possibly go through the long journey of weight loss again. I felt discouraged and really thought that it was just in my genetic make-up to be overweight my whole life. Well, GOD is SO GOOD and He always has a plan.

In 2009, I met my wonderful husband. We dated for 8 months, got engaged, and then married 10 months later. When Steve and I met I weighed 207 pounds and he loved me anyway! However, I was not really loving myself. Steve proposed August 2010, and in December 2010 I rejoined Weight Watchers. I did not want to be a fat bride! To be honest, this time around I did not expect to lose much weight. Like I said, I was still in the mentality that I HAD to be overweight and there wasn't anything I could really do about it. When I rejoined Weight Watchers my plan was to lose about 20 pounds just so I could look decent in a wedding gown. Well, God had much bigger plans for me. By June 25, 2011 (our wedding day), I lost 40 pounds and I felt fabulous! I couldn't believe the success I had on the plan. After the wedding, I moved to CT and for the first 6 months I struggled to eat healthy and follow the plan on my own. I gained a few pounds back but ultimately I wound up rejoining Weight Watchers in CT. This time, I just prayed that I would get down to the lowest weight I had ever been (my senior year of high school... 150 pounds). God said, "All things are possible with Me". So I trusted Him and I persevered. I stuck with the program and surpassed my expectations! Today, I stand 5"2, 130 pounds and a size 6! Who would have ever thought?! It was not an easy journey and I believe I will be on it my whole life, but I am so thankful to MY SAVIOR who has never left or forsaken me. He has encouraged me and been with me every step of the way.

I would love to be an inspiration and encouragement to others as well! Even though I have reached my goal weight, I still struggle with food on a daily basis. I know it is not an easy road to travel but I do believe that if I can do it, anyone can. I am hoping this blog will inspire people and I would love to help in anyway I can!

260 Pounds to 150 Pounds

260 Pounds to 150 Pounds (my sweet 16...my senior prom)

207 Pounds to 130 Pounds

Jan. 12, 2013.... 130 Pounds (Weight Watchers, Life Time Member!)

PB2 & Almond Milk

Has anyone ever tasted PB2? It is pretty much just powdered peanuts... peanuts, salt, and sugar to be exact. Basically, they press most of the fat out of the peanuts and you are left with peanut powder. It contains 85% less fat and calories then regular peanut butter and it tastes pretty good! You mix 2 tablespoons of the powder with 1 tablespoon of water and then eat it however you like. I love it because it tastes like real peanuts AND it is only 1 Point Plus per serving! That is awesome because 1 tablespoon of most nut or seed butter is 3 Points Plus per serving. I will usually mix my prepared PB2 with 2 tablespoons of Stonyfield Farm, non-fat, vanilla, organic yogurt and some cinnamon and then dip apple slices in it for a tasty 1 Points Plus snack. Or I will spread it on my banana. I have yet to cook with it but I have read that it is delicious in recipes as well. Now, I am not knockin' real peanut butter or any other nut or seed butters. My two favorites are almond butter and sunflower seed butter. But when I need something tasty and do not want to use a lot of points I turn to PB2!

As for almond milk... I buy Silk, unsweetened, 30 calorie vanilla. I REALLY like it. 1 cup is 1 Points Plus but I usually use half of a cup for 0 Points Plus. One of my favorite treats is mixing 1 tablespoon of Chia seeds in a half of a glass of almond milk with some cinnamon  vanilla extract and Stevia . Mix it up, let it sit in the fridge for a few hours and then you take it out you have Chia seed pudding (1 Points Plus)! Because the Chia seeds hold so much liquid they become gelatinous and in this case create a pudding (the texture is similar to tapioca). You can also add cocoa powder, PB2 or anything else you are craving in your pudding! Play with your options and enjoy!

Chia Seeds

Is anyone else obsessed with chia seeds? I buy the organic black chia seeds from Whole Foods and put them on EVERYTHING. I mix them in my yogurt and oatmeal. I sprinkle them on my salad. I mix them in my water. I absolutely love them. I even baked oatmeal chia seed cookies! Now, if you have never heard of chia seeds... look them up! They have some great health benefits. They help you lose weight because they hold 9x their weight in water (filling you up for awhile). They also help balance your blood sugar, are full of healthy omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as calcium and they give you lots of energy. One tablespoon is only one Weight Watchers Points Plus value. I would definitely recommend for EVERYONE to have chia in their diet! About a week ago I baked these oatmeal chia seed cookies. They were pretty good for being healthy and only costing me 2 Points Plus each. I did not have chocolate covered pomegranate seeds so I substituted them for dark chocolate chips. I also made the cookies smaller so this recipe made 34 cookies. I think the only thing I would change would be to add some more flavor to it like using agave syrup or honey next time. Nonetheless, I am always a fan of healthy, low point desserts! 

Oatmeal Chia Seed Cookie Recipe

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake

Valentine's Day is almost here and I wanted to bake a little something special for my hubby. I searched Pinterest and found a million recipes but one in particular just sounded too delicious NOT to make. Since there is a blizzard in process outside today, I decided we would celebrate Valentine's Day early this year, so I just finished baking this sweet treat. I chose Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake because, #1 It is red (very festive), #2 Our wedding cake was red velvet (very sentimental), #3 The recipe sounded delicious AND simple (doesn't get better then that)! Anyway, it came out DELICIOUS! It is pretty decadent, so you have to have a serious sweet tooth to fully enjoy this cake. My husband could only eat a small serving at a time (because it is a bit sweet for his taste), as for me... I could sit down and eat the whole tray! Hope you enjoy :)

P.S. Sorry, my first recipe is not Point friendly but definitely worth the splurge! 

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cake Recipe