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).