2 Point Breakfast - My Daily Staple

I'm not a big breakfast eater, but I know it's an important component to weight loss.  I usually eat cereal, but I have a super hard time spending 5 or 7 points for a small bowl.  Instead, I've been eating various versions of this 2 point breakfast: Fruit and Yogurt.

This yogurt is 3 points per serving (1 cup).  I don't really need that much, so I use a half a cup for 2 points.  I layer the bottom of the bowl with whatever fruit I have.  Today it was bananas and grapes.

I then put the yogurt on top.  Love it!

Chicken with Artichokes and Lemon

I had been looking forward to making this recipe all week.  I found it in the May issue of ALL YOU, and it just looked so yummy.  I have to say, I was very disappointed.  The lemon flavor was way too strong for me, but if you like lemon, you'll probably love it.  I will more than likely make it another time (leaving the lemon out).  My husband loved the lemon flavor. 

The recipe was pretty high in points - 5 per serving, and realistically, you'll probably want two serving like me, which brought the points up to 11 just for the chicken mix.  If you wanted to experiement, you could probably skip the white wine and use chicken broth and get a similar result.

I paired my meal with the quick and easy Uncle Ben's microwavable rice, which I was so excited to find out is 2 points per serving (1 cup). Yahoo!

Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (you could easily leave this out too in order to save points)
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 cup white wine
1 12oz jar artichocke hearts, drained and chopped
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 TSP finely chopped fresh thyme

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.  Warm oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add chicken and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides (I would go for about 10 minutes total - until chicken is almost cooked through).

Add wine and artichokes and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through.  Transfer chicken and lemon slices to a platter.

Stir thyme into sauce and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.  Pour over chicken and serve.

6 Servings............................................................................................5 points per serving

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: The WW Way

I am completely addicted to sweets.  I always have been.  This is probably the single biggest reason for my current weight.  Once I start eating cookies or brownies or cake, I find it almost impossible to stop until it's all gone.  For this reason, I try to keep sweets out of the house.  At least I have to actually go out and by something should I decide I want to eat it. 

When I was previously on WW, I used to spend my points on 100 calorie packs of sweets.  I also bought the WW snacks (the cost alone of those kept me from eating too many).  Since I've started PointsPlus, I have been eating so much healthier than I ever have before, but I still haven't figured out how to eat "sugar" in a healthy way.

Tonight I went out to Meijer and Walmart with my daughter.  All I wanted to do was pick up a giant size Kit Kat bar, but I resisted.  I knew I didn't have much at home, but I raided my fridge when we got back anyway.  I found the Yoplait Delights in Chocolate Eclair that I bought on sale last week.  I had a coupon that was doubled, so each 4-pack only cost me a dollar. 

I layered the bottom of my bowl with strawberries (0 points), and topped with a container of the chocolate eclair Yoplait (3 points).  It was delicious! And almost like eating chocolate covered strawberries............................almost.

Fast and Easy (and Cheap!) Lunch

I didn't have a whole lot of points to use for lunch today - we are having Mexican for dinner, and I was also short on time.  For those of you who don't know me personally, I have a small in-home daycare.  Today we were filled to capacity - 6 under the age of 4 (including one newborn).  So as the kids were eating their lunch, I scrambled around for something that I could easily whip together.  I pulled out this can of soup:

I plugged it in to WW, and came up with 6 points for the can.  I drain out almost all of the liquid out of mine, so I mostly just have the veggies.  I paired it with two pieces of 98% FF wheat bread from Meijer, and topped the bread with "No Ifs, Ands, or Butter." 

The total points value was 8.  If I get hungry later, I plan on eating some of the cantaloupe that I got on sale so I can save my points for our yummy dinner tonight!

Helping Out Victims of the Alabama Tornadoes

One of the blogs I follow on a daily is basis is "Couponing to Disney."  Kristen is a great lady who spends her time helping other families say money and realize their dream trip to Disney.  Her church is accepting donations for local victims of the Southern tornadoes.  I raided my stockpile and sent a box down (including some too-small clothes of Paisley's and some toys/books she no longer plays with).  I also used my saved Amazon money that I receive from Swagbucks and sent down a box of Horizon milk (it doesn't have to be refrigerated).  If you're looking for a way to help, please visit her blog.

www.couponingtodisney.com

Entertaining with WW - Part Four - Cherry Chutney and Manchego with Naan

So, I saved the best Indian-inspired recipe for last.  I am so not into spicy things, but this had just enough kick to delight the tastebuds without being too hot for me.  Before making this I had never had chutney, manchego, or Naan, but I have to say I am now a big fan of all three!

I found all of these items at Meijer.  The Manchego cheese was in the specialty cheese section and cost about $6.50 for a large wedge.  It has a very mild flavor, and you could easily substitute another hard white cheese.  The Naan was in the bakery section and was very inexpensive.  If you can't find naan, you could easily substitute pita bread.

1 TSP canola oil
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup pitted tart cherries (I used thawed frozen cherries)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 TBSP packed brown sugar
1 TBSP minced peeled fresh ginger
1/2 TSP mustard seeds
1/4 TSP red pepper flakes
Pinch of salt
1 (4oz) whole wheat naan bread, cut into wedges and toasted
2 oz Manchego cheese, cut into thin slices

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion and cook until softened (about 5 minutes).

Add cherries, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, mustard seeds, pepper flakes, and salt and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until chutney is slightly thickened (12-15 minutes).  Transfer to bowl and let cool to room temperature.  Serve with naan wedges and Manchego.

Serves 4 (3 TBSP chutney with 3 Naan wedges and 1/2 oz. cheese)............................................5 pts.

Entertaining with WW - Part Three - Curry Roasted Cauliflower

Here is another Indian inspired dish that I made for my book club.  This is a great way to get your veggies in, without having to eat a bland food.  I don't even like cauliflower, but this was tasty.

1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 TSP canola oil
1/2 TSP curry powder
1/4 TSP salt
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
1 minced garlic clove

Preheat oven to 450F.

Combine cauliflower, oil, curry powder, and salt in large bowl.   Toss to coat.  Spread cauliflower in single layer in large rimmed baking pan.

Roast, stirring once, for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle cauliflower with parsley and garlic, toss to coat.  Roast until cauliflower is just tender (about 5 minutes longer).

4 Servings (1 cup each)..............................................................................................1 point per serving