Blackened Salmon

My friend Ronay brought this product find into one of our last meetings.

You can find this at Wal-Mart.  It's C. Wirthy & Co. Blackened Salmon and it was delicious!  

I will tell you it scans as being 7 pts but it's really just salmon which is now free.

So, you decide how you want to count it out.  I'm not personally counting points for this.  

It's convenient, nutritious, yummy and well worth a try :)  

Master the Weight Loss Mindset

My friend, Jodie, recently sent me a link to this site where they're starting a 30 day challenge for mastering the weight loss mindset.

Jodie knows I'm always on the lookout for new information and ideas, especially when it relates to weight loss psychology. 

This is hosted by Heather K. Jones, dietitian and wellness coach. 

It's completely free and, I might add, I am not affiliated with Heath Jones nor do I get any compensation or incentive from mentioning this to you. 

Part of being successful is surrounding yourself with support and continually building on your weight loss toolbox. 

I signed up and I can't wait to see what new insights I might glean from this!

1 Minute Cheesecake!

This is another great idea I saw on CONNECT but also heard about from my fellow Weight Watchers at my meeting.

This could not be easier!

All you do is mix up

~1 cup plain Greek yogurt(I love FAGE brand!)

~1 Tbsp Jello sugar free Cheesecake

It's only 1 pt!

Add in points for any extras you like.

Today I decided to use no sugar added Great Value cherry pie filling and a teaspoon of crumbled, reduced fat Graham crackers.

I put this into an antique parfait glass I bought for a song and it looks just lovely!

Happy Cooking!

Eat Your Fruit!

Today I just had to give you a link to a short article I liked about common weight loss blunders.

This article is fantastic! 

It reminded me of what a fellow Weight Watcher, Amanda, was saying at our meeting yesterday.

She mentioned that she had family or friends who were doing low carb diets and wouldn't even allow their children to eat fruit!

Oh the horror! 

Fruit is GOOD FOR YOU!!! 

It has amazing nutrients and tastes great! 

So enjoy a piece of fruit today and just think of all that you're doing for your body. 

OPA Dipity Cucumber Dill Greek Yogurt Dip

I saw this product when I was out shopping recently.

Since I already love the OPA feta dill and strawberry poppyseed salad dressings I had to try this.

There are several varieties but I bought the cucumber dill flavor.

This is 1 pt for each 2 Tbsp serving.

Overall I thought this was good.  I actually like the salad dressing better than this dip and they're the same point values.

Of course everyone's tastes are different so it's worth a try.

Twas The Night Before Weight In

This is something I posted last year around Christmas.  I'm making it my tradition to post it each Christmas Eve...


I thought it would be fun to write a parody of the Twas the Night Before Christmas poem.

So, I did.  

My son and I wrote this together and had lots of fun and laughs doing it.  

I hope you all enjoy it too!  


Twas the Night Before Weigh In

Twas the night before weigh in and all through the house

Every creature was exercising, even the mouse!

The Spanx were hung by the chimney with care

In hopes that Oprah soon would be there

The Weight Watchers were stretching beside their beds 

While visions of veggies danced in their heads

And I in my stretch pants, sneakers and shirt 

Had just hit my stride, so hard at work

When under the treadmill there arose such a clatter

I sprang off the platform to see what was the matter!

Away to my husband I flew like a flash

Yanked down the covers and threw up the sash

The motor on the treadmill in the basement below

Gave the stink of smoke to people in tow

When what to my wondering eyes should appear 

But Grandma's apple pie with whip cream to cheer

She was a right welcome sight so cuddly and quick

And she said right away "My sweets will do the trick!"

"I took out the fat and calories too!

Think of it as zero point comfort from me to you"

More rapid than eagles I ran towards the food

To think of not eating them, well that would be rude!

Those pies how they glistened!

Those brownies how yummy!

And I couldn't wait to put them into my tummy

But just as the first bite whizzed past my lips 

I thought of all those points hitting my hips

I thought of all the hard work I had done

The weight that I'd lost

The strength that I'd won

I thought of my goals and my health and my pride

I thought of the guilt that would eat me up inside

And so I took it down a notch 

And truly savored just one

And each sweet bite was more than fun

I didn't have to suffer gluttony or deprivation 

With Weight Watchers I could go for moderation

I didn't need saving or deprivation or fear

I just need support and loving cheer

To enjoy myself and live life well

And know there's more to me than a number on a scale

Twas the night before weigh in

I savored each bite

Happy Weigh In To All!

And To All A 

Good Night!

Merry Christmas Friends!

  

Time-Worthy Newsletters With Last Minute Tips

I've made no secret of the fact that one of the things that really moved me forward in weight loss was reading The Beck Diet Solution by Judith Beck PhD.

This is essentially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT) for weight loss.

In other words it's all about mindset.  It's not a diet in and of itself but is compatible with most any plan including WW.

In addition to reading the book I signed up for her newsletters and thought today's was timely and helpful at a time when I, and many people, struggle.

She actually doesn't send many newsletters out but I always enjoy the ones she does send.

You can find today's newsletter here.

In addition, you'll probably remember my mentioning that I also enjoyed reading 100 Days of Weight Loss which reads like a daily journal.

It's written by Linda Spangle, RN.  She also sends occasional newsletters which I usually enjoy.

You can find her latest here under Last Minute Holiday Tips.

Finding resources to read is like giving yourself extra support during tough times.

I encourage you to surround yourself with as much support as you can. 

You're worth it and it really helps. 

I wish all of us good focus, good planning and good times!

Happy Holidays!

~Carrie

Irish Beef Stew

I found this pre-prepared Irish Stew at SAM's Club the other day.

For the life of me I can't find the pic I took of the package now.  This is what it looks like after you take the cardboard off.

It's 4 pts for each 3/4 cup serving.  

I'd say this was good, not great, but it was good.  

Certainly if you're hungry, don't want to cook and are craving comfort food this would be ideal.

Although I do admit I thought the portion sizes should be bigger!

But it's still worth a try.  You never know until you do.

Creamy, Protein Packed Marinara Over Spaghetti Squash

So tonight I was thinking about WW's new FREEstyle plan and how I could use the free foods which got me to thinking about Greek yogurt.

I eat a lot of Greek yogurt and am finding new ways everyday of incorporating it into my diet.

This, I have to tell ya, makes me feel good about myself because Greek yogurt is packed with protein and calcium.

Most American women don't get enough calcium in their diets to support strong bones so eating this makes me feel good.

But I digress...

All of a sudden I thought "hey, why not incorporate Greek yogurt into a marinara sauce?".

I mean I loved the way my leader, Nancy, incorporated Greek yogurt into salsa verde for her enchilada topping.

So I got on the internet and low and behold many other people have had the same idea.

There were numerous variations on the same theme.

I decided to take it step by step and add a little of this and that until I liked the texture and taste.


Ingredients

1 large spaghetti squash

1 yellow onion, diced

28 oz of diced tomatoes(most recipes called for crushed but I didn't have them on hand)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes(omit this if you don't like it hot and spicy)

3 cloves minced garlic(I used the pre-minced and pre-roasted garlic in a jar today)

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried basil

1 cup Greek yogurt

12.5 oz can of white chicken chunks

Broth of choice for cooking

Added protein options that are free- lean, ground turkey browned in with the meat, shrimp, or tofu


Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Carefully cut the spaghetti squash in half, seed it and place it face down on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for one hour, or less depending on the size of the squash and your tastes.

While the squash is baking, spray a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and add in the onion.

Saute until well done using broth as needed to prevent sticking or scorching.

I cooked mine around ten minutes.  Then add in the garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and basil.

Stir to combine and cook a couple minutes.

Add in the tomatoes and white wine.  Stir to combine and simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes to let flavors meld.

After it's done simmering take it off the heat and add in the Parmesan cheese, Greek yogurt and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix well and set aside.

After the squash has been pulled out of the oven, and is cool enough to safely handle, fork it and onto your plates.

Top it with your creamy sauce and enjoy!

Let's talk points~

Most of the ingredients here are 0 pts.  When I put this in the recipe builder it came out to 3 points for HALF of this which is a huge amount of food!

If you set it to serve 3 or 4 then it comes out to 2 points either way.  

This is definitely a great thing to make if you're hungry.

Now let's talk taste.

I really liked this!  The only thing I'm going to change next time is that I'm going to omit the red pepper flakes.

Nearly every recipe I looked at online had red pepper flakes but I just didn't like it in this sauce.

I also ended up adding in Hormel real bacon bits on a whim at the end.

Of course this increases the points a bit depending on how much you put in but it was worth it and it's still a very low point value meal overall.

So this is definitely a win!

I've found another great use for Greek yogurt!

Happy Cooking!

0 Point Pancakes!!!

This is a WW recipe I've been seeing on CONNECT a lot.

I've been skeptical because I'm not really crazy about banana flavor in things.

Don't get me wrong, I love to eat plain, under-ripe bananas but I usually don't like the flavor in other foods.

But, curiosity got the best of me and I had to try it.

The plus side is that it's crazy healthy, only four ingredients so very easy and 0 pts!

Ingredients 

1 ripe banana

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch cinnamon

Instructions

Mash the banana with a fork.

Now add in the remaining ingredients and mix well.  This should make 3 small pancakes.

Place a non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium and cook up your pancakes!

I averaged 3 minutes per side but I would check this frequently so they don't burn or scorch.    

I'll tell you ahead of time, they can be a little tricky to flip.  It got easier as I went.  

You know what?  These were really good!  

And the banana added enough sweetness that I didn't even use syrup or any type of sweetener!

My picky son even ate one!  That's like a Christmas miracle!!!!  

I recommend trying this at least once.  I mean, 0 pt pancakes?  It's a no brainer!

Yum!

Happy Cooking!

Stuffed Peppers

Well, as you may have guessed by now I haven't been in the mood to cook lately.

Typically when I feel well rested and relaxed my mind always wonders to cooking and I get excited about what creations I can come up with next.

However, with the holidays, work, my son's school obligations and other family obligations, I'm just drained.

And, being drained has left me feeling completely uninspired, which is a frustrating place to be.

Admittedly it is much easier to eat healthfully when you cook.

The plus side is that I have found some store bought or restaurant items that are good and aren't too high in points.

It's something to file away for the future.

Recently I was browsing at Barnes & Noble(I know what you're thinking... shock?! lol) and I found this cookbook by Elisa Costantini.

It's stereotyping for me to say this but this lady just looks like a good cook.  

As I flipped through here I came upon a recipe she had for stuffed peppers that incorporated eggplant into the filling.  

I was intrigued for the first time in a long time.

So today I made her Stuffed Red Peppers recipe.  

Of course I changed it up to suit my palate and pantry. ;)

Ingredients

1 yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup diced celery(I used to large ribs)

1 1/2 cups eggplant, peeled and chopped

3 oz of 99% lean ground turkey(she calls for chopped ham steak but I wanted to use something free)

1 Tbsp dried parsley

3 Tbsp tomato paste

1 cup part skim mozzarella, shredded

1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

2 eggs

Salt and Pepper to taste

6 small to medium bell peppers, tops cut off and seeded

Broth of choice to cook with

Cooking spray


Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

Spray a non-stick skillet and to it add the onion, and celery.  Saute stirring frequently until tender, around 10 minutes.

Add broth as needed to prevent sticking or scorching.

Sprinkle with parsley, and stir in the eggplant and tomato paste.  Cook for another couple minutes.

Now add in the turkey and cook until it's browned.  Turn the heat down to medium low.

In a separate bowl, beat the two eggs.  Then add the cheese.  DO NOT ADD THE BREADCRUMBS UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE ADDED THE CHEESE AND MIXED IT WELL!!!!

I wasn't thinking and did this and it didn't incorporate as well, not to mention that I had a bread-ball by the time it was said and done.

Add the breadcrumb mixture to your meat mixture and stir well to incorporate.

Stuff each of the six peppers equally.  Since I didn't have six whole peppers I used the four I had and set aside the extra stuffing to use for later.  It will make for an easy dinner another night.  ;)

Place in a casserole dish.  Add 4 Tablespoons of water to the bottom of the dish.

I also like to use scrunched up aluminum foil to the dish between the peppers to help them stand upright.

Bake this uncovered for one hour.

I set this to serve 6.  One stuffed pepper per serving which comes out to 4 points.

This was fantastic!  It really hit the comfort food spot.

I think it would also be good with the ham or beef.  Truly all of them would go well with this mix.

It was definitely worth the work today and boy is my husband going to be happy I'm cooking again! lol

Happy Cooking!

Finding Recipes

Our wonderful and fearless leader, Nancy, was kind enough to pass out one of the recipes I adapted on here.

It was specifically for the chicken pot pie which you can search for or find here.

I haven't had time to go back and recalculate point values for the recipes I've posted but I'm happy to say many of them are going to be much lower.

You might try to search for roasted mushrooms or your favorite ingredients to get ideas.

If you're new and you're really hungry try checking out this, now 0 pt, recipe.  Just make sure your ground turkey is 99% fat free to make it 0 pts.

I'm asking Santa for more free time for Christmas.

In truth, I love cooking but when I'm overwhelmed with work, my son's school activities, family obligations, workouts, etc, well, it gets to be a bit much.

When I have time to just sit I feel more inspired and I get excited about coming up with new recipes and cooking in general.

Just a quick word for friends who don't really like to cook~

If you're struggling on the new plan because you don't like to cook I would recommend at least trying to find a base of five or so go-to recipes that you can easily make.

If you have a base to work with and you make them more often then the cooking becomes easier and less monotonous and time consuming.

Like everything else in life cooking takes some practice.

Another option might be going to places like Eat. Fit. Go.  They have a lot of whole food type meals that should be lower in points now.

There are also a lot of options when dining out now.

So keep an open mind, experiment a little and enjoy your plan and your food!

FREEstylin' surprises!

This is our first official week on WW's new FREEstyle plan.

Overall I'm loving it!

I had a stomach bug(think constant nausea without the vomiting) over the weekend and the only thing I could stomach were carbs so I know my weight will be up but it's not due to the new plan.

I wanted to share a couple of nice surprises I found since I've started scanning and looking up foods on the FREEstyle plan.

My mother and I went to lunch at Olive Garden and I ordered soup, salad(with the Light dressing) and bread sticks.

When I went to look up the soups I noticed that the minestrone had dropped to 1 pt!

The Pasta e fagioli soup was only 2 pts!

How exciting!!!

When I was at the Chinese restaurant I noticed that Moo Goo Gai Pan dropped to 2 pts!!!

This is really something to celebrate!

I'm hoping all my WW friends share their surprise finds on the new plan because together we can really make this plan GREAT!!!

Dashing Dish's Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This recipe comes from a book my friend Jodie got me last Christmas.  Thanks Jodie!

It's called Devotions for a Healthier You by Katie Farrell. 

Katie is the author of The Dashing Dish. 

I've made tons of her recipes and they've all been fantastic!

Please note that the main dish ingredients are separated from the topping ingredients.

In addition I just want to mention I bought my frozen broccoli from SAM's Club and it was so convenient!

It comes in a huge bag but inside are four separate steamer bags that you can microwave so it makes it incredibly easy. 

I love that I now have leftover broccoli steamer bags in the freezer to whip out whenever I need a 0 pt snack. 

Ingredients

Casserole

2 (12.5 oz) bags frozen broccoli florets

1 cup cooked and shredded chicken(I used the canned chicken)

1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese

1/4 cup plain low fat Greek yogurt

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder(I used 3/4 tsp)

1/2 tsp onion powder


Topping

2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup (1 oz) shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese


Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 F. 

Spray a 9 x 13 inch casserole pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Place frozen broccoli florets in a medium bowl and microwave for 5-10 minutes.  I don't like overcooked broccoli so I only cooked mine for 4 minutes each. 

In a small bowl mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, grated Parmesan, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. 

Add this mix to the thawed broccoli in a large bowl. 

Now add in the chicken and cheddar cheese and mix well.  I used canned chicken which made it a lot easier. 

Place in the casserole dish.

Mix together the two topping ingredients, grated Parmesan and Cheddar cheeses, and sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole.

Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until cheese is melted and it's heated through. 

I set this recipe to serve 6.

When I put this in the recipe builder under the new Freestyle plan it comes out to 4 points per serving.  

This was delicious! 

It's healthy and low in points.  It's also really easy peasy to make. 

That is always a winning combination!

Happy Cooking!!!

Sunday Funnies

We just got back home from another weekend away to celebrate Christmas with family.

Just as we did last year we found ourselves shopping and stopped by the Function Junction store where we always get a kick out of the comic towels.

So, here are your Sunday Funnies.

I laughed myself silly with some of these!

And just remember- you get Fit Points from laughing!

Get your belly laugh on and laugh your way thin! :)