Rest Assured…

I am going to go through and give you a list of  Points Plus values to correspond with the old recipes I have already given you!  It just might take me a minute (in Julieland – 1 minute is approximately equal to a week or so, sometimes!)  But here is the good news, if you need to know the value of something that I have given you in the past before I get to this…use the Find and Explore portion in your plan manager and search for recipe by name…I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you find them there and …bada bing bada boom…I already updated there!  Please feel free to let me know if I you find anything I missed and search by exact name of recipe!

Feeling pretty chipper today for having gotten up to get work by 7am!

Let me tell you this is an hour earlier than normal!!  The problem doesn’t really lie with the getting up early, but in the figuring out how to get to sleep earlier the night before! (doesn’t really happen in case you are wondering)

My beautiful little 8 year old girl is playing ice hockey, (I know! Scary isn’t it???).  This means I have to leave early on Thursday’s to get her on the ice in time for practice…As much as I love hockey (and I really do!)…I really, really love her face and teeth all in the place in which they currently reside, and am a little concerned about any accidental rearranging of this…but we have to let go and let God don’t we?  Or in Juliespeak is relax, don’t worry, it is what it is…yada yada yada!

Nuff about me and my STUFF.  I know you are really looking for a little yummy yummy for your tummy tummy!  How about this?  Spinach and Artichoke dip!! Here is a little comparison info.  I calculated the Points Plus value for this appetizer at a restaurant chain that I am sure we have all visited…Applebees and the Points Plus value for the entire thing is 43!! Ok to be fair, the recipe below is listed at 12 servings and that would equal 36 Points Plus, however I am sure that we would probably never go to the Big A and order one of these for 12 people…I am guessing it would be more like 4…and also keep in mind what you are dipping, when you are not in control!

Healthier Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip II 

3 Points Plus

12 Servings

Ingredients

1/4 c reduced-calorie mayonnaise    

2 oz Romano cheese, grated    

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 t dried basil    

14 oz canned artichoke hearts, without oil, drained and chopped    

1 c chopped frozen spinach, thawed, drained and chopped    

1/4 c shredded part-skim mozzarella cheeses    

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese    

8 oz Neufchatel cheese, softened, (this is basically reduced fat cream cheese!)   

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic and basil. You can also salt and pepper to taste. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.

3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.

I would serve this with some sort of Points Plus friendly multigrain chips, or hmmm I might have already given you the recipe for some baked Wonton crisps!!

So…how is everyone liking the new plan?

I am hearing that people are either lovin’ it or hatin’ it!  Me, I am ok with it, however, I have found myself having that dreaded “too full” feeling lately…I say dreaded because getting to full all the time is what made me fat to begin with!  I think that this last week with Thanksgiving and all it was easy to overeat and rationalize about it!  Time to get serious again before the rest of the holidays hit!  Speaking of holidays…how about a nice Cheesy (it is Tuesday after all!) appetizer!

Crab Rangoon 

5 Points Plus

6 Servings

These crunchy wontons are stuffed with a savory combination of crabmeat, cream cheese and vegetables.

Ingredients

2 spray(s) cooking spray    

2 t olive oil    

2 cloves garlic, minced (medium)    

2 medium scallion, minced    

2 T snow peas, chopped    

6 oz canned crabmeat, drained    

4 oz light cream cheese    

2 t low-sodium soy sauce    

24 wonton wrappers, half of a 12 oz package    

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, scallions and snow peas and sauté until just tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in crabmeat, cream cheese and soy sauce with a wooden spoon; mix gently to combine.

Place wonton wrappers on a flat surface. Drop crab mixture by teaspoonfuls onto the center of each wrapper. Dip a finger into water and use it to moisten edges of wrapper; fold over one corner of wrapper to make a triangle and press sides together to seal. Create decorative lines along the edges of the wontons by pressing the tines of a fork along the bottom edge of each wonton.

Transfer filled wontons to prepared baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Bake until wontons are golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Yields 4 pieces of crab rangoon per serving. 

Notes

Serve with reduced-sodium soy sauce mixed with chopped scallions or prepared sweet-and-sour or duck sauce, if desired. Just make sure to account for any increase in PointsPlus values.