Ok…so I ALMOST didn’t miss the Cheese…

However, I tried a new trick with this one…I served in on the side that way everybody else could load up on it!  I CANNOT say enough about the power of freshly grated Parmesan cheese!  You don’t need much and the flavor sure packs a punch!  It is so worth the price!!

Pasta Amatriciana My version 

6 Points Plus

6 Servings

Ingredients

4 slices Turkey Bacon-chopped (I use Sam’s Club)

1 large onion, Chopped    

2 cloves garlic, Chopped or minced (medium)    

28 oz canned diced tomatoes    

1 t dried oregano    

1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes    

1 t table salt    

1/2 t black pepper    

1/2 C water    

4 oz canned mushrooms    

6 C cooked whole wheat pasta, (I used rotini)    

1 T dried parsley    

Instructions

Heat a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook, covered, shaking the pan occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes, mushrooms, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, ground pepper, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, toss with the sauce, and sprinkle with the parsley.

I served with grated fresh parmesan and shredded mozzarella so people can add their own cheese! Make sure to count those Points Plus values though! I modified a recipe I found on the WW website to get this one. You can also play with the amount of crushed red pepper to change the amount of "heat".

It’s still Monday, and I am still slow…but just about ready for bed…

I thought I would share this last recipe…Ok it’s two, but who’s counting?  The great news is you can make the first recipe on a Sunday afternoon, and then use it to make the second one during the week!  Or not, you can also have a fabulous Latin inspired dish instead of the Same old, Same old!  Pernil is a typical pork dish in the Latin Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico and Cuba, served with rice and beans during the holidays or whenever there's a reason to celebrate.

Skinny Slow Cooked Pernil (Puerto Rican Pork)
4 Points Plus

6 Servings  

3 lb pork shoulder blade roast, lean, all fat removed

4-5 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbsp coarse salt

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tbsp cumin

1/4 tsp crushed black pepper

3 oranges, juice of (1/2 cup)

2 limes, juice of

Using a sharp knife, cut slits into the pork and stuff holes with half of the crushed garlic. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over pork. Place in the ceramic part of the crock pot, cover and refrigerate, turning pork occasionally so the marinade covers all of pork.

The next day cook on low, 8 hours.

After 8 hours, remove pork and shred using two forks. Remove liquid from crock pot and add pork back to crock. Add about 1 cup of the liquid back and adjust salt, pepper and cumin (you will probably need to add more). Let it cook another 15-30 minutes.  From Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes via www.skinnytaste.com.

And here is the second one!

Cuban Sandwich Quesadilla
5 Points Plus (4 Points-old system)

1 Servings:

1 oz skinny slow cooked pernil

1 slice reduced fat swiss (I used Sargento)

1 oz ham (I uses Hillshire Farm 97% fat free)

1 slice kosher pickle

Mustard

6 inch low carb whole wheat tortilla (La Tortilla Factory)

Heat a non-stick pan over low heat. Spray with cooking spray and place tortilla on pan. On half of the tortilla, place a piece of cheese, pork, ham, pickle and mustard. When cheese is melted, fold the quesadilla in half and flip to heat other side. Remove from heat and cut into 3 pieces. From Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes via www.skinnytaste.com.

Ok, it looks like I might have to stop at the liquor store on the way home…

No, no, no!  Not because I plan to start in on the cocktails when I get home!  (Well that just may depend on the traffic...) But anyway, back on task here Julie...This Bourbon Chicken in the Slow Cooker sounds delish!  What a find for a Slow Monday!  Not to mention that this is the beginning of the first full week that I have worked in several, remember I was too busy to work during the holidays – I WAS EATING!!!

Enjoy!

Bourbon Breast of Chicken 

5 Points Plus

4 Servings

Ingredients

2 breast uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, halved    

1/4 C all-purpose flour    

1/2 t paprika    

1/8 t table salt, or to taste    

2 T onion, Chopped    

1 T dried parsley    

1/4 t dried chervil, Sub with Fennel or Tarragon if you don't have this    

2 oz bourbon, = 1/4 C    

4 oz canned mushrooms, Sliced    

10 oz canned tomatoes    

5 sprays butter-flavour cooking spray    

5 spray olive oil cooking spray    

1/4 t sugar    

Instructions

Dredge chicken in flour which has been mixed with paprika and a little salt. Heat skillet, sprayed with butter and olive oil sprays, and saute chicken on both sides until lightly browned. Stir in onion, parsley and chervil(or sub) and cook a moment. Remove from heat. Place chicken in crock cooker. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours. Serve with noodles of rice. (Count those points extra!)

From www.slowandsimple.com

Do you have a family favorite recipe that you just don’t make anymore?

Here are some substitutions for recipe makeovers that can help lighten up your existing recipes and keep them as family standby’s without breaking the bank on your Points Plus account!  Some of these are just common sense, just reduce the amount of something that is in the recipe to cut the values!  Sometimes though having a list helps!

1 C whole milk – try the following:

1 C fat free milk or:

1 C buttermilk (for baking) or:

1 C 1% milk or:

1 C 2% milk

Sweetened Condensed milk – Fat Free sweetened condensed milk

Evaporated Milk – Fat Free evaporated milk

1 C Heavy cream – try the following:

1 C 1% milk + 1 T cornstarch or:

1 C Fat Free evaporated milk

Sour Cream – try the following:

Fat Free plain yogurt or:

Fat Free or light sour cream

4 oz Blue Cheese  - 2 oz blue cheese + 2 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese

4 oz Feta Cheese – 2 oz Feta cheese + 2 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese

4 oz Goat Cheese – 2 oz Goat cheese + 2 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese

8 oz Cream Cheese – try the following:

8 oz Fat Free Ricotta cheese or:

8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese or:

4 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese + 4 oz Light Cream Cheese or:

8 oz Light Cream Cheese – block or tub style

8 oz Mascarpone Cheese – 4 oz Mascarpone + 4 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese

½ C Oil – try the following:

½ C Fat Free Chicken Broth (for salad dressings and marinades) or:

¼ C unsweetened applesauce + ¼ C Buttermilk (for baking) or:

½ C unsweetened applesauce (for baking) or:

1/3 C Vinegar + ¼ C Fat Free chicken broth + ¼ C pineapple juice + 2 T strong flavored oil (for salad dressings and marinades)

½ C Margarine or Butter (1 stick) – try the following:

½ C unsweetened applesauce (for baking) or:

¼ C unsweetened applesauce + ¼ C buttermilk (for baking) or:

½ C marshmallow crème (for frostings and fillings) or:

½ C light butter

2 T oil – try the following:

2 T Fat Free broth (for sautéing)

2 T Wine (for sautéing)

1 C nuts – reduce to ½ C toasted style for more flavor

6 oz Pork Sirloin, cooked  – 6 oz pork tenderloin, roasted

6 oz Flank Steak, cooked – 6 oz Round Steak, roasted

6 oz chicken thigh, no skin – 6 oz chicken breast, no skin, roasted

6 oz dark turkey meat, no skin, cooked – 6 oz turkey breast, roasted

1 Whole egg – 2 egg whites

Tuna in oil – Tuna in water

1 C Chocolate Chips – try the following:

½ C Mini Chocolate Chips or:

½ C Chocolate Chips or:

2/3 C Chocolate Chips or:

¾ C Chocolate Chips

1 C Flaked Coconut – try the following:

1 t Coconut Extract or:

½ C flaked coconut

1 C sliced olives – ½ C sliced olives

1 oz baking chocolate – 3 T unsweetened cocoa powder

Single Pie Crust – 3 Sheets phyllo dough (6 half sheets)

1 C sugar – ¾ C sugar

Basic White Sauce – make it this way instead:

 1 C 1% Milk and 1 T cornstarch

Sunday afternoons are made for napping! I just made a nice dinner…

White Lasagna – a version of another one I created a while ago, this one has ham (that was leftover), and spinach!  It was yummy, yummy for only 7 Points Plus per serving!  It was very creamy and really begged for a nice creamy dessert to follow…However, I didn’t think that far in advance, but I am thinking this one would work!

Mom's Rich Double Chocolate Pudding 

3 Points Plus

4 Servings

Ingredients

 2/3 T sugar

 1/4 t unsweetened cocoa    

 3 T cornstarch    

 2 c low-fat milk    

 1 oz bittersweet chocolate, or 3 T chocolate chips    

 1 t vanilla extract    

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cocoa and cornstarch until no lumps remain. Gradually stir in the milk over medium heat, just until bubbly and thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips and vanilla extract and cook for 1 minute, or until chocolate melts. Pour into four custard cups or ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 3 hours before serving.

From: "More Healthy Homestyle Cooking", Evelyn Tribole, M.S., R.D.