Berry Chicken Salad

So I needed a filling, but low-WW-points side dish to go with my Cheesy Chicken Pastries (which were delicious by the way), and ended up just throwing together this nice little salad with the leftover chicken. Nothing too fancy, but just a reminder of a light side dish (other than plain veggies) that can always be paired with a meal. Enjoy!

BERRY CHICKEN SALAD

Servings: 1 bowl

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 1+ (for the chicken)

Ingredients:

• Fresh Express Salad Mixture (Iceberg/Romaine Lettuce, Carrots, Cabbage)
• 1/2 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 cup strawberries, chopped
• 1 oz pulled chicken, chopped
• Optional: nuts (to add more points if needed), other fruits, cheese, etc

Directions:

1. Top fresh salad with 1/2 cup of chopped strawberries, 1/2 tomato, and 1 oz pulled chicken.
2. Enjoy!

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Chicken Parmesan Roll-Ups with Stuffed Ricotta Spinach

Hello, yummy! This dish was not only great in nutritional value, but was also fairly low in WW Points+ and absolutely delicious as well. Seriously, pictures and words can't even begin to do this dish justice. It's basically a combination of classic Chicken Parmesan with my recipe for Cheesy Lasagna Roll-Ups. Definitely one of my favorite recipes that I have made since I have started cooking (and my family really enjoyed this one too)! You ABSOLUTELY have to try this one yourself (and you know I mean it when I give a rave review like this one)... Enjoy!

CHICKEN PARMESAN ROLL-UPS with STUFFED RICOTTA SPINACH

Servings: 4

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 3+ for one roll-up, 7+ for two roll-ups (assuming 2 oz of chicken per roll-up)

Note: Nutritional values below do not reflect chicken or spinach and are for two roll-ups (1/4 dish) (3+)

Ingredients:

• 8 chicken cutlets (about 2-3 oz each), pounded
• 1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• 2 TBSP Parmesan cheese
• 3 TBSP egg beaters (or egg whites)
• 2 oz frozen spinach (or to taste)
• 3 TBSP part skim ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup WW Italian blend cheese
• 1/2 cup Light Ragu sauce, no sugar added
• Optional: salt/pepper/Italian spices to taste

Directions:

1. Cook spinach according to package directions (if frozen) and place in the freezer to cool.
2. Take each cutlet and place between two pieces of tin foil and hammer chicken until flat.
3. In one bowl, combine 1/3 cup Panko and 1 TBSP Parmesan cheese.
4. In another bowl, pour 2 TBSP egg beaters (or egg whites).
5. In a third bowl, combine 1 TBSP Parmesan cheese, 1 TBSP egg beaters, 3 TBSP ricotta cheese, and 1/4 c WW Italian cheese.
6. Remove spinach from the freezer and remove all excess water using paper towels.
7. Add dried spinach to the third bowl of cheese/egg mixture.
8. Fill each chicken cutlet with a spoonful of the cheese/egg/spinach mixture and roll up.
9. Dip chicken in the bowl with plain egg and then roll in the Panko/cheese mixture.
10. Repeat steps 8-9 until all chicken has been filled and coated (see picture to the right).
11. Bake chicken for about 22 minutes at 360° F.
12. Remove chicken from the oven and top with one spoonful of sauce and WW Italian cheese (from the remaining 1/4 cup).
13. Allow chicken to cook for about 3-5 more minutes (or until cheese begins to melt).
14. Enjoy!

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Crockpot Ranch Chicken Tacos

Sure, you could fry some hamburger or ground turkey in a skillet. Or... you could pop these few ingredients into the crockpot and have something a little tastier that you might get at your local Mexican restaurant...

It's good, you won't be disappointed. So try it. Enjoy!

CROCKPOT RANCH CHICKEN TACOS

Servings: 1

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 1+/oz of chicken, 1+ for 1/4 serving of sauce, 2+ for tortilla(s), 2+ for cheese, 2+ for avocado = about 5-9+ (depending on what you put in your taco)

Note: Nutritional information below is for the sauce only (1/4 serving)

Ingredients:

• Boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 packet Ranch mix
• 1/2 packet (I only used 1 TBSP since I don't like "spicy") low-sodium taco seasoning
• Your favorite taco/taco salad toppings!

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and pour into a crock pot with a few chicken breasts.
2. Let cook on low for about 3 1/2 hours.
3. In the last 15 minutes or so of cooking, use a spoon or fork to pull apart the chicken. 
4. Allow it to cook a little longer and enjoy!

Zucchini Pasta Bowl

If you were to walk into Noodles & Co. and order something off their menu (unless it's the Kid's Menu), it will more than likely come as a huge portion loaded with calories, and therefore WW Points Plus (yeah, even the small bowls are loaded with calories... maybe it's because I always fall prey to their awesome Wisconsin Mac & Cheese). 

Or, you can save yourself some cash and make your own healthier pasta dish at home for around 400 calories. Win.

CREDIT

This dish is living proof that cooking is about 80% presentation (mind you 4 out of 5 statistics are made up on the spot... and 4 out of 5 dentists would recommend Colgate toothpaste). While I didn't really do anything "special" with this dish, presentation CAN change the way that someone perceives what they are eating. My family almost always used to make simple spaghetti, put beef in a pan, add sauce, top it over spaghetti, and put a veggie on the side of the plate. If you grew up in any American household that ate pasta, you know what I'm talking about (if not, look to your right).

But when you cook healthier spaghetti (Barilla Plus offers versions with a bit more protein from lentils, beans, etc), use no sugar-added sauce, substitute the meat for ground turkey, and add some veggies (and mix it all together in a bowl) you get a whole new ball game. The dinner magically becomes healthier for you and looks a bit more fancy in the process. Not only does what you're eating LOOK good, but it TASTES good, too!

ZUCCHINI PASTA BOWL

Servings: Depends on amount of pasta made (assume about 2 oz/person)... 1 bowl = 1 person

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 9+ per bowl 

(1 c cooked pasta, 1/2 cup sauce, 2 oz ground turkey, cup of zucchini, 2.5 TBSP Parmesan cheese)

Ingredients:

• Barilla Plus Spaghetti
• Light Ragu (No-Sugar Added) Pasta Sauce
• Lean Ground Turkey
• Zucchini (I used three)
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Boil water and cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Heat ground turkey on the stove until brown, adding sauce when cooked (I actually kept them separate for measuring purposes so I knew the portions of what I was eating).
3. Cut up zucchini and cook over the stove until tender.
4. Add 1 cup of pasta, 1/2 cup of sauce, about 2 oz of meat, and 1 cup of zucchini to a small bowl. Top with some Parmesan cheese and stir.
5. Done! As my piano teacher used to say, "easy as cake." Okay, not really... but did some one say cake? Hmmm... sounds like it's time for some Almond Cupcakes. Enjoy!

Tomato, Avocado, Provolone, Turkey Paninis

So here goes, my first post about my latest cooking endeavor. Last night, we kept things fairly simple and (with the help of my Nana's panini maker) had nice, homemade sandwiches for dinner. They turned out wonderfully and were quite delicious if I do say so myself. While they would probably be better on a lunch menu instead of for dinner, they were pretty quick and easy to make for a filling meal. It's not a complex recipe, either (see below)... Enjoy!

TOMATO, AVOCADO, PROVOLONE, and TURKEY PANINIS

Weight Watcher Points Plus:
Light bread, 1 cheese slice, 2 oz. turkey, 1/4 avocado, tomato = 6+
Artisan bread, 1 cheese slice, 4 oz. turkey, 1/4 avocado, tomato = 11+

* Bread may be substituted for less points to lighten the dinner, and more veggies may be added to bulk up the sandwich without adding points *

Ingredients:

• Artisan bread (or any bread of your choosing, really)
• Reduced-fat provolone cheese slices
• Low sodium deli turkey
• Avocado, sliced
• Tomato, sliced
• Optional sides: 
• Soup
• Chips
• Carrots/other vegetables
• Fruit cups
• Pickles

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients between two bread slices.

2. Put sandwich in panini maker and cook until slightly golden brown or until cheese starts to melt.

3. Garnish with a pickle, fruit, soup or any other optional side.

4. Eat and enjoy!