Eggplant Parmesan Stack

Eggplant Parmesan Stack for Weight Watchers

This is one of my favorite dishes to make! I love it whether I am trying to lose weight or just hungry!


Makes 4 Servings

• 1 Medium to Large Eggplant
• 1 egg plus 1 egg white
• 2-3 Teaspoons Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese (1.5g fat)
• Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 Large Tomato
• Salt to taste (minimal needed)

1. Peel Eggplant and slice into 1 inch thick slices, salt if desired but don't get carried way because the Parmesan cheese is salty. I usually don't add any salt.)
2. Drop 1 egg + egg white into zippered baggie and shake together.
3. Mix together Parmesan cheeses in flat bowl
4. Add sliced eggplant to egg mixture in baggie and shake to coat lightly
5. Dip each eggplant slice into cheese mixture creating a light batter.
6. Spray pan with non-stick spray and add a little additional olive oil (1 teaspoon or as needed)
7. Brown each side of coated slice of eggplant , testing with fork to make sure eggplant is cooked through (approx 5 to  8 minutes)
8. While eggplant is cooking, slice tomato

On serving plate:

• Place one slice of cooked eggplant
• Stack one to two slices of tomato, a few spoonfuls of marinara sauce and sprinkle a bit of mozzarella cheese
• Stack a second slice of eggplant
• Top with grated Parmesan cheese and another spoonful or so of marinara sauce

4 Weight Watchers Pts
Refrigerate the extra slices for quick future meals. 

Jennifer Hudson's Veggie Lasagna

Jennifer Hudson is an icon when it comes to Weight Watchers and she recently shared some of her weight loss secrets on the Dr. Oz Show.  Her recipe for a "No Noodle Lasagna" went viral on Facebook recently and for good reason! I tried it and it is delicious!

Recipe note: I didn't have the eggplant so I just used zucchini from my sister's garden.

In case you missed this recipe from the Dr. Oz show, here it is:


Jennifer Hudson Veggie Lasagna Recipe

12 servings

(Only 5 Weight Watchers points per serving)

Ingredients :

• Cooking spray
• 1 med eggplant – Trim the eggplant into slices lengthwise
• 2 large uncooked zucchini sliced and trimmed into 1/4 inch thick slices lengthwise
• 1 large beaten egg
• 3/4 pound part skim ricotta cheese
• Fresh basil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 Cups marinara sauce
• 1/2 pound shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
• Spray two baking sheets with cooking spray
• Place the 1/4 inch lenghtwise sliced eggplant on one prepared baking sheet nd do the same with the zucchini on the other baking sheet
• Roast for 8 minutes
• Turn vegetables and roast 7-10 additional mins
• Remove from oven
• Combine egg, ricotta cheese, basil, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• After you have removed the veggies from the oven reduce heat to 350 degrees
• Spray 14″ x 8″ baking dish with cooking spray
• Spread thin layer of marinara sauce on bottom of pan.
• Layer eggplant over sauce
• Add another layer of marinara sauce over eggplant
• Add Ricotta cheese and half the mozzarella cheese over the eggplant and marinara sauce
• Add layer of zucchini
• Add Remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese
• Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35-40 minutes until the bottom starts to bubble
• Remove from oven to cool
• After the lasagna cools you can cut it into 12 pieces
• Each piece is considered one serving

Note : If you can’t cut the eggplant or zucchini lengthwise you can cut them into 1/4 inch round slices as well and layer accordingly.

Enjoy! Thank you Weight Watchers!

 

Cheesy Zucchini

I saw this recipe posted on Facebook by Gregg Howard the other day and thought it was perfect for we Weight Watchers who enjoy growing veggies in our backyards or know someone who does.  If you strike out on both counts, look for a local farmers market, like Sprouts and buy a big baggie of zucchini....because this looks delicious!  I plan to keep the points as low as possible by spraying the tops with Olive Oil Spray and using a mixturre of low fat Parmesan and Mozarella cheeses. Yum!

Slice the zucchini in half. Slice off the bottom it sits flat on the pan. Brush with olive oil and top with garlic or garlic powder. Top with sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese or mixed blend.. Bake 375 for 20 to 30 minutes until soft.

Estimated WW Pts: 1-2 per serving (2 Zucchini Strips) 

To befriend Greg Howard visit his Facebook Page

My Annual Weight Watchers Refresher

Holidays are a time for family and friends!

Oh boy, have I been MIA!  So sorry.  But my absence doesn't mean I have abandoned my Weight Watcher attitude. In fact, after the holidays my daughter and I decided to sign up for a 90 day stint to lose the holiday pounds that crept on.

I think it's important to be realistic about maintaining my weight loss.  I've lost a total of 50 pounds over the past few years, 35 of that since joining Weight Watchers last January, but we all know that it's never a straight line from fat to thin, especially if you regularly track your weight. When I went on maintenance, I made a vow to jump back on the WW weight loss routine if I gained more than 2 pounds, which I have now done.

Yes, I enjoyed celebrating the holidays with family and friends, and don't apologize for eating an Almond Roca occasionally during this time-frame.  But I NEVER want to have to lose those 50 pounds I've already lost ever again. At this point, I have lost the few pounds I gained from all the Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's parties.
 
Even though my eating slipped on occasion end of the year, one thing I've never stopped doing is weighing myself weekly.  Every Friday I step on that scale religiously, sometimes with trepidation, and it always makes me feel better afterward.  Better to know the truth than imagine the worst.

In addition to losing the holiday pounds, my goal this time was to lose an additional 5 pounds, which I am still working on....3 more pounds to go!  I think this will be an annual event for me.  It erases any guilt I had about enjoying life with my family for our celebrations, and it reminded me of the WW basics.

Staying healthy is a lifetime endeavor, so if you slipped a bit during the holidays, don't despair.  Jump back in and you'll be ready for those Spring clothes in no time at all! Losing a few pounds now is much easier than 50 pounds later, trust me!