Cabbage and Bacon

This is one of my favorite side dishes or quick meals.  I love cabbage cooked this way.

WW+ Pts 5 for the whole batch (I eat it all in one sitting for dinner!)

Fry 2 strips of Bacon, cut up
Reduce bacon grease to 1 Tablespoon (eyeball it)
Add 1/2 head thinly sliced Cabbage
Season with Seasoning Salt and Pepper
Stir fry on medium heat until crisp tender
Cover and cook to preference, stirring frequently

Note: I sometimes add a tablespoon or so of hot water if needed.

Alternate Veggies to try: If you don't like cabbage, I also use frozen french cut green beans or thinly sliced brussel sprouts.  It tastes equally good with all 3 of these vegetables!


That's it! It's yummy!

iTrackBites iPhone App for Weight Watchers

Happy Day! In keeping with my earlier post about starting again to track my food intake and activity, I had to figure out how I was going to do that without being signed up for the Weight Watcher's online program.  I do have the books, but that is not very easy.  I lost my little handheld calculator months ago, and I can't use the mobile app since I don't currently have an online membership

So, I did some research in the app store and discovered a great tool if you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad.  It's available in the iTunes Store too so it can be synced to your computer. The iTrackBites app is very similar to the system that is available online at Weight Watchers, plus the convenience of the mobile app. Only $2.99....Here is an online preview of this app:

iTrackBites

I just started using it today, so I'll let you know what I think after a week.  So far, it has worked great! If this works, I may not sign up online in January, but instead track daily using this app! I accumulate recipes using OneNote on my laptop, so I think I'll create a new section in it for saving possible WW recipes...and then add them to this blog once I've adapted them.

Losing weight and saving money? Cha-ching Weight Watchers!


Note: I downloaded this app in a package that included a "bites value" slider and I have no clue what it's for or how to use it....so do a better job than I did and look for just the iTracksBite app by itself.  I paid an extra dollar for that unneeded app!

Happy Holidays? How Do We Watch our Weight with Weight Watchers Right Now?

Well, it's that time of year...The Holidays...Friends, Family, Parties, and a time when all those tempting goodies will be right there in our face.

I've slacked off the past six months and I need to get back on the wagon, but let's face it, this isn't the best time to try to lose weight.  However, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the WW principles and find ways to get back in control if we've lost our way.  So, I've made a plan today that includes the next 6 weeks and after the holidays are over.  Making a plan makes me feel better.  Here's my plan:

Make soups.  I love my Crockpot soups...the potato and broccoli are my favorites.  It's soup season, and I plan to have more soups for my meals.

Look for more recipes in which vegetables are the stars. Sprouts is filled with lots of winter vegetables like winter squash, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. And I see yummy recipes all the time on Facebook and I've tried a bunch of them that were very good.  I vow to focus on the ones that primarily use vegetables and adapt them to lower WW points. Likewise, I will look for fruit based recipes that fit the WW model to stave off my craving for sweets during the holidays.

Stock the freezer with low point frozen dinners and WW frozen deserts.  I really need these.  Sometimes I am too lazy to cook for myself. I love most of the Lean Cuisine dinners and they provide WW points on every box, so I'll be stocking up. I'll always make sure I have some kind of frozen WW sweet treat in there too!

Start tracking points again and weighing myself regularly.  I'm going to go easy on myself, but it's time to start tracking again, to get my mind in gear.  I think I'll set my daily point goal at 35-40 a day during this time period, so it will be easy to feel in control. I'm also going to start stepping on those dreaded scales. It's time to click on our brains and have the right attitude!

Enjoy the holiday dinners. Yes, I'll be eating and enjoying! I won't be worrying about WW Points on Thanksgiving Day or for Christmas dinner....if I do I'll feel too deprived.  However, every OTHER day, I will put on my WW thinking cap.  And after the dinners, I'll make everyone else take home high point leftovers!

Sign up for Weight Watchers online again after the holidays. Come January, it will be easy to slip into weight loss mode and hopefully, lose the pounds I've gained. I find using the website helps me stay focused.

I'll be sharing the good ideas I discover over the next 6 weeks, so check back. I hope you'll share your ideas for how to stay a Weight Watcher during this time too!

Happy Holidays everyone.  Enjoy, but keep watching your weight!

Zucchini Potato Pancakes

Hello all! Today I got creative in the kitchen and found a yummy alternative to hash browns or potato pancakes. It's healthy, simple and tastes Delicious!

Makes 6 medium sized pancakes/2 servings at 3 Pts. per serving

Simple Instructions:
Peel a small potato and wash one medium zucchini then grate both into a bowl. Add 1 egg, 1 tablespoon milk, seasoning salt to taste, and 1 tablespoon baking mix (like Bisquick).  Mix together and drop large spoonfuls onto hot griddle sprayed with Olive Oil Spray. Brown to your preference and enjoy!

Can I hear a Way to Stretch a Potato, Jan?

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