Weight Watcher Recipes & Ideas

[crittermom]

What is your favorite meal for feeding everyone and staying within points? I need some EASY things for this week, because my schedule is packed.

TIA,
Elisa

[Geesebaby]

Do you have a WW cookbook? Or can you go online and get some recipes? For fast and easy-and low points, pasta with tomato sauce is a goody, add a salad with fat free Italian dressing and there you have it. Or spaghetti squash bakes up pretty quick and you just top it with sauce--get a low cal jarred sauce and it would be almost "free." Does WW still have their vegetable soup recipe in their manuals? It was a free item too. Maybe just add some cut up chicken breasts. Stir fry was always a favorite of mine too, if you top it over brown rice, it will be less points than white rice. I see nothing wrong with an omelet for supper made from egg whites (I would always put in like 1 yolk)or egg substitute filled with maybe a slice of cheese or veggies--quick with low points. Good luck!

[Laura]

I'm big on whole foods, like skinless, boneless chicken breasts or lean pork chops, on the grill. A chicken breast is 2 points and sometimes I can't eat a whole one. I like to vary my seasonings like cajun spices, lemon pepper, or just salt and black pepper. Sometimes I marinate them a bit in italian dressing.

My new favorite "chili" recipe is something out of this world. I put a couple of chicken breasts in the crockpot with a cup of water and enchilida packet seasoning. Let it cook all day. Then at supper I cook a can or two of black beans (rinsed), cup of corn, About a cup or more of salsa or canned tomatoes, and another packet of enchilada mix. I add the chicken which is shredded from cooking all day. Cook that a while. Or I guess you could put all that in the crockpot in the morning and let it cook--just thought of that. When it's done, I put it in a casserole dish, mix up a Jiffy cornbread mix with egg sub and lowfat milk, pour it on top, then back at 350 until the cornbread is golden brown. I like to sprinkle fresh cilantro on, too. Now, my calculations have this pretty lowfat, and I usually give myself about 8 points per 10 ounce serving. DH loves this stuff, too.

Also, from time to time I visit Elsie's website for recipes, and maybe do a search for WW recipes and find lots that way.

[ElsieB]

Family friendly low point recipes are my obsession! ;) I am constantly looking for them and trying new things! You can get to my WW pages by following the WWW link when I post, but here's a shortcut:

http://www.angelfire.com/sd/Bustamantes/weightwatchers.html

Click on the FOOD link and you'll see all my best recipes. Some of the best easy ones include the One Point Chili, the Deep Dish Pizza Casserole, King Ranch Chicken, Apricot Chicken, Sesame Chicken, the Beef & Bean Tostadas, and the Speedy Shepherd's Pie. But really--I think they are all good. Whenever I try a new recipe, I ask my dh if it is "website worthy," and I only put up the ones that are really good. Hope it helps get you started!

There are tons of other WW recipe websites on the web. It can be a little overwhelming! Another great place to visit is Dotti's Weight Loss Zone (http://www.dwlz.com/). Definitely check it out!

[Laura]

I think it was called taco casserole, and the base of it was made with cornbread dressing mix. It was a yummy WW recipe and I said I'd make it for a potluck lunch we're having tomorrow. I've tried searching for it, but no luck.

Anybody remember it and can find it?

[ElsieB]

Hi Laura! It was originally posted by Mommy2Austin and I can't find it anywhere. That's very odd. I wouldn't prune that one because I loved it too! Luckily I wrote it down... ;)

Taco Casserole
Yield 6 servings
8 pts per serving

1 (8 oz) pkg cornbread stuffing mix
1 can cream style corn
1 C. water (divided)
nonstick cooking spray
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1/2 C. chopped onion
1 (16 oz) can fat free refried beans
2/3 C. salsa
1/2 envelope of taco seasoning (I use the whole thing)
1 C. reduced fat cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Combine stuffing mix, creamed corn, 1/2 C. water; stir well. Press mixture into a 9x13 in. dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 10 min. Remove from oven and set aside. Cook onion and meat in a large skillet until brown and crumbly. Drain well. Add remaining 1/2 C. water, beans, salsa & taco seasoning; stir well. Spoon meat mixture over stuffing mixture; top with cheese. Cover and bake at 375 for 20 min. or until cheese is bubbly. Let cool 5-7 min. Cut into 6 equal portions. Serve topped with chopped lettuce, tomato and a dollop of sour cream.

YUM!

[Laura]

Oh, what a lifesaver! Thanks, Elsie. It IS great, isn't it!?

[Harmony]

i made zucchini cakes tonight and even counted out the WW points in the ingredients.

i used 1/3 c. of reduced fat bisquick, 1 clove of chopped garlic, 1 egg, a little salt, and 1 zucchini shredded. mix together, spoon into hot pan sprayed w/olive oil flavored pam. cook like pancakes. YUMMY!!!

5 points in the above, makes about 6 "cakes"

my 2 y/o even likes them :o

[ElsieB]

I need some new recipes. I'm feeling bored. I made this one last night when I didn't have a clue what to make for dinner and it was really good! Everyone liked it (well, Thomas picked at it, but that's good for him). I got the recipe from the boards at Dotti's site.

Beef, Bean and Cheese Burritos - 5 Points

7 sheets 12 x 18-inch foil
7 98% fat free flour tortillas, large
16 ounces 96% lean ground round
16 ounces fat free refried beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 cup 2% cheddar cheese, Kraft

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Center one tortilla on each sheet of foil.
3. Combine beef, beans, cheese, onions and salsa.
4. Evenly spoon 1/2 cup of filling onto tortilla. Wrap burrito style and place seam side down on foil.
5. Bring up sides of foil and double fold. Double fold ends to form packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside packet.
6. Bake 20 minutes on cookie sheet in oven.

Calories: 298.1
Fat grams: 4.3
Fiber grams: 6.6

W/W Points: 5

Note: I browned the ground beef and onion first. The recipe doesn't say to do that, but it made more sense to me. And I only baked them for about 15 minutes (just to get them nice and hot).

Anyone else have a good new recipe?

[crittermom]

I need cookies!!! I want to bake cookies! Preferably chocolate chip. Any ideas?

[ElsieB]

Hey! I haven't tried these, but I've heard good things about them.

1 point chocolate chip cookies

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 egg white
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix until well combined and drop by measured teaspoonfulls onto cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. Supposedly they are best if you don't let them get too brown. You should get 26 cookies at 1 point each.

If you make them, let me know what you think!

[Loril]

1 Bag of Choc Chip cookie mix (not the kind that is just add water--but the kind that you need to add eggs, oil, water)

1-can pumpkin.

Mix the bag and pumpkin together -do not add anything else.
Cook as directed, but I do find you need to cook approx 5 minutes longer then directed. Also the cookies need to be "shaped" cause they do not "spread" like a regular choc chip cookie.

[ElsieB]

I made this last night and wanted to post it here. Any WW still around? It was SO good! It needed some salt, but other than that--yum. And easy because it's done (mostly) in the crockpot!

Chicken Paella
Yield: 4 servings
7 points per serving

1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
(four 4 oz thighs)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 medium garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/3 cup frozen green peas
2 cup cooked white rice


Place chicken, tomatoes, onion, pepper, broth, garlic, oregano and turmeric in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker (crockpot). Cover and cook on low setting for 5 hours. Before serving, add peas and rice; cook, uncovered, until peas are tender, about 15 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving (includes 1 chicken thigh per serving).