Spaghetti Squash Vegetable Gratin

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 cups diced zucchini
  • 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 3/4 cup (3 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can stewed tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 3 cups cooked spaghetti squash
  • Cooking Spray

Directions

(Make sure you have cooked spaghetti squash before beginning this process).

Preheat oven to 450°

Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and mushrooms. Saute’ about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, chopped parsley and next 4 ingredients.

Combine spaghetti squash and 1/4 cup cheese. Stir well. Spoon into a shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spoon tomato mixture over spaghetti squash mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese over tomato mixture. Bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers Cream of the Crop

Eggplant and Tomato Stackers

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice or orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
  • 1 large eggplant, cut into 10 slices
  • 10 slices tomato
  • 1/2 cup (or less) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°.

In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients.

Bake sliced eggplant about 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Turn on the broiler. Broil eggplant about 3-4 minutes until the top begins to soften and slightly brown. Turn slices over. Spoon Parmesan mixture onto each. Top with tomato. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Broil 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your eggplant slices. Cook until done throughout.

Roasted Red Pepper and Corn Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers — seeded and quartered
  • 1 large sweet onion — peeled and cut into 1/2 inch wedges
  • 2 cloves garlic — peeled and halved
  • 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 can low sodium chicken broth — 14.5 oz.
  • 1 can tomatoes — Italian style in juice
  • 1 can corn kernels — drained
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, whole — or coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves for garnish
    freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°

In a 13×9 inch baking dish, combine the peppers, onion, garlic, thyme, and olive oil and toss to coat the vegetables. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned. Cool slightly. Stir in the chicken broth and tomatoes with juice. You can also use a jar of roasted red peppers, drained if you don’t have fresh.
Working in batches, puree the mixture. Transfer the puree to a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Add the corn and simmer about 3 minutes, until heated through. Season to taste with pepper. Ladle into bowls, garnish and cilantro or basil, if desired, and serve.
When I make this, I use my immersion blender and puree it in the saucepan.

Ginger Soy Chicken In Foil Packets

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 heaping tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. grated ginger (fresh or from a jar or refrigerated tube)
  • 2 green onions, cut into 2-in. lengths and then into slivers
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. Add chicken, toss to coat, cover, and chill for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Preheat oven to 375°. Lay out 4 pieces of aluminum foil, 6 to 8 in. long each. Put 1 piece of marinated chicken in the middle of each. Top chicken with green onions and sprinkle with pepper. Fold 1 side of foil over the chicken to cover it, fold opposite side of foil over first fold, and then fold in each end once to seal and create a little packet.

Lay packets on a foil or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (packets will leak while cooking, and the marinade is difficult to clean up once it cooks onto a pan). Bake until chicken is cooked through and marinade is reduced and starting to caramelize in each packet, 25-35 minutes depending on thickness of chicken.

Sesame Soy Green Beans

Ingredients

  • 1 pound green beans, trimmed
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic (about 1 clove)
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. sesame seeds
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. black pepper

Directions

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add beans; cook 5 minutes. Plunge beans into ice water; drain.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add beans, 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce, salt, and pepper Cook 2 minutes, tossing frequently. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds. Yield: 4 servings.

Greek Yogurt Ideas

Enjoy Greek yogurt in so many ways!

Start with 1/2 cup plain, fat free Greek yogurt. Get your taste buds talking with these different mix-in ideas!

  • Teaspoon of PB2
  • 1 teaspoon honey, dash cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons canned pumpkin, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, dash cinnamon
  • Dash of vanilla and 1 packet stevia.
  • Sprinkle of sugar free vanilla pudding mix.
  • 1 teaspoon low sugar jam or jelly
  • Berries and 1 packet of stevia
  • Mix it into any berry smoothie for extra protein and creamy goodness!
  • Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup Trop 50 orange juice (can use regular orange juice, but it adds more calories, carbs, and sugar)
    • 1/2 medium banana
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
    • 5-6 ice cubes
    • Stevia packet (optional) I don’t use it, but you can if it is not sweet enough.

    Directions

    Place all items in a blender and mix until smooth.

    Makes 1 serving
    80 calories (using Trop 50)
    .9 g fat
    11 g sugar
    18.5 g carb

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 1 Tbs. plain fat free Greek yogurt
    • 1 heaping teaspoon cocoa powder
    • 1 Tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter (Any nut butter will work). To decrease calories, use PB2 instead.
    • 2 packets Stevia
    • 1/4 scoop Spirutein Vanilla Protein Powder
    • A few pieces of ice

    Directions

    Blend well and enjoy!

    Makes 1 serving
    170 calories
    11 grams fat (which will be much less if you use PB2)
    9 grams carb
    2 grams fiber
    4 grams sugar
    8.5 grams protein

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 small banana
    • 1/4 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
    • 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • 1 Tbs. peanut butter or almond butter (use PB2 to decrease fat and calories)
    • 1 packet Stevia
    • 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 4 oz. ice cubes

    Directions

    Makes 2 servings (nutrition information per serving)
    97 calories
    5.3 grams fat
    9 grams carb
    1 gram fiber
    4.5 grams protein
    5 grams sugar

    Pumpkin Pie Shake

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 c plain, fat free Greek yogurt
    • 1/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    • 2 Tbs. canned pumpkin
    • 4 tsp. sugar free maple syrup
    • 1/4 tsp. (rounded) pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
    • ice cubes
    • 1 Tbs. Cool Whip
    • 1 packet stevia

    Directions

    Mix all but whipped topping in a blender (making as thick as you want by adding ice.) Pour in a glass and top with whipped topping. Enjoy!

    100 calories
    1.5 grams fat
    10.7 grams carb
    1.5 fiber
    6 grams sugar
    12 grams protein