Monkey Bread

Found this recipe on All Recipes:

2 8-count cans Grands biscuits
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cups raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt pan so the bread will not stick.

Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Cut biscuits into quarters. Shake 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan. Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan. If using nuts and raisins, arrange them in and among the bisuit pieces as you go along.

In a small saucepan, melt the margarine with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the biscuits.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Do not cut! The bread just pulls apart.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

From my mom:

2 cans crescent rolls
2 8oz. pkg. cream cheese (low-fat fine)
1 1/2 cups sugar (divided-keep out 3 Tbsp.)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 stick butter, melted
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 inch pan with Pam. Spread 1 can crescent rolls into bottom of pan. Mix cream, sugar and vanilla and spread on crescent rolls. Spread 2nd can crescent rolls on top of mixture (it may not completely cover cream cheese mixture). Mix together cinnamon and 3 Tbsp. sugar and sprinkle over top. Pour melted butter over top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Orange Brownies

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen (thanks Paula...yum!)

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pure orange extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 recipe Orange Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x9 x 2 inch pan.

Orange Brownies: Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven, allow to cool. Spread the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting over complete cooled brownies.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons softened butter
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electric mixer. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over brownies.

Chicken with White Wine and Mushroom Sauce

Adapted from a recipe found at http://www.eatingwell.com/...

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 4 ounces each)
• 2 egg whites
  
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. olive oil
  
• For the sauce:
  
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons evaporated skim milk
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup white cooking wine, divided
• 2 teaspoons crushed fresh garlic
• 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1. Rinse the chicken with cool water, and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the chicken pieces on a flat surface, and use a meat mallet to pound each piece to 1/4-inch thickness.
2. Place the egg whites in a shallow dish. Place the flour, salt, and pepper in another shallow dish, and stir to mix well. Dip each chicken piece first in the egg, and then in the flour mixture, turning to coat each side. Set aside.
3. Coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil, and preheat over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes, or until nicely browned. Turn, and cook for 3 additional minutes then transfer to a baking dish. Put it in a 250 degree oven for 10-15 minutes to finish cooking through.
   
4. To make the sauce, place the evaporated milk and cornstarch in a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and shake to mix well. Set aside.
5. Place 1/4 cup of the white cooking wine in the skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until most of the cooking wine has evaporated. Add the garlic and mushrooms, and stir-fry for about 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms begin to brown and release their juices. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of cooling wine, and cook, stirring frequently, until the wine is reduced by half.
6. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium, shake the evaporated milk mixture, and add it to the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils and thickens slightly. Pour the sauce over the chicken, and serve hot.

4 oz. chicken breast with 1/4 of sauce=6 WW Points

Creamy Potato Salad

From Kraft Food Magazine, summer 2008:

1 lb. red potatoes, unpeeled, cut into chunks
1/4 cup Kraft Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard
1 hard-cooked egg, chopped
4 green onions, sliced

Cook potatoes in boiling water 15 minutes or until tender. Rinse potatoes with cold water until cooled; drain again.

Mix dressings and mustard in large bowl. Add potatoes, egg and onions, mix lightly. Cover.

Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Makes 4 servings, 3/4 cups each. 1 servings = 4 WW Points

Pork Tenderloin

Found this recipe on Kelly's recipe blog:


1/2 cup soy sauce
2 oranges, juiced
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. chopped scallions
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound in 2 strips)

Combine marinade ingredients in measuring cup and stir to combine. Cut all visible fat off the tenderloin and place the pork tenderloin in a plastic, sealable bag. Pour marinade over the tenderloin and seal bag. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pork tenderloin from marinade and put in a baking dish. Reserve marinade. Roast tenderloin for 35-45 minutes. Allow meat to rest about 10 minutes before cutting into 2-inch serving pieces.

While meat is cooking, bring reserved marinade to a boil in a small saucepan, then lower the heat and gently simmer until it is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Stir occasionally. Drizzle a small amount of marinade over each piece of meat.

4 oz. porkloin = 2 WW Points

Linguine Alfredo...

I got this recipe from a friend...
6oz. linguine (or I used Rotini)
1 tablespoon butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup fat-free cream cheese
1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup broccoli florets
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 carrot, thinly sliced

1. Cook your linguine until soft and leave in the water.
2. Place the broccoli, bell pepper and carrot in a steamer basket; set in a saucepan over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.
3. In a medium nonstick sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Saute the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the flour, then gradually whisk in the milk; cook, stirring constantly, until lightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese and Parmesan; cook, stirring, until smooth, 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add in vegetables and pasta. Toss to coat thoroughly. Serve at once.

Points value: 6
Serving size: about 1 1/2 cups

Rotini with Creamy Spinach Sauce

6 oz. pasta (original recipe calls for fettuccine but I used rotini)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 shallots, chopped (or 1/2 to 1 onion)
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups chopped cleaned spinach
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese (in the tub, like for lasagna)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

-Cook the pasta according to package directions. Leave pasta in water to keep warm until ready to use.
-Meanwhile, heat the oil in a nonstick saucepan, then add the shallots. Saute until softened, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in the spinach, tomatoes, and salt and cook until the spinach wilts.
-Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4-1/2 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta, 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and the ricotta. Cook, tossing, until heated through. If you like, add more of the cooking liquid to make the sauce creamier. Sprinkle with the pepper and serve.


Serves 4=5 WW Points

Stir-Fry

Inspiration from Shogun, made by me:

2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
Some broccoli, cut somewhat big
Some squash, cut somewhat big
Some zucchini, cut somewhat big
Some onion, cut somewhat big
Kikkoman Stir-Fry Sauce or just use Soy Sauce (save some calories)

Cut your chicken into bite sized pieces and cook in a pan with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Take out chicken and set aside. Add another teaspoon olive oil and saute the veggies until softened. Add the chicken back in and stir in the stir-fry sauce until warm.

3 oz chicken and 1 cup of veggies=4 WW Points

Chimichito

From: Sam the Cooking Guy

• 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded

• 1/2 white onion, chopped
• 1-4oz can diced green chilies
• 1 cup picante sauce
• 1 cup enchilada sauce
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Light Sour cream
• Cilantro
• 4 96% FF flour tortillas, burrito size

Heat oven to 400. Saute onions in a little oil in a skillet. When softened, add chicken, picante sauce and green chiles. In a separate pan, heat the enchilada sauce. Heat tortillas to make them pliable. Spoon 1/4 mixture on each tortilla and roll up restaurant style. Place on a greased pan and rub top of burrito light with oil. Bake until golden, about 10-15 minutes. Spoon warm enchilada sauce on a plate, lay chimichito on top, add a spoonful of sour cream and sprinkle with cheese and cilantro.

Quesadillas

There are a million combinations you can use for quesadillas. I'll let you know how I did it and how the points worked out but you can do it any way.

1 98% FF Burrito sized flour tortilla
3oz. chicken breast, cut up into bite sized pieces, seasoned and cooked in teaspoon of olive oil
1oz. 2% shredded cheese
Any veggies you would like diced and sauteed (tonight I used onion, red bell pepper and zucchini)

Put your tortilla into a lightly heated pan. Fill one half of the tortilla with cheese, then chicken and veggies. "Close" the top and, once cheese is melted, carefully flip over making sure the filling stays put. After a minute or two on that side you are ready to eat!

WW Point count=9

Power Potato Salad

From: Healthy Decadence with Devin Alexander

2 pounds red potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch chunks water
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste, divided
3/4 cup fat free plain yogurt
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2/3 cup finely chopped whole green onions
3 tablespoons finely chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
Pepper, to taste

Place the potatoes in a large pot. Add enough cold water to exceed the top of the potatoes by 2 inches. Place the pot over high heat and add one teaspoon of the salt. Bring the water to a boil and cook them uncovered until they are just tender through, approximately 20-25 minutes.

Drain the potatoes in a colander and allow them to cool. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the yogurt and mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Add the onions, parsley, tarragon and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir them until combined.

Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl and pour the dressing over them. Mix them well with a wooden spoon, breaking some of the potatoes, so that some of them are a bit mashed and the ingredients are well combined. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to 1 day. Makes 6 servings.

1 scant cup=3 points

Strawberry Angel Trifle

From: Healthy Decadence with Devin Alexander

16-ounce store-bought angel food cake
2 10-ounce packages frozen strawberries in syrup, defrosted
8 ounce tub fat free frozen whipped topping, defrosted

Tear the angel food cake into 1-2 inch pieces. Layer 2/3 of the cake pieces in the bottom of a 2-1/2 to 3 quart clear decorative bowl. Spoon 2/3 of the strawberries evenly over it. Spoon 2/3 of the whipped topping over that.

Stir them well until they are well combined and the syrup has soaked into the cake and none remains in the bottom of the bowl. Top that with a layer of the remaining cake, then all but a few strawberries and the remaining whipped topping. Place the remaining strawberries in the center. Serve immediately or chill. Can be made 1 day in advance. Makes 12 (1 cup) servings.

1 cup=3 points