Lower Carb Chicken Noodle Soup

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Have I mentioned that my sisters and I are big fans of old fashioned comfort food?  Especially during the winter, I’m capable of carb loading like your average pre-hibernation bear.  Bread, noodles, and baked goods take the place of all other food groups. I have lovingly joked that I am blessed with a large, loud, and loving family….but not blessed with the genetics of a fast metabolism.  I also have two teenage boys to feed who have inherited their mother’s love of carbs. So, in the interest of health for all of us, I always look for ways to cut even the smallest amount of fat or carbs from our diet without sacrificing flavor.  Bless the hearts of those of you can be successful on seriously low or no carb diets. You have the will power of Super Woman (or man) in my opinion, but the reason I love Weight Watchers – now known as “WW” with the tag line of Wellness Works, because it really does work – and I can still eat the carbs!!

This recipe is born from one of my taste tests of a pasta product called Carba-Nada Egg Fettuccine from the Al Dente Pasta Company.  One cup of regular cooked egg noodles is 6 WW Freestyle Points. These Carba-Nada Fettuccine Noodles are only 4 WW Freestyle Points for one and a half cups!  More for less is always great in my book, and nobody in my family had any clue that they were a little bit healthier, and a little lower carb, than regular egg noodles.  

You can find the egg noodles using this link.  I highly recommend them! 

Ingredients:
  • 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1T. reduced calorie margarine
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 c. finely chopped white or yellow onion
  • 3/4 c. finely chopped celery
  • 1/2 c. chopped baby carrots
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 cups fat free chicken broth
  • 1 10 oz. can Campbell’s 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 10 oz. fat free milk (one soup can)
  • 2 c. chopped or shredded chicken breast (I use shredded rotisserie chicken breast)
  • ~1 10 oz. package Carba Nada Egg Fettuccini

Instructions:  

  1. Gently heat the olive oil and margarine in a large stock pot.
  2. Once heated, place your celery, onions, and carrots into the stock pot.
  3. Cook over medium heat until vegetables begin to soften slightly.
  4. Add salt, pepper, the bay leaf, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, and milk.
  5. Stir gently to combine and bring to a low simmer.
  6. Add chicken breast and the entire package of egg noodles.
  7. Simmer slowly until the noodles are cooked to an al dente texture. Probably no more than 6 or 7 minutes, but check them frequently.
  8. Remove the bay leaf and discard it before serving.

WW Freestyle Info.:  This recipe makes approximately 9 one cup servings. Each serving is 3 points using the Carba-Nada pasta. Using regular egg noodles, each serving is 5 points.

We would earn a fraction of the funds should you choose to order your egg noodles via our Amazon affiliate links, though it won’t cost you any extra.

Waffle Muffins

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Valentine’s Day – some people aren’t big fans; others love it.  I’m somewhere in the middle.  I like the holiday.  In fact, I like practically any reason to celebrate.  I like the idea of a day devoted to expressing love…and I like the gifts too, of course!  My husband and I don’t do big gifts for Valentine’s Day though.  We usually get each other a card and he usually picks me up some flowers or candy at the grocery store.

This year, with his work schedule, I knew we wouldn’t see each other much on Valentine’s Day past breakfast time so I wanted to make something for him more special than his usual bowl of Lucky Charms.  The problem is, I’m not a morning person.  Not even a little bit.  Plus, Valentine’s Day this year was on a Thursday and that’s a work day.  Ain’t nobody got time to make breakfast on a work day.   The solution to this problem was to cook breakfast the night before and reheat it quickly in the morning.  I decided to make these Waffle Muffins, boiled eggs, and bacon, all of which was easily reheated and enjoyed quickly before getting ready for work.  I reheated the muffins and the cooked bacon in the air fryer and the eggs in the microwave.  Worked like a charm!  He was impressed that I had made breakfast on a weekday (Frankly, so was I!) and it was delicious – worth getting out of bed a few minutes early!  ~Erin

Ingredients:

  • 10 Eggo Nutri-Grain Low Fat waffles (1 box)
  • 1 c. fat-free half & half
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ c. brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • Maple syrup – for serving, optional

Instructions: 

  1. Toast 5 of the waffles.  You can toast them all but I decided I wanted a mixture of different textures so I didn’t.  Plus, I’m lazy.  Cut the waffles in bite-sized pieces; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the fat-free half & half, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until well-combined.  Stir the waffle pieces into the egg mixture, making sure they are all moistened.  Let them soak about 20 minutes while the oven preheats, stirring occasionally.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 12-hole muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.  When the oven is preheated, stir the waffle mixture one last time and, using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, disperse the mixture evenly in the pan.
  4. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes (I usually leave mine in the full 30 minutes), until golden brown.
  5. Serve with maple syrup of your choice, if desired.

WW Freestyle Info.:  4 points for one, 9 points for two muffins.

The Most Monster Cookies

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It’s almost Valentine’s Day y’all! Are you looking for something to get for your little monsters? My little monsters aren’t so little anymore. At 15 and 18 they’re more into expensive tennis shoes and cool food experiences than the cute little things I used to put in things like Valentines and Easter baskets. At what age do you stop these little gifts? I’m not sure what the answer to this question is, but with both a college and a high school freshman I’m thinking we may have hit that age. How about a Valentine that says “Roses are red, violets are blue, I bought a Chemistry text for you!” Or one for your high school student that says “You’re so sweet and fun to cuddle, but hey, your letter jacket cost a bundle!”

Whatever you decide Valentine’s Day around your abode, I highly recommend these cookies somewhere in the picture. There are several things that I have to be very careful about making, if only because I cannot resist eating far more than my share of them. This cookie recipe ranks pretty close to the top of that admittedly long list. There are other recipes for Monster Cookies out there, but none of them have the perfect combination of ingredients that has created this cookie perfection. The only thing really monstrous about these cookies is the amount of them that you’ll want to eat! You can use Valentine M&Ms and make them perfect treat for your Valentine, your little monsters, or yourself…..we all deserve some love, right!? ~Tracy

Ingredients:
~2 sticks softened butter
~½ c. sugar
~1 ½ c. brown sugar
~2 large eggs
~2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
~1 ½ c. all-purpose flour
~1 tsp. baking powder
~½ tsp. baking soda
~1 tsp. salt
~1 c. toasted sweetened coconut
~1 ½ c. quick cook oats
~½ c. mini M&M’s
~¾ c. chocolate covered toffee chips
~¾ c. chocolate chips
~2 ½ c. Rice Krispies cereal

To toast coconut, place it in a thin layer in a medium sized skillet and warm it over a low heat until the coconut begins to turn a light golden brown.
Carefully stir coconut frequently so that most of the coconut has a chance to turn a golden color (a few pieces remaining white is fine).
The finished product should look something like this.

We do not recommend walking away from toasting coconut. It can begin to brown faster than you expect and you could end up with this:

Good thing I always keep extra coconut on hand (it lasts for a long time in the freezer).

Set your toasted coconut aside.

Preheat oven to 375.

Using a stand mixer for these cookies is a great idea since there are so many ingredients to mix together, but they can easily be mixed by hand.

Cream butter and sugars together.

Add eggs one at a time, mixing until well combined with butter and sugar.

Add vanilla and mix until incorporated.

In a large measuring cup, combine flour, baking soda, baking soda, and salt.

Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture and mixing until well combined.

If using a stand mixer, with mixer on low, add oats, M&M’s, toffee chips, and chocolate chips.

Finish by adding Rice Krispies and toasted coconut mixing only until they are incorporated into the mixture. Be careful not to mix too much at this point or you will pulverize the coconut and cereal.

Use a large cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop to drop cookies onto sprayed cookie sheet or a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment.

Bake at 375 for approximately 11 minutes.

Makes about 30 large cookies.

Honey Garlic Shrimp

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Have you seen the meme on social media that says “January was a hard year but we made it.”?  That makes me chuckle because it must be the universal feeling everyone is having, me included.  It was LONG month. Not bad, just long. I guess because November and December just flew right by, the slower pace of the new year seemed to crawl in comparison.  

January has finally come to a close and, while I’m not one to wish time away, I’m happy to see February… mostly because it’s one month closer to Spring.  

Food-wise, winter has been a season of belly-warming comfort foods for me.  I have fully enjoyed all the foods and have about 7 pounds to show for it. Time to stop eating like I’m participating in hibernation.  While I love comfort foods, I truly appreciate a dinner that is not so heavy. This Honey Garlic Shrimp is sweet and spicy and, of course, garlicy… hence the name.  It’s also super-fast to make. We’re talking like 15 minutes start-to-finish. Can’t beat that! I can throw this on the table after work in no time and have a meal everyone will enjoy!  That’s why it’s part of my weeknight dinner rotation. I’m confident it will soon be part of yours as well. ~Erin

Ingredients:
  • 2 lbs. medium-sized shrimp that have been shelled and de-veined
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 2 tsp. sesame oil or olive oil
  • ¼ tsp. grated ginger root or 1/8 tsp. dry ginger
  • ½ c. less-sodium soy sauce
  • ½ c. water
  • 1 T. cornstarch
  • 2 T. honey
  • Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste; optional
  • Chopped green onion
  • Cooked rice, for serving

Instructions: 

  1. Add the shrimp and cook about 4 minutes.
  2. Flip the shrimp and add the remaining ½ tsp. of oil, the garlic, and the ginger. Cook for 3 or 4 more minutes, until the shrimp is cooked and the garlic and ginger are fragrant.
  3. Remove the seasoned shrimp from heat and transfer to a plate.
  4. Return the skillet to the stove and turn the heat up to medium-high. Immediately add soy sauce and water to the skillet. When it begins to bubble, add the cornstarch, whisking continuously, until thickened. This will take just a couple minutes.
  5. Turn off the heat and whisk in the honey.
  6. Return the shrimp to the skillet and stir to coat the shrimp and warm through.
  7. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onions and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

WW Freestyle info.: This makes 4 servings. Each serving is 3 points, not counting rice.

Cuban Style Red Beans and Rice

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Most of the time when people talk about red beans and rice, the Cajun version is what comes to mind, at least for me. The flavors of this Cuban version are unique and amazing.  Not your standard red beans and rice!  You can adjust the heat by choosing mild, regular or hot Ro-Tel tomatoes and adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper.  The addition of cilantro and the hint of lime are perfect.  I’m thankful that I have a family that enjoys the adventurous recipes that roll across our table.  This one is a keeper.    ~Kathy

1 c. bell pepper (any color), chopped

½ c. onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 (16 oz.) cans light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Ro-tel), undrained

1 c. broth (vegetable or fat free chicken broth, water will also work)

1 tsp. salt

1 ¼ tsp. cumin

¾ tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. black pepper

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1/3 c. cilantro, chopped

2 T. fresh lime juice

3 c. hot, cooked rice; for serving

Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, beans, tomatoes, broth and seasonings to the pot of a slow-cooker; stir well.

Cover and cook on low 4 hours.  Add cilantro and squeeze in lime juice.  Serve over rice.

 

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

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Pasta is my weakness. There are few culinary combinations so perfect as a noodle with the the exact ratio of a cheesy sauce. Ranking high on the favorites list is a good lasagna. In fact, our recipe for Lasagna in the Highest will always be one of my favorite foods. It’s a traditional lasagna that I highly recommend you try! But, before (or after) you do that, you’ve also got to try this Chicken Alfredo Lasagna. My beef loving sons even ate seconds, and you might even say it’s good for you at only 6 WW Freestyle points for a 1 1/4 cup serving! ~Tracy 

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna from Four Sisters Dish

Ingredients: 

  • ~¾ pounds uncooked lasagna noodles
  • ~2 tsp. olive oil
  • ~½ c. chopped red or orange bell pepper
  • ~½ c. finely chopped onion
  • ~5 or 6 cloves roasted garlic
  • ~3 to 4 sweet cherry peppers, chopped (I use Mezzetta brand)
  • ~1 c. finely chopped spinach
  • ~2 c. chopped or shredded chicken breast (I prefer to use shredded chicken breasts from a rotisserie chicken)
  • ~2 T. flour
  • ~¾ c. fat free chicken broth or prepared bouillon
  • ~1 15 oz. bottle light alfredo sauce (I use Classico)
  • ~¼ c. shredded parmesan cheese
  • ~¾ c. reduced fat small curd cottage cheese
  • ~1 c. 2% grated Colby Jack cheese

Instructions: 

  1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Be sure to generously salt your boiling water before adding the noodles.
  2. In a large non-stick skillet, add olive oil and heat on low to medium heat.
  3. When your olive oil is warm, add peppers, onion, and spinach.
  4. Saute the onions, peppers, and spinach until the onion becomes slightly translucent and the spinach begins to wilt. Add roasted garlic and heat through.
  5. Add chicken and stir to mix the sauteed vegetables with the chicken.
  6. Stir in flour and combine well.
  7. Add chicken broth and stir until chicken and vegetable mixture start to just slightly thicken.
  8. Stir in the jar of alfredo sauce, parmesan cheese, and cottage cheese. Heat through.
  9. Spray a 10 x 13 lasagna pan with cooking spray.
  10. Spread a thin layer of the chicken alfredo mixture in the bottom of the pan, approximately ½ cup.
  11. Place one layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce. Top with ¼ c. of the Colby Jack.
  12. Add another layer of the chicken alfredo sauce and continue layering noodles, chicken alfredo mixture, and Colby Jack.
  13. Be sure to end with a layer of the sauce and top with the last of the Colby Jack.
  14. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Uncover and cook approximately 10 minutes more.

WW Freestyle Info.:  Makes 12 servings approximately 1 ¼ c. each. Each serving is 6 points.

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna from Four Sisters Dish

Chicken Fajita Meatballs

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Like all great ideas, this recipe inspiration came to me in the middle of the night.  Every cloud has a silver lining – even a little short-lived insomnia. Surely I’m not the only one who makes meal plans when I can’t sleep!  Anyway, I love meatballs of all flavors and I thought a chicken fajita meatball sounded pretty tasty! After some experimenting in the kitchen (during daylight hours), these babies were born.

These are delicious served with sour cream and your favorite salsa, but they are even more amazing with this zero point Creamy Cilantro Sauce.  If you like cilantro, that is. I find that most people either love it or hate it. I happen to love it. This sauce is easy to make in your blender and will store in the fridge for up to a week. Try them together for the perfect healthy meal.  ~Erin

Ingredients: 

  • 1 lb. 98% lean ground chicken (or turkey) breast
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 bell pepper (I used half a red and half a green for color), finely diced
  • 1 T. olive oil
  • ¾ c. plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • The juice of half a lime

Optional serving choices: corn tortillas warmed in a skillet, chopped onion, cilantro, additional lime wedges for squeezing over meatballs, sour cream, salsa, and of course Creamy Cilantro Sauce

Instructions:

  1. If cooking in a conventional oven, preheat to 375° F.  If cooking in an air fryer, there is no need to preheat.
  2. In a medium skillet, sauté the onion and peppers in the olive oil until the onions are tender (about 5 minutes); set aside to cool to room temp.
  3. In small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the spices (chili powder, salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and cumin) until combined); set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, mix together the ground chicken, the sautéed veggies, egg, and lime juice.  Then work in the bread crumb mixture.
  5. Roll the meat mixture into 18 golf ball sized balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil or parchment.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or in the air fryer at 350° F for 12-13 minutes.   
  7. Serve as an appetizer with dipping sauces or on tortillas.

WW Freestyle info:  This recipe makes 18 meatballs.  Each meatball is 1 SmartPoint.

Creamy Cilantro Sauce

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One thing I have missed since I started eating healthy (most of the time) is sauces.  Sauces – especially creamy ones – are often high in calories/Weight Watcher points.  When you have a tight points budget each day, you don’t want to waste points on things like sauces.  For this reason, I have started creating my own sauces.  I can make them in small batches, instead of having a large bottle sitting around until after its expiration date; I can make them as rich or as low-fat as I choose; and I can avoid all the preservatives and additives that are often present in bottled/jarred sauces.

This Creamy Cilantro Sauce is one of my favorite sauce concoctions.  It can be used a veggie or chip dip, a sauce for Mexican dishes (it’s great on tacos!), or a dip for something like these Chicken Fajita Meatballs (photo below)!  The possibilities are endless!  If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen dipping everything in this sauce.  Best part is, I can enjoy this with NO guilt.  Check out the stats at the end of this post!  Dip, dip, hooray for zero WW point sauce!  ~Erin

Ingredients: 

  • 1 (8 oz.) pkg. fat-free cream cheese
  • 1 (7 oz.) can salsa verde (I use Herdez brand.)
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 tsp. celery salt
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • ½ a bunch of cilantro, stems removed
  • The zest of one lime (optional)
  • 2 T. fresh lime juice – about one squeezed lime

Blend all ingredients in a blender, scraping down the sides occasionally, until smooth.

WW Freestyle Info:  Makes 2 cups of sauce.  Up to 2 Tablespoons is zero points.  3-6 tablespoons is 1 point.  7-10 tablespoons is 2 points.

Taco Pasta Salad

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I don’t know about you, but I feel like my family eats a ton of spaghetti and lots of tacos, mostly because they are family friendly, tasty, quick and economical. Personally, I get bored with the same-old, same-old for dinner so I try to mix it up when I can. This dish marries two of our favorites together — tacos and pasta! This would be a great “meatless Monday” dinner or as a side dish. We love it served with grilled chicken as our main course too. One of my boys says we should call it “Paco Salad,” mashing “pasta” and “taco” together.   Whatever you want to call it, it’s delish! ~Kathy

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. orecchiette (ear shaped) or medium shell pasta
  • 1 can (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 c frozen corn, thawed and drained
  • ½ c. (loosely packed) cilantro
  • 1 c. cherry or grape tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • ¼ c. red onion, finely diced
  • 1 jar (15.5 oz) salsa (roughly 1 2/3 c) – I used Tostitos Restaurant Style
  • ¼ c. olive oil
  • 3 T. lime juice
  • 3 T. taco seasoning, dry
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Hass avocado, ripe but slightly firm, diced
  • 2/3 c. cheddar cheese, diced to about 1/4” cubes (a good ww friendly option is Cabot sharp light cheddar 50% reduced fat)*

Instructions: 

  1. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.  Drain, rinse in cool water and set aside to cool. 
  2. In a large bowl, add the pasta, beans, corn, cilantro, onion, tomatoes and salsa.  Mix gently together. 
  3. In a small bowl whisk olive oil, lime juice, garlic and taco seasoning.  Mix well.  Pour over pasta and mix to coat. 
  4. Gently fold in cheese and avocado just before serving. 

WW Freestyle Info.:  Makes 12 one-cup servings at 7 points each.  You could  also add grilled chicken breast for zero ww points if desired! 

The Best Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

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Over the years I’ve seen lots of different recipes for Barbacoa.  Some had ingredients that I thought were a little weird, some had sugar, and some had dizzyingly long lists of ingredients.  The version that I’ve created has the perfect amount of spicy flavor, and it cooks to fall apart tender. It’s tasty enough that my oldest, who usually doesn’t care for shredded beef dishes, asked me to make him his own batch to take back to college with him.  He’s also not a fan of leftovers, so here’s hoping that this helps keep him (and his debit card) out of the Chick-Fil-A drive through! But let’s be honest, one of the best things about this dish is that it takes a few minutes to dice two ingredients and the rest is simply tossing stuff into the slow cooker.  My favorite way to eat this is on a soft taco with a little cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and of course, cheese, but it also makes a great base for shredded beef enchiladas. I think it’ll quickly become one of your favorites (and it’s only 3 WW points per serving)! ~Tracy

Ingredients:
  • ~One beef rump roast, approximately 3 lbs., with fat trimmed
  • ~1, 5 oz. can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (I use Embasa brand)
  • ~1, 4 oz. can diced green chiles
  • ~1 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • ~5 large cloves garlic, minced
  • ~juice of one lime, freshly squeezed
  • ~2 T. apple cider vinegar
  • ~3 to 4 bay leaves
  • ~1 ½ tsp. salt
  • ~1 tsp. black pepper
  • ~1 T. ground cumin
  • ~1 ½ tsp. oregano
  • ~1 c. fat free beef broth or prepared beef bouillon
  1. Place rump roast in slow cooker (I highly recommend using slow cooker liner. They make cleanup so much easier!)
  2. Remove the adobo peppers from the can and roughly chop them. Use the entire can if you like things fairly spicy. When cooking for my family, I use the entire can, but if you don’t love things very spicy, or are cooking for others, use half the can.
  3. Add the peppers (including seeds and some of the sauce) to the pot with the roast.
  4. Add all other ingredients.
  5. Place lid on slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
  6. Remove the roast from the slow cooker using tongs or a large spatula.
  7. Remove the bay leaves from the pot while you have the meat removed.
  8. Shred the meat and return to the slow cooker to let it simmer in the juices for another 15-20 minutes before serving.
  9. Remove the meat from the liquid and serve.

WW Freestyle Info.: This recipe makes 15, 3 oz. servings that are 3 points each.