Baked Beef Ziti

Baked Beef Ziti

5 Points per Serving Serves: 8 Recipe Source: Weight Watchers

12 oz uncooked ziti

2 tsp olive oil

2 medium garlic cloves, minced

1/3 pound lean ground beef

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried rosemary

½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

28 oz canned crushed tomatoes

1 C part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

3. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with spoon as it cooks.

4. Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

5. Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish; top with half of cooked ziti. Next layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve.

Recipe Review: This recipe gets my whole family's approval! It tastes similar to a pasta dish that I made pre-Weight Watchers that has many more calories. I will say that I felt like I could have used just a little more sauce, but for a 5 point pasta dish this is amazing.

Take 2....or is it 3?

I have been MIA for the past month, and it has been a solid month of eating crap that isn't good for me and gaining any pounds that I lost back. But - I am not giving up!! I am back on Weight Watchers; wish me luck!

Smart Ones don't suck!

I was kind of dreading trying the Smart Ones frozen entrees that already have the Weight Watcher's points calculated for you. I have tried Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and other "healthy" frozen meals before and it has been a rare occurance when I haven't tossed it after having a bite or two and headed down to the nearest McDonalds to cheat on my diet. When at the grocery store last week I picked up 1 Smart Ones Enchiladas Suiza, which after thinking about it, I regretted seeing as Italian Food and Mexican Food seem to be the worst types when thinking about bad frozen meals. However I was thrilled when I ate my 6 point enchiladas and loved them. Now that I know that Smart Ones is capable of creating something palateable, I will be more adventurous and try some other Smart Ones. Being able to pop something in the microwave for 1 of your meals makes dieting so much easier, especially if you are working and don't have the ability to make yourself a healthy lunch. Oh, by the way - I also tried the Smart Ones Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae, which by the way won the Women's Health Magazine 2007 award for The Best Ice Cream Sundae; it is amazingly good. It totally helps me beat my sweet tooth cravings and for only 3 points is a winner in my book. I still have the Smart Ones Key Lime Pie and a Mint Chocolate Chip Sundae in my freezer - stay tuned for my review.

Chili Rubbed Pork Chops

Chili Rubbed Pork Chops
5 Points per Serving
Serves: 4

Recipe Source: Weight Watchers

2 tsp Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp Packed Light Brown Sugar
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
20oz Lean Pork Loin, Boneless Center-Cut Chops (4 5oz Pieces)
1 Spray PAM

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, salt and pepper

2. Butterfly and flatten pork chops. Rub spice mixture on both sides of the chops, place on a plate and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

3. Coat grill rack or pan with cooking spray; heat grill or set pan over medium heat.

4. Grill chops for 3 minutes, then turn over and continue cooking until chops are firm; about 4 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Review: I give these chops 3 out of 4 stars; they were tasty! I served these with snap peas and was pretty satisfied after dinner. The whole family liked this recipe and for 5 points,I could still have dessert later.

Chili Rubbed Pork Chops

Eating Out

Sometimes (especially on weekends) I don't feel like cooking and/or dieting, so I have been happily surprised this weekend to find some really good low point foods at restaurants this weekend. Friday night my husband and I went to The Islamorada Fish Company, which is a nice seafood place inside of Bass Pro Shops. I was skeptical that I would find a healthy and tasteful meal here - but I was thrilled that I was able to have a 6oz Yellow Fin Tuna Steak and Broccoli for a mere 7 points!! The apple cobbler that was had afterward (at least the small portion I ate) was only an additional 5 - and I was completely satisfied. This is why Weight Watchers works; because you can go out and have a delicious meal and still be sticking to your diet. Saturday I found myself at a farmers market with friends where I stocked up on some veggies and other healthy ingredients. But then I had to have a piece of pretzel bread...and while we were out we decided to have lunch at an Irish Pub. Don't worry, I skipped over the multitude of fried items on the menu and opted for a daily special which included eggs, blackened steak bites, fried onion straws and mashed potatoes. I ate all of the steak first - which I felt equaled about the portion size of a small steak (5 points). By the time I finished the steak, I was mostly full - so I took a bite (literally) of the mashed potatoes and 2 onion straws. The eggs and the rest of the onion straws were consumed by daughter. I brought the mashed potatoes home with me and will be encouraging my husband to eat those so I don't. But the BEST resturaunt find this weekend was at Subway. I went here for dinner because my husband was out for the night and I don't cook for just me. I was determined to have something healthy because of all my "little" indiscretions all day long at the farmer's market. So I had decided that I would get a 6 inch subway club and headed over to Subway. Only to see a poster for the new Tuscan Chicken Melt in the window - and the fact that it only had 9 grams of fat! I couldn't resist, so I got it and for only 7 points I had an amazing sandwich with melted cheese and so much flavor. I could eat this sandwich any day and still be in my allotted lunch points - unbelievable! I went over my points this weekend - but no worries since I have those "splurge points" that I have tapped into and that I still have 26 of for the week. Life is amazing!

Great 0 Point Snack Food

I found Cousin Willie's 94% Fat Free Microwave Popcorn at my grocery store, and 1 serving (1 Cup) of this popcorn is 0 points! If you are extra hungry, then 2 servings is only 1 point. I was surprised at how good this popcorn tasted for 0 points and have found that when I eat a meal and still feel hungry (which is often unfortunately) that a cup of this will do the trick to get my mind off of eating.