Smothered Slowcooker Pork Chops

My hubby loves pork chops. I only recently really started to like pork chops. Until a few months ago, I just tolerated them. I have been eyeing this recipe for a while, and when I saw some on sale, I just knew I had to give it a try. These smothered pork chops are seared then slow cooked for hours resulting in delicious and tender juicy chops. As if that alone wasn't enough to give this recipe a try, you use the remaining juice, onions, and bacon to make gravy to smother the pork chops in. 

mmmmmmmm Bacon

First, dry the pork chops and season them with just salt and pepper. Set aside. Then cook bacon until crispy. Store the bacon for later! Sear the pork chops in the remaining bacon grease. Place in the slow cooker.

I went ahead and caramelized mine

Add some more oil, or bacon grease, and saute the onions, then garlic. Pour this on top of the pork chops. In the same skillet combine your chicken stock (make your own chicken stock!), Worcestershire, and brown sugar and then bring it to a boil. Pour this over the chops (onions and garlic). Cook on low for 8 hours. 

cooked pork chop - already looking delicious!

Set aside the chops. Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer, then place solids in a blender with a bit of liquid, blending on high until smooth. Return this mixture to the sauce pan and heat. Combine water and cornstarch, then add to the sauce. When the sauce gets thick and bubbly, add vinegar, bacon, salt and pepper. Head over to Center cut cook to view the full recipe!

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Weight Watchers Rerun #4

Once again I am rerunning a previous post giving suggestions and Weight Watcher's points for six different entrees for the upcoming week. This particular post includes two of my very favorite recipes, Mustardy Chicken and Rice and Black Bean Salad.  They both are excellent made ahead, and the Mustardy Chicken freezes wonderfully.  I like to freeze it in one-serving sizes and then use it in a sandwich.  

For the recipes and the original post, click here.

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Weight Watchers - Week 19

Sloppy Joes - 7 points (1/4 recipe). Serve over a slice of bread (2 points) or in a hamburger bun (4 points). You can bring the points down to 4 points per serving by using ground turkey breast, but I think the flavor takes a hit if you do.  Serve with a raw fruit & veggie tray, salad, or roasted veggies. Add-ons for family could be potato salad, chips, dip for veggies, and/or dessert.

Pork & Sauerkraut - 6 points (4 oz of meat).  This is one of my favorite meals, serving the sauerkraut over 1 small boiled potato.  Don't be afraid to try this, even if you think you don't like sauerkraut.  During the extended time of cooking the kraut with the meat, the flavor is much mellower and the meat takes on a great taste.  A great side dish would be applesauce or sliced apples, or you could even ad the sliced apples in before cooking. Add-ons for family could be bread, additional potatoes, and/or dessert.

Grilled Garlic Lime Chicken Kabobs - 7 points (1/4 recipe using 1 lb chicken breast and 1/2 cup of oil).  Just about everyone loves kabobs, especially kids.  Use lots of veggies and let your imagination be your guide. I like to do separate kabobs for the meat and the veggies since often the veggies take a little longer to grill. Forgo the dressing on your lettuce if you use it.  Serve with salad with a squeeze of lemon instead of dressing, 1/2 cup rice (3 points), or coleslaw with 2 tablespoons regular dressing (5 points).  Add-ons for family could be potato salad, bread, and/or dessert.

Maple Soy Salmon - 7 points. (1/4 recipe) Very easy and only 4 ingredients.  Serve with roasted veggies, a salad with reduced fat dressing (2 tablespoons are 3 points), or 1/2 cup rice (3 points). Add-ons for family could be baked potato, bread, potato salad, and/or dessert.

Greek Zucchini Noodles - 7 points (1/4 recipe, no added meat).  These sound delicious.  All the points are in the olives and feta, so feel free to adjust there if you want.  Rachael is our Zoodles expert, so she can weigh in with any adjustments if she tries this recipe.  Add-ons for family could be added meat, bread, and/or dessert.

Easy Salsa Chicken Salad (Slow Cooker) - 5 points (1/8 chicken, 1/4 cup of each corn and black beans per serving). This is really simple and quick, cooks in about 4 hours in a slow cooker.  The leftover chicken (if there is any) would also be great in a sandwich or as taco filling in a corn tortilla. Add-ons for family could be chips, rice, bread and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers - Week 18

Easy Chili - 8 points (1/4 recipe using 4 cups of cooked beans and 1/2 lb. lean ground beef).  Crumble and brown the ground beef, adding 1 cup of chopped onions and 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic for the last few minutes, cooking until onion is translucent (I usually do this in the same pan I will use for the chili). Add 4 cups of beans and a regular sized can of chopped or diced tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of chili powder, and salt to taste.  Use any kind or combination of beans, canned or cooked from dried beans. Simmer for at least 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.  Serve with corn tortillas (3 points for 2 tortillas) or multi-grain crackers (1 point per cracker). Add-ons for family could be cornbread, tortilla chips, toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese or sour cream, and/or dessert.

Crockpot Pork Chops & Potatoes 9 points (1/4 recipe using 1 lb of boneless chops and 4 medium red potatoes).  This is a good recipe for a make-ahead dinner in a slow cooker.  Serve with a salad with reduced fat dressing (2 points for 2 tablespoons) or a selection of raw fruits and/or veggies.  Add-ons for family could be additional potatoes, bread, potato salad, and/or dessert.

Sweet & Spicy Chicken - 8 points (4 oz. of chicken breast or one drumstick with skin).  This recipe is written for wings, but it works equally well with other parts of the chicken.  To see another take on it using drumsticks, check out this post.  To keep the points down, serve with 1/2 cup rice (3 points), roasted veggies, a salad with reduced fat dressing (2 points for 2 tablespoons dressing), or a fruit salad with no dressing.  Add-ons for family could be crusty bread, potato salad, coleslaw, mac 'n cheese, and/or dessert.

Nicoise Salad Wraps - 5 points (per wrap, 1 tablespoon dressing per wrap).  Use a good quality canned tuna packed in water. This is an interesting take on the classic Nicoise salad, and if your lettuce leaves are big and sturdy enough, you can eat them out of hand.  Otherwise, serve with a knife and fork. This a complete meal in itself and doesn't need a side dish, so there is plenty of room in the point total to eat two.  Add-ons for family could be crusty bread and/or dessert.

Black Bean and Couscous Salad - 10 points (1/4 recipe, leave out the oil - you won't even miss it).  Fast and easy, and a complete meal in itself.  Add-ons for family could be a meat entree, bread, and/or dessert.

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Soup - 5 points. This is a hearty soup (or maybe closer to stew) loaded with veggies and so low in points that you can add a slice of crusty bread (4 points for 2 oz.) for dunking. You won't need any sides with this one!  Add-ons for family could be extra bread and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers - Week 16

Hamburger Pot Pie - 10 points (1/8 recipe, substitute 1 cup sliced mushrooms (or other veggie) for 3 of the potatoes, use 1% milk and light mayo).  To make this even more filling, add additional veggies like peppers, broccoli, etc.  This is a balanced meal in itself, so it doesn't need any sides. Add-ons for family could be dessert.

 

Crispy Pork - 7 points (1/4 recipe using 1 lb of meat, 1 tablespoon of oil for frying (spray chops with Pam before coating), and original Triscuit crackers).  I used a pork cutlet instead of a boneless pork chop. Serve with 1/2 cup rice (3 points), and a salad or a veggie side dish.  Add-ons for family could be potatoes, noodles, potato salad, cole slaw, bread and/or dessert.

 

Baked Chicken & Rice - 9 points (1/4 recipe) I made this and it was easy and delicious.  I used chicken tenderloins and homemade cream of mushroom soup (because that is what I had on hand) and Fish Mama Spice instead of the French onion soup mix.  The instructions call for it to cook for two hours, but it was done in one hour (it might take longer with whole chicken breasts).  I will definitely be fixing it again, and will probably cut the raw chicken into bite-size chunks and mix it in with the rice before baking. A good side dish would be roasted veggies or a green salad.  Add-ons for family could be bread and/or dessert.

 

Kale & Salmon Caesar Salad - 8 points (1/4 recipe, 4 oz. of pasta, 1/4 cup lite Caesar dressing).  This a great way to use canned salmon, and feel free to use a bagged kale salad as the base.  You could also do away with the pasta (3 points per serving) and use romaine for a more traditional salad.  Add-ons for family could be croutons, sunflower seeds, crusty bread, and/or dessert.

 

Crispy Cauliflower Tacos - 5 points (per taco).  Deli coleslaw is insanely high in points, so make your own using shredded cabbage or a bagged mix with 1/2 cup coleslaw dressing (regular and low-fat are the same amount of points), or just use the cabbage without the dressing and eliminate 2 points per taco.  Add-ons for family could be tortilla chips & salsa, Spanish rice, refried beans, and/or dessert.

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup - 6 points (1/4 recipe without added oil or options).  This is a great family-friendly option that can cook on its own with just a little prep work and gives you a generous serving for a low amount of points. Add-ons for family could be crackers, bread, cornbread, parmesan cheese and/or dessert. 

 

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Weight Watching - Week 13

One of the secrets to keeping your WW points or calories down while still being able to keep your family happy without cooking two meals is to limit your serving size of the higher point entrees and supplement with lots of no or low point side dishes (one of my favorites is a variety of roasted veggies).  Both the stuffed peppers and enchiladas below could totally blow your allowances for the day if you don't exercise moderation, but you can still enjoy them in small portions.

Stuffed Peppers - 7 points (serving size, 1 stuffed pepper). This is a favorite with Rachael's family, and can be made in a slow cooker and is freezer friendly.  I like her suggestion to freeze in individual serving sizes to make it easy to grab just one serving.  Serve with some roasted veggies or fruit or green salad to help fill you up.  Add ons for family could be bread, rice or potatoes, and/or dessert.

Balsamic Pork Tenderloin - 3 points (5 oz. meat per serving).  This is a great entree that allows for a generous serving of meat without any guilt.  Rachael blogged about it awhile back, and talked about how great it was with a new baby in the house.  The recipe called for it to be made in a slow cooker, but she used her Instant Pot.  It could also be completely prepared ahead of time and then frozen - a perfect gift for someone who is recovering from illness or surgery, or who has a new baby.  With the low points (the new point system is lower than in Rachael's blog post), you have the freedom to add a number of side dishes.  An easy one would be roasted veggies that add no points, salad with lite dressing (2 points), fruit salad or indulge in one of the family add-ons.  Add ons could be potato salad, crusty bread, cole slaw, and/or dessert.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas - 9 points (use lite sour cream, medium sized tortilla, and 1 enchilada per serving).  This recipe is a favorite with my oldest daughter's family.  This is quick and easy and a great way to use up leftover chicken. To round out the meal, add a salad or other fruit or veggie side dish.  Add ons for family could be refried beans, tortilla chips, and/or dessert.

Spicy Seafood Combo - 3 points (serving size is 1/4 recipe).  This would make a great company or date night meal when you are looking for something extra special. Serve over 1/2 cup rice or quinoa (3 points) and add a salad with lite dressing (2 points). Add ons for family could be bread and/or dessert.

Vegetarian Taco Salad - 7 points (serving size is 1/4 recipe without tortilla chips. Skip the oil in the dressing and use feta cheese.) I have found that a lot of recipes that call for oil in the dressing don't need the oil at all.  Add 6 tortilla chips to your serving for an additional 2 points. Add ons for family could be tortilla chips and/or dessert.

Tomato Cheddar Soup - 5 points (serving size is 1/6 recipe without croutons.  Decrease cheese to 1 1/2 cups, and use extra sharp cheddar, and decrease oil to 1 tablespoon.)  Serve with a slice of crusty bread (2 points) spread with 1 tsp. butter (2 points). Add ons for family could be the croutons in the recipe, garlic bread, extra cheese and/or dessert.

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Weight Watching - Week 11

Stir Fry Beef & Broccoli - 6 points. (1/4 recipe).  This isn't nearly as complicated as it looks at first glance.  I often do a simple marinade by covering the sliced beef with soy sauce and a teaspoon of minced garlic, stirring well and letting it set for the time it takes to prepare the broccoli and other veggies (if using).  I also never precook the broccoli and have never had a problem.  To bulk this up without adding points, add any combination of sliced raw mushrooms, shredded or thinly sliced carrots, sliced sweet peppers, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, shredded cabbage, etc. stir frying each in small batches.  It is good just on its own, but you can also serve it over 1/2 cup rice (3 points).  Add ons for family could be rice and/or dessert.

Carnitas - 4 points. (For a generous 4 oz. of meat). This is made in the slow cooker, and makes the best pulled pork or taco filling ever.  It is also a great way to feed a crowd.  My favorite way to eat it is in a corn tortilla (2 points each) with  a slice of avocado (1/8 avocado is 1 point) and some salsa verde.  If you want to get fancy, you could also add 1 tablespoon of light sour cream (1 point). It is equally delicious in a bun with your favorite barbecue sauce.  Add-ons for family could be baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and/or dessert. 

Cilantro Lime Chicken - 5 points.  (One drumstick with skin. Remove skin before cooking to remove one point.)  Serve with 1/2 cup of rice (3 points) to soak up the flavorful juice, and roasted veggies. I haven't made this, but there is no way it could be anything but delicious.  Add-ons for family could be bread, biscuits, buttered noodles, and/or dessert.

Fish Tacos Boats - 4 points. (2 oz fish, 1 boat, 1/6 recipe of slaw with light mayo).  This recipe is courtesy of Carol Suitt, the housemother at Maia Moms' Dream House. She took the tortilla boats (available at Walmart), crisped them in the oven, and then filled them with fish (fish sticks would work) and Lime Cumin Slaw, adding 2 tablespoons black beans, corn, and chopped tomatoes. They were a particular hit with her grandkids.  The grandkids really got a kick out of eating the bowl and one of the best things was that there are no extra dishes to wash. Another way she fixes them is to sprinkle the boats with cinnamon and sugar before putting them in the oven and then filling them with fruit salad.  Let your imagination be your guide - regular taco salad makings, chicken salad, etc. Add ons for family could be dessert.

African Peanut Stew - 5 points. (1/6 recipe). I haven't tried this, but it sounds really good. Several of the commenters on the original blog post highly recommend adding a good squeeze of lime juice to each bowl.  You can add 1/2 cup of rice (3 points) to each bowl to make it more filling if needed.  Let me know how it turned out if you make this! Add ons for family could be a meat side dish and/or dessert.

Beef Stew Provencal Style (Slow Cooker) - 7 points. (1/8 recipe with 4 medium potatoes and carrots added, no oil used to brown beef).  This is really good.  I used a can of fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic in place of the tomato sauce and ate it with a toasted slice of sourdough bread (2 points). It was very filling and nothing else is needed to make it a balanced meal. It could also be served over rice or noodles. Add ons for family could be crusty bread, cornbread, biscuits, crackers, and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers - Week 10

Easy Beef Stroganoff - 6 points (1/4 recipe, 1/2 lb beef, 3/4 cup light sour cream, reduced fat soup).  Serve over rice (3 points for 1/2 cup), noodles (3 points for 1/2 cup) or crusty bread (2 points per slice). Serve with a salad, fruit or veggie side dish.  Add-ons for family could include bread and/or dessert.

Pork ribs & sauerkraut - 6 points (4 oz of rib meat).  You can cook the potatoes in the slow cooker, cutting them in chunks and putting them in first, but I prefer to cook them separately. I like to put the sauerkraut over the potatoes, so you get a bite of combined potato and kraut.  If you don't like sauerkraut, try this anyways.  During the cooking the kraut becomes much milder tasting and the meat picks up a great taste.

Chicken Fingers - 3 points (4 oz meat, 1/2 tablespoon oil per serving). Cut chicken breast into strips and coat with Louisiana Crispy Fish Fry  mix (no other seasoning needed).  The link is there to show you what the package looks like - it can be found in most grocery stores. Fry briefly in a small amount of oil (only takes a few minutes). You could also bake them with a spray of Pam. This is a sure-fire winner with both kids and adults. Add a salad or raw veggie tray with homemade Ranch dressing (2 tablespoons are 1 point), oven fries ( 6 points for medium potato + 1/2 tablespoon of oil), or rice (1/2 cup is 3 points). Family add-ons could include bread and/or dessert.

Easy Breaded Shrimp - 4 points (4 oz shrimp per serving).  I made this for Kayte and I, using some fairly small shrimp she had on hand and Panko bread crumbs.  We didn't have the lemon called for so I used lemon pepper instead.  They were delicious, but would have been even better with larger shrimp.  I also used a good spray of Pam on both sides of the shrimp instead of olive oil, and turned the shrimp when the bottoms got brown.  We served it with a raw veggie selection with homemade Ranch dressing (1 point for 2 tablespoons). Family add-ons could be rice, potatoes, bread, potato salad, cole slaw, and/or dessert.  (This is low enough points you could choose to have something from this list, too.)

Chipotle Butternut Squash Chili - 5 points. (1/5 recipe as written without toppings. Use Pam instead of oil to bring it down to 3 points).  Add avocado (2 points for 1/4), light sour cream (2 points for 2 tablespoons), cheese (2 points for 1/2 oz) or other toppings.  Rachael made this and her family loved it, including the leftovers.  Read the blog post for more information.  Add ons for family could be tortilla chips, crusty bread, and/or dessert.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup - 5 points (1/8 recipe).  This is one of the best soups ever (and I usually don't like soup)!  I made it on top of the stove instead of in the slow cooker.  I substituted diced tomatoes and their juice for the tomato sauce and used broccoli rabe, but you could easily use other greens such as spinach or kale, and other veggies.  Add ons for family could be crackers, biscuits, bread, and/or dessert.

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Chipotle Butternut Squash Chile

One of my greatest loves during the fall and winter months is soup. Not broth. but chunky, hearty, filling soup. It's easy, comforting and warms you up down to your toes. Soup leaves the kitchen smelling homey. It is easy to double or triple a batch for company. Easy to store, reheat and freeze...and you can cook it so many ways. If you search our posts, we have no shortages of soup here. While I can't complain about the winter being warmer this year, it has left me less in the mood for soup.

Last week, though, I found myself craving a bowl. I ransacked my fridge to see what I had. Last year I made a delicious butternut squash black bean and quinoa chili, but have since lost the recipe. In my search, I stumbled upon this Chipotle Butternut Squash Chili with Avocado from Cookie & Kate. I already knew that butternut squash and black beans were an excellent combination, and I felt that you can't really go wrong with chipotle and avocado, especially since I had recently learned to pick a perfectly ripe avocado. So I gave it a go...

Look at this deliciousness ---- just screaming eat me

The results were far better than I hoped. We ate it back to back meals, and leftovers. My hubby was quite disappointed when it was all gone. The recipe calls for about an hour of cooking time and a half hour of prep, but I cut this way down, by throwing everything in the pressure cooker for 20 minutes. To adapt it for the pressure cooker, I started by sauteing onions, bell peppers and squash in a pan with olive oil. (Costco sells pre-cut squash!). Once soft, add garlic, chili powder, chipotle, cumin and cinnamon and just enjoy the fragrance. Add the bay leaf, black beans, tomatoes, and broth, put the lid on and cook for 20 minutes. At this point I simmered my chili for about 10 minutes until it was reduced, in the future I will put less liquid... though truth be told, I think pureeing it in a blender for a hearty creamy soup would also be absolutely scrumptious

There are notes on the original recipe, that you may be able to cook this in the slow cooker also.

You can top the chili with corn tortilla strips/chips, avocado, cheese, sour cream, red pepper flakes, cilantro, hot sauce or whatever else you think would be good. I topped mine with cheese, sour cream and avocado. Find the recipe here; and let us know what you think!

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Weight Watchers - Week 9

Our goal is to test each recipe before sharing it here, and this week we were able to try four out of the six.  All of them were winners! In real life, we don't eat six new dishes a week, but I love coming up with lots of options for everyone.

Beef Stir-fry Noodles - 7 points. (1/4 recipe with 1/2 the amount of noodles and lots of added veggies, no oil). This is very good but to make it filling, add a generous amount of veggies.  I cut the recipe in half and added a small crown of broccoli, five large mushrooms (sliced), about a cup of leftover kale salad, and 6-7 baby carrots cut into thin matchsticks.  It would also be good with thinly sliced peppers, snow peas, shredded cabbage and just about any other veggie you might have on hand.  I used 2 oz. of ramen noodles from the Asian market, but spaghetti or other  pasta would certainly work, and it doesn't  need much. Family add ons could be bread, biscuits, and/or dessert.

Blackberry Sage Pork Chops - 7 points (1/4 recipe, sugar free jam). This is really good and simple to make. If you use thicker chops, return the chops to the skillet with the sauce to finish cooking. Serve with 1/2 cup rice (3 points), cauliflower rice, green salad, roasted veggies, or other veggie side dish.  Add -ons for family could be crusty bread, rice, buttered noodles, potatoes, and/or dessert.

 

One Skillet Chicken & Broccoli - 3 points (4 oz of chicken per serving). Serve with rice (1/2 cup is 3 points). I made this for Kayte and I, adding more veggies (mushrooms, red peppers) and without the celery because we didn't have any.  I also substituted Thai Sweet Chili Sauce for the Sriracha, and it gave it a great taste.  Kayte agreed but said she would probably double the amount next time. Family add-ons could be more rice, potatoes, crusty bread and/or dessert.

Honey Sriracha Salmon - 8 points (1/4 recipe). Serve with roasted veggies, a green salad or the Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodle Salad (1 point for 1/4 recipe including all the optional ingredients) talked about in the blog post. Family add-ons could be sweet or white potato fries, rice, bread and/or dessert.

Taco Torte - 8 points (1/6 recipe, substituting 1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, corn tortillas, 3 cups of beans). If you eat 1/4 recipe, it would be 12 points. A green salad, some raw veggies or fruit on the side could make it more filling. We haven't had a chance to try this one, yet, but it is bound to be good. Add ons for family could be Spanish rice, tortilla chips, a side of refried beans, and/or dessert.

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup - 5 points (1/8 recipe). We haven't had a chance to try this one but it looks like it would be good.  If you make it, let us know how it turned out.  Unfortunately, I do not like butternut squash (gasp!) so I am leaning on Kayte or Rachael to try it out.  Rachael just made Butternut Squash Chili (recipe coming next week), so  this week they were both eating that. Add ons for family could be bread and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers - Week Eight

Hamburger Hash - 9 points. My mother used to make this, and it is quick and easy when you are out of inspiration and time.  Crumble and brown 1/4 lb ground beef for each serving, along with a generous amount of chopped onions (about 1/2 cup for 4 servings).  While meat is browning, peel and cut one medium potato per serving into thin slices.  When meat is brown, drain any extra grease, add potatoes, mix well, and add 1/2 cup of water.  Cover pan and simmer until water is gone and potatoes are tender. Serve with green or fruit salad or veggie side dish.  Add ons for family could be bread, biscuits, and/or dessert.

Bubble & Squeak - 8 points (2 links turkey breakfast sausage). This is an old English recipe I have been making for years.  Put link sausages in a skillet with about 1/4 cup of water, cover and cook until water is gone and sausage is done. Peel and quarter a small potato (138 grams) for each serving.  Cut a cabbage into wedges.  Boil potatoes and cabbage until just tender and drain.  Remove sausage from skillet and add potatoes and cabbage (spray skillet with Pam if needed) and continue to cook briefly, turning as they start to brown. Add sausage back to skillet, cover and remove from heat.  Let set for a minute or two (it loosens the brown bits on the bottom of the skillet). I like to sprinkle a little apple cider vinegar on my serving before eating.  Add ons for family could be bread and/or dessert.

Thai Sauteed Chicken with Basil - 4 points (1/4 recipe). Serve over 1/2 cup of rice (3 points). This recipe calls for both fish sauce and oyster sauce, which can be found at most grocery stores.  However, if you have access to an Asian store, get it there for a fraction of the price. Asparagus would be even better than green beans, but I only buy it when it is in season (early spring).  I used red pepper flakes instead of the Thai chili, and dried basil instead of fresh (about a tablespoon). Add ons for family could be extra rice, bread, and/or dessert.

Tuna salad sandwiches - 4 points (1/2 recipe).  Drain one 5 oz can water-packed tuna. Add one chopped hard-boiled egg, 2 tablespoons finely chopped onions, 2 tablespoons dill relish or chopped dill pickles, 4 tablespoons light mayo and 1 teaspoon of mustard.  Mix well and serve over shredded lettuce or as a sandwich filling.  I also like to add about a tablespoon of sunflower seeds (1 point) for some crunch. Add-ons for family could be chips, bread, French fries, and/or dessert.

Weeknight Enchiladas - 9 points (2 enchiladas).  If you cut the cheese in half, it would bring the points down to 7.  Use fat-free refried beans, or better yet, make your own - they are easy and much tastier. For a more authentic Mexican taste, use crumbled feta instead of pepper jack cheese, waiting to add the cheese on top until after baking.  Serve with salad.  Add ons for family could be Spanish rice, tortilla chips, and/or dessert.

Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup - 5 points (1/8 of recipe, includes 1/4 ozs parmesan sprinkled on top). This is a real keeper, and the point count is low enough you can easily add a slice of crusty bread or some crackers.  The recipe calls for it to be made in a slow cooker, but I did it on top of the stove, simmering it for several hours to fully develop the flavors.  However, it could be made in about 30 minutes if you are short on time. Add ons for family could be garlic bread, crackers, and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers - Week Six

Here is this week's pick for suggested Weight Watchers friendly entrees.  If you aren't a part of the Weight Watcher program, these meals should also work well for you, being relatively low in calories, fat and sugar.  I want to start featuring only recipes that one of us have made, although I can't guarantee that will be the case.  I have gone back and tried some of the recipes I have featured after the fact, and although most of them are winners, there are several that were disappointing.  Please give me feedback if you try any of them, especially if you modify them.

Hamburger Gravy - 7 points (add 2 cups frozen mixed veggies, use fat free soup, serving size is 1/4 recipe). Be sure and cook long enough for the frozen veggies to get done, and you may need to add a little water.  Serve over 1/2 cup of rice or egg noodles, 3/4 cup of boiled potatoes (3 points each), or a slice of bread (2 points).  Add-ons for family could be bread, additional veggies and/or dessert.

Baked Ham -2 points (3 oz serving).  Lean ham is very low in points and can add lots of flavor to an omelet, scrambled eggs, a sandwich, etc.  I bought a shank portion half a ham yesterday for $1.79 a pound.  Some of that weight is bone, but I like to use that for cooking beans or as a soup base.  If you don't want to buy the larger amount, get a ham steak and heat it in a skillet with a little Pam.  Serve with a baked sweet potato (3 points for one small one) and roasted veggies prepared with a quick spray of Pam instead of added oil ( add 2 tsp. of olive oil per serving for 3 added points and more taste). I slice the leftover ham and package in about 6 oz. packages, then put them all in a large freezer-safe container and freeze.  Makes it really easy to grab what you need for a quick meal. Add-ons for family could be potato salad, cole slaw, bread and/or dessert.

Roasted Chicken - 3 points (3 oz of mixed dark and white meat without skin).  All white meat would be slightly less and all dark meat would be slightly more.  Roast your own, cook in a slow cooker, or buy one already cooked (Costco has the best and least expensive).  Serve with a salad with a reduced fat dressing (2 points), and Stovetop prepared stuffing mix (3 points for 1/4 pouch) or a  baked or boiled potato (4 points for one small) with 1 teaspoon butter or 2 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream or feta cheese (2 points). The leftover chicken is also useful as a base for a number of other meals, and don't throw away the bones and scraps.  Use them to make your own chicken broth. Add-ons for family could be biscuits, dinner rolls or other bread, and/or dessert.

Salmon Patties - 4 points (1/8 recipe).  Beat 2 eggs well, and add chopped onions. chopped green pepper (optional), 1 cup bread crumbs, salt and pepper and mix well.  Drain an 8-oz can of salmon and add to the mixture, mixing well.  Form into 8 patties (if the patties won't stay together, add more bread crumbs.  It also helps to let the mixture sit for a few minutes to let the crumbs absorb the liquid.  Fry in 2 tablespoons of oil until brown on both sides and set in the middle.  Subtract one point if you fry with only a little Pam.  Serve with 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes (4 points), and a salad or side veggie dish. (These patties are also good cold in sandwiches.) Add-ons for family could be bread and/or dessert.

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers - 8 points (1 whole pepper). To get this point count, use only 4 teaspoons oil in recipe and sprinkle 1/4 oz of sharp cheddar on each pepper half.  If you have never tried quinoa, you should.  It is a good source of protein and can pretty much be used interchangeably with rice. Add-ons for family could be a side dish of meat, bread and/or dessert.

Pasta e Fagioli -  8 points (1/8 recipe, use 1/2 amount of pasta).  This recipe calls for it to be cooked on the stove top, but it could easily be made in a slow cooker. To make in slow cooker, saute the garlic as specified and then add everything to slow cooker except pasta and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.  Add 1/2 oz Parmesan cheese to your serving for an additional 2 points.  Add-ons for family could be crusty bread and/or dessert.

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Meatballs Galore

Earlier this week we talked about freezing anything.  I make these meatballs from Budget Bytes on a regular basis. In the past, I have made a double or triple batch, cooking them, and freezing the cooked meatballs in smaller portions. But honestly, cooking all those meatballs is a pain and sometimes I think they come out a bit drier that way too, so I've been searching for a new way to cook all those meatballs (see below) .

Most often we use them to make spaghetti and meatballs, but I've used them for several different dishes, including meatball subs and Salisbury steak meatballs. This recipe calls for ground beef and Italian sausage, but I have used Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, and substitute tiny diced mushrooms for some of the meat. You could also substitute ground turkey for the beef. If you cook according to the meatballs according to the recipes, there are 9 Weight Watcher Smart Points for a serving of 4 meatballs, but if you substitute ground turkey and turkey Italian sausage and skip frying the meatballs before baking,which I often do for convenience anyway, it is only 6 points per serving of 4 meatballs. (This is assuming you get 40 meatballs per recipe as called for in the recipe.)  Frying the meatballs helps provide more texture, but doesn't really change the flavor. There is literally no difference in taste when using turkey and, of course, the point count would be even lower if you substitute  mushrooms for some of the meat. 

The original recipe calls for tossing the meatballs in flour, searing in oil on the stove, then baking in the oven. You can cook them this way. This removes much of the grease. My personal preference is to place them on drying racks, to keep them up out of the grease.

To freeze the uncooked meatballs, follow the recipe, coat in flour and put on baking pan in the freezer. Freeze for approx 4 hours, then remove and quickly place in a freezer safe container.

To cook, you can stack in a slow-cooker with sauce and cook on low for 6-8 hours until done. Unfortunately, this results in a really greasy sauce. I cook in half or a quarter of the amount of sauce I would serve it with. Once cooked, I remove the meatballs and put in some fresh sauce.

You can also bake from frozen. Bake at the same temperature, for approximately 1.5 the normal amount of time. (I baked mine for 1hr and 15min). I cooked them on a broiler pan. They were perfect! This pan drips off all the grease, and is super easy to clean.

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Weight Watchers Week Five

Chicken Fajita Bake - 9 points (1 flour tortilla or 2 corn tortillas). A good side dish would be a fruit salad. Add ons for family could be shredded cheese, sour cream and/or dessert.  Update:  I fixed this one and was disappointed.  Much better to just do it in a skillet on the stove top. )

photo from http://thehumbledhomemaker.com

Pork Chop, Sweet Potato and Apple Skillet - 7 points (1 chop per serving, 3 tablespoons oil for entire recipe).  I used bone-in chops because they are more flavorful and find that they average about 3 oz of meat once the bone is removed. A good side dish would be a salad, (add 2 points if you use a low-fat dressing).  Add ons for family could be bread, cornbread, and/or dessert.

Taco Salad Skillet - 10 points (1/4 recipe).  To get this point count, use 1/2 cup sharp (or extra sharp) cheddar, brown meat without added oil, use 1 teaspoon light sour cream per serving, and 3 crumbled tortilla chips per serving.  Add ons for family could be extra tortilla chips, sour cream and/or dessert.

photo from Budget Bytes

Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw - 7 points (1/4 recipe with 2 corn tortillas).  You can substitute one medium flour tortilla for the corn tortillas for the same point count.  Add ons for family could be tortilla chips and salsa, fruit and/or dessert. This was outstanding!  Best fish taco ever.  Don't use anything but fish and the slaw (I added cilantro to it) in the tortilla for the perfect mix of flavors.  If you are in a hurry, you could use fish sticks, but use 2 per taco.

Tomato and Fried Provolone Sandwich - 10 points (one slice of bread, eat open-faced).  Use 1 teaspoon oil to fry the cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoon mayonaisse for one slice of bread.  Serve with a fruit salad or green salad with a squeeze of lemon as a dressing.  Add ons for family could be dessert.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast - 8 points ( 3 oz. of meat, 1 medium potato).  Season and brown a beef roast, (I like chuck roast the best).  Cut potatoes, carrots and any other veggies you want (cabbage, onions, mushrooms, etc.) and add to slow cooker.  Top with the meat, deglaze the skillet used for browning with two cups of water and pour over the meat.  Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours, or until meat is tender.  You don't need to brown the meat first, but it adds flavor and makes it more visually appealing. Add ons for family could be crusty bread and/or dessert.

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Weight Watchers, Week Four

All of the recipe links I am posting on these weekly posts can be found on my "Weight Watchers" page in my Pinterest account (Mary Pendley).

Mustardy Chicken - 10 points (3 oz of chicken). To eliminate 3 points, fry or bake after spraying with Pam, but I like the taste much better when fried in oil (3 tablespoons per recipe).  This is a family favorite I have been making for years, and even kids who are picky eaters usually like it.  It freezes well, and makes great sandwiches.  When I was still working, it was one of my go-to lunches to take with me. Serve with salad or veggie side dish.  Add ons for family could be rice or potatoes, bread, and/or dessert.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin - 3 points (4 oz) plus from 1-4 points for the marinade.  Buy the unmarinated tenderloin and make your own marinade.  The recipe link gives you several homemade ones to choose from.  Serve with a small baked potato (4 points) and 2 tablespoons light sour cream or crumbled feta cheese (2 points).  Add a salad with a squeeze of lemon juice instead of dressing or a no-point veggie side dish.  Add ons for family could be bread, mashed potatoes, dressing for the salad, and/or dessert.

20 Minute Beef & Broccoli - 3 points (4 oz meat).  Serve with 1/2 cup white or brown rice (3 points). Add ons for family could be bread, additional rice, and/or dessert.

Shrimp Etouffee - 5 points (6 oz of shrimp). Serve with 1/2 cup white or brown rice (3 points). A Cajun classic that is actually not all that complicated. A salad with reduced fat dressing (2 points) would make a good side.  Add ons for family could be a good crusty bread, cornbread, and/or dessert.

Photo courtesy of goodcheapeats.com

Rice and Black Bean Salad - 7 points (1/8 of recipe). When I make this again, I will double the cumin and up the amount of lime juice. I made this for the Dream House moms and staff on one of the days that I cooked for them. The chairman of the Board of Directors for Maia Moms joined us for lunch, although somewhat reluctantly because he said I only cooked "healthy stuff".  He took a very small portion, just to be polite, but then went back and helped himself to a much larger amount.

Slow Cooker Southwest Taco Soup - 8 points.  It would be easy to cut the point total down for this soup if you cut both the butter and the ground beef in half.  By doing that, you would leave plenty of room to add toppings such as cheddar cheese and/or sour cream.  Add ons for the family could include toppings such as cheddar cheese, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, and/or good crusty bread.

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Weight Watchers, Week 3

If you are like me, you will be trying to navigate through all the Christmas goodies through this next week, but if you are looking for inspiration for some meals, here are some to consider.

Lemon Thyme Chicken & Rice - 8 points (1 chicken thigh & 3/4 cup rice). The recipe is here. I fixed this last week, and it was really good but the rice was very lemony.  I think it would be better to cut up the chicken into bite-sized chunks and mix in with the rice to mute the lemony taste. Add a salad with low fat dressing - 2 points - or a side of veggies with no points to balance out the meal. Add ons for family could include bread and/or dessert.

Baked Pork Chops - 3 points. The directions are here.  I love pork chops, but it is really hard to get them to turn out tender and juicy.  I tried this, and they were amazing! It is important to use chops with the bone - much tastier.  I weighed the whole cooked chop (including the bone) and then weighed the leftover bone to arrive at 3 1/4 oz. of actual meat. I combined it with a large serving of roasted veggies for a satisfying lunch.  There is certainly room to add a small baked potato - 4 points - with 2 tablespoons light sour cream - 2 points.  Add ons for family could be potatoes, rice, bread, and/or dessert.

Hamburger without bun - 3 points (93% lean, 7% fat, 4 oz. raw weight).  Serve with oven French fries - 6 points (small potato, 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil).  For oven fries, cut the potato into fries, put in plastic bag with 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil and shake well.  Roast on cookie sheet in preheated 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, turning halfway through.  (I usually add some chopped garlic along with the olive oil.)  Some roasted veggies would cook in about the same time as the fries and would balance out the meal. Add-ons for family could be buns, a side of veggies or a salad, and/or dessert.

Fried Fish - 6 points. (6 oz. cod, coated with Louisiana Fish Fry Beading Mix, and fried in 1 Tablespoon oil).  If you use this coating mix, you don't need to add any other seasonings.  It can usually be found at grocery stores including Walmart. Add oven French fries - 6 points (small potato, 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil - see above for directions) and/or a salad or side of veggies.  Add ons for family could be bread, cornbread, baked beans, and/or dessert.

Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole - 7 points (substitute low fat cheddar for the taco blend cheese).  Recipe is here. Add half a pound of lean ground beef, browned, to the entire recipe for an additional 2 points. Add ons for family could be tortilla chips, refried beans, and/or dessert. 

Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Stew - 5 points. The recipe is here. If you like stuffed cabbage rolls, you will like this. To make it more filling, serve over 1/2 cup of rice - 3 points. Add ons for family could be rice, bread, and/or dessert.

Here are previous posts in this series:

• Weight Watchers, Week 1
• Weight Watchers, Week 2
• 12 Last Minute Meals

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Weight Watchers, Week Two

Week one was definitely a learning experience, but I did lose 1 1/2 pounds!  One of the lessons I came away with is that the only way I am going to be able to keep on track is by planning out my menus for the week.  Without that, there would have been too much temptation to just grab something or even run through the drive-through at a fast food place.  Kitchen scales make the planning much easier by taking the guesswork out of portion sizes.

This is a simple Excel spreadsheet that is easy to set up. I start by filling in any activity I have going on a specific day (the red in the center column) so I know how much time I will have to cook on that day.  I usually eat the same breakfast, so I only plan lunch and dinner.  I eat my main meal at lunchtime, and then a light meal for supper.  (It will probably be the other way around for most of you.)  I am careful to plan for leftovers, both so I don't waste food and also because it means I don't have to prepare another meal. I use the right-hand column to list anything I need to buy, and try not to make more than one trip to the grocery store each week. 

Now just because I planned all the meals for the week doesn't mean that is what I ate.  I stuck pretty close to the plan for most of them, but forgot to get the fresh ginger for the Asian Ground Beef & Rice on Wednesday, so I used some of the ground beef to make a hamburger (without the bun), and had some kale salad as a side.  I was much later getting home on Thursday than I anticipated and didn't have any rice cooked so I ate a sandwich.  Kayte had some Eggplant Parmigiana leftovers on Friday, so I ate that for lunch and had the tuna salad for supper. The point I am making is that although having something planned is great, it isn't set in stone. Maybe you are just not in the mood for what is on the plan for that day, or life happens, so switch it with one of the other days or eat something else.

Well, enough about the planning - let's get on to the food!  Here are six suggested meals for the coming week:

Baked Spiced Chicken - 8  This is for 2 drumsticks with skin and bone. Use a chicken breast with skin and bone instead for 7 points (it is much tastier when baked with skin and bone). Roll raw chicken in whatever your favorite mixture of spices is (chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, etc.) until completely coated so that you can't see the raw chicken. Think the old-fashioned Shake & Bake, my favorite way is to dump spices into a gallon freezer bag and shake with the chicken. (Johnny's garlic spread  from Costco is one of my favorites.) Bake at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes, turning halfway through, or until done. The spice mixture will form a crunchy crust (don't be afraid of the chili powder, it isn't that spicy). Round out the meal with salad with light dressing (2 points) and/or fruit.  Add-ons for family could be baked or mashed potatoes, rice, bread and dessert.

Steak - 3  Lean steak is surprising low in points (this is figured for 3 oz.). Serve with small baked or boiled potato topped with 2 tablespoons light sour cream and chopped onions or chives (4 points) and roasted veggies or a salad with light dressing (2 points). Add-ons for family could be crusty bread and dessert.

Pork Cube Steaks - 9  This is for 4 oz. of lean pork, seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic & onion powder, and paprika, coated with flour or masa harina (my favorite), and fried in 1 Tablespoon oil (it cooks fast, do not overcook). Serve with crudites (raw carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, etc.) fruit, or a salad with light dressing (2 points). Add-ons for family could include rice, potatoes, bread and dessert.

Baked Salmon with Garlic & Dijon - 9   The recipe can be found here. This is for a generous 6 oz. of salmon. Serve with a side of roasted veggies or a salad with a squeeze of lemon juice instead of dressing for no added points or add a light dressing on the salad (2 points).  I prefer to use parchment paper instead of foil to line the baking dish.  Add-ons for the family could be rice or potatoes, bread and dessert. (Thank you, Lauren, for the picture and  recipe.)     
  

Pesto Pasta & Roasted Veggies - 9  This is a recipe from Kayte that she put together with items she had on hand and she says it's a keeper.  Roast a variety of veggies (she used red peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts and carrots - use whatever you like, the more the better), combine veggies and cooked rigatoni or pasta of your choice (2 oz dry weight per serving) with a little feta and 1 tablespoon of pesto per serving and mix well. Pasta is high in points, so the goal is to minimize the amount of pasta and maximize the veggies. Keep in mind that the veggies shrink quite a bit during the roasting process, so use at least twice as many as you think you need.. Add-ons for the family could be cooked chicken or other meat, bread and dessert.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew - 8  The recipe can be found here.  A great dish for a busy day.  Prep the night before, refrigerate and start slow cooker before heading out for the day.  Nothing is better than coming in to a house filled with a wonderful aroma and dinner ready to serve.  It doesn't really need anything as a side, but is good with 6 whole grain crackers (3 points), 1 small slice cornbread (4 points), or a biscuit (41 grams, 3 points).  Add-ons for family could be any of the above sides or crusty bread and dessert. Update: I made this and found it a bit bland. I added a can of fire-roasted tomatoes to the leftovers and it was really good. I will definitely make it again and add the tomatoes at the beginning of the cook time.

You may have detected a theme here in the first two posts.  I am trying to post a recipe for chicken, beef, pork, fish, meatless, and slow cooker each week. I am working a two more posts, one that will focus on last minute meals when you have run out of time and/or energy, and another one on some good veggie side dishes that add few or no points.  Fruit is always a great add-on that doesn't add points as long as it doesn't have added sugar.

Here is a previous post in this series:

• Weight Watchers, Week 1

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Weight Watchers Meals, Week 1

Several of us who are doing Weight Watchers online have formed our own group to plan some weekly meals that are reasonably easy to fix and with points already figured.  I am going to try posting here each week as a central place to plan six main meals each week, add notes on what to add to make the meals family-friendly, and share links to the recipes when needed.

Asian Ground Beef & Cabbage - 10 points.  The recipe can be found here.  This is a very generous and filling portion (1 serving = 1/2 recipe).  Suggested add-ons for the family would be rice and/or dessert.

Fish & Shrimp Packets - 7 points.  The recipe can be found here.  Some easy add-ons to make it more filling and/or appealing to the family would be rice, potatoes, additional veggies, bread and/or dessert.

Homemade Fried Rice - 7 points.  More information can be found here.  This is a great way to use up any small amounts of leftovers. The point total is using one cup of rice and about 1 more cup of additional veggies (no meat), but it can easily be adapted to include any kind of vegetables or cooked meat.  If the veggies are raw, they need to be briefly sauteed before adding the rice, and if they are cooked, add them at the end and cook just until heated through.

Tuna Salad - 5 points.  Drain and mix a 4 oz. can of tuna with 1 tablespoon of mayo, some sweet or dill relish and finely chopped onion.  Serve with 6 whole-grain crackers (3 points) or over lettuce. Suggested add-ons to make it family friendly could be bread (to make it into a sandwich), chips,  and dessert.

Oven Baked Pork Chops - 4 points (3 oz of meat without bone). The instructions are here. Serve with a salad with 2 tablespoons light dressing (2 points).  Suggested add-ons for the family would be rice, potatoes, bread, and/or dessert.

White Bean Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker) - 7 points.  The recipe is here.  Suggested toppings are sharp cheddar (1/2 oz = 2 points), lite sour cream (2 tablespoons = 1 point) or chopped cilantro. Suggested add-ons would be crusty bread, cornbread, tortilla chips, and/or dessert.

Here is my first attempt at this.  I welcome any suggestions or constructive criticism!

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Carmelized Onions in the Slow Cooker

Caramelized onions are one of my favorite foods. Can you call it a favorite food if you can't eat it solo? I love things with caramelized onions - burgers, pasta, steak - you name it, you can throw onions on it. We've made quite a few dishes with them here at MMC.

My only real issue with caramelized onions is the time required to make them and in this, I am not alone. According to Alton Brown, the caramelizing onions process requires removing most of the onions' moisture and converting the natural sugars within the onion (fancy fact: it's called a Maillard reaction). There are many articles for making the perfect caramelized onions - but none of them are really regularly suited for the busy mom lifestyle.

I just knew there had to be an easier way. Every so often Kayte brags to me about the amazing jars of caramelized onions Mary makes. It's a dedicated process in the oven, in which the onions are baked for an extended period of time and every so often you stir them. Totally worth it to make a huge batch! But still, there had to an easier way......You CAN cook down POUNDS of onions in a slow cooker with minimal effort. Once cooked, you can bag/can/otherwise store and freeze. I was able to defrost the onions straight from frozen.

After quite a bit of research, I experimentally cooked my onions, using a combination of two recipes from The Kitchn and Gimme Some Oven. The basics are as follows......

1. Thinly slice up 3-5 lbs of onions and throw them in your slow cooker. 
2. Toss with 3 tablespoons EVOO or melted butter.
3. Cook for at least 8-10 hours on low. Stirring the onions occasionally will promote more even cooking, but is not required. 
4. You can continue to cook 3 -5 more hours with the lid ajar. I highly encourage this, as my onions were full of liquid before this. The liquid is released during cooking, but can't escape the slow cooker like it can in the pan. 
5.  Use, refrigerate or freeze. 

You can add balsamic vinegar or brown sugar during the last couple hours of cooking. I did not do this. However, depending on what I was using them for, I did add balsamic dressing during the reheating.

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