Low Point (Wonders)

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Well, I'm back from an unintended hiatus - a lot has happened over the past couple of months – and I’m happy to report that it’s all been positive! I’ve gotten to spend quality time with family and friends, survived the temptations of the holiday season and as of my one-year anniversary with Weight Watchers, I’ve more than doubled my original weight loss goal!

Like me, I am sure that many of you may have resolved to stay OR get healthy in 2013 (and are hopefully still ‘on the wagon’). So, I’m happy to make my return with a list of what I call Low Point Wonders – snacks that clock in at 2 PointsPlus® value or less. These are my everyday go-tos to satisfy cravings and get me over the mid-afternoon hump at work. Try them and let me know what you think; and I’d love to hear what your favorites are - so feel free to share in the comments below!

Banana Slices with 1 Milk or Dark Dove Promise (1 PointsPlus® Value)
Nuke chocolate in microwave for 1 minute, or until mostly melted and smooth. Dip banana slices in and enjoy a slimmed-down version of a carnival treat!

¾ Cup Red Pepper Slices OR Baby Carrots with 1 The Laughing Cow Blue Cheese Wedge
(1 PointsPlus® Value)
I also like to add some smoked chipotle Tabasco sauce for a wing-like kick.

¾ Cup Baby Carrots with 1 The Laughing Cow Queso Fresco and Chipotle Cheese Wedge
(1 PointsPlus® Value)
Salty and spicy – and a crunch to boot!

3 Clementines (0  PointsPlus® Value)
These are in season right now – get them while they’re at the height of their yumminess!

Angie’s Kettle Corn – Sweet & Salty (2 PointsPlus® Value)
Look for the .5 oz. snack bags at Target -  perfect portion size to satisfy an afternoon craving

1 Cup Apple Slices with 1 The Laughing Cow Cinnamon Cream Cheese Wedge
(1 PointsPlus® Value)
Spread cream cheese on the slices as you would peanut butter. The cheese and cinnamon combo with the apple tastes decadent without the guilt!

Happy Snacking!

The Butternut Squash Pizza Experiment.

A while back I discovered a fabulous pizza at a local restaurant. Featuring butternut squash, ricotta and sage on a thin but chewy crust, it was anything but typical Italian fare! I had the pleasure of sharing it with friends from out of town and my mom became an instant fan when we ordered in during one of her visits.

 

Then, the unthinkable happened – the restaurant closed! We were pretty sad that we would no longer be able to enjoy it on a whim and my mom kept talking about how she was craving the pizza upon visits to my apartment. And so it became my quest to find a recipe online…without much luck! A few dozen clicks later, I finally came across something similar on the Epicurean Mom blog, and adapted it from memory.

 

While the steps to creating the pizza are a little labor-intensive, this is an overall easy recipe that I recommend you try – especially since it’s in season and perfect to serve as an appetizer at any holiday gathering! 

 

 

 

Roasted Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Pizza

 

Yields a 10-inch pizza, 6 servings (2 pieces each)

 

Recipe adapted from Epicurean Mom

 

Ingredients:

 

1 thin-crust pizza dough (you can make your own or use pre-made – I used Pillsbury brand)

 

1 small onion, peeled and sliced

 

13 fresh sage leaves, chopped plus a few whole leaves for garnish

 

1 small butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1-inch squares

 

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

 

2 tablespoons olive oil

 

1 cup part-skim Ricotta cheese

 

Salt and pepper to taste

 

 

Preparation:

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay diced butternut squash and garlic onto a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Toss to coat. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until tender. Let cool slightly, then scoop the squash pieces and garlic into a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Set aside.

 

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until browned and starting to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add most of the chopped sage leaves and stir constantly, cook until fragrant and starting to crisp, about 3 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

 

Pat out your pizza dough to form to a baking sheet or a 10-inch pizza pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Make sure the sides are slightly thicker to form a crust. Set aside until ready to assemble.

 

Turn oven up to 500 degrees.

 

Generously sprinkle dough with salt and pepper. Drizzle the dough with the second tablespoon of oil and spread the caramelized onion and sage mixture evenly. Top with alternating dollops of the squash puree and ricotta. 

 

Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until a golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining fresh sage leaves and enjoy!

 

Nutrition Facts per Serving:

Calories: 302.4
Fat: 10g

Saturated Fat: 3.1g
Carbs: 44.9g
Fiber: 4.4g

Sodium: 526mg
Protein: 10.7g

PointsPlus® Value 8



Pumpkin Cheesecake.

For the past few Thanksgivings, I've contributed a delectable Pumpkin Cheesecake to the spread. Creamy, with just the hint of spice and pumpkin flavor, it's a surefire hit every year!

However, one slice of this lovely dessert clocks in at over 600 calories and 30 grams of fat! I just can't bring myself to serve up something so indulgent when I'm preaching healthy eating on a daily basis.

So, with a little 'googling' and review of recipes, I'll be bringing a lighter version to the table this year - Thank You to the Recipe Girl. And you're welcome. ;o)

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New(ish) Twist on the Good Ole Sweet Potato.

Every year, we have a potluck Thanksgiving celebration at work. It’s an ongoing tradition that started as a department idea and grew to be company-wide and we are welcome to bring a dish of our choice (or an item if you don’t cook).

Obviously, I would look for something different to bring, and when I was looking for recipes I stumbled across a very interesting take on the sweet potato. Given the ingredients (sweet and spicy, Indian and traditional American, components of holiday flavors), I knew I had to give it a try. Well, the rest is history and I’ve been delighting co-worker’s taste buds with the recipe ever since!

This year, I’ll be presenting everyone with the same dish, but in light of my healthy eating lifestyle, I’ve made a couple of changes to make it a better option for all to enjoy. So here you have it – the new and improved Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Balsamic Chutney Dressing!

Try it and let me know how you like it – it will certainly add a lot of color and flavor to your Thanksgiving table!

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Balsamic Chutney Dressing

Adapted from an original Food Network Recipe

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Makes 10 - 1 1/4 cup servings at a value of 5 PointsPlus® each

Ingredients

Salad:

• 4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• original, canola or olive oil nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup raw almonds, chopped or sliced
• 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped
• 1 cup chopped scallions (green and white)
• 1 cup julienned roasted red pepper (packed in water), drained

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette
• 1/4 cup jarred mango chutney (like Patak)
• 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
   

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, combine the potatoes, rosemary, salt, pepper, cumin and ginger and spray with cooking spray to give the mixture a light coating. Stir to combine and bake until the potatoes are fork-tender and golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and cook, stirring, until toasted. Transfer to a plate and season with salt and pepper. In a separate small bowl, combine the cranberries, scallions, and red pepper and set aside.

Prepare the dressing by whisking all ingredients until blended.

Assemble salad by gently tossing the roasted potatoes with the red pepper, cranberry and onion mixture. Add the dressing, toss to coat and garnish with the toasted almonds. Serve immediately and enjoy!