Recipe Roundup

Once in a while time defeats me, I have no doubt that you know that feeling...  It seems like I have many balls in the air today and time is flying, but I do want to keep my promise to post every week and so I hope you'll accept these recipes as this weeks motivational blog post?  Thank-you!

Yummy Hash Browns

Weight Watchers Recipe

4  PointsPlus Values per serving,                      Serves: 4
Prep time:  10 min,                                             Cook time:  13 min

Vinegar adds flavor, but minimal calories and no fat, to this classic potato recipe.   Great as a side dish with everything from breakfast to dinner.

Ingredients

2 large potatoes, Idaho, peeled and shredded   

2 tsp olive oil   

1/2 tsp paprika   

1/2 tsp table salt   

1/4 tsp black pepper   

1/3 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth   

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar   

Instructions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover them; set pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes; drain and set aside.

• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, paprika, salt and pepper; stir to coat. Sauté 2 minutes and then add broth and vinegar; cook until liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Notes

• Give this recipe a sweet flavor: Substitute a yam for a regular potato and then add 1/4 teaspoon of red curry powder, which is both hot and sweet tasting, along with the other seasonings (could affect PointsPlus values).

Double-Chocolate Pudding

Weight Watchers Recipe  

3  PointsPlus Values per serving,                      Serves: 6
Prep time:  5 min                                                   Cook time:  5 min

A super-rich, double-chocolate treat. This is a great dessert for serving to company because it tastes so rich and decadent; your guests'll say "I thought you were on Weight Watchers"!  Don't you just love when that happens.  Though we serve it chilled, its fabulous eaten warm, too.

Ingredients

1 oz bittersweet chocolate   

2 cup(s) low-fat chocolate milk, at room temperature, divided   

3 Tbsp cornstarch   

6 Tbsp aerosol whipped cream   

Instructions

• In a small pot, over very low heat, melt chocolate, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/2 cups milk and cook, stirring occasionally, to combine, about 1 to 2 minutes.

• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup milk with cornstarch until well-blended with no lumps; add to pan with chocolate-milk mixture. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil, stirring constantly; boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and cook until thickened, about 30 seconds; pour about 1/3 cup pudding into each of 6 small ramekins. Cover ramekins with plastic wrap, pressing plastic down onto the surface of pudding (so skins don't form) and refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve, top with whipped cream. Yields about 1/3 cup pudding and 1 tablespoon whipped cream per serving.

And also, this came up in a meeting recently and with fall getting closer, I thought it was worth re-posting today:  

Roasted Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Serves 8  
Yields 8 cups.

PPV per serving 2

This one is from my own kitchen and it's called "BACK on TRACK Soup"!  It takes a little more work that the usual everyday filling soup, but it's worth the effort for the flavor.

Ingredients

1 medium head of cauliflower - sliced into 3/4 inch thick slices

sprinkling of garlic salt

1 TBSP olive oil

1/2 cup (1 small) diced celery root (celeriac)

1/4 cup diced red onion

48 oz low sodium chicken broth

2 tsp dried thyme

2 bay leaves

Celeriac is an untidy 
looking root.  It's 
fairly easy to peel 
with a knife.

ground black pepper

3 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

~ Preheat the oven to 450 deg and prepare a baking sheet by covering with aluminium foil and a coating of olive oil spray or other non-stick spray.

~ Slice the cauliflower into cross-section slices about 3/4" thick and lay them on the pan, spray with the olive oil spray and sprinkle with garlic salt.  Roast in the oven, turning the slices over to cook evenly for about 20 - 25 minutes until soft and with touches of golden brown.

~ In a large, heavy bottomed pot, heat the oil and saute the onion and celeriac until softened and translucent.  Add the roasted cauliflower, the thyme, bay leaves, pepper and the broth.  Put a lid on the pot and cook for 30 minutes.

~ Fish out the bay leaves before blending the soup with your jug or stick blender.

~ Upon serving - once you've ladled it into bowls top off with a rounded teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese.

Lose For Good Open Houses on Saturday 09/15.

The Newton Store and the Stoneham Store are open all day on Saturday to collect your non-perishable food donations for our annual LOSE FOR GOOD Food Drive, which this year is a one-day event.  Please drop by either center and come and stay for a while.  We are combining the food drive with a FUN Day!  Games, Raffles, Prizes, Special Joining Offers, Presentations, Demonstrations and much more!!!

BRING your Food Contribution...
BRING your other half, your sister, your mom, your dad, your bro, your neighbor, your tennis partner, your golfing buddy, your kid, your best friend AND your auntie!
BRING yourself and come and help us fight hunger.

I'll be hanging out at the Stoneham Store all day, here is our poster:

 You are invited to our OPEN HOUSE 

to support Weight Watchers LOSE FOR GOOD

Join us on: Saturday, September 15th

6:00 am - 5:00 pm

At our **BRAND*NEW** Store
in Stoneham

Redstone Plaza, 81 Main Street, Stoneham

ü  Food drive; bring non-perishable food to help our local food bank

ü  Special Offer one day only, for you and a friend

ü  Meet one on one with WW staff

ü  BMI calculations and “healthy weight” conferences

ü  Connect with other members

ü  Help us to FIGHT HUNGER

ü  Presentations, Games, Raffles & Prizes!

Scheduled Presentations

1:30-2:15 pm       Presentation: “Healthy Eating on a Budget”

2:30-3:15 pm       Meet Cathy who lost 84.2 pounds on Weight Watchers in 2010 and changed her life!

3:30-4:30 pm       Demonstration and Recipe: Knife Skills “Slicing Fruit is Easy”! Plus a recipe from “Tastier than Takeout” cookbook

4:30-4:45 pm       Appearance by a representative from the food bank

4:45 - 5:00 pm     Raffle Drawing and Close

All are Welcome ~ BRING A FRIEND

• Members                • Prospective Members               • Non-Members

Come and Meet “Bernie 

the Banana” – He’s “Free”!

And Finally:

“An open mind leaves a chance for someone to drop a worthwhile thought in it”

Mark Twain