Recipe Review

A few months ago (ok...almost a year ago) I did a post about a few recipes that I've found which are both super yummy and also Weight Watcher friendly! Well I figure it's about time I did another one to talk about the recipes that I've ventured out to try and what I thought of them. 

This post is kind of long, but it's worth it, trust me! 

-------------------- APPLE CINNAMON TARTE --------------------

This Image and Recipe is from Emily Bites 

This guy is SUPER delish. It really wasn't that hard to make, and would be a perfect dish for Thanksgiving. It tastes just like apple pie, but without all that extra calories. 

Ingredients:

3 medium apples

1 t lemon juice

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (I used Pepperidge Farms brand which comes with 2 sheets in a box)

4 T granulated sugar, divided

1 t all-purpose flour (plus a little bit to flour the surface of your workspace when you work with the pastry dough)

½ t cinnamon

1/8 t nutmeg

1/8 t allspice

Directions:

1.    Preheat the oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside (I used a 10 x 15” baking sheet).

2.    Slice the apples open and remove the core. Cut the apples into thin slices (about ¼” thick). Toss lightly with the lemon juice and set aside.

3.    Lightly flour your workspace surface and unfold the thawed puff pastry sheet onto the floured space. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the pastry sheet out to be a 10” x 14” rectangle. Place the pastry rectangle onto the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

4.    In a small dish, combine one tablespoon of the sugar with the teaspoon of flour and stir. In a separate small bowl, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar, the cinnamon, the nutmeg and the allspice. Mix until combined.

5.    Leaving about 1/2” around the edges, sprinkle the flour mixture across the surface of the pastry rectangle. Line the apple slices onto the pastry in three long rows, overlapping the slices. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top of the apple slices.

6.    Bake for about 35 minutes or until the edges are browned and the apple are cooked through and tender. Let the tart cool for a few minutes. Cut tart into 12 equal pieces (I used a pizza cutter to slice lengthwise between each row of apples to form three long sections and then I just cut each of those into four equal pieces) and serve. 

Yields 12 servings. WW P+: 3 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 115 calories, 17 g carbs, 5 g fat, 2 g protein, 1 g fiber

SEE MORE AFTER THE JUMP! 

--------------- PINEAPPLE CHICKEN STIR FRY ---------------

Image and recipe from LaaLoosh

This recipe was my first introduction to Franks Hot Sauce. I'm not much of a spicy girl, and I didn't put as much in as they said to in the recipe, but it was a nice mix of spicy and sweet with the hot sauce and pineapple. Great alternative to take-out, and very easy to make. 

Ingredients

• 8oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 medium green pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 1 16oz bag frozen pineapple tidbits (without any sugar or syrup added)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (more or less to taste)
• 
  

Instructions

1. Spray a large non-stick skillet with nonfat cooking spray and set over medium high heat (about 5-7 minutes).
2. Add in chicken, salt, pepper and oregano and cook until chicken begins to brown on all sides.
3. Stir in the hot sauce and frozen pineapple tidbits, cover with a lid and let cook for about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the pepper slices, cover with lid and let cook for about another 5 minutes.
5. Remove lid, turn off heat and let cool for about 2 minutes.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 20 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

Entire recipe makes 4 servings

Serving size is about 2 cups

Each serving = 3 Points +

PER SERVING: 135 calories; 1g fat; 20g carbohydrates; 13g protein; 3g fiber

------------------------ BERRY COBBLER ------------------------

Image and recipe from Living a Changed Live

You won't even believe how simple this recipe is. When I tried it, it did turn out pretty good, but maybe I needed to bake it longer. The crust was still very "cake batter" like in some places, and that wasn't exactly what I'd wanted. Still ok though.  

Ingredients

Two 12-oz bags frozen mixed berries

1 box white cake mix (no pudding)

1 can of diet 7-up or sierra mist (clear soda)

Instructions

Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish. Add dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir the cake mix and the pop - this will give you a 'crust'. If you stir the two, you will have a cake like topping.

Bake 350 for 45-50 min.

You may be able to use frozen peaches instead of mixed berries.

Serves 16; 4 PointsPlus

------------------ CROCK POT PINEAPPLE CHICKEN -------------------

Image and recipe from Six Sister's Stuff

Another awesome crock pot recipe. I have learned to LOVE my crock pot and the simplicity it is to make dinner with it. This recipe is really good served over rice. I think next time I make it I may hold back a little with the teriyaki and soy sauce. Eric really liked this one! 

Ingredients: 

4 frozen chicken breasts

1/2 c. soy sauce

1/2 c. teriyaki sauce

1 can pineapple chunks, drain half the juice out

crushed red pepper flakes

Directions: 

Spray the crock pot with nonstick cooking spray and add chicken breasts. Pour soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and pineapple chunks (with half of the juice) over chicken. Sprinkle as many red pepper flakes on top as desired. Cook on high for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with two forks in crock pot and serve over rice. 

This didn't have WW points with it but I did the recipe builder and found it to be about 6pts+/serving (1 cup) 

------------------ PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE -------------------

Recipe and Image from wwrecipes.net

2 ingredients. That's it. That is what is standing in your way to make delicious light and fluffy pineapple angel food cake. And worth those two ingredients it is. LOVE this one! 

Ingredients:
1 box (1-step) angel food cake mix
1 large can crushed pineapple

Directions: 

Put dry cake mix in bowl (do not add the water as directed on the box). Add entire can of pineapple with juice. Mix carefully until all dry mix in incorporated. Pour into either a tube pan, 9x13 pan, or cupcake pan with liners. Bake at 350 degrees for time on box for size pan (around 30-40 minutes. When sides pull away from pan and toothpick, cake is done.

Makes 12 Equal Servings (1 Slice Per Serving) 4 pts+ 

Nutrition Information:
Calories 148, Fat 0.2 g, Carbs 34.6 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 3.1 g

----------------------- PIZZA CHICKEN -----------------------

Image and recipe from Genaw

A great way to dress up plain old chicken. This can be made however you like your pizza so it's great for a crowd or picky eaters. 

Ingredients: 

1 boneless chicken breast, pounded flat if thick 
Salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning, to taste 
1 tablespoon pizza sauce 
4 slices pepperoni 
1 teaspoon butter or oil 
2 fresh mushrooms, sliced 
2 thin green pepper rings 
1 ounce mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions: 

Season the chicken with salt and other seasonings; grill. Meanwhile, sauté the mushrooms and pepper rings in butter or oil until slightly tender, but not mushy; set aside. Spread the sauce over the chicken, then top with the pepperoni, the pepper rings, mushrooms and then finally, the cheese. Sprinkle with a little additional Italian seasoning, if desired. Bake at 350º about 10-15 minutes or until hot and the cheese is melted. Serve at once.

Makes 1 serving. Depending on toppings pts+ will change. Above recipe is 8pts+

Can be frozen but the peppers will get soft

Per Serving: 310 Calories; 16g Fat; 36g Protein; 3g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 2g Net Carbs

-------------------- WW CHEESECAKE SQUARES --------------------

Image and recipe from ww-recipes

If you like cheesecake, you'll like these bars. I believe mine needed to be in the oven a bit longer, they could def not be cut into squares, but were still pretty good none the less. 

Ingredients: 

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup M&M or Smarties candies
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 egg
1/3 cup margarine
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar, granulated
1/3 cup sugar, brown packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Beat the margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the walnuts and flour; mix well.

4. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture; press the remaining crumb mixture into bottom of a 8″ square pan.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

6. Combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla; using an electric mixer, mix at medium speed until well blended.

7. Add the egg; mix well.

8. Layer 1/2 cup of the Smarties or M&M candies over the crust; top with the cream cheese mixture.

9. Combine the remaining candy and reserved crumb mixture; mix well.

10. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the cream cheese mixture.

11. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

12. Let cool completely before serving.

WW POINTS for one square: 5

Nutritional information for one square: 217 calories, 13.6g fat, 0.7g fiber