Burritos with Turkey and Pinto Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. canola oil
• 3/4 lb. ground skinless turkey breast
• 1 (15 1/2 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 4 (8-inch) whole wheat tortillas
• 8 tbsp. fat-free salsa
• 4 tbsp. reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced

Makes 4 Servings (1 burrito per serving)

1. To make filling, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add beans, garlic, and chili powder; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, warm tortillas according package directions. 
3. Place tortilla on work surface; spoon one-fourth of filling along center. Top with 2 tablespoons salsa and 1 tablespoon cheddar; sprinkle with one-fourth of scallions. Fold sides of tortilla over to enclose filling. Place, seam side down, on platter. Repeat with remaining tortillas, filling, salsa, cheese, and scallions. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 10 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. Burritos are a delicious Mexican comfort food when they are done right. These burritos are filling and flavorful and are packed with protein and vegetables. You can make these treats for lunch or dinner and you will be satisfied. 

Whole Wheat Skillet Pancake with Pears and Walnuts

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs 
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 Bartlett pears, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped walnuts
• 2 tsp. confectioners' sugar

Makes 6 Servings (1 wedge per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Place large cast-iron or ovenproof skillet in oven to heat up. 
2. Meanwhile, combine eggs, egg whites, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Add flour and pulse just until combined. Wearing oven mitt, remove skillet from oven and spray with nonstick spray. Pour in batter. Top with pears and sprinkle with walnuts. Bake until pancake is puffed and browned and pears are softened, 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and cut into 6 wedges. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier than Takeout Menu. This is a new take on pancakes and this dish is quite delicious. The combination of fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg is heavenly decadent. If you don't have pears available, use apples and the pancakes will taste just is good. I also highly recommend adding a touch of vanilla extract or almond extract to enhance the flavor of the pancakes. 

Korean-Style Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Rolls

Ingredients:

• 2 large egg whites
• 2 tsp. Chinese-style hot mustard
• 3/4 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp. sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• 1 1 /2 lbs. chicken tenders
• 1/4 cup sake
• 3 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp. honey
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 tsp. hot chili oil
• 8 large green leaf lettuce leaves

Makes 4 Servings (2 rolls per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. 
2. Whisk together egg whites and mustard in a pie plate until frothy. Combine panko, sesame seeds and cilantro on a sheet of wax paper. Dip chicken tenders, one at a time, into egg white mixture; then into panko mixture, pressing to adhere. Place chicken in single layer on baking sheet; lightly spray with nonstick spray. Bake until golden and cooked through, 18-20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine sake, soy sauce, honey, garlic and chili oil in a small bowl. Place lettuce leaves on work surface and top each one with one eighth of chicken. Sprinkle each portion with about 1 tablespoon sauce and roll up lettuce to enclose chicken. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier than Takeout Cookbook. Asian takeout is delicious when it's done right. If you love chicken tenders and Asian food, these treats are definitely for you. These chicken tenders are succulent, juicy and flavorful. Baked chicken tenders are better than fried chicken tenders. The sauce is spicy and flavorful and it goes great with these chicken tenders. 

Vegetable Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 4 scallions, sliced
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 lb. snow peas, sliced on diagonal
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 cups leftover cooked brown rice
• 1 (10 oz.) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 8 oz. firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp. Asian (dark) sesame oil

Makes 6 Servings (1 1/4 cups per serving)

1. Heat wok over medium-high heat until drop of water sizzles. Add 1 teaspoon of canola oil. Add eggs and stir-fry until set; transfer to plate. 
2. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon canola oil to wok; add scallions, ginger and garlic; stir-fry until fragrant. Add snow peas and bell pepper; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add rice, mixed vegetables. and tofu; stir-fry until heated through. Return eggs to wok along with soy sauce and sesame oil; stir-fry until mixed well. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. Chinese food is so delicious. If you're craving Chinese takeout, don't go out and/or don't pick up the phone and order Chinese food. You can make this dish in 20 minutes or less and it will taste just as delicious as what you would order. This dish is filled with colorful vegetables and it's flavorful too. The three ingredients in Chinese cuisine are scallions, ginger and garlic. Mixed vegetables can include broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. You can have this dish as a full vegetarian dish or as a side dish and it will still be delicious. 

Zesty Salad Nicoise

Ingredients:

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 24 pitted black olives, finely chopped (1/2 cup)

Salad:

• 1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed
• 3 (6 oz.) cans water-packed chunk light tuna, drained and flaked
• 1 (3/4 lb.) head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges each
• 2 hard boiled eggs, finely chopped

Makes 8 (2 cup) Servings

1. For the dressing: Whisk together oil, lemon juice, and mustard in a small bowl. Add zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and olives and whisk to combine. 
2.  For the salad: Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook just until crisp-tender, 2-3 minutes. Drain in a  colander and immediately run under cold water for 1 minute to stop cooking.  Drain again and pat dry. Cut beans into 1-inch pieces. 
3. Mix tuna with 1/4 cup of the dressing in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, toss beans, lettuce, salt, and pepper with remaining dressing. Transfer to a serving platter. Spoon tuna mixture onto the center of the greens. Arrange tomato wedges around tuna, sprinkle with chopped egg, and serve. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Parties & Holidays Cookbook. Nicoise salad can be both filling and flavorful. This version of a Nicoise salad is both zesty and delicious. Don't be afraid of the tuna in this recipe. The tuna goes great with the vegetables and the dressing. The eggs and the dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I highly recommend using Kalamata olives in this recipe because Kalamata olives add a nice touch of zing to anything.   

Mushroom and Goat Cheese Quesadilas

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small Vidalia onion or other sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 (10 oz.) package cremini mushrooms
• 1 (3 1/2 oz.) package sliced shiitake mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup crumbled reduced-fat goat cheese
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 4 (7-inch) whole wheat flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup fat-free salsa

Makes 4 Servings (1quesadilla and 2 tablespoons salsa per serving)

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms, salt  and black pepper; cook, stirring, until mushrooms are softened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. 
2. Meanwhile, preheat broiler and spray large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Combine goat cheese and cream cheese in a small bowl. 
3. Spread 1 tablespoon cheese mixture onto each tortilla. Spoon one-fourth of mushroom mixture onto bottom half of each tortilla; fold top over filling. Place quesadillas on baking sheet. Broil until tops are browned, 1-2 minutes. Flip over and cook until browned and cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes. Serve with salsa. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Tastier that Takeout Cookbook. If you're craving fast food or Mexican food, put down the phone and put down the car keys. You can make these delicious treats at home in 30 minutes or less. These quesadillas are very filling with the vegetables and cheeses. If you don't have cream cheese available, use shredded Mexican cheese and the quesadillas will still be delicious. I also highly recommend adding a touch of ground cumin to these quesadillas for more flavor. 

Broccoli with Lemon-Garlic Crumbs

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. broccoli florets
• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings (1 cup per serving)

1. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large pot. Put broccoli in a steamer basket and set in pot. Cook, covered, until broccoli is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes; drain. 
2. Meanwhile, melt butter in medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add panko; increase heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted, 2-3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in lemon zest and salt. Spoon broccoli into serving bowl and sprinkle with crumbs. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This side dish is so delicious is goes great with any Italian or Mediterranean main dish. The butter and the bread crumbs add a nice creamy touch to the broccoli and the lemon and garlic add a nice zing to the broccoli as well.