Crispy Catfish with Tartar Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. pickle relish
• 2 tsp. capers
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 3/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup almonds, toasted and finely chopped
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• grated zest of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk
• 4 (5 oz.) catfish fillets
• lemon wedges

Makes 4 Servings (1 fish fillet and about 1/3 cup sauce per serving)

1. To make the tartar sauce, stir together yogurt, shallot, parsley, lemon juice, mayonnaise, pickle relish, capers, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and cayenne in a serving bowl. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve. 
2. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. 
3. Mix together bread crumbs, almonds, thyme, and lemon zest on sheet of wax paper. Pour buttermilk into pie plate. Dip fish fillets, one at a time, into buttermilk, then coat with bread crumb mixture, pressing gently so crumbs adhere. 
4. Place fillets on prepared baking sheet; spray with nonstick spray. Bake until just opaque in the center, about 10 minutes. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. If you enjoy fish and chips with a side of tartar sauce, you will enjoy making and eating this dish. You can use any kind of fish (cod, halibut, tilapia, etc.) and your meal will be delicious. The fish literally melts in your mouth it's that good. The tartar sauce is both tangy and delicious and it goes great with fish and potatoes. 

Spinach and Feta Egg Cups

Ingredients:

• 20 eggs
• 1 cup whole buttermilk
• 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Makes 24 egg cups (2 egg cups per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 
2. Lightly grease with butter two 12-count muffin tins (for 24 total muffins) and set aside.
3. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, yogurt, salt and pepper to taste in a large mixing bowl.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between 24 prepared muffin cups. 
5. Divide the chopped spinach and feta among the cups. 
6. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the eggs are set. 
7. Cool for 5-10 minutes in muffin tins and then gently slide a butter knife around the edges to release the egg cups. Remove them to a wire rack. 
8. Serve warm or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet Book. Eggs, vegetables and cheese for breakfast is quite delicious. These particular egg cups are filling and flavorful. The combination of spinach and feta takes you back to Greece and makes you wish you were eating breakfast overlooking to the Greek Isles. 

Chive & Prosciutto Egg Cups

Ingredients:

• 20 eggs
• 1 cup whole buttermilk
• 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped chives
• 2 oz. chopped prosciutto
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 24 Egg Cups (2 egg cups per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 
2. Lightly grease with butter two 12-count muffin tins (for 24 total muffins) and set aside.
3. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, yogurt, Parmesan salt and pepper to taste in a large mixing bowl.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between 24 prepared muffin cups. 
5. Divide the chives and prosciutto among the cups. 
6. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the eggs are set. 
7. Cool for 5-10 minutes in muffin tins and then gently slide a butter knife around the edges to release the egg cups. Remove them to a wire rack. 
8. Serve warm or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. These egg cups bring egg muffins and eggs and ham to a new level. If you ever enjoyed ham and eggs when you were a kid, you will love these Italian egg cups. Prosciutto and Parmesan cheese are delicious flavors that go well together, especially in eggs. These egg cups are both filling and delicious they will be a great start for your day. 

Homestyle Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup ground walnuts
• 1 onion, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and separated into rings
• 1/2 pound baby bella or cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 16 oz. frozen French-cut green beans, thawed and drained

Makes 8 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 500°F. Coat a medium baking sheet and 13" X 9" baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Place the buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Place the bread crumbs and walnuts in another shallow bowl; stir to combine. Dip the onion rings into the buttermilk, then dredge in the bread crumbs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Coat the onion rings lightly with cooking spray.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, or until tender and golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, heat a medium saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, chopped onion, thyme, and salt. Coat with cooking spray.
5. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes, or until the mushrooms release their liquid. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the milk and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes, or until thickened. Add the green beans and stir to combine.
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F. Pour the bean mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the onion rings over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. A green bean casserole can be a comfort food when it's done right. This casserole is both comforting and filling. It has three servings of vegetables and it's quite delicious. I highly recommend adding minced garlic to this dish because garlic always makes everything taste better. 

Almond Flour Chicken Piccata

Ingredients:

Chicken:

• 2/3 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 small or medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. whole buttermilk
• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, divided

Sauce:

• 1 tbsp. butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tbsp. capers

Makes 4 Servings

1. Combine the almond flour and Parmesan cheese with salt and pepper to taste in a shallow bowl and set aside. 
2. Pat chicken dry and then season it with salt and pepper to taste. Place the chicken breasts in a resealable bag. Press out the air and seal the bag. Pound the chicken breasts until they are about 1/2-inch thick. 
3. Whisk the egg buttermilk, and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl until combined. Add the mixture to the bag with the chicken. Reseal it, and shake to coat the chicken breasts.
4. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large sauté pan. 
5. Remove the chicken from the bag, allowing the excess egg mixture to drip away. Place the chicken breasts in the almond mixture and press to coat both sides. Shake away any excess and transfer the chicken to the hot pan. 
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until cooked through and golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and keep it warm. 
7. Melt the butter in the same sauté pan. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. 
8. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits. 
9. Remove the sauce from the heat. Add the capers and 1 tablespoon of the parsley; stir to combine. 
10. Place one chicken breast one each of 4 plates, top with the sauce, and garnish with the remaining parsley. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 12 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. You don't have to be afraid of the words 'keto-friendly.' Keto is short for ketogenic, referring to a diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. This version of a classic Italian dish is keto-friendly because it uses almond flour instead of whole wheat or regular flour. This dish is very flavorful and delicious. The combination of lemon juice, chicken broth, garlic, and capers give this dish a tasty flare. This dish will become a favorite it's that good. 

Bacon & Cheddar Egg Cups

Ingredients:

• 20 eggs
• 1 cup whole buttermilk
• 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup cooked & crumbled bacon
• 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 24 egg cups (2 egg cups per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 
2. Lightly grease with butter two 12-count muffin tins (for 24 total muffins) and set aside.
3. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, yogurt, salt and pepper to taste in a large mixing bowl.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between 24 prepared muffin cups. 
5. Divide the bacon and cheddar among the cups. 
6. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. until the eggs are set. 
7. Cool for 5-10 minutes in muffin tins and then gently slide a butter knife around the edges to release the egg cups. Remove them to  wire rack. 
8. Serve warm or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. If you like eggs dishes, these egg treats are for you. These egg cups are a great way to start your morning. They're made with buttermilk, yogurt and the fillings of your choice. The combination of cheddar and bacon is delicious and these egg cups taste just as good as what you would order at a fast food joint or at a café. 

Chocolate-Glazed Chocolate Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. instant espresso powder
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/3 cup canola oil 
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg white
• 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted
• 3 tbsp. fate-free half-and-half

Makes 24 Servings (1/24 of cake per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 352 F. Spray a 10-inch Bundt pan with nonstick spray. 
2. To make the cake, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Combine the cocoa, chopped chocolate, and espresso in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the cocoa mixture, stirring until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Whisk together the buttermilk, oil, egg, and egg white in a large bowl; stir in the cocoa mixture until blended. Gradually add the flour mixture, stirring just until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and let cool completely on the rack. 
4. To make the glaze, whisk together the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Let stand until cool and thickened, about 15 minutes. Place the cake on a serving plate. Pour the glaze over, allowing it to drip down the side of the cake. Let stand until set, about 10 minutes. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. Chocolate bundt cake is elegant and delicious. The recipe is tasty and delicious. The original recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar. I cut the sugar in half and the cake was just as delicious. The bundt cake makes a great sweet ending when you have company over for dinner. You can even make individual bundt cakes and they will still be delicious. The recipe calls for 45-50 cooking time for a whole bundt cake. If you make mini-bundt cakes, cut the cooking time in half because the cakes do rise. 

Dried Blueberry Breakfast Scones

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup dried blueberries
• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 egg white

Makes 12 Scones (1 scone per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
2. Whisk together pastry flour, oats, flaxseed, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. With a pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs with some small pieces of butter remaining. Gently stir in the blueberries. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the buttermilk. Whisk together buttermilk and the egg white in a small bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir just until the flour mixture is moistened (the dough will be soft).
3. Gather the dough into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface; divide in half. knead each portion 2 times. Place the 2 pieces of dough on the baking sheet 5 inches apart. Pat each piece of dough into a 6-inch round. Spray a long thin knife with nonstick spray; cut each round into 6 wedges (do not separate the wedges).
4. Brush the scones with the reserved buttermilk. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet on a rack 5 minutes. With a pancake spatula, slide each round onto a rack and let cool completely. Separate the wedges.

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. Scones are a wonderful treat for breakfast or as a snack. The original recipe called for 1 tablespoon of turbinado sugar to be topped on the scones but the scones are just as delicious without the sugar. You can also cut the light packed brown sugar in the scones because there are natural sugars in the dried blueberries to make these scones taste  sweet. If you don't have dried fruit on hand, use real berries and the scones will still be delicious.

Blue Cheese-Dressed Iceberg Lettuce "Steaks"

Ingredients:

• 2 very thin slices sandwich bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 tbsp. reduced-calorie mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce
• 1 firm head iceberg lettuce, cored, ends trimmed, and cut into 4 thick slices
• 2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 1/2 cup coarsely crumbled blue cheese

Makes 4 Servings (1 lettuce steak, 1/4 of tomato, 1/4 of onion, 2 tablespoons cheese and 2 1/2 tablespoons dressing per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. To make croutons, spread bread cubes on small baking sheet and bake, turning once or twice, until golden crisp, about 5 minutes.
3. To make dressing, whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, salt, and hot sauce in a small bowl.
4. Place 1 1 lettuce steak on each of 4 plates. Drizzle evenly with dressing and top with tomatoes, onion, blue cheese, and croutons.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is the perfect salad to serve alone or before the main dish of meat and potatoes. This salad is very filling and flavorful. Make sure the iceberg lettuce is cold so it can have that nice crunch to it. The blue cheese crumbles add a nice tangy flavor to the salad as well. 

Caesar Salad with Poblano Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 small poblano pepper
• 1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 2 tbsp. mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• grated zest of lime
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 garlic love, minced
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 (12 oz.) package romaine lettuce hearts, thinly sliced
• 1 cup fat-free croutons
• 1/3 cup Pecorino-Romano cheese

Makes 6 Servings (2 1/3 cups per serving)

1. Preheat broiler.
2. To roast poblano, put pepper on broiler rack and broil 5 inches from heat, turning, until charred on all sides, 8-9 minutes. Transfer to small zip-close plastic bag and seal; let steam 10 minutes. Peel of charred skin, remove stems and seeds, and mince flesh.
3. To make dressing, transfer poblano to salad bowl. Add buttermilk, mayonnaise, cilantro, lime zest and juice, garlic, and salt, whisking until blended well. Add romaine, croutons, and Romano; toss until coated evenly with dressing.

WW POINTS VALUE: 2 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. A Caesar salad is a wonderful comfort food anytime and it's also a great salad to cleanse your system whenever you had a rough day. This is a different take on the traditional Caesar salad. This salad uses a roasted poblano pepper mixed with lime juice, cilantro and mayonnaise. This dressing certainly kicks up the heat and is flavorful in its own way. This dressing would go great on grilled chicken or fish.

Herbed Oven-Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 2 tsp. ground paprika
• 2 tsp. dried sage, crumbled
• 2 tsp. dried rosemary, crumbled
• 1/2 cup cornflakes, crushed
• 3 tbsp. whole wheat flour
• 4 (1/2-lb.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise in half
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings (2 pieces chicken per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Spray heavy shallow baking pan with nonstick spray.
2. Stir together buttermilk, paprika, sage and rosemary in pie plate. On a sheet of wax paper, mix together cornflake crumbs and flour.
3. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in buttermilk, then coat with cornflake mixture, pressing firmly so it adheres. Place chicken in prepared baking pan; lightly spray with nonstick spray. Bake until crispy and cooked through, about 35 minutes.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. Weight Watchers has done it again with a classic comfort food in making it healthy.  It's a different take on oven-fried chicken and it tastes good. The herbs are the key to making this chicken flavorful. If you don't have cornflakes on hand, use dried panko bread crumbs instead and the chicken will taste just as good. I highly recommend marinating the chicken in the buttermilk 1-24 hours in advance to make the fried chicken even more moist and flavorful.

 

Buttermilk Sorbet with Crushed Blackberry-Mint Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1/3 cup honey
• 4 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. grated orange zest
• 2 cups fresh blackberries
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh mint + 6 small sprigs

Makes 6 Servings (2/3 cup sorbet with 1/4 cup blackberry sauce)

1. Whisk together buttermilk, honey, 3 tablespoons of sugar, vanilla, and orange zest in a medium bowl until sugar is dissolved. Pour buttermilk mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer sorbet to freezer container and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.
2. To make sauce, combine 1 1/2 cups of blackberries and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl. With a fork, crush remaining berries until very coarse puree is formed; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup blackberries and the chopped mint. (Can be made up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated.)
3. To serve, scoop sorbet into 6 dessert dishes and top with 1/4 cup blackberry sauce. Garnish with mint sprigs.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is what I call an elegant dessert. If you're having company over for dinner, serve this dessert. Break out the china and crystal this dessert is worth it. The buttermilk sorbet on its own is good but it's even more  delicious with the blackberry-mint sauce. The buttermilk sorbet is so nice and creamy it melts in your mouth. The sauce leaves a nice aftertaste in your mouth.

 

Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 tbsp. water
• 1 vanilla bean, split
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 3/4 cup fat-free half-and-half
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
• 1 tsp. grated orange zest

Makes 4 Servings (1 panna cotta & 1/2 cup strawberries per serving)

1. Spray 4 (6 oz.) ramekins or custard cups with nonstick spray.
2. Sprinkle gelatin over the water in a cup. let stand until gelatin is softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, with edge of small knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean; reserve pod and seeds.
4. Combine buttermilk, half-and-half, 1/3 cup of sugar, and the vanilla pod and seeds in a medium saucepan. Cover over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in gelatin mixture until completely dissolved. Pour buttermilk mixture through sieve set over medium bowl; discard vanilla bean pod. Divide buttermilk mixture evenly among prepared ramekins. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 4 hours or up to 1 day (the longer it sets, the firmer it will be).
5. Toss together strawberries and orange zest with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 20 minutes or up to 1 hour.
6. To serve, run tip of thin knife around edge of each ramekin to loosen panna cotta. Dip bottoms of ramekins, one at a time, into a bowl of hot water about 5 seconds. Unmold by inverting each panna cotta onto dessert plate. Surround with strawberries.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. This is what I call an elegant dessert. It's flavorful with a nice aftertaste. Panna cotta means cooked cream in Italian. A panna cotta is an Italian dessert that is made of sweetened cream that is thickened with gelatin and molded. The cream may be aromatized with rum, vanilla, almond, mint, coffee or any other flavoring. The combination of vanilla and berries is so heavenly it leaves such a nice aftertaste in your mouth. It may look complicated but this dessert is worth the time and effort.

Banana Spice Cake with Coconut Frosting

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed (1 cup)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 1 (8 oz.) package light cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3 tbsp. light coconut milk
• 1 tsp. coconut extract
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted

Makes 16 Servings (1/16 of cake per serving)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray.
2. To make the cake, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together the remaining cake ingredients in a separate medium bowl. Gradually add the banana mixture to the flour mixture, stirring just until blended.
3.  Pour the batter into the pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a rack 10 minutes. Run a knife around the cake to loosen it from the pan. Remove from the pan and let cool completely on the rack.
4. Meanwhile, to make the frosting, with an electric mixer on high speed, beat all the frosting ingredients except the coconut in a medium bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. With a narrow metal spatula, spread the frosting over the top of the cake; sprinkle with the coconut.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Best-Ever Desserts Cookbook. Who would have thought the combination of bananas, coconuts and spices would be so delicious? This is what I call an elegant and decadent dessert. You can even make these into cupcakes and the sweet treats will still be delicious. Don't be intimidated by the number of ingredients in this recipe. You can cut the granulated sugar in half because there are natural sugars in the bananas and the cake will still taste good. I added a touch of nutmeg to the cake because nutmeg and cinnamon go so well together.

Blue Cheese Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 2 tbsp. light mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. crumbled blue cheese
• 1/4 tsp. minced garlic
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp. minced fresh chives

Makes 6 Servings (2 tablespoons per serving)

 

In a blender or food processor, combine the buttermilk, mayonnaise, cheese, garlic and cayenne; pulse until nearly smooth. Sprinkle in the chives. Cover and refrigerate at least 1/2 an hour (or up to 2 days) to allow the flavors to blend.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 1 pt.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. Forget buying salad dressing at the grocery store; make this at home instead. This blue cheese dressing is quick, easy and delicious. This dressing is also creamy and flavorful. It goes great on beef, salad and makes a great dip for raw vegetables.

Mini Blueberry Cobblers

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh blueberries
• 3 tbsp. + 1 tsp. turbinado sugar
• grated zest and juice of 1 small lemon
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• pinch ground ginger
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. low-fat buttermilk

Makes 4 Servings (1 cobbler per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Spray 4 (6 oz.) ramekins or baking dishes with nonstick spray.
2. Toss together blueberries, 3 tablespoons of sugar, the lemon zest and juice, almond extract, and ginger in a large bowl; divide evenly among prepared ramekins.
3. To makes biscuits, combine flour and buttermilk in a small bowl, stirring just until blended. Spoon dough evenly over filling; sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon sugar.
4. Place ramekins in small rimmed baking sheet. Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. These mini cobblers are great for a summer picnic or any summer gathering when it's not too hot to cook. Individual cobblers are great because everyone gets an equal amount of flavor and servings. If you don't have almond extract o hand, use vanilla extract. You can also use any berry or a combination of berries and this recipe will still be delicious. You can also use ground cinnamon, nutmeg or a combination if you don't have ginger on hand. The original recipe called for 1 cup of reduced-fat baking mix; you can use whle ehat flour instead and the cobblers will still be good. 

Multigrain Toaster Waffles

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup flax meal
• 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/3 cup buttermilk powder or instant nonfat dry milk
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. granular sugar substitute
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tbsp. canola oil or extra-virgin olive oil

Makes 12 (4-inch) waffles; 2 waffles per serving

1. Heat a waffle iron.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, flax meal, oats, buttermilk powder, baking powder, sugar substitute, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Add the eggs and lightly beat with a fork. Add 1 1/2 cups water, vanilla and oil and blend, pulling the batter in front of the sides of the bowl as you mix.
4. Ladle the batter into the center of the waffle iron until it spreads to 1 inch from the edges. (The amount will vary with the size of the waffle iron. If you're using a 4-square waffle iron, it will be about 1 cup batter per batch.) Cover and cook according to the waffle maker's instructions. Continue until all the batter is used up. As they are cooked, transfer the waffles to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.
5. Cut each waffle into 4 pieces, place on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Store in resealable plastic freezer bags for up to 6 months. Reheat straight from the freezer in a toaster or toaster oven. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Super Quick Cookbook. Homemade waffles are absolutely delicious. Don't be intimidated by the amount of ingredients in these waffles. They go well together. These waffles have a nice texture to them and they can melt in your mouth depending on what topping you put on whether it's nut butter or cooked fruit. I added a touch of ground nutmeg and vanilla extract because nutmeg and vanilla mixed with cinnamon taste so good in pancakes and waffles.

Ultimate Onion Rings

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 large Sweet Onions, cut into 1/2-inch rounds and separated into 32 rings

Makes 4 Servings (8 onion rings per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Spray two large baking sheets with nonstick spray.
2. Put flour in large zip-close plastic bag. Whisk together buttermilk, salt, and pepper in shallow bowl. Combine bread crumbs and Old Bay Seasoning in large shallow bowl.
3. Add onion rings, a few at a time, to flour; shake until coated. Dip rings, one at  time, into buttermilk mixture, then lightly coat with bread crumbs, transferring rings as they are coated to prepared baking sheets. Spray onion rings with nonstick spray. Bake, turning once, until golden and crispy, about 20 minutes.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. When you think of onion rings, you think of greasy guilty pleasures that are crunchy. These onion rings are just as delicious as fried onion rings and I think they taste better than fried. These onion rings go great with any protein, especially grilled steak. I do highly recommend putting the bread crumbs and seasoning in a brown paper bag because it will be easier to coat the onion rings when your shake them all around. If you don't have Old Bay seasoning in your pantry, paprika will work just as well. You will need a knife and a fork to enjoy these onion rings they are that tasty.

Buttermilk-Blueberry Corn Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, preferably stone ground
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 2 tbsp. turbinado (raw) sugar

Makes 12 muffins (1 muffin per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, baking pow der, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Beat buttermilk, oil, and egg in a small bowl until blended. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until flour mixture is moistened (do not overmix). Gently stir in blueberries. Spoon batter evenly into prepared cups; sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
3. Bake until muffin springs back when lightly pressed, 15-20 minutes. Let cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and let cool on rack.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. You can have your muffins and eat them too. This muffins taste just as good as the packaged muffins you would buy at the grocery store. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup granulated sugar but you can cut the amount in half or use honey in place of the sugar and they will taste just as delicious. The natural sugars from the blueberries already make these muffins sweet. You can also use blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and even cranberries in these muffins and they will be yummy.

Crunchy Oven-Fried Drumsticks with Thyme & Parmesan

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fat-free buttermilk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. salt
• 6 (1/4-lb.) skinless chicken drumsticks
• 1/2 cup whole what panko bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme or 3/4 tsp. dried
• pinch cayenne

Makes 6 Servings (1 drumstick per serving)

1. Combine buttermilk, garlic and salt in a large zip-close plastic bag; add chicken. Squeeze out air and seal bag; turn to coat chicken. Refrigerate, turning bag occasionally, at least 20 minutes or up to 1 day.
2. Place rack on lower third of oven and preheat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheet with foil; spray with nonstick spray.
3. Mix together panko, Parmesan, thyme, and cayenne on sheet of wax paper. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Coat  drumsticks, one at a time, in panko mixture, pressing gently so it adheres. Lightly spray drumsticks with nonstick spray and place on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake until browned and instant-read thermometer inserted into drumstick (not touching bone) registers 165 F, about 35 minutes.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. If you love fried chicken, this recipe is for you. This version of fried chicken is not actually fried, it's oven-fried or baked in the oven. Oven-fried chicken should be moist and flavorful. Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken and adds flavor to it when marinating it. The longer you marinate the chicken in buttermilk, the more flavorful it will be. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe and your chicken will still be melt-in-your-mouth delicious. You can also use rosemary, parsley, oregano, or chives in this recipe to. I highly recommend seasoning the chicken with equal portions of salt and freshly ground black pepper for taste. This chicken is perfect for a picnic or as elegant comfort food for company or movie night.