Chicken Fajita Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 cup sliced onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium bell pepper, sliced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 1/2 cup cooked cauliflower rice
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
• 2 tbsp. chopped cilantro

Makes 4 Servings (1 bowl per serving)

1.  Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. 
2. Pat the chicken dry. Dice into 1/2-inch pieces and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Place it in the hot skillet and brown it for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set it aside, reserving the grease in the pan. 
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the onion is translucent. 
4. Whisk together tomato paste, lime juice, chipotle chili powder, chicken broth, and salt and pepper to taste into small bowl. 
5. Add this mixture along with the cooked chicken and the black beans to the veggies in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened. 
6. Divide cauliflower rice into 4 bowls; then top with mixture from the pan. Garnish with the cheese and cilantro. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Don't worry if this dish looks like a mess. It's actually quite filling and delicious. You can enjoy fajitas without the tortilla. The chicken is seasoned with salt, freshly ground pepper and paprika and it's so succulent and juicy. The sautéed vegetables go great with the chicken and the cauliflower rice. Cauliflower rice is just shredded cauliflower and you'll never know the difference between regular rice and cauliflower rice. The 'tomato sauce' goes very well in this dish too. This fajita bowl will quickly become a favorite at your kitchen table.

Chicken and Tomatillo Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. tomatillos, husked and rinsed
• 1 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
• 12 tbsp. shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
• 12 tbsp. fat-free sour cream

Makes 6 Servings (2 enchiladas per serving)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch dish or casserole dish with nonstick spray.
2. Put tomatillos in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Stir together tomatillos, scallions, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, salt and pepper in a large shallow bowl.
3. Dip both sides of 1 tortilla into tomatillo mixture. Place tortilla on foil on work surface; top with about 1/4 cup of chicken, 1/2 tablespoon of Mexican cheese blend, and 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Fold two opposite sides of tortilla over to enclose filling. Place enchilada, seam side down, in prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas, chicken, 5 1/2 tablespoons of cheese, and sour cream, making total of 12 enchiladas. Pour remaining tomatillo mixture over enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining 6 tablespoons cheese.
4. Cover baking dish with foil. Bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake until heated through, about 10 minutes longer.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Family Meals Cookbook. Mexican food is a wonderful comfort food that can be enjoyed during the cold winter months. Don't be intimidated by tomatillos. Tomatillos are called Mexican green tomatoes and belong to the tomato family. They look like small green tomatoes but they have papery husks on them which you can peel off. This casserole is flavorful and delicious. You can even used boneless, skinless turkey breast in place of the chicken and the casserole will still be delicious. I highly recommend using sharp cheddar or Monterey jack cheese in this recipe for a sharp, Mexican flavor.

Acorn Squash and Two-Bean Gratin

Ingredients:

• 1 small acorn squash (10-12 ounces)
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15.5 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 4 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 3 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese
• 1/4 cup hulled pumpkin seeds

Makes 4 Servings (2 cups per serving)

1. Heat the oven to 450 F Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
2. Meanwhile, halve the acorn squash lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds and stringy strands. Thinly slice the squash crosswise, leaving the skin on.
3. Place the squash in the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain.
4. While the squash is cooking, in a large bowl, stir together the black beans, pinto beans, lime juice, oil, chili powder, coriander, oregano, and salt.
5. Add the drained squash and the tomatoes to the bean mixture and toss. Transfer to a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 10 minutes, or until piping hot.
6. Uncover, top with cheese and seeds, and bake for 5 minutes longer, or until the cheese has melted. Serve hot.

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Super-Quick Cookbook. This colorful dish can be enjoyed as a side dish or as a meatless main dish. This vegetarian gratin has four servings of vegetables, is flavorful and has the toppings of melted cheese topped with pumpkin seeds. A typical gratin has melted cheese topped with bread crumbs. The pumpkin seeds add some crunch to the gratin. Don't be intimidated by this dish. It may look a little messy but the end result is delicious. 

Easy Chili Con Queso

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. canola oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-2 tsp. chili seasoning mix
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1 cup cooked chicken
• 4 (6 inch) whole-wheat tortillas
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese

Makes 4 Servings

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chili seasoning and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the flavors are blended, about 3 minutes. Add the corn and chicken; return to a simmer and cook, about 2 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, spray a 7-inch skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the tortillas, one at a time, and cook until lightly toasted, 1-2 minutes on each side. Cut each tortilla into 4 wedges.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Serve the chili with the toasted tortilla triangles.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW Ultimate Chicken Cookbook. This is a whole new take on chili. Chili is a comfort food to enjoy during the cold winter months and it can be good for you and taste good too. This chili is simple yet flavorful. When you cook the chicken, don't forget to season the chicken with salt, freshly ground pepper and minced garlic to make the chili more flavorful. If you don't have taco seasoning, use dark chili powder and ground cumin and your chili will be flavorful.

Southwestern Fritatta

Ingredients:

• nonstick olive oil spray
• 8 eggs
• 2 tbsp. canned diced green chili peppers or jalapeno peppers
• 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 2 slices Canadian bacon, cut into thin strips, or 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham
• 2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 2 oz. reduced-fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese (1/2 cup)
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Makes 6 Servings

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, jalapenos, pepper, and bacon. Set aside.
2. Lightly coat a large skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat.
3. Pour egg mixture into the skillet; do not stir. Add the tomatoes and cheese on top. As eggs set, run a spatula around the edge of a skillet, lifting eggs so uncooked portions flows underneath. Continue cooking and lifting edges until eggs are almost set (surface will be moist).
4. Place the skillet under a heated broiler 6-7 inches from the heat and cook for 2 minutes, or until the eggs are just set. Slide the frittata onto a large serving plate and serve. Garnish with cilantro.

 

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Sonoma Cookbook. The original recipe was a Southwestern Breakfast Strata but you can make it into a frittata with some minor changes. Fritattas are a great way to kick-start your healthy lifestyle or if you fell off the bandwagon and you want to lose those pesky pounds. This frittata contains two kinds of vegetables, two kind of protein and cheese so these ingredients will fill you up and not leave you hungry. Friattas are just as healthy as stratas and you can enjoy them anytime of the day and at any stage of your diet/lifestyle. If you make these on the weekend or for a weeknight dinner, you can enjoy them throughout the week or for breakfast the next day.

Tamale Casserole

Ingredients:

• 4 tsp canola oil
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 red onions, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded deveined and minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 lb. ground turkey breast
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2-1 tsp hot Mexican chili powder
• 2 cups water
• 2/3 cup stone-ground yellow cornmeal
• 1/3 cup shredded fat-free Monterey Jack Cheese

Makes 4 Servings

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Saute the bell pepper, onions, jalapeno and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the turkey and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5-8 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, corn, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and the chili powder; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring once or twice, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Transfer to an 8-inch-square baking dish.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup of the water and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil. In a medium bowl, whisk the cornmeal into the remaining 1 cup water. Slowly pour the moist cornmeal into the boiling water in a thin steady stream, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes back to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to form large bubbles, about 5 minutes. Spread over the turkey so that it is completely covered. Bake 25 minutes,  then sprinkle with the cheese and bake until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

WW POINTS VALUE: 6 pts (1/4 of casserole per serving)

 

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish made of different fillings such as chopped meat and vegetables. They are coated with masa, a traditional Hispanic cornmeal dough, and wrapped in a cork husk that is tied and steamed until the dough is cooked through. This version eliminates the corn husks and is made into a casserole. This comfort foos may look like a hot mess but it is absolutely delicious. This casserole is filled with lean protein and veggies and will quickly fill you up. You can use ground chicken or ground turkey in this recipe and the casserole will still be delicious. If you don't have any canola oil on hand, I highly recommend using Chipotle Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Imperial Olive in Williamsburg, VA because it will give the casserole an extra kick of heat. For more info, visit www.TheImperialOlive.com. 

Baked Turkey and Jack Cheese Chimichangas

Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• 1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
• 16 oz. fat-free canned refried beans
• 1 3/4 cups salsa
• 4 1/2 oz. canned mild green chili peppers, drained and diced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 3 tbsp scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
• 8 large whole-wheat tortillas
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Makes 8 Servings

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Coat a 13- X 9- X 2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Add turkey to skillet and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from pan and then add beans, 1 3/4 cups of salsa, chili peppers, chili powder and scallions. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes; stir in cheese.
3. Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in foil; warm in oven for 10 minutes.
4. Assemble chimichangas by spooning about 1/2 cup of turkey mixture onto each tortilla; fold in sides and roll up.
5. Place chimichangas, seam-side down, in prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, until tortillas are crisp and browned, about 20 minutes. Serve each topped with 2 tablespoons of salsa and 1 tablespoon of sour cream.

WW POINTS VALUE: 5pts

 

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. Who doesn't love comfort food whether it was Italian, Mexican, Chinese, etc? I was really craving comfort food with lean protien and I've always wanted to try these. These Chimichangas really hit the spot. They were so delcious and filling and I thoroughly enjoyed them. You don't need to fry this traditional Mexican comfort food. Bake the tortillas until they are lightly browned and crisp. The filling of this comfort food is so delicious with the cheese melted in with the salsa, beans, veggies and turkey. I highly recommend making your own salsa because it's fresh and you know what's in it. You can also use any kind of Mexican cheese in this dish and it  will still be delicious and you can also substitute black beans in place of the refried beans. I also highly recommend using fresh jalapeno peppers in place of the canned green chili peppers for a more authentic Mexican taste. Also, use as much sour cream as you'd like because you'll need it to cool off the heat in your mouth.

 



Huevos Rancheros Omelets

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 spray, cooking spray
• 1/2 cup fat-free canned refried beans
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 4 large egg whites
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp skim milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp olive oil, divided
• 20 baked low-fat tortilla chips, coarsely crushed and divided
• 1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1/4 cup green chili sauce
• 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

Makes 4 Servings

1. Cook onion in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat about 4 minutes or until tender. Add beans and cumin; cook about 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Set aside and keep warm.
2. Combine egg whites and next four ingredients in a bowl; stir well with a whisk. Heat 1/4 tsp oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour half of egg mixture into pan. Cook 5 minutes; flip omelet. Spread half of  bean mixture onto half of omelet. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chips and half of cheese. Carefully loosen with a spatula; fold in half. Cook 2 minutes. Slide onto a plate. Spoon half of shili sauce and 1 tbsp of cilantro on omelet. Repeat procedure with remaining 1/4 tsp oilive oil and remaining ingredients. Serve imediately.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 PTS

Note: This recipe appears on http://www.weightwatchers.com/. I was looking for some good egg recipes to try and this looked so good. Plus, I've always wanted to try Huevos Rancheros thanks to Tyler Florence and Bobby Flay. Huevos Rancheros is the official egg dish of Mexico and it is SO good (this recipe). My omelets were not as brown as the last time I made them so I'm improving on that technique! These omelets are perfect for a weekend brunch or for a weeknight dinner because they are so filling and filled with the flavors of Mexico.

Provolone Chicken Melts

Ingredients:

• 4 (6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 slices multigrain bread
• 1 large garlic clove, cut in half or minced
• 1 whole roasted bell pepper (from a jar), cut into 4 pieces (preferably red)
• 4 (3/4 oz.) slices reduced-fat provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
• Salt 
• Freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings

1. Heat oven to broil.
2. Lightly pound each chicken breast to an even thickness and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sauté chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
3. Lay bread slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with remaining oil, and rub with the cut sides of the garlic clove; discard garlic. Place under the broiler until toasted, about 1 minute.
4. Top each bread slice with 1 pepper piece, 1 chicken breast, and 1 cheese slice. Broil until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes. Serve hot.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

 

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook. This recipe is also available on the South Beach Diet online.  This dish was delicoius and can be served for lunch or dinner. I do suggest that you toast the bread before spreading it with olive oil and garlic. If you don't, the bread will get soggy. The aromas of olive oil and garlic is heavenly as always. The taste of chicken, pepper and cheese can be healthy and delicious. This meal is kind kind of like a Philly Steak and Cheese in a cosmopolitan way.

Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 cup skim milk
• 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded American cheese
• 1/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Makes 6 Servings

1. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions; drain and return to the pot.
2. Add the milk, cheddar, Monterey Jack, American Cheese, mozzarella and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until hte cheeses melt, about 5 minutes.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 (generous 1 cup)

Note This recipe appears in the New WW Complete Cookbook. I was super hungry and totaly in the mood for some macaroni and cheese plus I wanted to clean out the fridge. This recipe can be made in about 20 minutes or less. This recipe will work with any shredded cheeses you have in your fridge but be sure that at least one of them is a sharp cheese like cheddar. Sharp cheeses ensure good flavor. Plus, what is macaroni and cheese without cheddar? The pepper also gve this dish an extra kick that anyone will enjoy.

Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. extra lean ground beef or turkey breast
• 1/2 large onion
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1 jar (4 oz.) chopped green chile peppers
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp salt (optional)
• 2 1/2 cups salsa
• 4 whole wheat tortillas (6" in diameter), halved
• 1 1/4 cup (5 oz.) shredded, reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese

Makes 8 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9" X 13" baking dish with cooking spray. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, turning several times, for 5 minutes or until no longer pink.
2. Remove the ground beef or turkey to a medium bowl. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel. Coat the skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add to the ground beef or turkey in the bowl. 
3. In another medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, peppers, cilantro, cumin and salt.
4. Spread 1 cup of the salsa across the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange half of the tortillas evenly over the salsa. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture over the tortillas. Top with half of the ground beef or turkey mixture. Top with 1 cup of the remaining salsa and 1/2 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat the layering sequence with the remaining tortillas, cheese and ground beef or turkey.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Loosely cover with foil if the cheese browns to quickly.

WW POINTS VALUES PER SERVING: 5

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. I've been in the mood for Mexican food all week and this recipe lloked so delicious. I've cooked Italian Spinach Lasagna and Greek Lasagna and so I decided to go for a South-of-the-Border flavor. This dish was so delicious I felt like I was back in Mexico. I also highly recommend adding a pinch of hot sauce to the cottage cheese mixture for more heat and flavor and a mixed array of Mexican cheeses in this lasagna dish. This dish is even perfect for Cinco de Mayo.  Eat your hearts out Bobby Flay, Jose Garces and Emril Lagasse!

Chicken Fajitas-Eat your heart out, Bobby Flay!!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Pinch crushed red pepper
• 10 oz. skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• 4 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 4 (6-inch) fat-free tortillas
• 1/2 cup salsa, for garnish
• 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream, for garnish
• 1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (optional)
• Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Makes 4 Servings

1. 
   
   To prepare the marinade, in a zip-close plastic bag, combine hte lime juice, soy sauce, chili powder and red pepper; add the chicken. Seal the bag, squeezing out the air; turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain and discard the marinade.
2. 
   
   In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tsp of the oil. Saute the bell peppersnand onion until softened, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
3. 
   
   In the skillet, heat the remaining 2 tsp oil. Saute the chicken until cooked through, 3-5 minutes.
4. 
   
   To assemble the fajitas, soften the tortillas according to package directions. Divide chicken and sauteed vegetables among tortillas; garnish with salsa, sour cream, cheese and cilantro. Fold up bottom edge of each tortilla, then left and right sides to enclose the filling.

WW POINTS VALUE PER SERVING : 4 (1 Fajita)

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. I was in the mood for Mexican food and this recipe looked too godd tot pass up. This dish was so filling and delicious. Mexican food is known to be fattening but this recipe doesn't make you feel guilty when you eat it. If you don't have a green and red bell pepper available, 2 cups mixed red, green and yellow bell peppers will work just as well. Picante sauce works just as well as salsa. I added the shredded three cheeses to the fajitas for more flavor and it was a wise move. Now that I'm quite the cosmopolitan cook, I have something to say to Iron Chef Bobby Flay: Eat your heart out and I can't wait to challenge you to a throwdown!!

Monterey Jack Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:

• 3/4 lb ground skinless turkey breast (or ground pork or sirloin)
• 2 shallots finely chopped
• 1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp ketchup (or tomato paste)
• 1 tsp minced fresh garlic
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• 4 strips turkey  bacon (optional)
• 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
• 1 tomato, cut into 4 slices

Makes 4 servings

1. In a large bowl, combine the meat, shallots, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and pepper. Blend in the cheese, then form into 4 burgers.
2. Heat an indoor reidged grill sprayed with non-stickcooking spray. Cook the burgers until cooled through, 6-8 minutes on each side. When you turn the burgers, add the bacon to the grill; cook until crisp, 3-4 minutes on each side. Serve the burgers in the buns, with the bacon and tomato slices.

WW POINTS PER SERVING: 6 per Burger

Note: This recipe appears in the WW New Complete Cookbook. The Weight Watcher burgers are just as delicious as the South Beach burgers. You can substitute ground pork or ground sirloin instead of ground turkey. You can also substitute tomato paste for the ketchup. Save the ketchup for the burger condiments. Mixing the cheese into the meat adds moisture as well as flavor. I guarantee you will never eat at a fast food joint after having these kind of healthy burgers.

Double Cheese and Macaroni: another kind of gourmet Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups small bow tie pasta

1 1/2 cups skim milk

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp mustard powder

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion, drained

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack Cheese

chopped fresh parsley (optional)

 

Makes 4 Servings

1. 
   
   Cook the bow tie pasta according to the package directions, omitting the salt as desired; drain and keep warm.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Meanwhile, whisk together the milk, cornstarch, mustard, and pepper in a large saucepan until smooth, then set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses; cook, stirring, just until melted. Stir in the pasta and cook until heated through, about 1 minute longer. Serve spirinkled with parsley, if using.
   
   
   WW Points Value: 6
   

Note: This recipe appears in the WW in 20 Minutes Cookbook. It's a great recipe and comfort food for the person on the go. If you can't find a 14 1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes with green pepper and onions, don't worry. Just chop your own onion and pepper and mix it in with the diced tomatoes. No one will know the difference. You can also use any small pasta and cheeses in this dish as well. I've cooked 2 different kinds of Macaroni and Cheese dishes and they have turned out delicious. They are so good they put Kraft and Velveeta Mac & Cheese to shame!