Chicken Saagwala

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 4 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger root,finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 10 oz. spinach, baby leaves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Makes 4 Servings

1. Place 1 tablespoon of oil, curry powder, coriander, cumin, ginger and garlic in a large nonstick skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until toasted and fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add remaining tablespoon of oil and chicken to skillet; stir to coat with spiced oil.
3. Add tomatoes to skillet; cover skillet and cook for 10 minutes. Uncover skillet and stir to combine.
4. Add spinach to skillet; cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Uncover skillet and stir to combine.
5. Add salt, water and cilantro to skillet; simmer for 1 minute. Yields about 1 1/2 heaping cups per serving.

WW POINTS VALUE 6 pts.

Note: This recipe appear on www.weightwatchers.com. It may not look appealing but it is spicy and delicious.  I think is a different but new and exciting way of making chicken and vegetables for dinner. Indian food is spicy and not really a mystery when you're cooking it. This is a deliciously spicy dish and I highly recommend serving a bland side dish such as rice or raita to cool off your taste buds.



Chocolate Creme Brulee

Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 1/2 cups granular sugar, divided
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa 
• 1 oz unsweetened chocolate square    
• 2 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1/4 cup water                                             

Makes 8 Servings

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Fill the bottom of a roasting pan with 1 inch of water and place in oven.
2. Whisk together eggs, yolk and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium bowl. Combine cocoa, chocolate and half & half cream in a small pot.
3. Heat chocolate mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and steam rises from surface, about 4 to 5 minutes; pour into egg mixture, whisking constantly, then mix in vanilla. Divide among 8 small custard cups; place cups in roasting pan and bake until almost set in the middle, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from oven and chill for at least 3 hours.
4. When cups are thoroughly cooled, mix remaining 1 cup of sugar with 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat; heat, gently swirling pan occasionally off heat, until sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Increase heat to high and cook until mixture is an amber color, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from stovetop and place bottom of pan in cold water to stop the cooking process.
5. Coat a tablespoon with cooking spray. Drizzle 3/4 tablespoon of sugar mixture over each custard cup, tilting cup to spread glaze evenly. Serve immediately.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts.

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. Creme Brulee means  burnt cream in French that is made of a rich custard topped with a hard layer of caramel normally served cold.  The best part is that it doesn't require any special equipment: The sugary glaze cooks on your stovetop. This French-inspired dessert will impress anyone, especially world renowned pasty chef Jacques Torres. He is THE Chocolate King and I think he will be happy you made this.

Chocolate Egg Cream

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup 2% reduced fat milk 
• 2 Tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 cup seltzer water                       

Makes 1 Serving

Pour milk into a tall glass and stir in syrup. Add seltzer and enjoy.

WW POINTS VALUE: 4 pts

Note: This recipe appears on www.weightwatchers.com. The egg cream is what some call the official beverage of New York City and it was created in the 19th Century in Brooklyn by candy store owner Louis Auster. It contains neither eggs nor ice cream and is exclusively a fountain drink. There have been attempt to bottle and sell egg cream but it hasn't been successful. Egg cream should me made fresh and can be made at home and with only 3 ingredients. This is a wonderful treat that can be enjoyed anytime, especially if you're craving a chocolate fix. You can also add your own flavored syrups to this drink but it will probably affect the points value.

South Beach Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. spelt or whole wheat elbow pasta
• 1 tbsp trans-fat free margarine
• 1 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 1/4 cups fat-free half-and-half
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 ( 1 1/2 cup) Servings

1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (tender but still firm to the bite), about 6 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds.
3. While pasta is cooking, melt margarine in a wide, straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add flour, reduce heat to low, and whisk continuously until flour is incorporated and cooked, about 2 minutes. Add half-and-half, bring to a simmer, and cook, whisking frequently, until blended and thickened, 3-5 minutes.
4. Add cheese, salt and pepper; stir until blended. Add pasta and stir until coated and warmed, 1 minute. Transfer to an 8 by 8-inch baking dish and bake for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

WW POINTS VALUE: 7 pts

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Who does not like macaroni and cheese?! I think I may have found the best healthy homemade mac and cheese recipe that will out Kraft and Velveeta out of business. This mac and cheese is very cheesy, rich and creamy and good for you because you know what's in this recipe unlike the boxed mac and cheese you but at the grocery store. Cheddar cheese is mandatory for  mac and cheese but you and also use other cheeses like Monterey Jack, White Cheddar, Colby and any other kind of Mexican cheese or even a combination and it will still be heavenly delicious. 

Baked Catfish with Lemon Aioli

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 lbs. catfish fillets
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Mix together thyme and cayenne and rub onto catfish; season fish on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Lightly coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Bake fish until opaque and cooked throughout, about 14 minutes.
3. While fish is baking, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic in a small mixing bowl to make aioli. Serve fish hot with aioli.

WW POINTS VALUE: 9 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Aioli is a fancy term for garlic mayonnaise that can easily be made at home with any kind of mayonnaise. Aioli is a great sauce for any kind of fish, chicken, steak and vegetarian dish. You can also use any kind of fish with this recipe and it will taste delicious. This dinner is also a quick and easy meal that can be made in under 20 minutes. And they say fast food is not good for you!

T-Bone Steak with Gremolata

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp grated lemon zest
• 4 (1-lb.) T-bone steaks, 3/4-inch thick
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 Servings

1. Combine parsley, garlic, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use (gremolata can be made up to 4 hours ahead.)
2. Season steaks generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 steaks and cook 4 minutes per side for medium-rare; transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil to keep warm, and repeat with remaining steaks. Serve with gremolata.

WW POINTS VALUE: 8 pts.

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook. Gremolata is a traditional Italian garnish that is served with braised veal shanks and other meats. Gremolata is a simple combination of parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Gremolata give the streak a surprisingly vibrant flavor. You can even use the gremolata in salad as well.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 tbsp light brown sugar
• 8 tbsp regular butter, cold, cut into 1/2- inch pieces
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups  powdered sugar, divided
• 3/4 cups fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp lemon zest

Makes 24 Servings

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. To make crust, mix flour and light brown sugar using a food processor until fully incorporated. Toss butter into flour mixture and pulse to combine using short bursts of power until butter is cut into tiny pea-sized pieces and dough appears lumpy. Sprinkle crust mixture onto an ungreased 13 X 9 X 2-inch baking pan as evenly as possible; press down with a spatula to create a packed surface. Place crust in middle of oven and bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, to make lemon topping, beat eggs in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Add vanilla extract and 3/4 cup of powdered sugar; mix well. Add lemon juice and remaining powdered sugar; mix until powdered sugar is completely dissolved and then add zest.
4. As soon as crust is finished, remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 300°F. Immediately pour lemon mixture over hot crust. Bake completely, about 30 minutes; cool, and cut into 24 bars.

 WW POINTS VALUE: 3 pts Yields 1 bar per serving.

Note: This recipe appears on  www.weightwatchers.com. Who does not enjoy lemon bars?!. They make your lips pucker, they're tart yet sweet and they can be served for dessert, at a bake sale or ata casual gathering. Make sure the crust is HOT when you pour in the lemon mixture  so they bars will come out of the pan easily. You can substitute lemon extract for the vanilla for a more tar taste. You can also change the flavor completely by using lime juice and zest instead of lemon.