photo credit: babybites

The perfect, quick weeknight dinner recipe, this delicious Sweet and Sour Beef Cabbage Soup is not only super easy to prepare in a pinch, you get a whole 2 cup serving for just 5 Points +! And it’s nice to enjoy such a satisfying dish without using up so many Weight Watchers Points, so that means there’s room for dessert :). Bulked up with veggies, trimmed down with extra lean beef, and drowning in a tangy, sweet & sour broth, this soup is oh so flavorful and very filling. With the winter weather really kicking in, this hot and hearty soup is a great low calorie meal idea!

Sweet and Sour Beef Cabbage Soup Recipe

Healthy, hearty, and incredibly flavorful, this tasty Sweet and Sour Beef Cabbage Soup Recipe gets a lot of bang for its buck. Each 2 cup serving has just 5 Points +, making it a very satisfying meal without using up too many Points.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 25 minute(s)

Diet tags: Low calorie, Reduced fat, Reduced carbohydrate, High protein

Number of servings (yield): 6

Culinary tradition: Russian

Entire recipe makes 6 servings
Serving size is 2 cups
Each serving = 5 Points +

PER SERVING: 198 calories; 3 g fat; 20 g carbohydrates; 22 g protein; 4 g fiber ]]> http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/12/05/sweet-and-sour-beef-cabbage-soup-recipe/feed/ 1 http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/04/07/hamburger-macaroni-casserole-recipe/ http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/04/07/hamburger-macaroni-casserole-recipe/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:21:51 +0000 LaaLoosh http://www.laaloosh.com/?p=4296 Seeking a yummy, low calorie comfort food recipe? Then you came to the right post today, people! If you’ve ever indulged in any of the processed, high sodium, deliciously unhealthy Hamburger Helper Recipes, then you know what I’m talking about when I say that no matter how fattening/bad for you/practically poison those Hamburger Helper Macaroni Casseroles are, they sure do taste yummy. So instead, I played around with some recipes, and came up with this rockin’ version. Super high in fiber, high in protein and way low in fat, this delicious dish not only tastes great, it’s pretty good for you too! With the addition of some veggies and using better quality pasta and ground beef, Hamburger Macaroni Casserole Recipes can be indulged in once again! Enjoy!

photo credit: dinnercakes

As a Weight Watcher, I assumed my days of regular pasta eating were behind me, but this low calorie Baked Ziti Recipe has given me a way to enjoy a much beloved Italian dish, without sacrificing too many of my Weight Watchers points. Simply by subbing out a few of the higher calorie ingredients for lower calorie versions, I was able to make this baked ziti pasta with just a 5 Point Total per serving, yet maintain it’s fabulous taste. And though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Pasta Recipes, anyone who is looking for a lower point version of Baked Ziti with Ground Beef, will love this recipe!

Baked Ziti Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:
- 12 oz Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta (I used the penne noodles)
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
- 1 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup yellow onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 lb extra lean ground beef (96/4)
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp rosemary
- salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add onions and garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
Add the oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and mushrooms and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked pasta. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining pasta and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Cut into 6 pieces.

Entire recipe makes 6 servings
Serving size is 1 piece
Each serving = 5 Point Total

I have seriously been on a Chinese food recipes obsession lately. I can’t stop fantasizing about them!! My favorite Chinese restaurant makes this super yummy Mu Shu Beef dish, but it’s NOT a Weight Watchers friendly meal. So I decided to experiment a bit and come up with a slimmer version of this delicious dish. These Moo Shu Beef Lettuce cups pack all the flavor and zing of traditional moo shu beef recipes, but it’s a lot leaner. And because it’s in a lettuce cup, it’s portion controlled, which can help keep you from going overboard. Though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Chinese Food Recipes, it’s a meal that is sure to be appreciated by dieting Chinese food lovers!!

Mu Shu Beef Lettuce Cups

Ingredients:
- 16 oz extra-lean ground beef (96/4)
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup fat free beef broth
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced bell pepper
- 1/2 cup bean sprouts
- 1 cup sliced bok choy
- 3 tbsp fresh ginger root (minced)
- 3 tbsp fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 8 bibb lettuce leaves, washed and dried
**please note that in the photo, I used romaine lettuce because the store was out of bibb lettuce. You can use either, but the bibb lettuce is firmer, which makes these moo shu beef cups much easier to eat ;)

Directions:
Spray a large skillet with non-fat cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook beef, garlic, ginger, onion and cook until beef is brown. Make sure to break up the beef into crumbles as you cook it. Add remaining ingredients (except for lettuce leaves) and stir fry for about 5 minutes. Fill each lettuce leaf with approx 3/4 cup of beef stir fry.

Entire Recipe makes 4 servings
Serving size = 2 Mu Shu Beef Lettuce Cups
Each serving = 4 Points +

PER SERVING: 180 calories; 4.5g fat; 0 carbohydrates; 28g protein; 2g fiber

Tostada Salads have always been a favorite Mexican food of mine. There’s just something about that crunchy shell that I adore! However, in traditional tostada salad recipes, the shell is fried, thus adding tons of fat, calories and weight watchers points. My slimmed down version has just a 7 Point Total, (for the entire dish) and still offers that yummy, crunchy shell – but baked, not fried. Plus, it’s loaded with fiber! And the best part, is that is still has all the delicious flavors of the ground beef tostada salad that you would buy from your favorite Mexican restaurant. Though this is not an official one of Weight Watchers Salad Recipes, it’s a fabulous meal idea for any one who wants a low calorie Mexican recipe!

Beef and Spinach Matzo Casserole Passover Recipe

Ingredients:
- 4 plain Matzo crackers
- 1 1/2 pound raw, extra lean ground beef (96/4)
- 6 cups (packed) baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 (14-ounce) cans artichoke hearts, drained
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 29 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp minced fresh sage
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.Add beef and saute until browned, about 6 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drain and set aside. Add artichokes, spinach, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano, salt, pepper and paprika to skillet. Saute until spinach is tender and sauce reduces and thickens, about 15 minutes. Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Place 2 pieces of matzo in bottom of pan; spread 3 cups meat sauce on top. Place remaining 2 pieces of matzo on top; add on remaining meat sauce. Bake about 30 minutes. Let sit for five minutes before cutting into 8 pieces with a sharp knife.

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is 1 piece
Each serving = 5 Point Total

photo credit: earl and pearl

It’s no surprise that the creamy dips, greasy chips, fried finger foods, and super-sized sandwiches usually served at Superbowl parties are not diet or health-friendly. The good news is that with a few recipe makeovers, all the flavors of football can be savored without wreaking havoc on your New Year’s weight-loss resolutions. So today, I’m sharing one of the YUMMIEST meatball recipes EVER. These Crock Pot BBQ Meatballs are crazy delicious and still pretty low in Points Total. They are a perfect Superbowl party food that will be adored by weight watchers and non-weight watchers alike. They stay nice and warm and moist in your crock pot, and the spicy BBQ sauce adds such a nice flavor to the meat. And with just a 2 Point Total per serving, these make a great appetizer recipe. Or, double the size of your meatballs, and serve it as a main dish recipe! Though not an official one of Weight Watchers Superbowl Recipes, these barbecue meatballs will definitely be a hit with all weight watching Superbowl snackers, and makes a great Superbowl party food idea.

Crock pot BBQ Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds extra lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup uncooked quick oats
- 1/4 cup dry red wine
- 1/4 cup liquid egg whites
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the meat, eggs, garlic, parsley, oregano, onions, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, soften the oats with the wine for 10 minutes Add the oats and wine to the meat mixture and mix well – you will need to do this with your hands in order to get everything incorporated well. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape meatball mixture into sixty 1-inch balls; place on baking sheet.
Bake at 350ºF until cooked through, about 25 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a crock pot to keep warm. Meanwhile, heat barbecue sauce and beef broth over medium-high heat until hot. Pour sauce over cooked meatballs, toss gently and serve. For parties, I just set the crock pot up on the food table, set on warm.

Entire recipe makes 30 servings
Serving size is 2 meatballs
Each serving = 2 Point Total

Stuffed Cabbage is a classic Jewish recipe that makes a great addition to your Hanukkah dinner! Most beef stuffed cabbage recipes can be pretty fattening and caloric, but this slimmed down version is sure to make you jump for joy. Each 2 roll serving has just 6 Weight Watchers Points, and the taste is so amazing, no one will even know that it’s a Weight Watchers recipe! They are very easy to make and they serve as a great dish to take to a holiday gathering or potluck dinner. So if you are looking for a delicious Hanukkah recipe that is tasty, impressive and low in Points, give this one a try – your friends and family are sure to love it!

Weight Watchers Stuffed Cabbage Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1/3 heads Savoy cabbage, about 8 whole leaves
- 1/2 pound uncooked extra lean ground beef (with about 4% fat)
- 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
- 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 medium carrots, peeled and grated
- 1 medium onions, finely chopped
- 1 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 tsp table salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 29 oz canned diced tomatoes, seasoned with basil, garlic and oregano

**Wanna turn this into a 4 Point Weight Watchers Recipe instead? Just substitute the rice for Orzo Miracle Noodle instead! Tastes the same, but you’ll knock 2 whole Weight Watchers Points off of each serving!! Woohoo!!!

Directions:
Wrap cabbage leaves in plastic wrap or moist paper towels and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes, until soft. Cut off the thickest, white portion of the spine of each leaf to make leaves pliable and easy to fold; set aside.
Combine beef, rice, water, bread crumbs, carrot, onion, garlic, egg white, salt and pepper in a large bowl; mix well.
Spoon about 1/4 cup of beef mixture onto center of each leaf. Fold up bottom of leaf to cover filling, tuck in sides and then continue rolling to make loose rolls (rice will expand during cooking so it is important not to roll them too tightly).
Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat; add rolls and saute until golden brown on all sides, turning frequently, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until cooked through, checking pot every 15 minutes and stirring to prevent sticking, about 1 hour. (If sauce thickens or reduces, add water.) Enjoy!

Serving Size = 2 cabbage rolls
Each serving = 6 Weight Watchers Points

When I was young, I was never really a big fan of chili recipes. I always thought there were too many beans. And I hate most beans — lima beans, kidney beans, pinto beans — gross. However, the one type of bean I actually like is black beans. So, determined to find a good chili recipe that I liked, that was easy to make and that was also low calorie, healthy, and made for a good Weight Watchers recipe, I experimented until I developed a healthy chili recipe that was delicious, low calorie and not overcome with beans! This crock pot chili recipe not only tastes amazing, but it’s full of fiber, protein, vitamin A and vitamin C, while still being incredibly low in fat and calories. This is an amazing Weight Watchers chili recipe that your whole family will love. Give it a try!

Crock Pot Black Bean Chili Recipe

Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey breast or extra lean ground beef
1 large onion — finely chopped
2 fresch garlic cloves, minced
1 can (approx 15ox) black beans — rinsed and drained
1 large can (approx 29 oz) diced tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups water
1 small green pepper diced
1 small red pepper diced
1 small yellow pepper diced
7 oz diced green chilies
1 tbs. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp black pepper

Directions:
In nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook ground meat and garlic until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer meat to Crock Pot. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Cook on “high” for 4 hours; remove lid and stir quickly halfway through. Enjoy!

Serves 8.
Each serving = 4 Weight Watchers Points

One of my most favorite 4th of July BBQ foods is a good old fashioned, fresh from the grill hamburger or cheeseburger! Unfortunately, those burgers can come with some pretty hefty nutritional stats. But my recipe is so amazingly delicious, it will knock your socks off! And don’t worry — it’s not a veggie burger or even a turkey burger — it’s a real, honest-to-goodness real beef hamburger! It’s the perfect Weight Watchers Fourth of July recipe to use if you are following the Weight Watchers plan, but still want to partake in all the holiday BBQ yumminess! This is definitely you’ll want to add to your 4th of July picnic’s menu!

4th of July Hamburger Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package of Wonder Light Hamburger Buns (8 buns in package)
32 oz. extra lean ground beef (it should be around 140 calories for 4 oz)
1/4 cup egg whites
1 packet of dry ranch seasoning/salad mix
4 minced garlic gloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, egg whites, ranch seasoning mix, garlic, and salt and pepper together, until thoroughly blended. Form meat into 8 flat and thin hamburger shaped patties. Barbecue on the grill until desired level of cooking is reaching. Place patty on bun and garnish. Enjoy!

*You can garnish your hamburger with any of the following and it will not affect the Weight Watchers Points value: lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, jalapeños, roasted peppers, or mushrooms.
**Make it a cheeseburger by adding a slice of reduced fat swiss or cheddar cheese, and add on 1 additional Weight Watchers Point

Serves 8.
Each serving = 4 Weight Watchers Points