Spinach Artichoke Gratin - Zero Points on WW (1 point with 1 Tbsp. Kraft Parmesan)

 

The Ingredients

This is amazing and will fill your spinach artichoke bill! 

2 cups fat free cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 4 tbp. Kraft Parmesan (light and regular are same points, this addition is optional however), 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. ground pepper, 1 handful of fresh spinach leaves, 1/2-whole can of water packed artichokes.

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In a blender mix up the cottage cheese, eggs, parmesan, lemon juice, nutmeg and pepper until smooth.

To cook spinach you can either, coat a frying pan with cooking spray and saute the spinach until soft and wilted or you can put spinach on a paper towel on a plate and microwave for 2 minutes or more until soft.  In the microwave the paper towel will absorb the water in the spinach. When it's done, cut up into small pieces.

Drain artichokes and cut up into small pieces and squeeze any excess water out with paper towel.

Add the wilted spinach and the artichokes to the cottage cheese mixture and stir.

Spray coat an  8X8 baking dish and scoop the gratin/dip into it.  Evenly sprinkle the 4 tbsp. of parmesan over gratin/dip.

Pop into a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes.

Lavash Chips

To make your chips, I used 1 whole lavash wrap but you can use any low calorie tortilla, just make sure you know the point value if you are following along with the WW plan.

Put the lavash wrap onto a cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray and season with whatever you like, rosemary and sea salt is nice.  Now you can either fold the lavash wrap in half and cook, spraying a little more with cooking spray and adding more seasoning if you want or you can leave as is.  Folding it over just makes it thicker for dipping, however if you don't fold it, you can easily spoon the dip onto it to prevent breaking.  Before you bake the lavash however, with a knife, cut into square or triangle chips if you are skilled, lol!

1/4 of the pan is 1 point with the parmesan cheese, zero without the cheese.  One whole lavash is 2 points and obviously 1/2 the lavash is 1 point.

Now bake in a 350 oven until it is the desired crispness that you like.  For me it was about 10-12 minutes.

This is amazing!  Enjoy.

No Fat Green Goddess Dressing (No Fat Greek Yoghurt Base) Zero Points on WW

Ok, this is just pure heaven and of course there is a reason why they call it green goddess - because you will absolutely feel like one after having it!  But also, you are using a lot of herbs (choose your favorite light and springy ones) This no fat version is perfection.  I used cilantro and dill.  Not everyone loves cilantro, but maybe you will like tarragon instead?  Pick your herb and refrigerate after you make it.  I put it over a Chilean shrimp salad and it was amazing.

Get your blender out and put the following ingredients in it:

1 cup 0% fat plain Greek Yoghurt, 1 cup of fresh dill, 1 cup fresh cilantro, 1/2 cup fresh parsley (or you can add 1 cup parsley, 1 cup cilantro, 1 cup dill, 1 cup tarragon to get really herby!), 2 green onion, sliced, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. capers, 2 roasted garlic cloves (or 2 garlic cloves), pinch salt and pinch of pepper.  

Blend away until creamy and smooth, taste and add any extras you might like.  

Keep in the refrigerator to use at your pleasure over salad or crudites!

Feta Chickpea Shakshuka (Poached Eggs in Diced Tomatoes) Perfect for WW Diet

Getting Started on Weight Watchers!  I LOVE IT!

I absolutely LOVE the new WW program.  There are 200 free foods that you can eat that is not counted as Weight Watchers points and that includes chicken, turkey, tofu, eggs, beans, edamame, pineapple, cherries, apples, squash, mushrooms, fat free cottage cheese and fat free Greek Yogurt.  Of course that is a very small list but it is worth getting the app on your phone.  It will become your little best friend as you have fun tracking your meals, water, activity points, etc.  You get 23 points a day to spend as you wish and 28 extra per week!  You also get extra points for activity and if you can't eat all your points in a day, some of them will roll over and he added to your weeklies (these are your extra points that will be added to your 28).  I will leave it to you to do the research on it and join if you like however I am going to be posting very low point meals over the next three months.  

Feta Chickpea Shakshuka

Here is a dish I've been making for years, however have added extra zero point ingredients to it for extra flavor and fun!  The ENTIRE 12 inch PAN is only 3 points.  That includes 2 tablespoons of feta cheese that was sprinkled over top.  In fact, without the feta cheese, this ENTIRE PAN is zero points and can easily be packed away and put in the refrigerator to have already prepared leftovers you can eat all weekend.  I added four eggs to my dish, but you can certainly add at least another 2 to this dish.  this is a big frying pan, probably 12 inches around.  You will never be hungry and you can use your extra points for dessert or wine!  Bon Appetite!  Enjoy!

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Get our your frying pan and spray with non-stick cooking spray.  I also always make 1/4 cup chicken broth to put into the pan to add flavor and also use as a sautee agent.  but this is what I made.  

Add 1/2 diced red onion, 4 large sliced mushrooms to pan and cook until soft.  Add 1 whole tin (796 ml) of diced no sugar added tomatoes.  Then add 1 tbsp. of good balsamic vinegar and stir over medium heat allowing for some of the liquid to reduce.  Once the liquid has reduced by about 1/4 add 1/2 to 1 cup canned chickpeas (drained), 1/2 cup canned corn (drained)  and 1/2 to 1 cup edamame beans.  Continue to stir and add 1 tbsp. smoked paprika, 1/2 tbsp. garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.  Top with 1/4 cup cilantro leaves (optional) and 6 basil leaves torn and sprinkled over.  

Make a well for each egg, crack and pour in the egg.  I made 4 but you can add up to 6 if you have room in the pan.

Sprinkle evenly with 2 tbsp. crumbled reduced fat feta cheese.  Put a lid over it and cook on medium low for about 15 minutes or until eggs are the consistency you like.

Absolutely delicious!