Week 2 Recipes

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Avocado and Tomato

An open faced sandwich on Ciabatta bread with mashed avocado, sliced tomatoes and grilled chicken. A perfect way to use up leftover chicken.

Avocado is a wonderful healthy option in place of mayonnaise and it adds such great flavor. Yesterday I mentioned how good tasting bread is crucial for me in the sandwich making process, and Ciabatta is another fat free option I love to use. Although it's usually fat free, always double check the labels.

I made this an opened open-faced for the photo, then realized once I started eating it that it's easier to eat if it's closed and it's also more portable for lunch on the run. I'll leave that up to you!


Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Avocado and Tomato
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 1 • Size: 1 sandwich • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 252.9 • Fat: 5.3 g • Protein: 18.2 g • Carb: 32.3 g • Fiber: 2.6 g • Sugar: 0.1 g
Sodium: 374 mg (without salt)

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Ciabatta
• 2 tbsp mashed avocado
• 2 oz grilled chicken breast
• 3 slices ripe tomatoes
• salt and fresh pepper to taste

Directions:

Slice bread open and smear mashed avocado on the bread. Season with salt and pepper. Top with tomatoes, chicken and add additional fresh cracked pepper. Enjoy!!

Grilled Chicken Bruschetta

Juicy tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, red onion, garlic and balsamic can turn plain grilled chicken into a delicious weeknight meal in minutes! Make the Bruschetta the night before or early in the morning and let all the flavors marinate, then when you are ready to eat grill some chicken and you have yourself a quick weeknight meal.

Bruschetta is usually served over bread but there really are no limits, you can serve it over pizza, tossed with pasta or wherever your imagination leads you. To quote my husband, "You could serve this over cardboard and it would be good!" We made this a light and simple, low carb, gluten-free dinner and served as pictured, but if you want the carbs this would also be great over whole wheat pasta or even served with some crusty bread to soak up the juice.

A few things I want to mention, recipes that only require a few ingredients really benefit from the quality of the ingredients you use. Use a good extra olive oil, fresh basil and high-quality aged balsamic; it makes all the difference! I've been using imported Saporoso Balsamic vinegar these past few weeks which is absolutely delicious and I'm giving two away on Skinnybits, click here for a chance to win.

My one year old loves poking her little thumbs through my tomatoes so lately every time I grab a tomato I find a little hole in it in case you're wondering about the hole in the photo below...

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 4 oz chicken + tomatoes • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6

Calories: 236.8 • Fat: 8.5 g • Protein: 32.4 g • Carb: 6.8 g • Fiber: 1.3 g • Sugar: 0.5 g
Sodium: 182.9 mg (without the salt)

Ingredients:

• 3 medium vine ripe tomatoes
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp extra virgin oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
• 3 oz part skim mozzarella, diced
• 1.25 lbs (8 thin sliced) chicken cutlets

Directions:

Combine onion, olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper. Set aside a few minutes.

Chop tomatoes and place in a large bowl. Combine with garlic, basil, onion-balsamic combo and additional salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and let it sit at least 10 minutes or as long as overnight. Toss in the cheese when ready to serve.

Season chicken with salt and fresh pepper. Grill the chicken cutlets on your indoor or outdoor grill, top with bruschetta and serve.

Pepper Steak

Strips of beef and peppers are stir fried in a wok to create a delicious main dish, ready in no time!

I love stir fried anything, this pepper steak is always a hit in my house. The key when stir frying is to have all your ingredients chopped and prepped before you start to cook. Once prepped, your meal will be ready in minutes. This is perfect served over white or brown rice.

Pepper Steak
Servings: 4 • Cook Time: 10 minutes • Old Points: 5.5 • Points+: 6
Calories: 235.3 • Fat: 8.9 g • Protein: 35.4 g • Carb: 11.8 g • Fiber: 1.2 g

Ingredients:

• 12 oz top round beef, trimmed to 1/8" fat, prime grade
• 4 tsp plus 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice wine
• 3 tsp cornstarch
• 5 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, sliced into thin strips
• 1 bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:
Slice meat into thin slices with the grain. Cut each strip across the grain about 1" long so you have small thin slices. Place in a bowl and add 4 tsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of rice wine, 1 tsp cornstarch and black pepper.

In a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat the wok on high heat. Swirl in 1 tbsp oil and add the beef spreading evenly in the wok. Cook undisturbed for 20 seconds letting the beef brown. Using a spatula, stir meat, cooking another 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add remaining 2 tsp of oil to wok, add peppers and onions and cook about 2 minutes. Return beef to the wok, add the sauce and red pepper flakes and stir fry about 30 seconds until slightly thickened.

Baked Potato Soup

Everything you love about a baked potato loaded with cheddar, bacon and chives, in the form of a soup!

Baked Potato Soup
Servings: 5 • Size: 1 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 207.6 • Fat: 7.8 g • Carb: 22.5 g • Fiber: 2.4 g • Protein: 11.9 g

• 2 russet potatoes, washed and dried
• 1 small head of cauliflower, stem removed cut into florets
• 1 1/2 cups fat free chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups 1% reduced-fat milk
• salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 10 tbsp reduced-fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 6 tbsp chopped chives, divided
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (you can use turkey bacon if you prefer)

Pierce potatoes with a fork; microwave on high for 5 minutes turn over and microwave another 3 - 5 minutes, until tender. Or if you prefer to use your oven, bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes.

Meanwhile, steam cauliflower with water in a large covered pot until tender. Drain and return to pot. On medium heat, add chicken broth, milk, potatoes and bring to a boil. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Add sour cream, half the chives, salt and pepper and cook on low another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Ladle 1 cup soup into each bowl. Top each serving with 2 tbsp cheese, remaining chives, and bacon.