Noodles on the Skinny Side ... Spaghetti Pie

On my goal for the year is to get back on the healthy side I have been really good about meal planning.  On that planning I've been looking at weight watcher meals that will help me and also be good dinners for the boys.  I hit up my favorite websites for ideas.  I went to Emily Bites for Spaghetti Pie.  Mine is not as pretty as her's but it sure was yummy!

I skipped the spaghetti noodles for fettuccine noodles that where rice noodles, because that was all I could find at Grocery Outlet.  Well they had spaghetti noodles but not whole wheat ones so I used the rice fettuccine noodles.  I'm trying to stay away from carbs where I can and go for gluten free options if possible.  I mixed everything up instead of saving some sauce to top in the end, what can I say I'm all about the easy!

Spaghetti Pie

Ingredients:

10 oz dry wheat or high fiber thin spaghetti

¾ lb 95% lean ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

8 oz can tomato sauce

15 oz can crushed tomatoes

½ teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, cut into cubes

1/3 cup fat free cottage cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup shredded 2% Mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400. Lightly mist a deep dish 9” pie plate with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. As soon as spaghetti is done cooking (while it’s still hot), start step 4.

3. While the water is boiling for step one, bring a large skillet or saute pan over medium high heat and add the ground beef. Break the beef up with a large spoon or spatula and add the onion, salt and pepper. Cook until beef is browned and onions are cooked (about 5-7 minutes). Add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Stir in the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, oregano and Italian Seasoning and reduce the heat to simmer for about 10 minutes.

4. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and add the cream cheese cubes back into the empty pot. Cover the cream cheese cubes with the hot pasta and stir/toss to melt the cheese and coat the pasta. Add the cottage cheese, Parmesan and ¼ cup of the Mozzarella and toss until well combined. Add 2 cups of the meat sauce from step 3 and stir to coat. Continue to warm the additional sauce on low on the stove top.

5. Transfer the spaghetti mixture from the pot into the pie plate and press it down with a spatula and smooth the top. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of Mozzarella over the top of the spaghetti pie and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until cooked through and cheese is bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes after cooking and cut the pie into 6 even wedges. Serve each wedge with ¼ cup of the meat sauce spooned over the top. 

Yields 6 servings. WW P+: 9 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 380 calories, 45 g carbs, 11 g fat, 30 g protein, 7 g fiber

Enjoy you will love this one!

Something to keep your belly warm in this cold season.

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

 

Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce (Ideal Protein Recipe Ph 1-4)

After being on this diet (Ideal Protein) it has been trying to find meals for dinner that I would love to eat let alone my family wants to eat too.  Most nights I make my meal and then make something for them that they would like.  I have been able to come across a few great recipes and the one I found that the whole family would eat is a Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce.  I had mine on some lean ground turkey, the boys had egg noddles (a no no for me but they can splurge).

Ingredients:

1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey (I used Turkey)
8 large tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped (I used red)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic

2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
¼ tsp Red pepper flakes
½ cup water (I skipped this)

(optional) chopped Mushrooms (I Skipped this)

1 zucchini (I added this in for a little extra green)

2 pkg of Truvia/Splenda (this is something I added)

Brown turkey or lean ground beef, add garlic powder while cooking meat for more flavorful sauce, drain off any fat, add all vegetables and water, except tomatoes. Cook on low with lid until vegetables are cooked through. ** Alexis Note:  I decided to add all the veggies to my ninja and whirl them around (the boys aren't big on chunky sauce). **

In a magic bullet or blender (I used my Ninja), puree 6 of the tomatoes, add the Italian seasoning, garlic, red pepper flakes, and give it another little whirl.  Add in a zucchini sliced up at this time and the Splenda if you want it to be a little sweet. You need to boil this for about 20 minutes and skim off the water and froth. Pour into cooked ground turkey or ground beef mixture, turn on low heat. Chop remaining 2 tomatoes however small or large you like your chunks in sauce, add to mixture and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Makes 4-6 cups of sauce. Can freeze leftovers for later use.  ** Alexis Note: I just puree'd all the tomatoes (again my boys aren't big on chunky sauce). **

Enjoy this is one of the best sauce's I have had in a long time, it's so nice knowing it is healthy.

Turkey Burger with a Twist

On Pinterest the other day I saw a Turkey Burger filled with veggies!  I started a new diet this week to try to jazz things up a bit.  The diet is a very low calorie and no carbs, this is a hard one for me but I'm on week two and holding strong!  I even held out and ate the dinner I brought while getting my hair done and everyone at some yummy pizza.  Oh man it was hard but held strong.  I hate when I'm dieting to make everyone suffer with me so I try to find meals that they would like too.  I found this Turkey Burger with Veggies in it.   The veggies they used are not on my allowed veggie list so I tweaked it a little and it came out very yummy.  I added cheese to the boys burgers which they of coursed loved, and just a little grumbled at bit about ground turkey.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey meat (prefer thigh meat)
1 Red Bell Pepper (This is what I added)

1/2 Bundle Green Onion (This is what I added)
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced (or whatever fresh herbs you like)
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt (I used Sea Salt)

1 tsp Mrs. Dash (I added this)
1 tsp pepper
cheese (optional)

* Original recipe: I omitted - 1 medium red onion, finely chopped

Mix ingredients together and form 4-6 patties. Grill on medium heat for 7 minutes a side. 2 minutes before burgers are done, place a slice of cheese (optional) on each patty. Serve hot.

Hope you enjoy!

Tuesday’s Friends–Chicken Parm Subs with handmade bun

The other week I made a really good sandwich for our friends.  Of course I came across our meal idea on Pinterest.  This Chicken Parmesan Sub was found on one of my favorite sites Eating Well.  I search Pinterest for their recipes all the time since they are low fat and family pleasing.

The recipe called for whole wheat sandwich rolls, but you know me I rather make my own when I can.  So I found this bread machine roll recipe on all recipes which is another good source.

Ingredients

• 3 cups bread flour (I used whole wheat)
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup dry milk powder
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Place the bread flour, sugar, salt, milk powder, water, butter, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set on Dough cycle; press Start.
2. Remove risen dough from the machine, deflate, and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces, and form into rounds. Place the rounds on lightly greased baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. In a small bowl, mix together the egg white and 2 tablespoons water; brush lightly onto the rolls. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.

Then on to the chicken and making of the subs.  This was pretty easy and man they sure would yummy!

Chicken Parmesan Sub

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 large breasts cut into 4 portions or 4 small breasts), (2 large breasts cut into 4 portions or 4 small breasts)
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 6-ounce bags baby spinach
• 1 cup marinara sauce, preferably low-sodium (see Tip)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
• 4 soft whole-wheat sandwich rolls, toasted

PREPARATION

1. Position oven rack in top position; preheat broiler.
2. Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Place chicken between 2 large pieces of plastic wrap. Pound with the smooth side of a meat mallet or a heavy saucepan until the chicken is an even 1/4-inch thickness. Dip the chicken in the flour mixture and turn to coat.
3. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook, stirring often, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
4. Add 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. Add half the chicken and cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and chicken; transfer to the baking sheet.
5. Top each piece of chicken with the wilted spinach, marinara sauce and Parmesan. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Broil until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Serve on rolls.

(I just baked my chicken then added the spinach and cheese in the oven, I’m about the easy version.  So I skipped the putting the chicken in the pan on the stove top).

So there you have it an easy meal and something new then just the regular chicken dinner!  Happy Monday have a great day!

A Skinny Dip that is to die for …

I made a very yummy dip that was served at the party, it wasn’t a lego themed so it deserves it’s own post .. lol.  Really this was the best one I think I’ve had in a long time.  The part was it was easy to make.  Maybe a little bit to yummy because if you eat the whole thing it really isn’t skinny ... hehe.

Skinny Pool Side Dip

• 1 red pepper
• 2 jalapeño's (unseeded)
• 1 can of corn (drained)
• 1/2 can diced olives
• 16 oz fat-free cream cheese (2 pkgs softened)
• 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch dip seasoning mix.

I put the pepper, jalapeño's and black olives in my mini ninja to chop them up.  I then added everything in my kitchen aid mixer to do the stirring for me.  You could do the chopping and mix by hand but I was being lazy.  I severed with Kellogg's Cracker Chips.

This was a HUGE hit at the party!  I promise you even the kids will eat it up.  Perfect dip for any party or heck if you just want to sit around and have a yummy treat for yourself!