Time for Thanksgiving!!!

So 3 days from now we will be stuffing our gluttenous faces with yummy Turkey and other scrumptious sides.. The holidays can be a weight watching PT student's nightmare (or paradise, whichever sounds better!). Luckily I have one recipe that I have tested out and found still yummy after being weightwatchified!

On Saturday, my very best friend, and author of The Happiness Pact, had "Friendsgiving." A bunch of friends got together and did a potluck Thanksgiving. I decided to not count points on this lovely evening, hence the PILE of food on my plate

Yeah... definitely went over 21 points that day!! haha But its always okay to give yourself a day (or two this week, oops) to just eat whatever.

Here is the recipe for you to use on Thanksgiving, if you want!

Green Bean Casserole by WW

3 points per serving (1 cup)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of frozen or canned green beans (its up to you!)
• 1 medium onion, chopped.
• 1 tsp sugar
• 12 oz can of Low Fat, Low Sodium Cream of Mushroom Soup.
• 3/4 cup of 2% Low Fat  Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 tsp of Worchestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp of salt (I add this because I feel like it was kinda bland without it...)
• 1/2 cup of french fried onion (the best part!!)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Spray a 8x8 casserole dish with nonstick spray
• Cook the green beans according to their package. Drain and put in large bowl.
• Spray nonstick skillet with nonstick spray. Add sugar and onion and saute on medium-high heat until starting to brown. Transfer to bowl with the green beans. About 5-6 minutes.
• Stir in soup, cheese, worchestershire sauce, salt, and garlic powder. Add to casserole dish.
• Pour french fried onions on top (or in it, its your choice).
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the onions start to brown.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

oh yeah, PS- I've lost 10% of my body weight so far. My goal is about 5 lbs away. It'll probably be about 10 lbs away after this week, but shh....we won't think about that.

Long time no see...

SO SORRY that its taken me forever to post again. School has picked up a lot--and by a lot, I mean I have about 15 assignments due in the next 3 weeks...so it might be 3 weeks before you hear me again... Anyways, last friday I took the time to get away from the books and have a potluck with 2 of my good girlfriends and then go see a movie. I made Baked Beef Ziti.

Baked Beef Ziti, again from WW, tweeked by Chelsea

5 points per serving, serves 8

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp of olive oil
• 2 medium cloves of garlic, minced (or just use the jar version, already minced, like I do)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 28 oz can of Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 cup part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 3/4 lb lean ground beef
• 12 oz whole wheat penne pasta or ziti (if you can find it, I just use penne since it looks like ziti)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta and drain, set aside
• While the pasta is cooking, put oil and a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for about 2 minutes.
• Add beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat off meat and place back over heat.
• Add the oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper to beef and stir until coated. Let it cook until the herbs become fragrent, about 2 minutes.
• Add can of tomatoes and let it come to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Once done simmering, take a 4 quart casserole dish and spoon a small amount of tomato/beef sauce on the bottom (just enough to coat it)
• Next, top with half of the pasta and then 1/2 of the tomato/beef sauce.
• Then layer with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
• The next layer should be the remaining pasta and then top with the rest of the tomato/beef sauce and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes or until cheese becomes golden and bubbly.
• I slice into 8 pieces to get a serving size.

Each serving size is plenty if served with a side, like a salad or vegetable. This was a success at my potluck dinner and Kirk really likes it too. It also holds well as a left-over. Hope you enjoy!!
Now back to the books!