Date Night--2/27/13

Many of you already know that I started Weight Watchers almost 2 mos ago.  (Down 14.5 lbs as of this morning.  Woohoo!!!)  Trying to follow a healthier eating plan hasn't stopped Date Nights (not that you would know that since I've not blogged about them recently.), it just makes it a bit more of a challenge.  But it's a challenge I'm having fun with.

So tonight's date night breaks down like this (and I will include points and WW recipes where appropriate):

Appetizer:
Rondele Garlic and Herb Light Cheese spread (1 pt for 2 T + 1 dairy credit and 1 veggie credit) on crackers for Josh, in cucumber cups and celery for me. I bet Josh eats at least one of my cucumber cups.

Dinner:  
Rolled Chicken Cordon Bleu (7 pts)

Rolled Chicken Cordon Bleu

Weight Watchers Recipe

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7PointsPlus Value

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Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 40 min

Other time: 0 min

Serves: 4

Moist, tender chicken wrapped around smoked ham and gooey Swiss cheese — what could be better? Our version is delicious and healthy!

Ingredients

	4 spray(s) cooking spray, or enough to coat chicken
	1 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), four 4 oz pieces
	3 oz cooked lean ham, four 3/4 oz slices
	3 oz low-fat Swiss cheese, four 3/4 oz slices
	1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
	1/4 cup(s) honey mustard
	1/2 cup(s) seasoned breadcrumbs, Italian-style

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
  
• Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thickness; remove plastic wrap. Arrange 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese on each chicken breast.
  
• Starting from shorter end of chicken, roll up breast into a tight pinwheel. Tuck in ends. Secure with toothpicks.
  
• Place flour, honey mustard and bread crumbs in 3 separate shallow bowls. Add chicken to flour; turn to coat. Transfer chicken to honey mustard; turn to coat. Place chicken in bread crumbs; turn to coat.
  
• Transfer chicken to prepared baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Bake until chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Remove toothpicks and serve.

 I will be serving the chicken with a cucumber salad (1 point for the dressing) and green beans.

Dessert:
Caramel Cookies (1 pt each)

Caramel Cookies

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Weight Watchers Recipe

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1PointsPlus Value

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Prep time: 5 min

Cook time: 10 min

Other time: 0 min

Serves: 60

Delicious and so easy to bake in small batches. Just keep the dough in the fridge or freezer and slice off and make as many cookies as you want at a time.

Ingredients

	1/2 cup(s) unsalted butter, softened
	1 cup(s) packed brown sugar, dark
	1 large egg(s)
	1 tsp vanilla extract
	1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
	3/4 cup(s) whole wheat flour
	1/4 tsp table salt
	1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
  
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Add remaining ingredients and beat thoroughly.
  
• Scrape dough out of bowl and onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll dough into a log, about 2 1/2-inches wide; completely wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.
  
• Cut dough into 1/8-inch-thick slices and arrange on several large ungreased cookies sheets about 1- to 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake until lightly browned around edges, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  
• Allow cookies to cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Yields 1 cookie per serving.

Notes

• Add some spice to these cookies by sprinkling a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg into the batter.

 I will be adding lots of spices to this batter.  This girl loves no cookie more than ginger snaps.  We'll see how close she can get.

Beverages:
With appetizer, Josh will be drinking Moscato.  I will be having a 0 calorie/point fizzy citrus water thing.
With dinner, we will both have a glass of white wine (4 pts for 5oz)
With dessert, Brandy Alexanders (10 points and 1 dairy credit)

All in all, I think this will be a very satisfying meal.  I will go over my daily points, but that's what the weekly bonus points are.  Also, I've tracked 9 activity points which get used first.  I have sheets to change, a workout to do, and cookies to bake.

happy cooking