Appetizer
Cheese sticks. That's right...those ooey gooey breaded cheese sticks. Skinnytaste.com has a yummy recipe. (2 pts)
Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 12 • Serving Size: 2 pieces • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 2 pts*
Calories: 86.8* • Fat: 4.8 g • Protein: 7.4 g • Carb: 3.5 g • Fiber: 0.2 g • Sugar: 0.2
Sodium: 168.6
Ingredients:
Directions:Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.
In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, panko, parmesan cheese and dried parsley. Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs. Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.
Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.Makes 24 pieces.
* There will be extra crumbs and flour after breading, I've deducted them from the nutritional info.
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 12 • Serving Size: 2 pieces • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 2 pts*
Calories: 86.8* • Fat: 4.8 g • Protein: 7.4 g • Carb: 3.5 g • Fiber: 0.2 g • Sugar: 0.2
Sodium: 168.6
Ingredients:
- 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp flour
- 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 5 tbsp panko crumbs
- 2 tsp parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- olive oil cooking spray (I used my misto)
Directions:Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.
In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, panko, parmesan cheese and dried parsley. Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs. Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.
Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.Makes 24 pieces.
* There will be extra crumbs and flour after breading, I've deducted them from the nutritional info.
I've made these before and didn't freeze them long enough. I learned my lesson. I'll be making these early in the day and baking them just before Josh gets home.
Dinner
This tracks at 7 points. I will also serve a spinach/argula salad. The dressing will be 1 point. I actually have some of my homemade tomato sauce on hand. That is probably what I'll use instead of the diced tomatoes (or maybe in addition to).
Penne with Peppers and Sausage
Ingredients
| 1 spray(s) cooking spray | |
| 2 medium green pepper(s), cut into thin strips | |
| 1 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced | |
| 1 medium uncooked onion(s), thinly sliced | |
| 1 cup(s) fresh mushroom(s), sliced | |
| 1 pound(s) uncooked turkey sausage(s), spicy-Italian flavor | |
| 1/8 tsp dried oregano, crushed | |
| 1/4 tsp table salt | |
| 1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground | |
| 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes | |
| 14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes | |
| 3 cup(s) cooked whole wheat pasta, penne, kept hot | |
| 6 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese |
Instructions
- Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set pan over medium-high heat. Add green pepper, garlic, onion and mushrooms; cook, stirring frequently, until almost tender, about 7 to 8 minutes.
- Remove turkey from casings; add turkey to skillet and brown until no longer pink, stirring occasionally, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 6 minutes. Add oregano, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes; stir in tomatoes. Simmer until heated through and to allow flavors to blend, about 5 minutes.
- Spoon penne into a deep serving bowl; top with sausage mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
Dessert
This is something I know I will love and it will be great to have the leftovers around. Josh will probably opt for ice cream. That's fine by me...more later in the week. :-)
Cinnamon Apple Crisps
Ingredients
| 2 small fresh apple(s), Red Delicious or Gala, sliced paper-thin | |
| 1 Tbsp sugar | |
| 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon |
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper (not wax paper). Place apple slices in a single layer on paper; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake until lightly browned, about 2 hours. Cool on wire rack and serve.
Beverages
I've been nursing a sore throat, so I think I may have a Bloody Mary. There's something about the bloody mary mix (or in my case...Spicy V8, worcesteshire, lemon juice and few dashes for tobasco) that just soothes the scratchiness of my throat. Plus, that drink points out at around 5 points (compared to 10 for other cocktails). Josh may want a gimlet. I'll ask him.
So those are my dinner plans for tonight. How 'bout you?
happy cooking
