Lemon Bar "Brownies"

So I have not posted in over a month. Sorry. My life has been a little crazy oh, and did I say, I did run away to Hawaii with my sweetie for a week. Anyway. I jumped off the Weight Watchers only recipe band wagon (Not Weight Watchers-I'm still doing that) I needed to make a treat for a little get together I was having and I was dying to make these Lemon Bar Brownies. So here you go. They are as good as they look. They are filled with plenty of calories and you can not just eat one. Beware! If you are trying to loose weight, only make these when you know people will be around to eat them or you might just eat the whole batch yourself. Anyway. I will be back with skinny recipes in the future but for now, enjoy these.

Wash your lemon and then zest it.

Mix the flour, sugar, salt and softened butter with the paddle on your mixer until it looks like little lumps. Mix in the eggs, lemon juice and zest (that you already mixed together) and beat it until it is fluffy - about 2 minutes. Spread into your sprayed pan. Bake!

Make the glaze by adding powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest. It will be runny. Pour onto the "brownies" and spread to the edge. Let set a bit if you can stand it.

These little gems are so yummy. They will fly right off the plate. The good thing is that they only make an 8x8 pan so if you are the one eating them, they will go fast. Enjoy! Lemon Bar "Brownies" Brownies 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 large eggs 2 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest 2 tablespoons lemon juice Lemon Glaze 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons lemon zest Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Zest and juice two small lemons; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachement, beat the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined. Pour into the flour mixture and beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Pour into baking dish and bake for 25 minutes, or until just starting to turn golden around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before glazing. When brownies are cooled completely, make the glaze by whisking together all three ingredients. Spread over the brownies with a rubber spatula, cut into bars, and serve!

Skinny Baked Onion Rings

So I just love onion rings. I definately have a couple of favorite places to buy them and they are greasy and heavenly. Well, I need to leave the greasy yumminess alone and concentrate on weight loss. I found this recipe on a blog called Skinnytaste and it is really really good. It takes a little forethought and you can enjoy a big plate of these for not very many points. Try it out. It's a great little recipe.








Cut the onion into rings. Separate them and put them in the buttermilk. Let them soak for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.






Dip the coated onion rings in the bread crumbs and place on a parchment or foil lined and sprayed cookie sheet. Spray the onion rings with baking spray or use a Misto with olive oil if you have one. Bake at 450 degrees for about 12 minutes. (Note: I think next time I make these, I might add just a little salt to the crumb mixture. I just thought they need a bit of salt) Serve them right up and completely devour them. Yummy!!!!






You know, when you are trying to lose weight but love to eat fatty stuff like onion rings, this is a really great recipe that helps to curb that craving. Give it a try. It's a tiny little bit of work but worth it.


Low Fat Baked Onion Rings
Adapted from Life as a Lofthouse
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 2 • Serving Size: 1/2 • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 2 pt
Calories: 74.7 • Fat: 0.6 g • Carb: 14.7 g • Fiber: 1.6 g • Sugar: 1.7 g • Protein: 2.9 g

• 1 medium onion, sliced into 1/4 inch rings
• 2 1/4 cups low fat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup crushed corn flake crumbs
• salt to taste
• olive oil baking spray (I used my Misto )
Place slices of onion in a shallow dish. Pour the buttermilk over the top and let them soak for about 1 - 2 hours, refrigerated.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Combine panko, bread crumbs and corn flakes and place half of the crumbs in a large dish, season with salt. Reserve the rest for when the first batch is used up. This should help avoid clumping and they should stick better to the onions.

Dip each soaked onion ring into the crumb mixture; coat well. Place rings onto two cookie sheets. Lightly spray with oil. Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately

Spicy Oven Fries

I have loved making baked fries for my Weight Watchers diet. These are a spicy version of baked fries. As I mixed the spices together, I thought I might not like them very much-maybe too spicy. Actually, these turned out really good and very tasty. Try em. I think you'll like em!








After I cut the fries, I let them sit in cold water. They get rid of some of the starch that way. I then rinsed them really well and spread them out on a clean towel to dry them. Make sure you dry them well.








beat the egg whites just a bit and add your spices in a bowl or container that you can add the fries and stir so that they are well coated.








I put the fries in a gallon zip loc bag and added the egg whites. I just mushed them around in the bag and they coated really well. Next just put them in the seasonings and mix until they are all coated. I put them on a sprayed cookie sheet but part way through the baking I did add just 1 tsp. of olive oil. They were a little dry and I figured I could use some healthy oil to make the difference. If you are watching your fat intake, just use your misto or a little olive oil.







Well, here they are in all their yumminess. Give them a try! They are tasty and more healthy and satisfy the craving. Happy Eating!


Spicy Oven Fries

8 medium potatoes
2 egg whites
1 /12 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/4 tsp paprika
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 1/2 tsp salt

preheat the oven to 430 F (220 C).

Bakefor about 40 minutes or until tender and golden brown.

Cream of "SOMETHING" Soup - 3 points for the whole "can"

So how fun is Pinterst? This amazing recipe was there and then my daughter made it up and kept telling my how good it is. So here it is. It fits right into Weight Watchers and is opening new doors to my cooking. (I know, that's a little dramatic-but true). I used chicken boullion but you really could use any kind you like. In fact, make up a couple of different kinds just to have on hand. I hope you dieters will love love love this recipe-it really is YUMMY!










Mix everything together and store in an airtight container. I doubled the recipe so I wouldn't have to make it so often. YUMMY!





So I wanted to make up a batch of the soup so you could see it. It is fabulous!!! 1/3 cup makes the equivilant of 1 can of soup and the best thing is that I fed it into my Weight Watchers recipe builder and for this whole "can" of soup there are just 3, count them, 3 points. That means all of our favorite comfort foods are no longer completely taboo. Use your imagination and make up something you love. Good luck! and ENJOY!!!!


Cream of "something" soup recipe

1 cup non-fat dried milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup bouillon (if you have cubes you have to smash them up)
You can use whatever kind you like (ie, beef, veggie)
4 Tablespoons freeze dried minced onions (I used the minced onions from Sam's Club)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme (I couldn't find the thyme so I used dried parsley instead)
1 teaspoon pepper

(For the equivalent of one can of condensed cream soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick)

Creamy LowFat Chicken Divan

So I really love creamy, yummy comfort food and as you know, when you are trying to lose weight those kinds of dishes don't fit into the diet. So, I made up this recipe as next to no fat and lower in calories. Then on my Weight Watchers online I fed in the recipe into the recipe builder and wah-la, it figured the points for me. This recipe is YUMMY! I am really proud of myself for coming up with it. Give it a try. You will probably like it too. I usually add a little more curry to mine cause I like it to have a kick! This recipe serves 4 and is only 6 points+ per serving.









The main ingredients. If you have never tried fat free half and half, you have to give it a try.












Mix the cornstarch with the broth and half and half. Stir over medium heat until it starts to boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream cheese. Add the lemon juice and curry powder. Stir til combined.












Layer in a casserole the broccoli, the chicken and top with the sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350* for 30 minutes or until it is hot and bubbly.











After sprinkling the parmesean cheese on top I turned the oven to broil just so it would start to brown a little. MMMM This recipe really hits the spot. Even if you aren't trying to lose weight, why not try something wonderful without all the calories. You can serve with noodles, baked potato or rice-Whatever you love. Give it a try.


Creamy Low Fat Chicken Divan

Weight Watchers 6 points+ per serving
Serves 4


1/4 cup cornstarch
1-1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup fat free half and half
2 Tbls. Neufchatel Cream Cheese
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 to 3 tsp. curry powder (depending on how hot you like it)
2 cups frozen or fresh chopped broccoli. (If you use fresh you might want to cook it part way. If frozen just add it right from the freezer)
2 cups cooked chopped chicken
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Mix the cornstarch, broth and half and half together and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Continue to cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the Neufchatel cream cheese, the lemon juice and the curry powder.

Layer in a casserole dish, broccoli, chicken and pour the Sauce over the top. Cover and bake at 350* for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Uncover and top with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Bake until melted.

Serve with noodles, rice or a baked potato

Super Moist Low Fat Chocolate Cupcakes

Do you LOVE cupcakes? Who doesn't LOVE cupcakes? These are wonderful little babies that I found off a really cool blog called Skinnytaste. They work wonderfully for Weight Watchers and they curb your cravings for a treat. They are made with very little ingredients and they are so moist. They are just yummy! I thought I would share. No need to give up everything when you are trying to lose weight, right? Give them a try. Your kiddos will love them and so will you.








Not many ingredients here. You can use any brand chocolate cake mix. The darker the better as far as I'm concerned but with prices the way they are you might have to buy what you can afford.











Mix the water and pumpkin. Add in the pudding mix and mix well. Dump in the cake mix and mix well. The batter will be pretty thick. No worries-these cupcakes will be really moist and yummy!









Fill the cupcake papers about 2/3 full. Use all the batter to make 24 cupcakes. Bake at 350* for 25-28 minutes depending on your oven. Cool.








Mix the glaze ingredients together with a fork. Put the glaze in a zip-loc bag and cut a tiny piece of the end off. Pipe the glaze onto the cooled cupcakes.






These little cupcakes are absolutely wonderful. Whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to eat more healthy, these help the craving for sweet and for chocolate without adding all the fat. Give them a try. Add mini chocolate chips if you would like but it will make them more points and calories. Sometimes you just have to go with it though. :) Have fun!!!


Super Moist Low Fat Chocolate Cupcakes (with Chocolate Glaze)

Servings: 24 • Serving Size: 1 cupcake • Old Points: 2 pts • Points+: 3 pts
Calories: 104.6 • Fat: 2.3 g • Protein: 1.2 g • Carb: 20.2 g • Fiber: 1.4 g • Sugar: 12.3
Sodium: 288.5


Ingredients:
• 18.25 oz Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix
• 1.4 oz sugar free, fat free, instant chocolate pudding
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 1/3 cups water
For the chocolate glaze:
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2-1 tbsp 1% milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
Bake at 350* for 25-28 minutes. Cool. Drizzle with chocolate glaze.

Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies or Muffins

Have you had these cookies before? If yes, this is just a friendly reminder. If no, this recipe will change your life :) These cookies are fabulous, easy and work in the weight watchers point system for treats that I can have (sparingly). It's just a throw together and yet tastes so good. There is also a variation you can use that I have not tried out but it is using a chocolate cake mix instead of spice and making them into 12 muffins. I will be trying that at a later date. Whether you are trying to watch your weight or not, these little gems are amazing.







Only three ingredients.










Using a medium sized bowl mix the dry cake mix and the pumpkin together well by hand. Add the choco chips. I love the mini chips because then you have an explosion of chocolate in every bite but the regular ones work too. I use semi-sweet because they are my favorite.








Drop by spoonsful onto a cookie sheet and bake. I used a little toddlers spoon so they are smaller. They are about two bites or you can just shove the whole thing in your mouth at once. Just sayin.







YUMMY!!! Try them out. If you love pumpkin and chocolate together you will LOVE these.



Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (or muffins)

1 Spice Cake mix
1 15 oz. can Pumpkin
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix dry cake mix and pumpkin by hand. Add chocolate chips. Drop by spoonsful onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 12 minutes.