Creamy Ranch Chicken


Creamy Ranch Chicken

Adapted from The Cozy Cook

Serves 4

327 calories/ 8 Weight Watcher Points

  • 2 large boneless/skinless chicken breast (or 4 small)
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • Salt/Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup (I use Pacific Foods Organic I don’t think my homemade mix will work well with this recipe)
  • 1 ½ cups 1% milk
  • 1 cup light sour cream (at room temp)
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 oz. packet Ranch seasoning mix (about 3 Tablespoons (or make your own – see below))
  1. Slice each chicken breast into 2-3 thinner slices. Pound with a meat tenderizer if needed, the chicken will plump up more when cooked. Aim for ½ inch thick slices. You can skip the slicing and just pound them if using small breasts

  2. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with Italian seasoning and salt/pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 2-3 pieces of chicken, leaving room around each. Sauté for 4-5 minutes per side, until a golden brown crust has developed. Remove and set aside. Repeat with the remaining 2-3 pieces of chicken.
  4. Remove excess oil from the pot and wipe away any black spots, a little bit of brown leftover is fine, it will add more flavor.
  5. Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet over medium heat. Stir until combined. Let it bubble gently and reduce for 5 minutes. Add the chicken and spoon the sauce on top.
  6. Cover the skillet partially and let the chicken heat through and absorb the flavors from the sauce, about 10 minutes.
  7. Serve with baked or mashed potatoes and spoon the sauce over each potatoes
Main Course
Chicken
buffalo chicken, one pot meal, ranch





Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup


Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (Slow Cooker or Stove Top)

Adapted from Eating Bird Food. com

Serves 6

279 calories/ 7 Weight Watcher Points per serving

  • Slow Cooker
  • 1 cup wild rice blend (uncooked)
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 5 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup yellow onion (chopped)
  • ¾ cup celery (chopped)
  • ¾ cup carrots (chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt (plus more to taste)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • pepper (to taste)

Slow Cooker Instructions

  1. Rinse the rice under running water. Place the uncooked rice, chicken breast, garlic, onions, celery, carrots, thyme, rosemary, salt, bay leaves, and chicken broth into your slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on the high setting for 3-4 hours or on the low setting for 7-8 hours.
  3. In the last 1/2 hour of cooking, remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Allow to cool slightly and then use two forks to shred the chicken into small pieces.
  4. When the rice is done cooking, remove the bay leaves and add the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.
  5. Melt the butter or oil in a saucepan. Add the flour and let the mixture cook for 1 minute. Whisk the mixture slowly while adding in the milk. Continue to whisk until all lumps have dissolved. Allow the mixture to thicken and become creamy.
  6. Add the creamy mixture into the slow cooker. Stir to combine. Add additional broth to your preference if the consistency is too thick. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.

Stove Top Instructions

  1. Cook rice according to instructions on package.
  2. While rice is cooking, spray non stick spray in a Dutch oven or large pot. Once hot add onion, carrots and celery and saute for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute longer.
  3. Add thyme, rosemary, salt and bay leaves and mix until veggies are coated.
  4. Add chicken broth and chicken into the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. When chicken is fully cooked, remove from pot and shred using two forks.
  5. Add shredded chicken and cooked rice into pot.
  6. In a separate saucepan melt 2 Tbsp of butter or oil. Add the flour and let the mixture cook for 1 minute. Whisk the mixture slowly while adding in the milk. Continue to whisk until all lumps have dissolved. Allow the mixture to thicken and become creamy.
  7. Add the creamy mixture into the pot. Stir to combine. Add additional broth to your preference if the consistency is too thick. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.
Main Course, Soup
soup
chicken, crock pot, wild rice





IP Cheesy Broccoli, Chicken and Rice


IP Cheesy Broccoli, Chicken and Rice

Adapted from Flavor Mosaic

Serves 6

339 calories/11 Weight Watcher Points

You can reduce points by using a low fat cheese, the recipe is written with full fat cheese

  • Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker
  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • 1-1/2 pounds boneless (skinless chicken breast)
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 packet ranch seasoning mix or 2 Tablespoons homemade ranch mix* see note below
  • 1-1/2 cups uncooked white rice
  • 2-1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup 1 % milk
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen broccoli
  • 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese, by weight (about 1 cup measured)
  1. Press the Saute button on the Instant Pot. Wait until the front of the Instant Pot says “Hot,” then add oil. When oil is hot, add the chicken breast cubes and chopped onion. Cook until the chicken is mostly white instead of pink and the onion is softened, about 3 – 4 minutes.
  2. Then add minced garlic and cook for about a minute.

  3. Add the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce. Deglaze the pan by scraping the bottom of the pot with a spatula to remove any food particles to prevent them from scorching.
  4. Add the uncooked white rice, and salt, pepper, and ranch seasoning mix. Do not stir.
  5. Press cancel to stop the sauté function. Secure the lid. Move the pressure valve to the sealing position. Press the pressure cook button or manual cook button, select high pressure, and adjust the time to pressure cook for 5 minutes. (It will take about 8 – 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure before the pressure cooking starts.)
  6. While the Chicken and Rice are cooking, in a small bowl, stir together the milk and flour to make a slurry. Set aside until after the chicken and rice have finished pressure cooking.
  7. While the chicken and rice are cooking, run hot water over the frozen broccoli to thaw. Drain the broccoli.
  8. After the Instant Pot has finished the pressure cooking cycle, let it release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and then, move the pressure valve to the venting position, to do a quick release of pressure. Wait for the pin to drop. Then carefully, remove the lid.
  9. Immediately pour the milk and flour slurry into the chicken and rice mixture and stir.
  10. Add the thawed broccoli to the chicken and rice.
  11. Add the shredded cheese to the Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole.
  12. Stir everything together until it is well combined and the broccoli and cheese have been evenly distributed throughout the chicken and rice mixture.

To make your own ranch mix:

1 1/2 Tbsp dried parsley

1/2 Tbsp salt

1/2 Tbsp dried chives

1/4 Tbsp dried oregano

1/4 Tbsp dried tarragon

1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

1/2 Tbsp lemon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container.

Main Course
Chicken, Instant Pot
broccoli, chicken, fried rice, instant pot





Pasta, Pork and Mushroom Skillet


Pasta, Pork and Mushroom Skillet

Serves 6

452 Calories/ 12 Points

  • 2 pound Pork Tenderloin
  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 1 Tbsp Garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp Onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp Paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. Butter
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive oil (divided)
  • 1 medium Onion (sliced)
  • 1 pound Mushrooms (sliced)
  • 2 Garlic cloves (chopped)
  • 2 Tbsp. Corn Starch
  • 1/2 Cup Marsala or White wine
  • 1 Cup Low-Sodium Chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup light Sour cream
  • 8 oz pasta (cooked)
  1. Slice Pork tenderloin into several medallions, about 1-inch thick.
  2. On a large plate or use a zip lock bag (easier to toss out) mix flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt/pepper.
  3. Dredge Pork medallions in seasoned flour and sear them in 1/2 tbsp olive oil on Medium-High heat until golden brown. Set aside to a warm place.

  4. Reduce heat to medium, add a tablespoon of butter and remaining olive oil.

  5. Add sliced onion and mushrooms to the pan.
  6. Sauté until mushrooms are browned and onions caramelized.
  7. Add garlic and cook for a minute.
  8. Add 2 tablespoons of flour or corn starch and mix well.
  9. Add Marsala or white wine and chicken broth, ­ scraping up all the bits in the bottom of the pan.
  10. Stir in 1/2 cup sour cream
  11. Return cooked pork to the pan and simmer for 1 – 2 minutes until the sauce thickens into a gravy consistency (it will thicken more as you serve).
  12. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste.
  13. Cook your favorite pasta according to the directions on the package. Add to the pan and mix with creamy mushroom sauce.
  14. Garnish with chives or fresh parsley.
Main Course
Pork
mushrooms, pasta, pork





Potato, Bacon and Egg Bake


Potato, Bacon, Egg Bake

6 servings – 195 calories/ 3 Weight Watcher Points

4 servings – 293 calories/5 Weight Watcher Points

  • 8 large eggs
  • ⅓ cup 1% milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup potatoes, finely diced(can be partially cooked if you want them a bit softer)
  • 10 pieces bacon cooked and crumbled
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray a 9-inch pie pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. Add in the salt and pepper, then stir in the finely diced potatoes. Stir in half of the crumbled bacon and then add the rest of the crumbled bacon on top.
  3. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or even it the center is cooked thoroughly.
Breakfast
Breakfast, Eggs
bacon, eggs, potatoes





Italian Love Cake (not WW)


Italian Love Cake (not WW)

  • 1 box marble cake mix (+ ingredients needed for cake)
  • 2 lbs ricotta cheese
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 4oz package chocolate instant pudding
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream, whipped OR 8 oz cool whip

Cake

  1. Make marble cake mix according to package directions. Use a 9×13 pan.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, eggs, sugar and vanilla.

  3. Pour cheese mixture evenly over cake mix batter.

  4. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until it tests done with a tooth pick.

  5. Cool COMPLETELY.

Frosting

  1. Mix pudding and milk together in a small bowl until thick and smooth

  2. Fold in whipped cream.

  3. Frost cake

  4. Store in refrigerator

Dessert
Cake





Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce


Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce

Serves 4

2 Points per serving

200 Calories per serving

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup half and half
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon or oregano
  1. Add olive oil to a large skillet and preheat over medium-high heat.

  2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
  3. Add chicken to skillet and saute until cooked through, about 10-12 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
  4. Pour chicken broth into hot skillet.

  5. Whisk in the half and half, mustard and tarragon or oregano. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes.

  6. Pour sauce over chicken and serve.
Main Course
Chicken





Sausage Tortellini Soup


Sausage Tortellini Soup

Serves 10 – 1 cup servings

With turkey sausage and fat free half and half 5 points/172 calories per cup

Pork sausage and regular half and half 9 points/240 calories per cup

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage (hot or mild)
  • 1 small yellow onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 3 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • 1 pinch cayenne (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup regular or fat free half and half
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups kale or baby spinach (chopped)
  • 2 cups refrigerated tortellini (just under 10 oz.)
  • Salt/ to taste
  1. Note: The mustard powder and hot sauce are so subtle in this soup but help enhance the other flavors, so although you may be hesitant to add them, I highly recommend it!
  2. Remove the casings from the sausage if you purchased links. Cook and crumble the sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat until the onions are softened and the sausage is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Drain grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
  4. Add basil, oregano, cayenne, hot sauce, mustard powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  5. Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Slowly stir in the half and half. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
  6. Add the kale or spinach and tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes. (If your tortellini needs longer cooking time, add the tortellini first, then the kale during the last 5 minutes.)
  7. Taste the soup and add salt if desired. Start with ¼ tsp and add more after that if needed.
  8. Transfer to serving bowls and serve!
Soup
soup





White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa


White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

adapted from Practically Functional

  • 2 C milk
  • 1/2 C white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
  • whipped cream
  • candy canes (1 for the recipe itself, 2 for garnishes on the finished drinks, and some to crush and sprinkle on top of the whipped cream or 3 Tbsp of crushed candy canes and extra for garnish)
  1. Add the milk, chocolate chips, and one candy cane to a small saucepan. Turn the heat on to medium-high and cook until the milk heats up and the candy cane and chocolate chips melt. Stir often and make sure the milk doesn’t boil!
  2. Once everything is melted and the milk is hot, remove the hot chocolate from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract.
  3. Pour the hot chocolate into mugs. Top with whipped cream and a few crushed peppermint pieces, and garnish each drink with a candy cane
Beverage
Beverage





Warm Vanilla Custard Drink


Warm Vanilla Custard Drink

From Thrifty Frugal Mom

Points will vary depending on your choice of milk and sugar!

  • 2 c. milk
  • ¼ c. sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ tsp. vanilla
  • ground nutmeg
  1. Put milk and sugar in small pan and heat just until it starts to simmer and come to a boil.
  2. In the meantime, blend eggs, salt and vanilla.
  3. Once milk starts to bubble, remove from heat and add a small amount to egg mixture. Blend immediately.
  4. Add the rest of the milk and blend well.
  5. Pour into two mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Notes
Heating: Bringing this just to a boil essentially “cooks” the egg enough that it isn’t considered raw any longer.
Adding the Milk: If you add all the milk at once, sometimes the egg will cook too much and you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in your drink!

Beverage
Beverage