Mary’s Chocolate Cake and Whipped Icing


Mary’s Chocolate Cake with Whipped Icing

NOT a WW or Low Cal recipe!!

Cake

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup cocoa
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup black coffee

Icing

  • 4 Tbsp flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup solid shortning
  • 1 T vanilla
  • 1 cup sugar

Cake

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9×13 baking pan

  2. Mix dry ingredients together

  3. Add wet ingredients one at a time, beating well after each addition. Batter will be thin and bubbly.

  4. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes until done.

Icing

  1. While cake is cooking, Boil flour and milk together until really thick. Then put in refrigerator to get cold

  2. Beat butter and shortening and sugar until fluffy.

  3. Add in flour mixture a little at a time and beat until fluffy – 8 to 10 minutes. Add vanilla and beat. Ice cake

Dessert
Cake





Italian Dressing Dry Mix


Italian Dressing Mix

From Little Sunny Kitchen.com

  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon celery salt
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  1. To make the seasoning, whisk all of the ingredients together until well combined.
  2. If you want a finer mixture, you can blend it in a food processor or a spice grinder until you reach the consistency that you want.

  3. To replace a packet of dry Italian seasoning mix, which is .7 oz, use 2 Tbsp of the mix.

Notes:
If you are planning to use this Italian dressing mix in recipes that call for a “packet” or an “envelope” of Good Seasons mix, you might want to know how much is in one of those packets. Standard dressing mix packets are 0.7 ounces by weight and include approximately 2 tablespoons of mix. You can use two tablespoons of this homemade recipe in place of one packet of Italian dressing. The entire recipe makes just over 7 tablespoons of Italian dressing mix.
You can reduce the salt if you’re watching your sodium intake. Feel free to use a sugar-free sweetener if needed too!
Store your homemade Italian dressing mix in an airtight container at room temperature. I put mine in a glass jar with a lid and store it with my other spices.

Salad DressingMixes




Creamy Italian Chicken


Creamy Italian Chicken

Adapted from Taste of Home

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:632e83d3eb1b5d4f634adaad

  • 2 1/2 cups sliced fresh muchrooms
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 6 5 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 Tbsp Italian salad dressing mix
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 6 oz chive and onion cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup 1% milk
  • 3 cups uncooked egg noodles
  • 2 Tbsp minced fresh chives
  1. In a large skillet, saute the mushrooms in butter until tender. Remove mushrooms with a slotted spoon and keep warm; set aside

  2. Sprinkle chicken with salad dressing mix. In the same skillet, brown chicken on both sides. Transfer to a 13×9 baking dish coated with non stick spray. Stir the soup, cream cheese, wine, milk and reserved mushroom into skillet; heat through. Spoon mixture over the chicken.

  3. Cover and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170°.

  4. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Serve with chicken and sauce; sprinkle with chives.

Main Course
Chicken





Ranch and Dill Pickle Pizza


Ranch and Dill Pickle Pizza

We had this at a local restaurant and loved it!

Recipe adapted from Thursday Night Pizza

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:632e79484faee35019fb5a12

  • 1 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup non fat greek yogurt
  • ⅔ cup light ranch dressing
  • 2 small garlic cloves very thinly sliced
  • 1 cup freshly shredded low-moisture mozzarella (about 4 ounces)
  • 1 cup very thinly sliced dill pickles
  • dried dill for finishing
  • hot sauce for finishing (optional)
  1. Preheat the oven to 475°F
  2. Mix together yogurt and flour until a dough forms. Roll out dough on 12 inch pizza stone or cookie sheet.

  3. Spread the ranch dressing evenly over the dough, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Scatter on the sliced garlic and mozzarella, then arrange the pickles on top in an even layer.
  4. Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese has browned in spots—8 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet, 6 to 8 minutes on the baking stone/steel.
  5. Remove the pizza from the oven, then sprinkle with some dried dill. Slice and serve.
Main Course
Pizza





Swiss Steak


Swiss Steak

Adapted from The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:6325289b65f2522aa3105255

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 3 pounds round steak, 1/5 inches thick
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup, diluted with 2 cans water or milk (points calculated using water)
  1. Combine flour and seasonings

  2. Pound the flour into both sides of the steak and let stand for 1/2 hour

  3. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet. Brown steak on both sides. Add garlic and cook for a minute.

  4. Add soup and simmer for 1 to 2 hours until meat is tender. Cooking time will depend upon thickness and tenderness of the meat

Main Course
Beef





Stuffed Cabbage Soup


Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Adapted from Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:63251cab6b47a22936042630

  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 1 pound 96% lean ground beef
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced finely
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups chopped green cabbage
  • 2 medium carrots quartered and sliced
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 3 8 oz cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cups rice uncooked
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 Tbsp light brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
  • 2 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley
  1. In a dutch oven or large soup pot, heat oil over medium-high heat and add ground beef.

  2. Season ground beef with salt and pepper as desired and cook until browned.

  3. Add diced onion and minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until onions are tender.
  4. Add in chopped cabbage, carrots, tomato sauce, beef broth, white rice, bay leaf, and brown sugar and stir to combine.
  5. Bring soup to a simmer and let cook for about 25 minutes, until rice is tender.
  6. Take out the bay leaf and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Main Course
soup





Shepherd’s Pie Soup


Shepherd’s Pie Soup

Adapted from The Cozy Cook

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:6323d5aec4631f170ec23352

  • 4 large russet potatoes (equal to 2 lbs.)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup light sour cream
  • 1 lb. Ground Beef (96% lean)
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 3 cups Chicken broth
  • 2 cups fat free half and half
  • 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 3 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
  • 10 ounces mixed frozen vegetables
  • Salt/Pepper (to taste)
  1. Shred the cheese,, measure out the sour cream and half and half. Let them all sit out at room temperature.

  2. Cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain grease. Remove the ground beef from the pot and set aside.
  3. While the meat cooks, peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks. Add to a stock pot and cover the potatoes with 1 inch of water. Boil gently for 10-15 minutes or until very fork tender. Drain, then gently mash with sour cream. Set aside. Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  4. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 full minute to remove the raw flour taste.
  5. Add the chicken broth in splashes, stirring continuously. Loosen any beef remnants from the bottom of the pot, this will add flavor.
  6. Add the Worcestershire sauce and mustard powder. Slowly add the half and half. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  7. Stir in the potatoes until well-combined into the broth. If possible, use an immersion blender to blend until creamy. You can also transfer it to a blender in batches or use a large whisk.
  8. Add the ground beef and frozen vegetables and allow them to heat through, about 5 minutes.
  9. Remove from heat. Gradually sprinkle with shredded cheese and stir until combined. Make sure the base of the soup isn’t too hot or the cheese won’t melt creamy and smooth. The soup will continue to thicken as it sits.
  10. Taste, season with salt/pepper if desired and serve!
Main Course
soup
shepherd’s pie





Crunchy Herb Chicken Breasts


Crunchy Herb Chicken Breasts

Adapted from Taste of Home

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:6308de6d798b98206fcbc287

  • 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp minced fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 6 5 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
  1. In a shallow bowl, mix the first nine ingredients. Place flour and eggs in a separate shallow bowls. Dip both sides of chicken in the flour, eggs, then crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere.

  2. Place on a greased baking sheet. Spritz tops with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170.

Main Course
Chicken





Pistachio-Crusted Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce


Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Lemon Cream Sauce

Adapted from Taste of Home Magazine

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:62fff55c1b7c231aef433d2e

Salmon

  • 4 6oz Salmon Filets
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios

Sauce

  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 cup fat free half and half
  • 2 tsp grated lemon peel
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  1. Preheat oven to 375

  2. Place salmon on a greased baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread with mayonnaise and sprinkle with pistachios

  3. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork

  4. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, cook and stir shallot in oil over medium high heat until tender. Add half and half and lemon peel, salt and cayenne; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 5-7 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Serve with salmon.

Main Course
Fish
salmon





Skillet Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes


Skillet Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes

Serves 4 – Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

My Personal Points: If you are a USA WW Member, Click on this link to get your points:

https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/MEMBERRECIPE:62edad42232a6e2581cb687f

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium lemon, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced and divided
  • 1/4 tsp grated lemon peel
  • 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 4 4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1 pound fingerling or new potatoes, halved
  • 8 cherry tomatoes
  1. Grease a 10 inch cast iron or other oven proof skillet with 1 teaspoon of oil. Arrange lemon slices in a single layer in the skillet.

  2. Combine 1 tsp oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, lemon peel, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper; rub over chicken. Place over lemons.

  3. In a large bowl, combine rosemary and the remaining oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add potatoes and tomatoes; toss to coat. Arrange over chicken. Bake, uncovered, at 450 for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and potatoes are tender.

Main Course
Chicken, One Skillet Meal