Avocado and Black Bean Salad

"Cooking for people is an enormously significant expression of generosity and soulfulness, and entertaining is a way to be both generous and creative. You're sharing your life with people. Of course, it's also an expression of your own need for approval and applause. Nothing wrong with that." - Ted Allen

Looking for an alternative to the standard side dishes or dips? Look no further. I found this recipe on Skinny Taste and made it for the Super Bowl Party we attended. The freshness of the lime paired perfectly with the creaminess of the avocado and the crunch of the cucumber. Some people ate this as a side salad, I liked it with tortilla or pretzel chips. No matter how you eat it the flavors and textures meld together extremely well.

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 10 servings, 3 weight watchers points plus. 103 calories, 14g carbs, 5g fat, 4g protein

Ingredients:

• 2 Avocados, Diced
• 3 Roma Tomatoes, Diced
• 1 Seedless Cucumber, Peeled and Diced
• 15.5 oz can Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed
• 3 T Red Onion, Diced

Baked Sweet Potato Cornmeal Fries

I found this recipe on Laaloosh and HAD to try them, I was not disappointed. I served this along side Harissa Eggs In Purgatory for dinner one night and it was fantastic. Plus, the dinner was only 5 points plus total!

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 4 servings, 3 weight watchers points plus. 129 calories, 24g carbs, 2.5g fat, 2.5g protein

Who loves Sweet Potato Fries?!

Ingredients:

• 2 large Sweet Potatoes, sliced into 1/2" thick sticks (I used my Professional Multi Chopper from Williams Sonoma.)
• 1/4 c Cornmeal
• 2 t Olive Oil
• 1 T Garlic Powder
• 1 T Onion Powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Once the Sweet Potatoes are sliced, Put them in a bowl of cold water stir for a minute and let sit for 10 minutes.

Peas and Onions

When I was making the Chicken Picatta I was looking for a quick and easy side dish to go along with it. I had some frozen peas in the freezers so that is where I started. I found a dish on AllRecipes.com that was super easy and was done before the chicken.

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 3 weight watchers points plus. 110 calories, 13g carbs, 5g fat, 4g protein.

Ingredients

• 2 T Olive Oil
• 1 Large Onion, Diced
• 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• 16 oz Frozen Peas
• 1 T Chicken Stock, Fat Free, Reduced Sodium
• Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Heat Olive Oil in a skillet

Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes

As you might guess from this blog I love to cook! Because of that I look forward to the holidays because it gives me a chance to plan a menu and cook for family and friends. I am probably one of the few people that looks forward to entertaining because I get to plan a meal. That being said I have actually started looking at recipes for the holidays. We all eat so heavy during the holidays and then not surprisingly the biggest month for gym membership signups is January. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to enjoy our meal without so much guilt that we had all that food? That is my goal for this year to make a healthy meal that doesn't make you feel that sense of regret later. Don't get me wrong I am still going to eat too much food but at least if it is a bit healthier I wouldn't feel as guilty. To start off this season I found my potato recipe on my first try!

I found a recipe on Emily Bites that is to die for and it makes 12 (1/2 cup) servings at only 3 points plus per serving. Goat cheese mashed sweet potatoes have a creamy almost velvety texture from the goat cheese while still being slightly sweet from the sweet potatoes. They are amazing!

Ingredients

3lbs Sweet Potatoes

1/2 cup Fat Free Half and Half

3 T Light Butter

2 oz Goat Cheese

1/2 t Rubbed Sage

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Peel and cube the Sweet Potatoes.

Baked Chicken Egg Rolls

I love egg rolls but all that grease is just so unhealthy. On Emily Bites she has come up with a much healthier and tastier version!

Ingredients

1 t Sesame Oil

2 t Olive Oil

4 Cloves Garlic, Grated or Minced. (I used my microplane.)

2 t Fresh Ginger, Grated or Minced. (I used my microplane.)

1 lb Chicken Breast, Ground in a Food Processor

1 c Shredded Green Cabbage

1/4 c Shredded Carrots (I used my box grater.)

1/4 c Chopped Bean Sprouts

1 c Chopped Shitake Mushrooms

2 Medium Scallions, Sliced Thinly

3 T Hoisin Sauce

14 Egg Roll Wrappers

Directions

1. Preheat the over to 425 degrees.

Broccoli and Feta Pasta Sauce

Make sure to have your blender and your appetite ready for this amazing pasta sauce. The feta balances the broccoli in a way that I could have never imagined. This was found on Laaloosh and was intrigued since I have not had anything that I have not liked from her site.

We taught my Giuliana to sign to tell us if she wanted more food or milk. When she tried this she kept signing for more.

This sauce is only 3 points plus per cup of sauce so enjoy!

Ingredients

16 oz Package of Broccoli Florets

1 c Fat Free Feta Cheese

2 T Light Butter

1 Small Onion Finely, Chopped

3 Garlic Cloves, Minced

1 T Olive Oil

1/3 c Water

Juice of 1 Lemon

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Steam Broccoli until tender