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

Chicken Gyro

Behind Pizza and Pasta with Vodka Sauce, a good Gyro is my favorite food but it is always covered in grease and a unhealthy sauce. I found this recipe on Slender Kitchen and plan on making it again and again. At only 6 points plus per Gyro this can be completed as a meal by just adding a side salad.

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 6 weight watchers points plus. 258 calories, 26g carbs, 10g fat, 14g protein. (Does not include Tzatziki Sauce)

Makes 8 gyros!

Ingredients

1 lb Ground Chicken

1 Medium White Onion, divided

1/2 T Marjoram

1/2 T Ground Rosemary

2 Garlic Cloves

1 t Salt

1/2 t Ground Black Pepper

8 Tortillas

1 Large Tomato
1 Batch of Skinny Tzatziki Sauce

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

I love tacos so when I saw this recipe on Skinny Taste I had to try it! She has found a blend of spices that made me not even miss beef tacos. I changed the type of lettuce because I like Bibb lettuce better than romaine and I added the toppings into the calculations so that nothing is left to the imagination.

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 7 weight watchers points plus. 279 calories, 13g carbs, 7g fat, 42g protein. (2 Tacos equal 1 serving.)

2 tacos per serving! I was full after that.

Ingredients

1-1/3 lbs 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey

1 t Garlic Powder

1 t Ground Cumin

1 t Chili Powder

1 t Paprika
1/2 t Salt

1/2 t Dried Oregano

1/2 Small White Onion, Chopped

1/4 c Red Pepper, Chopped

3/4 c Water

4 oz Canned Tomato Sauce

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

It has definitely turned colder over the past week and it has finally become Chili Weather!!! I love how versatile chili is. You can add and subtract just about any ingredient to make it fit your taste. I made this last night and I think I am done tweaking it (for now at least.) This chili does have a little kick to it so if you do not like spicy food cut the red pepper flakes in half. The other great part about this recipe is it makes a TON of food it comes close to filling my 6qt crock pot. This makes 10 servings at only 7 points plus (including toppings!)

Nutritional Information (calculated on myfitnesspal.com): 7 weight watchers points plus. 314 calories, 45g carbs, 3g fat, 30g protein.
(To cut the carbs in half eliminate the beans and double the ground turkey.)

Ingredients

1.25 lbs 99% Fat Free Ground Turkey Breast

1 Medium Onion, Chopped

2 Small Red Peppers, Chopped

28 oz can Whole Plum Tomatoes (I use Tuttorosso)

1.5 c Frozen White Corn

2 - 10.75 oz cans Condensed Tomato Soup. (I used the Campbells Healthy Request.)

2 - 15 oz cans Kidney Beans, Drained

15 oz can Black Beans, Drained

2 T Chili Powder

1 t Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Use half to cut the heat.)

1/2 T Garlic Powder