Blender Tortilla Soup

Adapted from Blendtec

2 tomatoes, quartered
carrot
1/3 cup red pepper
1/4 avocado (3 points plus)
1/4 onion
1 oz pepper jack cheese (3 points plus)
2 sprigs fresh cilantro
salt
garlic powder
2 c. warm water

Mix in a blender until smooth. Add chicken, corn, etc for variation or add basil rather than cilantro for tomato basil soup.

Total Points plus: 6

Spinach Burgers

We really like these. You won't be fooling anyone trying to pretend like they taste like hamburger, but they definitely satisfy a burger craving.

Approx. 10oz pkg frozen spinach, thawed and chopped or 10oz fresh spinach, blanched, drained, and chopped
1/2 onion, sautéd
green pepper, sautéd
3 egg whites (1 point plus)
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup reduced-fat mozzarella (4 points plus)
1/2 cup Panko (4 points plus)
garlic salt
pepper
crushed red pepper (optional)

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Divide and form 4 large patties. Cook on a non-stick pan over med-high heat for approx 5 mins per side or until golden. Serve on buns and dress like hamburger.

Total Points Plus: 9
2-3 Points/patty

Kathy's Shower Pavlova

2 egg whites, room temp (1 point plus)
1 1/2 c. sugar (24 pointsplus)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. cornstarch
4 Tbs. boiling water

Mix all ingredients and whip in a mixer for at least 10 mins, until you get glossy, stiff peaks. Bake at 300-degrees for 10 mins then reduce heat to 100-degrees and cook for 1 hr. Allow to cool in the over.

Top with whipped cream and sliced fruit.

25 Total Points Plus (excluding toppings)

Green Onion Vinagrette

1 ¼ White Sugar
1 cup Olive Oil
2/3 cup cider vinegar
2 green onions (or about a quarter/half caramelized sweet onion)
1 tsp salt
1Tbsp mustard
Poppy seeds (Optional)

Put all ingredients but the poppy seeds in a blender, blend. Add poppy seeds. Store in the refrigerator.

Really good on a strawberry spinach salad.

Veggie Mash

Adapted from KraftRecipes.com

 

3 potatoes, cubed (about 1.5 lbs) (14 PointsPlus)

1 head cauliflower

3 carrots (about 1.5 cups)

3 cups chicken broth

1/3 c. (6 Tbs) fat free cream cheese (1 PointPlus) (6 PointsPlus for light)

garlic

rosemary

salt

pepper

 

Boil veggies in broth, turn down to simmer for 15 mins or until veggies are tender. 

Drain veggies, saving 6 Tbs broth. Add cream cheese, garlic, and seasonings to potatoes. Beat with a mixer, gradually adding the remaining broth.

 

Total PointsPlus: 1 PointPlus per 3oz (fat free), 1 PointPlus for 2oz (light)

Black Bean Burgers

adapted from Annie's Eats.

Yield: 6 burgers

¾ cup panko
2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed, divided
2 large eggs
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, minced
1 green onion, minced

Seasonings to taste

TOTAL PointsPlus: 4/each

Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Toast the panko, stirring frequently, until light golden brown.  Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

Place 2½ cups of the beans in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or a fork until mostly smooth.  Add the egg mixture, seasonings, toasted panko, the remaining ½ cup beans, bell pepper, cilantro and green onion to the bowl with the mashed beans.  Stir together until evenly combined.

Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions, about ½ cup each.  Lightly pack into 1-inch thick patties.  (At this point the patties can be covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.)  

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.  Carefully lay patties in the skillet and cook until well browned on both sides, about 8-10 minutes total.  Serve warm.

Cauliflower Poppers

Adapted from delightedmama.com

2 heads cauliflower
non-stick spray (I'm not sure how to count it, but I always count it for 1 PointPlus)
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 450-degrees. Chop the cauliflower into bite size pieces and place on a cookie sheet. Coat cauliflower with pan spray, salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 1 hour, tossing cauliflower every 20 mins.

Serve hot and dip like fries.

TOTAL PointsPlus: Based on non-stick spray and dip.