Cheesy Taco Pasta

Ugh!  I was so hungry and I didn't even think to take a picture of this wonderful dish!  Luckily I can send you over to the page where I found it for the recipe and a picture.  

It was super good and very filling.  I used that new pasta that is made of veggies (carrots and squash).  I recommend this dish on a cold night when you have that comfort craving!  

Head on over the Emily Bites for some Cheesy Taco Pasta!  

Fast 'N Fresh Frittata              * I was able to get 8 servings out of this.  3 weight watchers points plus.  4 if you do 6 servings.  *

Ingredients:
3   tablespoons snipped fresh chives 1   teaspoon olive oil 1/2   pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 3   cups frozen potatoes O'Brien with onions and peppers, thawed 1   garlic clove, pressed 3/4   cup (3 ounces) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided		1/2   teaspoon salt 1/8   teaspoon ground black pepper 1   carton (16 ounces) pasteurized refrigerated egg product 2   small plum tomatoes, sliced Additional snipped fresh chives (optional)

Directions:
1.	Snip chives with Kitchen Shears. Heat oil in (10-in.) Skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add asparagus, potatoes and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; cook and stir 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle chives, 1/2 cup of the cheese, salt and black pepper over potato mixture. Pour egg product over potato mixture. Cover; cook 14-15 minutes or until egg mixture is set in center. Remove from heat.
2.	Meanwhile, using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with v-shaped blade, slice tomatoes. Arrange tomato slices in an overlapping circular pattern over top of frittata. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover, let stand until cheese is melted. Garnish with additional snipped chives, if desired. Cut into wedges.
Yield: 6 servings Nutrients per serving: Calories 160 (23% from fat), Total Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 13 g, Sodium 480 mg, Fiber 2 g Diabetic exchanges per serving: 1 starch, 1 1/2 low-fat meat (1 carb) Cook’s Tips: If desired, 1 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets can be substituted for the asparagus. Frozen potatoes thaw quickly in the microwave. Place them in the Small Micro-Cooker® and follow the directions on the package for thawing in the microwave. Pasteurized refrigerated egg product comes in cartons and can usually be found near the eggs in the grocery store. Made of 99% egg whites, it is a cholesterol-free, fat-free and low-calorie product. Use it in place of whole eggs in many your favorite egg dishes. Use the Small Nylon Turner to cut the frittata into wedges without damaging the pan's nonstick surface. © 2012 The Pampered Chef used under license.

Baked Nutella Swirl Doughnuts

Baked Nutella Swirl Doughnuts

(adapted from Wilton)

(makes 14 doughnuts at 3 pts+)

2 cups cake flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup fat free milk w/1 Tablespoon of vinegar (at room temperature) ~ THIS MAKES BUTTERMILK

1/2 cup of egg beaters at room temperature

2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 Tablespoons Nutella

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and kosher salt into a large bowl. Mix it up.

Add in the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla extract. Gently mix and fold everything together. Be careful to over mix the batter.

Put the batter into a piping bag fitted with a large round decorating tip.

Pipe the batter into a lightly greased doughnut pan.

Put 1/2 Tablespoon of Nutella on each top of each doughnut. (the batter)

Using a knife, swirl the Nutella around.

Bake the doughnuts at 425 degrees F for 9 minutes.

Remove the doughnuts from the pan and enjoy!

Thermometer Tracker

Many moons ago when I first learned about Weight Watchers, I found a place called DWLZ (Dotti's Weight Loss Zone). This site is awesome for motivation, encouragement, information on ww, message boards, etc! It was started by Dotti and her husband, Al, who have been Weight Watchers and emotional support for tons of people via their site.

Last night I found myself on their web site specifically looking for a tracking tool that I remembered. The Thermometer!

I printed it out on card stock and in color (this is rare people). Dotti explains that there are 2 ways to go about tracking your weight loss with this tool. I decided to go with the "one pound per space" method. *Note: I will need to do 2 thermometers by the time I reach what I think is my goal.* I have a lot to lose and I am going to need to see that visual progress moving along. Just keeping it real...instant gratification needed!

This is how my tracker turned out. I am anticipating my next weigh in now just so I can color in some more blocks!

I also gave the front of my refrigerator a make over. I had great pictures of my nieces, nephew, step son, mother, Ron...basically family...covering the front. It wasn't cluttered, but it felt like a lot. I gave my Thermometer Tracker a home there. I cleared it all off and have just a picture of Ron and I and the Tracker. It felt so good to clear it off and have my focus front and center in the kitchen.

Meal Targets

Yesterday I found myself a bit hungry throughout the day. I ate all my points, but I probably could have had a few more veggies and/or fruits to keep me going.

Today I decided to go back to the "Points Plus Getting Started" booklet. I recalled there being a page dedicated to breaking down points plus by meals. I was hoping it would set me up to feel more satisfied during my day. For the most part it did. I still need to get more fruits and veggies in though. That should be easier because tomorrow is grocery day and I'll have my hands on some Weight Watchers friendly foods.

My target points for the day are 39. Weight Watchers broke it down for me like this...

Breakfast 7 points

Lunch 10 points

Dinner 15 points

Snack 4 points

Snack 3 points

By 9pm I was totally tired, hungry, and stressed! The boys had me going all day today (Daddy has duty) and all night. I mean, I started writing this blog at 8pm and it is now 950pm! I ended up using some flex points on some crackers and 2 oreos. Yup. Total honesty! And you know what....I should have had 3 oreos because they are the same amount of points plus as 2! HAHA That's ok though! Bite it, Write it! And since I am really trying to make a go of all of this, I am going to disclose everything! So there ya have it. Officially Day 2 and I had to use some flex points. I feel ok with it though. This is me. I am a work in progress.