Simple Nourished Living

Favorite Easy Healthy Super Bowl Party Food Ideas

Martha — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:10:05 +0000

Easy Healthy Super Bowl Party Food Ideas

I just read a fascinating Wall Street Journal article about how healthy foods are making a marketing push for inclusion in the Super Bowl Eating Frenzy.

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest eating occasion after Thanksgiving?

According to NPD Group, a New York market research firm, on Sunday Americans will eat 100 million pounds of chicken wings, 71.4 million pounds of avocados, 45. 8 million pounds of potato chips, 43.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 13. 2 million pounds of pretzels, and order more than 4.4 million pizzas from Domino’s, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. Can you even begin to fathom how many Weight Watchers Points+ that is? (I can’t.)

Several healthy foods – baby carrots, yogurt, avocados, and whole grain pretzels – are showing up more in the Super Bowl food fest. That’s good news both for the producers of these healthy foods and for those of us trying to get (or stay) slim and healthy.

If you’re planning to have attend a Super Bowl Party this weekend, one of the best things you can do, is bring along a healthy dish to share. That way you are guaranteed of feeling good about at least one of the foods you eat! (Here are more helpful game day survival strategies for weight watchers.)

So, here’s a roundup of easy healthy Superbowl Party Food Ideas for you, including appetizers and snacks, soups and chilis, pizza and desserts. Enjoy!

Easy Healthy Super Bowl Party Food Ideas

Chips, Salsa & Guacamole - A Party Favorie

Appetizers & Snacks

I like to keep appetizers and snacks simple. Complicated hors d’oeuvres are not my thing. Gone are the days of wanting to gorge on fatty chicken wings and pigs in blankets. Bowls of mixed nuts, baby carrots, ripe cherry tomatoes, potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips, popcorn, Triscuits, smoked salmon and shrimp are my go to ingredients. Add a tasty easy healthy dip or two and you have a ready made party with minimal effort.

Here are some of my favorite easy, healthy appetizer and snack ideas that will work for any party, including Super Bowl.

16 Slim & Healthy Low Fat Dips – a great collection of favorites – artichoke dip, spinach dip, bean dip, taco dip – and more – made lighter and healthier
Deviled Eggs – an old-fashioned favorite that always manages to be a hit of the party
Easy Fresh Tomato Salsa – this quick and easy pico de gallo has 0 WWPP per serving
Guacamole Recipes – a Super Bowl Party wouldn’t be complete with a bowl of guacamole – a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats.
Shrimp Cocktail – a great light and healthy substitution for greasy chicken wings with a variety of tasty homemade cocktail sauces

Soups & Chilis

What could be easier, healthier and more delicious than a couple of delicious for a mid-winter Super Bowl Party, than soup or chili simmering away on the stove or in the slow cooker?

Skinny Black Bean Soup Recipes – delicious, hearty, nutritious and economical – a real winner
Easy Taco Soup – that stirs together in minutes with 7 WW Points+ per serving
Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup – easy, satisfying and delicious
Slow Cooker Mexican Meatball soup – easy, healthy and satisfying
Vegetable Beef Mushroom Barley Soup - for the slow cooker is hearty and satisfying with 6 WW Points+
Vegetarian Chili Recipes – a collection of easy healthy recipes that are sure to please your family and friends

Pizza

Healthy 3 Cheese Garden Vegetable Pizza – with whole wheat crust and 4 WW Points+ per slice

Desserts & Sweet Treats

Skinny Black Bean Brownies – quick and easy to make; fudgy and delicious to eat with 4 WW Points+
Moist & Chewy Low Fat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars - a winning sweet treat with 3 WW Points+
Caramel Chocolate Oatmeal Mini Bars - satisfy a sweet craving with just 2 WW Points+
Banana Oatmeal Cookies - a quick and easy scratch cookie recipe with just 2 WW Points+
Skinny Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies – a winning Weight Watcher’s recipe with just 2 WW Points+
Skinny Low Fat Chocolate Cake Recipes – my favorite along with a round up from other blogs and websites with WW Points+ Values

Moist & Chewy Low Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

More Weight Watchers Friendly Super Bowl Recipes from Other Blogs and Websites

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites – A skinny clever 2-ingredient appetizer wit 2 WW Points+ you’ll find hard to resist from Gina at SkinnyTaste.
Loaded Turkey Santa Fe Baked Potato Skins – A slim and healthy version of a Sport’s Bar Favorite with 1 WW Points+ from Gina at SkinnyTaste.
Oven Fried Chicken Skewers – Light and healthy chicken tenders with 4 WW Points+ found at Laaloosh.
Rosemary Party Nuts – Simple and delicious from Alanna at Kitchen Parade
Pizza on a Stick – a light and clever way to enjoy the flavors of pizza from Emily Bites.
Skinny Mini Reuben Appetizers – a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of a reuben in a 1 WW Points+ appetizer from Nancy at Skinny Kitchen

Hearty Wintertime Black-Eyed Pea, Vegetable and Sausage Slow Cooker Soup – 6 Points+

Martha — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:30:42 +0000

Hearty Slow Cooker Winter Vegetable & Black-Eyed Pea Soup

Hearty, healthy and deliciously satisfying, my love affair with simple soups continues to deepen. I concocted this slow cooker soup with what I could pull together from the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. I was having a lazy day and wanted a quick and easy dinner that I could toss together in the slow cooker and would cook unattended without having to run to the supermarket for ingredients.

This lusciously satisfying soup/stew of black-eyed peas, greens, butternut squash, tomatoes and smoked turkey sausage was the result. It’s brimming with good-for-you vegetables and fiber.

I used frozen cooked black-eyed peas leftover from New Year’s, but feel free to substitute drained and rinsed canned instead. Everyone really enjoyed this simple soup served with fresh-from-the-bakery French bread and butter. Dinner really doesn’t have to be complicated to be good.

Hearty Wintertime Black-Eyed Pea, Vegetable and Sausage Slow Cooker Soup

Recipe type: Soup, Main

Author: Martha

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 4 mins

Total time: 34 mins

Serves: 8

A simple hearty slow cooker soup of black-eyed peas, vegetables and smoked turkey sausage

Ingredients

1 medium onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
2 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash (frozen is okay)
3 cups cooked black eyed peas (2 15 ounce cans, drained and rinsed)
2 cups chopped greens (spinach, chard, collards or kale)
2 links (6 ounces) smoked chicken or turkey sausage, cubed
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 heaping teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine all ingredients.
Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Stir and adjust seasonings (adding salt and pepper to taste) before serving.
Add fresh chopped parsley if desired

Nutrition & Cooking Notes

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving: 230 calories, 3 g fat, 45 g carbs, 18 g fiber, 20 g protein and 6 Weight Watchers Points+ Value.

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Related Posts:
Favorite Skinny & Delicious Black Bean Soup Recipes – from me as well as other blogs and websites with WW Points+ Values
Slow Cooker Beef Vegetable Mushroom Barley Soup - hearty and delicious with 7 WW Points+
Slim & Healthy Cream of Broccoli & Cheese Soup - Rich, creamy and delicious with 7 WW Points+
Easy 5 Ingredient Baked Bean Soup – sweet, spicy and satisfying with just 5 ingredients and 5 WW Points+
Slow Cooker Lentil & Chicken Sausage Stew – hearty, healthy, simple and delicious with just 5 WW Points+

A Review of Greek Yogurt Taste Tests

Martha — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:27:21 +0000

Non Fat Greek Yogurt

Nonfat Greek yogurt, a Weight Watchers Power Food, is a great ingredient to stock in your kitchen. It’s much thicker and creamier than regular plain yogurt because it has been strained to remove the excess liquid whey. It’s also much higher in protein.

I made the switch to Greek yogurt several years ago because it’s so versatile. It took a little time for my taste buds to adjust to the tanginess, but now I love it for breakfast – plain, drizzled with maple syrup or honey, swirled with jam, or turned into Magical Yogurt Breakfast Cream. It’a also a healthy sour cream substitution in all kinds of foods from dips, to mashed potatoes to muffins and cheesecakes.

I usually buy whatever brand of nonfat Greek yogurt is available and/or least expensive when I shop, most often picking up the store brand at Fresh and Easy or Trader Joes. But there are many more brands of nonfat Greek yogurt to chose from these days. Is any one better than the others? I’ve never done a side-by-side taste test.

The answer to, “Which Greek yogurt is best?” seems to depend on which review you read. Cook’s Illustrated, Cooking Light, Good Housekeeping, Consumer Reports, The Food Network Blog and The Huffington Post all have conducted independent Greek Yogurt Taste Tests, resulting in a variety of winners. (Are you surprised?)

Here’s an interesting roundup and summary of the findings.

Greek Yogurt Taste Tests – A Review of the Reviews

Cooks Illustrated

In the May/June 2011 Issue, Cook’s Illustrated performed a nonfat Greek yogurt taste test, comparing 10 brands in a blind tasting, rating them on flavor, texture, tanginess and overall appeal.

CI discovered that while most Greek Yogurts were thickened by the traditional method of straining, some brands opt to skip this expensive step and, instead, fortify their yogurts with thickeners such as pectin or gelatin. It’s not surprising that the two brands depending on the addition of thickeners – made by Yoplait and The Greek Gods – scored lowest in the ratings.

The winner was plain strained Olympus Traditional Greek Nonfat Yogurt. It won rave reviews for it’s smooth, creamy consistency and pleasant tang. Other recommended brands included Voskos, Brown Cow, Dannon, Oikos, and Fage. Chobani was recommended with reservations. The three lowest ranking brands that were NOT recommended were Athenos, Yoplait and The Greek Gods.

The CI Test Kitchen also compared the various yogurts when used to make dips and in baking. In the baking test, they found that brand was much less important, with all producing a tasty cheesecake.

Cooking Light

In a 2010 Nonfat yogurt taste testing, Cooking Light named Fage their GRAND PRIZE WINNER, calling it “Beautifully thick, creamy, with a strong tangy kick.” Chobani and Voskos Organic (described as a great swap for full-fat sour cream) came in next.

The Food Network Blog

In a The Food Network Blog Nonfat Greek Yogurt Taste Test, Fage, rated tops with Chobani a close second.

Consumer Reports

In a Consumer Reports yogurt taste-off of strawberry flavored yogurt, the Greek yogurts outscored the creamy brands, with Fage and Chobaniscoring excellent ratings.

Good Housekeeping

At Good Housekeeping’s Greek Yogurt Taste Test – Athenos came in first with Fage and Olympus earning honorable mentions.

The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post, put 18 different brands of Greek yogurt to a blind taste test to find the best with both Fage 2% and 0% fat tying for the number 1 spot.

Miss Metabolism

Here’s a fun video with Amber of Miss Metabolism, where she gathers several of her friend for a blind taste testing of 8 plain nonfat yogurt varieties and Trader Joe’sbrand places first.

So, based on this completely unscientific reviews of the reviews, Fage was the clear winner, placing first or second 5 times.

I picked up containers of Fage and Greek Gods, when I was at the grocery store recently, just to do a mini assessment for myself. The Fage is incredibly richer and creamier; the Greek Gods thinner, more watery and much more sour.

Will this review significantly change my buying habits? Probably not. Many of these tests come down to personal opinion, which is totally subjective. How else can you explain Athenos being ranked so low by Cooks Illustrated and so high by Good Housekeeping? (Unless there is that much variation from batch to batch.) But, I’m glad I have a better understanding of how these Greek yogurts stack up against each other, should anyone ask.

Do you have a favorite nonfat Greek yogurt?

Skinny Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Martha — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:20:42 +0000

Skinny Black Bean Brownies

Recipes for black bean brownies have been floating around for years, but I never got around to making them until yesterday. I guess, deep down I had a hard time believing that a dessert made from black beans could taste good.

But, yesterday, I was looking for a quick and easy low fat dessert to satisfy a chocolate craving, thought of the brownie mix sitting in the pantry, and decided to give them a whirl.

After some searching I decided to go with Gina from SkinnyTaste’s recipe for Black Bean Brownies, that she posted way back in 2008, and that I tweaked only slightly. (Many of the recipes I looked at call for using the black beans with their liquid; I liked that Gina used rinsed black beans and a little water instead.)

A Low Fat Brownie Made with Black Beans

Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. The brownies turned out rich and fudgy with no hint of black bean flavor or texture. And they are low fat and high in fiber and protein. I think one key is to puree the heck out of the brownies in a food processor or blender until they become a silky smooth puree. (This is when my Vitamix comes in handy.)

I calculated the nutrition and points information with a 20 ounce package of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix and 15 ounce can of Sprouts black beans and came up with 139 calories and 4 WW PointsPlus Value for each small brownie.

There are lots of different recipes for black bean brownies – both from scratch and using a mix – out there. I’ve included a collection of those I think look best at the end of this post.

Skinny Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Recipe type: Dessert

Author: Martha

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: 20

Low Fat rich and fudgy black bean chocolate brownies that are as quick and easy as they are delicious

Ingredients

1 can (15 ounces) black beans
1 box (around 20 ounces) chocolate brownie mix
1 heaping teaspoon instant coffee powder (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Position an oven rack in the center and preheat your oven according to the instructions on the box of brownie mix. Spray your baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Open the can of beans, drain and rinse well.
Put beans back in the can and fill the can with water.
Put beans, water, coffee and cinnamon (if using) in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, mix together the pureed beans and dry brownie mix.
Spread the brownie mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake the pan of brownies according to package directions.
Cool and cut into 20 brownies.

Nutrition & Cooking Notes

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1 brownie): 139 calories, 3 g fat, 26 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein

I baked these in a 9-inch square pan at 325 for 45 minutes and they turned out perfectly.

These brownies need to be completely cool before eating. They improve after sitting overnight.

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Ghiardelli Brownie Mix & Black Beans

More Black Bean Brownie Recipes

Amazing Black Bean Brownies – These look delicious and may be great for those eating Gluten free since they contain no flour, but with 1 cup of butter and 4 eggs in the recipe, these are far from Fat Free. Found at 101 Cookbooks.

Low Fat Vegan Black Bean Brownies – a super healthy variation I plan to try real soon made with black beans, bananas, cocoa powder and oats. Each brownie has just 85 calories and 2 WW Points+ from the Happy Herbivore.

Weight Watchers Black Bean Brownies – a from scratch variation with 4 WW Points+ found at Weight Watchers.

Easy Black Bean Brownies – Two variations that look that easy and delicious found at Best Ever Cookie Collection

Here’s a video demonstrating how to make black bean brownies with a brownie mix:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, and Onions – 2 Points+

Martha — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:13:13 +0000

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes and Onions

This dish proves that good food can be simple and delicious. Chopped brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes, carrots, and onions drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and roasted until tender. That’s all there is to it.

If you have never roasted vegetables or don’t do it often, I encourage you to make it a habit. Even people who claim that they don’t like vegetables, have been known to change their minds after sampling them roasted. Brussels sprouts are a great example. I’ve turned lots of brussels sprouts haters into lovers, just by suggesting that they give roasting a chance.

Most any vegetable – from asparagus to zucchini – can be roasted on it’s own with delicious results. But something magical happens when you mix a variety of them together. This combination of sweet, savory, soft and crunchy is a wonderful example. Last night, I simply tossed together my recent Farmer’s Market finds to accompany our turkey burgers.

The burgers were good but these luscious roasted vegetables stole the show.

If you want a delicious way to eat more vegetables, you owe it to yourself to try roasting.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, and Onions

Recipe type: Side

Author: Martha

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Serves: 4 to 6

A simple & delicious combination of brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, carrots and onions roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper

Ingredients

2 cups halved brussels sprouts
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 onion peeled, and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Place the vegetables on the baking sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Toss to coat the vegetables with oil and then spread them out evenly in the pan.
Bake until the sweet potatoes and carrots are tender and brussels sprouts and onions are golden brown, stirring once or twice, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Nutrition & Cooking Notes

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1/6th of recipe): 78 calories, 3 g fat, 13 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 2 g protein and 2 WW PointsPlus Value.

This recipe doesn’t need to be followed exactly. Use whatever combination works best for you – fewer carrots, more sweet potato; more brussels sprouts and skip the sweet potato. (You get the idea. Use what you have and what you like.)

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Healthy Cooking Picks the Best Bread Thins, Pockets, and Wraps

Martha — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:34:47 +0000

Bagel Thins Photo Credit: Flickr: slgckgc

I’m a big fan of sandwiches, especially for lunch and sometimes even for breakfast and dinner. I realize I’m not alone. Sandwiches are popular for good reason. They are quick, easy, convenient and versatile.

Unfortunately, they are not always healthy or low calorie. It all depends on the ingredients you use to make your sandwiches and, of course, bread is a big component.

It took me a long time to realize and then accept that I’m really sensitive to starch and sugar. Eating too much bread leaves me looking a lot like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. (He’s cute, but his look isn’t one that works well for me.)

So, to enjoy sandwiches while keeping the calories and carbs in check, I’m always looking for ways to minimize the amount of bread I use. There are lots approaches you can take. You can have half a sandwich or an open faced sandwich. You can opt for light bread. You can skip the bread altogether and wrap your filling in lettuce leaves. Or you can experiment with the many skinny bread options flooding the markets these days.

This month (February/March 2012) Healthy Cooking taste-tested several whole-grain options to determine their favorites. They didn’t mention how many brands they tested or include runners-up – only their favorite whole grain bagel thin, pocket, sandwich thin and wrap are mentioned. (They didn’t include the nutritional details either, so I did some research on the web to find them.) Their winners were:

Thomas’ 100 Whole Wheat Bagel Thins (110 calories, 1 g fat, 24 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 6 g protein,, and 3 WW Points+), which they described as less chewy than a good old-fashioned bagel, but with lots of flavor. These pre-sliced Bagel Thins are as wide as a bagel but much thinner and lighter.

Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat Thin Style Buns (110 calories, 2 g fat, 20 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein and 3 WW Points+), the only sandwich bun the Healthy Cooking staff found to be moist and full of flavor. These pockets are pre-opened and ready to fill, which is nice.

Kangaroo Honey Wheat Salad Pockets (90 calories, 1 g fat, 18 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein and 2 WW Points+), The freshest tasting of those the staff sampled.

Toufayan Bakeries Wholesome Wheat Wraps (160 calories, 3 g fat, 25 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein and 4 WW Points+), which they found to be supple enough to hold their shape and not to split apart.

A few years back, Hungry-Girl weighed in with her thoughts on the topic of sandwich thins, comparing those from Arnold Select/Oroweat with Pepperidge Farm, each with around 100 calories/3 Points+. She described them as nearly identical — both great tasting and full of fiber.

I’m a fan of Thomas’ Bagel Thins. I think the Oroweat and Pepperidge Farm sandwich thins are a little dry, but fine for sandwiches, especially when lightly toasted. I’ve never even noticed the Kangaroo or Toufayan Bakeries products, but intend to look for them the next time I’m at Sprouts. And I’m looking forward to give the Sara Lee brand a try.

Do you have a favorite bread thin, pocket or wrap? Or a strategy for eating less bread while still enjoying sandwiches?

Related Posts:

22 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Weight Loss

Cooking Light and Ways to Make Your Recipes Lighter and Healthier

Tips for Low Fat Light Baking Success

The Essential Kitchen Tools for a Slim & Healthy Kitchen

Cook’s Illustrated Reviews Brownie Mixes

Skinny Low Fat Chocolate Cake Recipes

Martha — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:54:08 +0000

Skinny Low Fat Chocolate Cake

Do you love chocolate cake but not all the fat and calories? Me too. But it’s possible to have your cake and eat it too if you focus on baking lightened up versions of your favorites.

I’ve gathered my favorite low fat chocolate cake recipes and included more great looking light and recipes for chocolate cakes and cupcakes from other blogs and websites for you.

If you tend to use boxed cake mixes, here are some modifications you can make baking chocolate cakes:

Ideas for Baking Low Fat Chocolate Cakes with a Cake Mix

1. Low Fat Chocolate Pumpkin Cake: Mix one package (18.25 ounce) chocolate cake mix with 1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin puree and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce and beat until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees for about the time specified on the box. Mom shared this recipe with me the other day, when I wanted a quick cake for dinner. I baked it in 2 8-inch square foil pans – one for us and one to share. To make it extra special I sprinkled each cake with about 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips before baking. It turned out moist and delicious.

2. Low Fat Chocolate Yogurt Cake: Mix one package (18.25 ounce) chocolate cake mix with 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt and 1 cup water and beat until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees for about the time specified on the box.

(For either recipe each small serving (1/24th) of recipe has around 100 calories, 3 g fat, 17 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein and 3 WW Points+ value. Not bad for something so sweet and delicious!)

My go to from scratch recipe for chocolate cake is the old time one from the back of the package of Hershey’s cocoa powder. It’s the chocolate cake my Mom always made and the one I turn to most often. Because it’s made with cocoa powder and a modest amount of oil, it’s a great way to satisfy your craving for chocolate cake without blowing your calorie bank.

I usually cut the recipe in half (which explains why the amounts look a little funny) but it’s worth it when you have a small family and find it dangerous to have too many tempting sweets around.

Hershey’s Perfect Chocolate Cake Half Recipe

Recipe Type: Dessert, Cake

Author: Martha

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 12

This is a quick and easy chocolate cake that always bakes up moist and delicious. I cut the recipe in half to better suit the needs of small families and those who don’t like to have too much dessert around. Make sure your baking pans are at least 2 inches deep to prevent the cakes from spilling over the sides during baking

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup boiling water

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch round or 8-inch square baking pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and until well combined.
Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla and beat until very smooth.
Stir in the boiling water. (The batter will be thin.)
Pour into your prepared pan.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and cool in the pans set on wire racks for 10 minutes and then remove the cakes from the pans and set them on wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving (1/12th of cake): 156 calories, 6 g fat, 26 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein and 4 WW Points+ value.

Some Favorite Variations:

*Use low fat buttermilk for the milk
*Try strong coffee in place of the boiling water
*Stir in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
*Stir in a handful of mini chocolate chips

More Weight Watchers Friendly Chocolate Cake Recipes from other blogs and websites

Healthy Chocolate Cake – with applesauce and egg whites. Each serving has 195 calories and 5 WW PointsPlus. From Recipe Girl.

Weight Watchers Chocolate Sheet Cake – this moist and tasty chocolate cake is perfect on its own or ready for decorating. So much better than a boxed mix. Each serving has 6 WW PointsPlus Values. From Weight Watchers.

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes – a favorite flavor combination in lighter cupcakes with just 5 Points+ per cupcake found at LaaLoosh.

Super Moist Low Fat Chocolate Cupcakes – with sugar free fat free chocolate pudding and pumpkin added. Each cupcake has 3 Points+. From Gina at SkinnyTaste.

Double Dark Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake – simple & delicious, yet oh so rich and satisfying with 6 WW PointsPlus Value from Nancy at Skinny Kitchen.

35-Second Mini Chocolate Microwave Cake – for the chocolate cake craving that won’t wait. 3 Points+ per serving. From Eating Well Living Thin

Secret Healthy Chocolate Cake – with shredded zucchini instead of oil to keep it moist. Said to be just 100 calories per slice from Yammie’s Noshery.

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Cake – made with canned beets. 6 WW Points+ per serving from Alanna at Kitchen Parade.

Skinny Lemon Pepper chicken Breasts Recipe

Martha — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:24:48 +0000

Some recipes are so quick, easy, healthy, and delicious they become staples you turn to again and again. This recipe for lemon pepper chicken breasts is a perfect example.

Skinny Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts

It’s from Ellie Krieger’s book, Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life. In it, she explains how she got the recipe from cookbook author and New York Times columnist, Mark Bittman, when he appeared on her TV show. Isn’t it cool how good recipes get shared? So, here it is from Mark, to Ellie, to me, to you.

This is great served with rice and broccoli or spinach or sliced atop a big green salad.

Skinny Lemon Pepper chicken Breasts Recipe

Recipe type: Main

Author: Martha

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 4

A super simple, healthy and delicious recipe for boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts (4 to 5 ounces each)
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.
Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with the salt and pepper.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat.
Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through.
Turn off the heat and pour the lemon juice over the chicken and serve.

Nutrition & Cooking Notes

Nutritional Estimates Per Serving: 160 calories, 2 g fat, 1 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 33 g protein and 4 WW PointsPlus Value.

You can also use lemon pepper instead of the black pepper, which is what I did the last time I made them.

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More Weight Watchers Friendly Recipes for Chicken Breasts from around the Web

Chicken Breasts with Honey Balsamic Glaze - easy and delicious with a simple 2 ingredient sauce and 4 WW Points+ found at Weight Watchers
Baked Chicken Parmesan – lighter, healthier version of a classic with 6 WW Points+ from Gina at SkinnyTaste.
Chicken Sybil – a great basic template recipe for boneless skinless chicken breasts that can be modified in dozens of ways with 6 WW Points+ from Alanna at Kitchen Parade.
Skinny Maple Glazed Chicken Breasts - quick and tasty from pantry staples with just 5 Points+
Slim & Saucy Chicken Marsala - a personal favorite made lighter with 6 WW Points+ found here at Simple Nourished Living