It's a New Year. . .

It is now 2011 and like most people my New Years resolution was to get healthier. Yes, I'd like to lose 30lbs and I'd like to have the body of Jennifer Aniston but I know that isn't reality. But what I can commit to is cooking & eating healthier for me. I don't want the diabetic gene in my family to creep up on me in 10-15 years.

Weight Watchers has launched a new Points Plus plan and so far I am loving it. How can you not when a banana is no longer 2 points & now is 0!!

Here's a recipe I got at my meeting last week for Taco Soup. So easy, so delicious & so filling:



1lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 package taco seasoning
1 package Hidden Valley ranch dip mix
1 can corn, undrained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can pinto beans *i didn't use these
1 can diced tomatoes *I used real tomatoes, didn't have canned
1 can rotel (tomatoes with chilis)
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup water . . . I used less. . depending on how thick or thin you want your soup

Brown meat, drain fat. Stir in onions, cook until translucent. Add taco seasoning, stir. Add all other ingredients & simmer for an hour or more.

I topped my 1 cup bowl with a pinch of fat free shredded cheddar. Was delicious! You can also stir in some fat free sour cream to thicken the soup up.

I calculated this as 10 1cup servings for 4 points plus.

Mexican Coleslaw

I'm forever cooking mexican dishes and always looking for something to serve on the side besides rice & beans. I found this recipe & served it with my enchiladas.


1 16oz bag coleslaw
1 15oz can corn, drained & rinsed
1 15oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 tomato, diced & seeded
1 jalapeno pepper, diced & seeded
1/2 cup garlic balsamic vinaigrette

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Simple as that! The site I got this from said this was 6 servings. It is WAY more than 6. I'd say it's at least 10.

Shrimp Enchiladas

Every week, the night before weigh in, I have shrimp. It's all a mental thing but hey, whatever works right? I try to find different ways to prepare shrimp since it's pretty cheap & easy to make.

1lb shrimp (this recipe can be used with any meat really)
8 oz refried beans
10 oz can enchilada sauce
1 1/2 cups fat free shredded cheddar
10 tortillas

Preheat oven to 375. In large skillet, cook shrimp in 2tbsp enchilada sauce. Add beans & mix well. Cook until beans are hot. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese. Spray pyrex pan with nonstick spray. Place 2-3 tbsp enchilada sauce in pan & swirl to coat bottom. Place 1/3 cup of shrimp mixture in center of tortilla. Roll up & place seam down in pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Evenly pour enchilada sauce over top. Distribute remaining cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Serve with salsa, guacamole, sour cream. . whatever you like.

4pts each. 9pts for two.

Mexican Lasagna

1lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp cumin
1 clove garlic, diced
1 can rotel
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
3-6 flour tortillas
fat free cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350.

Brown ground beef in skillet. When beef is halfway cooked, add onion, green pepper & garlic. Cook until onions are clear. Add rotel, beans, corn & cumin. Bring to a boil. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Layer 1/3 mixture in 9x13 glass pan. Cover with tortilla. Layer with 1/3 cheese. Repeat. Bake until sauce bubbles & cheese melts. 35-45 minutes. serves 8. 5pts each.

Rice & Beans

15 oz can black beans, drained
14oz can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 1/4 cups instant rice
1 cup salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In pan, combine beans, broth, frozen corn, uncooked rice & salsa. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer, COVERED, 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Let stand COVERED 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.

4 servings.

I found that this makes WAY more than 4 servings. I was using it as a side dish though. Also, maybe use half a can of the broth because it had too much liquid.

Taco Skillet

1lb ground beef/turkey
1 cup salsa
1 jar tomato soup
4 tbsp sour cream
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tortillas, torn into pieces

Brown meat in skillet. Drain fat. Add salsa, tomato soup & sour cream. Simmer. Stir in cheese & tortillas.

So quick. So easy. So good.

Twice Baked Potatoes - Mexican Style

2 medium baking potatoes, scrubbed
6 tbsp fat free sour cream
1/4 cup fat free milk
1/4 tsp salt
8 drops of hot sauce
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup shredded fat free cheddar
1/4 cup salsa
2 tsp cilantro *I didn't have this so I omitted it

Preheat oven to 425. Bake potatoes for 45-55 minutes.

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out pulp into bowl. Reserve shells. Mix pulp, sour cream, milk, salt & hot sauce until creamy. Stir in scallions. Spoon mixture back into shells & sprinkle with cheese. Bake 10 mins.

Top with salsa & cilantro (optional)

1 half of potato is 3pts.