Sometimes the mood for dessert strikes me but I either don’t have time to make something or I don’t have the stuff on hand to make anything elaborate.  This is a very simple dessert to throw together at the last minute.

Yogurt Parfait

4 oz yogurt, any flavor
1/3 cup fruit, I particularly like strawberries
1/3 cup cereal

Take a small individual ramekin or glass dish.  Layer yogurt, fruit and cereal.  Serve.

serves 1

Nutritional Information will vary depending upon the ingredients used.  In the above picture, the parfait with the “fake” Fiber One cereal (It is Trader Joe’s version of Fiber One) was 1 Weight Watcher point, while the one with the Cheerioes was 1.5 Weight Watcher points.

Weight Watcher points:1-3

I love lentils but never seem to eat them that often.  I ran across a lentil salad recipe in a Trader Joe’s cookbook called Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s. It’s a cool cookbook.  It was put out by Trader Joe’s fans, not Trader Joe’s.  As always I altered the recipe a bit.  It was good cold or warm.  And it was tasty as is but next time I think I will add a bit of oregano.

Lentil Salad

2 1/2 cups cooked lentils
1 cup chopped grape or cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup chopped parsley
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp salt

Combine lentils, tomatoes, and parsley in a medium bowl.  In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, oil and salt with a fork.  pour over lentil mixture and stir to coat.

serves 5

Nutritional Info
Calories: 146.6
Fat: 3.2 g
Carbs: 21.5 g
Fiber: 8.5 g
Protein: 9.5 g

Weight Watcher points: 2

I love mashed potatoes.  I think it is one of the best comfort foods out there.  Combine mashed potatoes with corn and cheese and it is unbelievably good. The original recipe is from recipezaar.

Mashed Potatoes With Corn & Cheese

4 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1 1/2 cups water
4 tablespoons skim milk
1 tablespoons light Smart Balance
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed & warmed
1 cups shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

Place potatoes in water in a microwave safe dish.  Cover and microwave on HIGH for 12-14 minutes or until tender and then drain. Alternatively, you can boil your potatoes on the stove as you would for any mashed potato recipe or even cook them in a steamer bag - your choice - you just needed cooked potatoes.

Place the potatoes in a mixing bowl. Mash with milk, Smart Balance, salt and pepper. You can use a hand mixer but I like to use a potato masher as I like lumpy potatoes. Stir in corn and cheese.

Nutritional Information:

Serves 6
Calories: 156
Fat:  5.1 g
Carbs: 21.6 g
Fiber: 3.1 g
Protein: 8.1 g

3 Weight Watcher points (but really, who just eats one serving of mashed potatoes?)

Sunday - Quick Chicken Cordon Bleu, Noodle Rice Pilaf, Broccoli
Monday - Beef Tips in the Crockpot, pasta, green beans
Tuesday - Aztec Chicken, rice
Wednesday - Eat Out
Thursday - Sausage Rice Scramble
Friday - Hamburger Helper
Saturday - Salisbury Steak, Scalloped potatoes, peas

See Org Junkie for more menu ideas!

v

I don’t remember where I got this recipe and a google search did not help.  But it was delicious.

Aztec Chicken

1 lb chicken breasts
2 cans black beans
2 cans corn
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 cup salsa

Dump it all into your crockpot and cook on high for 4-6 hrs.

Serve over rice.

Nutritional Information:

Serves 4
Calories: 307
Fat:  12 g
Carbs: 26 g
Fiber: 5.25 g
Protein: 24.5 g

6 Weight Watcher points