Cilantro Chili Chicken Skewers

By far one of my favorite summer recipes. 

3 points if you divide into 8 servings

Also make skewers with onion, bell peppers, or any vegetable you'd like

• 2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken thighs or breast meat
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, mince
• 3/4 bunch fresh cilantro (save remaining for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon salt & pepper
• Sweet chili sauce for basting

Soak skewers in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning.

Cut chicken into 1" cubes and place into bowl. Add olive oil, garlic and cilantro in a food processor and pulverize. Pour the marinade into the bowl with the chicken, add teaspoon of salt and pepper and marinate overnite if possible.

Preheat the grill to medium heat and coat with oil. Remove chicken from the refrigerator and put 5-6 pieces of chicken on each skewer. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. Brush chili sauce on chicken just before done cooking to create a nice glaze. ​ 

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pizzelle Tarts

Blackberry Cheesecake Tarts

2 (1.9 oz) packages frozen mini-phyllo tart shells
4 oz reduced fat cream cheese
4 oz fresh blackberries plus additional 30 blackberries for garnish
3 T plain low-fat Greek yogurt
2 T plus 1 t powdered sugar
1/2 t grated lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Place tart shells on large baking sheet and bake until crisp, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.
3. Meanwhile, combine cream cheese, 4 oz blackberries, yogurt, 2 T powdered sugar, lemon zest, and salt in food processor and puree.
4. Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly into phyllo shells. Top each tart with a blackberry (half a blackberry if large) and sprinkle with remaining 1 t powdered sugar. Serve at once.

Black bean, farro, and roasted squash chili

 Year-Round Fresh pg. 157 6 serv   3 points OVEN
3 c (3/4”) cubes peeled seeded butternut squash
2 poblano peppers, diced
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 T chili powder
1 T ground cumin
1 t salt
½ t chipotle chile powder
1 (28 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
1 (15 ½ oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c frozen corn kernels
1 ½ c reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 c cooked farro
6 T light sour cream
6 T shredded reduced-fat Cheddar Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick spray.
2. Spread squash on half of baking sheet and poblano peppers on other half. Lightly spray vegetables with nonstick spray. Bake, stirring once, until peppers are tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer peppers to plate. Spread out squash and return to oven. Bake until squash is tender, about 10 minutes longer.
3. Spray Dutch oven with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until onion begins to brown, 6 minutes. Stir in garlic, chii powder, cumin, salt, and chipotle chile powder and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, beans, corn, broth, and roasted poblano peppers to Dutch oven and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Stir in squash and farro and simmer until heated through, 3 minutes. Serve topped with sour cream and cheddar. (about 1 1/3 c)

Asian peanut chicken salad

 Year-Round Fresh pg. 71 6 serv. 3 points STOVE

1 c frozen shelled edamame
¼ c smooth peanut butter
3 T hoisin sauce
3 T rice vinegar
2 T water
2 t reduced-sodium soy sauce
¾ t hot sauce
1 lg scallion, sliced
1 t chopped, peeled fresh ginger
¾ t salt
6 c loosely packed thinly sliced Napa cabbage
2 c shredded cooked skinless boneless chicken breast
2 lg. carrots, shredded

1 English (seedless) cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 c lightly packed whole fresh cilantro leaves
1. Bring small saucepan of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add edamame and cook 5 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water and pat dry. Transfer to large bowl.
2. Meanwhile, combine peanut butter, hoisin sauce, vinegar, water, soy sauce, hot sauce, scallion, ginger, and salt in blender and puree.
3. Add cabbage, chicken, carrots, cucumber, and cilantro to bowl with edamame. Add PB mixture and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Sweet potato-spice truffles

 pg 166 Year-Round Fresh 3 points…makes 48 total OVEN  3 truffles=1 serving
1 medium sweet potato (about ½ lb)
¼ c whole blanched almonds, toasted
6 pitted medjool dates (1/2 cup)
2/3 c quick-cooking oats
2 T packed dark brown sugar
½ t pumpkin pie spice
¼ c unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 400. Line small baking pan with foil
2. Prick sweet potato with knife several times and place in prepared pan. Bake until tender, about 1 hour. Cut in half, lengthwise, and let cool completely. Remove flesh and discard peel.
3. Finely chop almonds in food processor. Remove and set aside 2 T of almonds. Add dates to food processor and puree. Add sweet potato, 1/3 c of oats, brown sugar, and pie spice and puree. Scrape potato mixture into small bowl and stir in remaining oats. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours.
4. Combine reserved 2 T almonds and coconut on plate. Shape sweet potato mixture by rounded measuring teaspoonfuls into ¾” balls. Roll in coconut mixture. Store in covered container in refrigerator up to 4 days. Serve chilled.
In my opinion: Way too much work. No need to roll in balls, put in casserole dish. Yummy!

Cinnamon French Toast with Raspberries

 Year-Round Fresh pg. 61 serv 6 3 points STOVE
2 lg egg whites
1 large egg
1/3 c low-fat milk
2 T light brown sugar
½ t cinnamon
½ t vanilla extract
6 slices light whole wheat bread
1 ½ t canola oil
3 c raspberries
1 ½ t confectioners sugar

1. Whisk together egg whites, egg, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla in large shallow dish.
2. Dip each slice of bread in egg mixture, turning several times to coat.
3. Heat ½ t of oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 slices of bread and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Repeat with remaining ½ t oil and remaining bread. Cut each slice in half on diagonal. Top with raspberries and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.

Mini Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

24 serv  3 points Cook Up Comfort
¾ c all purpose flour
1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
¼ t fine salt
3 ripe small bananas, mashed
¼ c plain low-fat Greek yogurt
1/3 c sugar
1 lg egg
1 t vanilla extract
2/3 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c frozen light whipped topping, thawed
3 T creamy peanut butter
Flaky sea salt optional
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Whisk together flour through salt in small bowl. Mix together bananas through vanilla in large bowl. With rubber spatula, fold flour mixture into banana mixture just until combined; gently stir in chocolate chips.
3. Spray 24 minu cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with paper liners; fill each with 1 heaping tablespoon batter. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean, about 13 minutes. Let cool in pan on wire rack about 45 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, to make frosting, whisk together whipped topping and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Frost each cupcake with 1 rounded teaspoon of frosting; refrigerate until ready to serve. Sprinkle tops with a few grains of sea salt.

Creole Style Red Beans and Rice

   3 points   Cook Up Comfort STOVETOP

½ c brown rice
1 T canola oil
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 14 ½ oz can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 c vegetable broth
1 t dried thyme
1 t hot pepper sauce or to taste
¼ t salt
1/8 t cayenne, or to taste
2 15 oz cans kidney beans or small red beans, rinsed and drained
3 scallions, thinly sliced

1. Cook rice according to package directions
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring until vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, hot pepper sauce, salt, and cayenne to skillet, bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended, about 6 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and beans. Cook, stirring until heated through, about 3 minutes longer. Sprinkle with scallions.

Egg-and-veggie mini-casseroles

 4 servings p. 13 Cook Up Comfort 3 points  oven

4 slices whole wheat bread
½ t canola oil
½ c diced red onion
½ c diced red bell pepper
½ c diced zucchini
½ t salt
4 large eggs
4 large egg whites
¼ t black pepper
½ c reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

1. Preheat oven to 400. Lightly coat4 8 oz ramekins or oven-safe bakers with nonstick spray. Cut 4” circle from each slice of bread and firmly press 1 into bottom of each ramekin; set aside. Discard scraps or save for another use.
2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and ¼ t salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, whites, remaining ¼ t salt, and black pepper together until frothy; stir in cooked vegetables and ¼ c cheese. Divide mixture evenly among ramekins. Sprinkle each with 1 T remaining cheese.
4. Place ramekins on small baking sheet and bake until knife inserted into center of each casserole comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

Bacon-and-Swiss quiche with phyllo crust

 Cook up Comfort Pg. 3    3 points OVEN

3 sheets phyllo, each cut into 3 strips
4 large eggs
1 c evaporated fat-free milk
½ t salt
¼ t black pepper
¼ t ground nutmeg
Pinch cayenne
½ c shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese
4 oz turkey bacon, crisp cooked and crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9” pie plate with nonstick spray
2. Lay phyllo in pie plate, one piece at a time, spraying each layer with nonstick spray (dough should cover bottom and sides of plate in overlapping layers). Fold in any overhanging corners.
3. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne in small bowl.
4. Sprinkle Swiss cheese and bacon over phyllo. Pour in egg mixture and place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until firm, 30-35 minutes. Cool at least 5 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges.
1 wedge 140 calories

3 point snack.

3 point snack.
I full graham cracker (broken in half) and 2 tbs pumpkin fluff frozen to make an ice cream sandwich.

Pumpkin fluff.....1 small tub fat free or sugar free cool whip
1 can pumpkin
Pumpkin pie spice
1 package sugar free pudding
Mix dry ingredients and pumpkin. Fold in cool whip and chill.

15 oz can of pumpkin
    1 box sugar free vanilla pudding mix
    1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
    1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk
    8 oz fat free whipped topping

    In a medium bowl; mix together pumpkin, pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice, and milk until well blended.
    Fold in whipped topping until mixed completely.
    Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.