Boy-Approved Spiked Pasta (Spaghetti with Vodka Cream Sauce) My boyfriend P has a busy, active job and is often too busy to eat a big lunch, if any lunch at all. It's no surprise then that he comes home hungry at only 5 p.m. For those days especially, I have a list of go-to meals that can be whipped up in no time. And while P's sweet enough to try almost anything I cook, I reserve this list for only the dishes he gets excited about. Chief among them is this fabulous spaghetti alla vodka. P's not much of a foodie. I'd actually seen many versions of this dish long before, yet was always scared off by their copious use of heavy cream. Do you also have a go-to list of quick, delicious meals for those really hectic days? Spaghetti with Vodka Cream Sauce [Printable Recipe] Slightly adapted from Cooking Light Serves 3 to 4 XIAOLU'S NOTES: I HIGHLY recommend using fire-roasted canned tomatoes for this recipe -- it adds that much more depth to the flavor! Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
Turkey Sausage and Tomato Sauce over Pasta. Having a three week old leaves me with very limited time to cook dinner lately. This is a wonderful sauce that is ready in less than 20 minutes, but tastes like it's been simmering for hours. Your family will love it! I buy my turkey sausage from the butcher, but Jennie-O and Purdue make lean Italian turkey sausage if you don't have a good butcher nearby. You can't beat a homemade sausage, especially from an Italian Salumeria. The ricotta cheese gives this a nice creamy texture. Turkey Sausage and Tomato Sauce over PastaGina's Weight Watcher RecipesServings: 8 • Size: 1/2 cup sauce, 1 cup pastaCalories: 324 • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 8 pts Ingredients: 1 lb lean Italian turkey sausage, casings removed28 oz can crushed tomatoes (I love Tuttorosso)1/4 cup fresh basil, tornsalt and pepper to taste1/2 cup fat free ricotta16 oz uncooked whole wheat, high fiber or low carb pasta Directions: Remove the casings from the sausage and saute in a deep skillet.
Spaghetti with Sauteed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes. This recipe was inspired by the abundance of tomatoes and basil in my garden. These grape tomatoes are so sweet and addicting. Toss them with some low carb pasta and diced chicken and you have a delicious, healthy meal in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight! Spaghetti with Sauteed Chicken and Grape Tomatoes Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 5.5 pts • Points+: 9 ptsCalories: 329.7 • Fat: 6.8 g • Carb: 48.3 g • Fiber: 7.2 g • Protein: 25.0 g Ingredients: 2 skinless chicken breast halves, diced in 1 inch cubescooking spray1/2 tsp each of dried oregano and dries basilkosher salt and fresh pepper8 oz spaghetti (high fiber or low carb) I used Ronzoni Smart Taste2 cups grape tomatoes, halved6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped4 tsp extra virgin olive oil4 tbsp chopped fresh basilDirections:Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Asian Peanut Noodles with Chicken – Lightened Up. Peanut noodles just got a make over! Stir fried chicken strips, rice noodles, scallions, carrots, broccoli slaw, bean sprouts in a spicy peanut sauce. A winning combination of spicy, crunchy, sweet and salty will tantalize your taste buds and making this yourself will be easy on your wallet and waistline. Let's face it, peanut noodles are not light. Peanuts are high in fat, combined with noodles which are high in carbs and you have yourself a heavy dish. So I had to make some major adjustments to make this dish skinny. Increasing the vegetables was a must, so I loaded this with plenty of noodle sized vegetables to really blend well with the noodles and increas the fiber.
Have you tried Better'n Peanut Butter ? Rice sticks or rice noodles can be found in the Asian section of your supermarket and make this a gluten free dish. . , I confess I've yet to try them, but I did the calculations, 5 points plus per serving if you use them instead. Try this with shrimp or tofu for vegetarians! Angel Hair with Shrimp and Tomato Sauce. Shrimp cooked with tomatoes, a touch of cream, white wine and a hint of lemon. This pasta dish is so simple to make and is ready in about 15 minutes, perfect for a weeknight meal. The lemon juice adds a nice touch and compliments the shrimp. This is also great over spaghetti squash for a low-carb or gluten-free meal. Angel Hair with Shrimp and Tomato SauceServings: 4 • Serving Size: 1/4 • Old Points: 7 pts • Points+: 10 ptsCalories: 376.7 • Fat: 6.8 g • Protein: 29.6 g • Carb: 46.7 g • Fiber: 5.0 g • Sugar: 6.3 g Sodium: 389.5 mg Ingredients: 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined1 tbsp olive oil3 cloves garlic, chopped1/4 cup white wine14 oz can diced tomatoes, drained1/2 cup half and halforeganosalt and fresh pepper1 tsp lemon juice1/4 cup chopped parsley8 oz angel hair pasta (whole wheat, low carb or high fiber)Directions: Boil water for pasta.
Cook according to package instructions. Meanwhile, season shrimp with salt and oregano. Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese. I have gotten many requests to make a low point mac and cheese recipe. Here's a baked macaroni and cheese recipe that even got my skeptical daughter's approval. I lightened this by reducing the butter, I replaced cream with skim milk and chicken broth, and I added some fresh baby spinach. I liked Sargento 2% cheddar cheese because after trying several cheddars, this was the one I felt tasted best and melted beautifully. I also use Ronzoni Smart Taste which is less points than regular pasta, with the same great taste. Whole wheat or low carb pasta would work with the same points too. If you want to make this a quick stove top mac and cheese, you can serve it without the breadcrumbs and grated cheese. Lighter Baked Macaroni and CheeseServings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 cup • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 7 ptsCalories: 296.67 • Fat: 9.7 g • Protein: 15.8 g • Carb: 34.5 g • Fiber: 5.3 g Ingredients: In a large, heavy skillet, melt butter.