Taste of Thyme: Good & Good for You Food

I love a good soup - most chefs do! It can be a one dish meal full of nutrients or it can be great snack (just zap a bowl in the microwave and eat). I am especially thankful that most soups are really satisfying, low in calories and easy to make. Here is a soup I make in my pressure cooker (not like my mom's pressure cooker that was scary but a Swiss one that is really full proof - or try one of the electric ones). This can easily be made in a slow cooker on low for 4 or 5 hours as well. It makes a big batch. Because it has vinegar in it, it last a long time in the frig or freezer. I like to keep these low point soups around during the holidays so I can make a good choice and eat this instead of holiday treat that is handy to grab and calling my name! CABBAGE SOUP WITH CARAWAY (or no caraway if you don't like that flavor) 2 t canola oil 1 med onion coarsely chopped 1 lg carrot large dice 1 - 2 T caraway seed (or use fennel or dill if you prefer) 1 bay leaf 2 cups apple cider ...

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Here are some quotes you can use to inspire you as you work through the holidays. Best Holiday Exercise: Pushing away from the table. Remember~it's a HOLI...DAY not a HOLI...WEEK! Don't stuff your face, Face your stuff! Make sure you serve yourself islands, not continents. Those invisible extras multiply and divide all over your body. Whether I count it or not.... it counts The first two bites of what you love.. is what you love! "Prior planning prevents pudgy people" If you want a little behind, you must leave a little behind. He who stuffeth puffeth. May you eat from the horn of plenty without blowing it. "Don't be a turkey! Remember what you want the most and make it happen." If you gobble, gobble, gobble, you will wobble, wobble, wobble. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. The minutes spent at the dinner table won’t get you fat . . its the SECONDS! A moment on the lips, forever on the hips. Years from now we probably won’t even remember what we a...

I use this dressing all the time! It is perfect for any summer slaw. It is enough for 2 10 ounce bags of shredded cabbage or works great for broccoli slaw or a carrot salad. It can easily be halved. I like to bring this to a party in a jar and toss the slaw on site. That way I can be sure to have a really fresh salad! DRESSING FOR COLE SLAW 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt 1/2 cup light Mayonnaise 1/2 cup sugar (or sugar substitute) 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1 tsp dried dill weed salt and pepper to taste Mix well. Can be stored for serval days in the frig.

At Weight Watchers this is healthy snack week. Many leaders from across the country have put together their list of healthy (or I should say low point filling) snacks. Here it is to inspire you! Weight Watcher leader ideas for (Healthy) snacking: 1. (WW) String cheese and grapes or a small apple 2. WW Yogurt or Fiber One Yogurt with berries 3. Small banana and Peanut Butter 4. Almonds 5. WW Smoothie made with water and berries 6. Caramel Latte smoothie made with cold leftover coffee and lots of ice- 1 point and it tastes like a Coolata or Frappucino 7. Fiber 1 yogurt and 1/4 cup Fiber 1 cereal stirred into it 8. Vitatop Double Chocolate Muffin Tops (or any flavor-available in freezer section of grocery store or online) 9. Vita top muffin(heated in microwave for 20 sec.) with WW yogurt on top 10. 1/2 C Fiber One Cottage Cheese mixed with one 6oz container Activia light yogurt 11. bagel thins & WW cream cheese 12. sandwich thins, toasted, with cream cheese, peanut butter, fruit spr...

This recipe is from Rammona. Now I am not a big one for RAW foods and I have rarely found a gazpacho I like. I do like this one. It is good for you and great on a hot day. 2 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato juice 1 cup(s) tomato(es), fine chop 1/2 cup(s) cucumber(s), fine chope 1/2 cup(s) celery, fine chop 1/2 medium green pepper(s), fine chop 1/2 cup(s) scallion(s), chopped 1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped 1 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp table salt, optional 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp hot pepper sauce, to taste Pulse all but the juice in processor a few times. Add juice and chill for several hours. 6 servings WW recipe builder says this is 2 points for serving but when I do the math I get one point - you do the math and see! Enjoy!

Here is a salad that should trip your trigger! If you want to bring a substantial salad (this is like a pasta salad but with a grain) to a summer party, try this one! It is full of whole grain fiber and lacks the bleached emptiness of pasta. It is also full of filling foods! 2 cups water 1/2 cup uncooked pearl barley Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add barley; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain. 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon each salt & pepper 2 cups finely chopped seeded tomato 1 cup thinly sliced spinach 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper 1/2 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber 1/2 cup diced mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup finely chopped pepperoncini peppers 2 teaspoons dry oregano or basil Drizzle the oil over the drained barley and mix completely. Combine the juice, oregano, pepper and salt in large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add barley, tomato, and remaining i...

I don't like to eat anything that is MOCK! I feel like it is mocking me for eating it! But this vegetable salad is quite good. I admit it does not really taste exactly like potato salad, but it kind of does! And it is good and refreshing. For zero points, who's complaining? I am beginning to think, CAULIFLOWER IS THE NEW POTATO! Really! Have you ever eaten cauliflowere puree instead of mashed potatoes? Yum! 1 head of Cauliflower, thoroughly cooked & chopped 2 cups diced Celery 3-4 Radishes, chopped 1/2 Bell Pepper, chopped 1 Dill Pickle, chopped 1/4 cup onion, chopped 1 tsp. Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce sweetener equal to 1 Tbl. sugar 3 Tbl. Mustard 3 Tbl. plain nonfat yogurt Make sure you chop the cauliflower chunky so it is like pieces of potatoes. Chop the other ingredients very small. When the cauliflower is cool, mix all the vegetables. Mix the lemon juice, worcestershire, sweetener (us honey if you can't tolerate artifical ingredients), musta...

Mole is a great sauce! The first time I had it, it was a burnt mess in a bad Mexican Restaurant. It took many years for me to try it again. The flavors of this sauce are supposed to be complex and deep but what I ate had been burnt and was like cigarette ashes. But let's not turn away from a Mexican Classic without giving it a fair chance! I have had and made many complex moles, and honestly, they are really great and worth the effort. But if you like mole and want to do a quick version that is not to over powering and much better than any canned or frozen version, here it is. This not hard to make, doesn't take much time, tastes fresh and athentic, and the ingredients are readily available and inexpensieve! Treat yourself to this Mexican wonder! Serve it with grilled meat or chicken. It even goes with fish or taste great on eggs or tacos! MOLE ! 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 cup red onion, coarse chop 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 14 oz can stewed tomatoes (juice added if needed...

This morning my friend, Mike, sent me the text message, "HSPD". It took me a minute to come up with Happy St. Patrick's Day. Really, not having an drop of Irish in me, my people focused on St. Joseph - an Italian Hero! This morning I took out my favorite Soda Bread recipe in honor of my Irish friends and made it a bit healthier, but retained the great flavor. At 3 points for a hardy slice - I think you will find it is well worth it! The only problem is that it taste so good I want more than one serving! I think I will be giving 1/2 of the loaf away! IRISH SODA BREAD 2 cups white flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoom baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup Splenda (the granulated kind) 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup golden raisins 1/3 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted 1 - 2 teaspoons carraway seeds (optional) 1 to 1 1/3 cups buttermilk 1/4 egg white or egg beaters 5 tablespoons butter, melted (perferrably unsalted) Preheat ove...

STOP! Don't scroll on - Keep reading this recipe. I know it just sounds like it has to be no good, but this is actually and easy way to make a batch of beans that are really good - and of course, good for you. My friend and WW member Brother Joe (http://josephbasil.blogspot.com/ swears by this dish so I had to try it out. I reduced the point by cutting the fat by more than 65% but retained the original flavor. Make yourself a batch and eat them for lunch this week! Best of all, this is one cheap dish to make! 1 pound dried kidney, navy or other bean 1/3 cup chopped onion (one small) 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Tablespoon olive oil 3 whole cloves 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional) 6 oz dry red wine Parsley to garnish Place beans in a heavy saucepan (3 - 4 qt) and cover with water. Add the butter, oil, onion, cloves, salt, pepper, thyme, and crushed red pepper to beans. Simmer the beans, covered, for 1 ...

These are a lot like crepes and make a really good breakfast treat. They can be served with your favorite jam, powder sugar, fresh berries or even cranberry relish. You can serve for dessert with chocolate hazelnut spread and a whipped topping (I would use a light one). 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 eggs 1/4 cup water 3 cups milk 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or vanilla) 1 Tablespon butter, melted Stir flour and salt together. Mix in the eggs. Add milk and mix. Stir in butter. (I do this in a blender or with an emersion blender.) - at this point it is a good idea to let batter sit 1/2 hour or up to over night - Heat a 10 in nonstick skillet and coat with a small amount cooking spray. Cook 3 T for each pancake. Cook until edge has bubbles and is a bit crisp. Turn over and finish. Makes 5 - 6 generous servings My math says the recipe has 27 points.

Jerk, a Jamaican seasoning, is a great way to add impact to a piece of poultry or meat. Although the ingredient list is long the process is simple, you just have to remember - although I usually am not one to advocate marinading - to do this 24 hours in advance. WET JERK - enough for a whole chicken or 3 - 4 lbs of meat ½ cup scallions, chopped 1 scotch bonnet pepper (can use jalepeno), diced 1 T soy sauce 1 T lime juice 2 t allspice 1 clove garlic, minced 1 t salt ½ T sugar ½ t pepper ½ t thyme ¼ t cinnamon ¼ t ginger 1/8 t nutmeg Dump all in blender or a processor and puree. Put this in a bag with meat for 24 hours. Roast or grill until done the way you like. Maybe later I will publish a dry version - not as potent but a good substitute.

Here is a connection to a cookbook of low point crockpot recipes. Just check it out. Maybe you'll find somethings you would like to try. I see lots of things that look good. Remember that most recipes are guidelines and you can change things you like - change the spices and flavorings or increase vegetables to your liking! http://www.northco.net/chenke/nest/WCLowFat_LowCalCrockpotRecipes.pdf

The first "5" is to challenge you to commit to journaling a minimum of five (5) out of seven (7) days each week for the 12 (consecutive) weeks in the Journal. The "9" is to challenge you to meet a minimum of one (1) of the nine (9) Good Health Guidelines (of your choice) in the manner prescribed, for each of the 12 (consecutive) weeks in the Journal. (You may pick a different guideline from week-to-week or stick with one until you've mastered it successfully.) Thus you will make the 9 guidelines habit! The last "5" is to challenge you to lose on average, a minimum of five (5) pounds for each of the three (consecutive) months for that journal. (if you only 4 lbs each month, is that so bad?) INVEST IN YOURSELF!! It’s $5.95 well-spent and who wouldn’t want to be 15 pounds lighter at the end of the journal!