Apple and Brie Paninis

This is fantastic served with tomato bisque, or alone, or however you want to serve it. You can't go wrong with apples and brie!

1 apple, cored and sliced
4 ounces of light brie
2 pieces of ciabatta, halved

Divide apple and brie between two ciabatta halves. Top with other halves, and place on hot grill. (I used the Foreman to easily grill both sides at once.) Serve when hot and melted.

Stuffed French Toast

We've decided Sunday mornings are our "better than cereal breakfast" mornings. So I'm trying out recipes beyond basic pancakes, which I never could make well anyway. :-)

2 large eggs, beaten
Dash of cinnamon and sugar
4 pieces of light bread
2 Tbsp cream cheese I prefer strawberry or brown sugar cinnamon
A few sprays of Pam
Maple syrup or other toppings of your choice

Combine eggs and cinnamon sugar combination in a bowl. Spread cream cheese evenly over two pieces of bread and top with the other 2 pieces to make 2 sandwiches.

Preheat skillet over medium-high heat and spray with Pam. Dredge sandwiches through egg mixture on both sides, and put in skillet. Cook evenly on both sides until cheese looks melted and bread is browned on each side.

WW info:
4 Points for each sandwich
Add additional Points for any toppings you add

Apple Brie Breakfast Quesadillas

No picture for this one - it was devoured too fast for that! This recipe originated on an episode of Sandra Lee and I modified it for our tastes. The recipe below is for one quesadilla; if you're feeding more people, just double (or triple or quadruple) it!


1 Burrito size tortilla shell
1/2 apple sliced
1 Tbsp brown sugar cinnamon cream cheese
1 oz. brie (that's 1 oz. with the rind removed - that waxy stuff doesn't taste good on anything)

Spread cream cheese over tortilla shell. Top with apple and slices of brie (I smushed them a little to help them melt more evenly over the shell). Fold over and place in hot skillet, indoor grill, or quesadilla maker, if you have one. Heat for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and shell is slightly browned, and enjoy!

WW info:
5 Points per quesadilla

Spinach Cheese Enchiladas

This is a recipe I found on WeightWatchers.com and then modified. I was skeptical at first, but it was AMAZING. I served this with Spanish rice and corn with peppers.

10 oz. chopped frozen spinach, thawed and drained/wrung out
8 oz. FF ricotta
8 oz. FF cream cheese
1/3 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 tsp ground oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 6-inch flour tortillas
1 jar salsa
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use 2% Sargento - best I've found)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat glass baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine spinach, ricotta, cream cheese, and seasonings in large bowl. Spoon equal amounts into the center of each tortilla. Roll up, fold in the ends, and place fold side down in baking pan. Cover with salsa and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

WW Info:
6 points per serving (1 enchilada - I had my doubts, but, yes, this is more than enough)

Apple Martinis

3 ounces vodka
3 ounces Apple Pucker
5 ounces apple juice

Combine all ingredients in martini shaker with ice. Shake, pour, and serve!

Veggie Pizza

Pillsbury.com has tons of great recipes - I combined a few to come up with this crowd-pleasing veggie pizza. My former coworkers requested it for every work function!

2 cans reduced-fat crescent rolls
1 tub reduced-fat garden vegetable cream cheese
2 Tbsp. skim milk
assorted veggies - whatever you like! (My favorites are broccoli, carrots, and red peppers)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray. Separate crescent rolls into 4 rectangles and lay across pan, and press out. Bake for 13-17 minutes, or until dough is golden brown. Let cool.

Mix cream cheese and milk. Spread over cooled crust and top with vegetables. Cut into 12 slices.

WW Info:
4 Points per slice

Bacon Bleu Burgers

This is a recipe I learned from Sandra Lee, then just picked and chose what we like on our burgers:

1 lb. 95/5 ground beef
1 Tbsp. Montreal Grill Seasoning
1/4 cup bacon bits
1/4 cup bleu cheese

Combine all ingredients in medium glass bowl. Form into 4 patties, and place on hot grill. Cook until brown all the way through (no pink burgers - remember, salmonella is NOT your friend).

These are delicious topped with extra bleu cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and your other favorite burger toppings. I've also combined equal parts of light butter and bleu cheese to make a fantastic spread for on top. Just remember to add the points for any extras if you're on the WW plan!

WW Info:
5 points per burger