I love when dinner becomes a delicious breakfast the next day. Since Tony’s appetite hasn’t been the same (um, for those of you who have been asking. . . Tony has lost 43 pounds since his colon cancer surgery!) the steaks I bought for dinner last night were tiny . . . each one raw was about 5 ounces, so 4 ounces cooked. I cooked up another one for my breakfast yesterday morning, and on the side took the other half of my baked potato and made hash browns with 1 tsp. olive oil.
Then fried an egg with a handful of baby spinach and came up with something of a hash. I have no idea what to call it . . . except a delicious way to start the day! This plate comes in at 9 PointsPlus.
So I am sure lots of you saw Jessica’s Warm Spinach and Strawberry Bacon Pecan Salad with Goat Cheese. I finally smartened up and now I have a notebook I can not only write down recipes I want to make – but actually remember where I found them so I can give proper credit. Since I am counting my points, I did have to adjust the recipe somewhat.
Biz’s Strawberry Orzo Salad with Romaine, Bacon and Candied Pecans
This made 3 giant servings – 9 PointsPlus (7 for the orzo salad and 2 points for the salad dressing)
- 1/2 cup uncooked orzo, prepared according to package directions and drained
- 1/8 cup candied pecans (found at Aldo for $2.19) chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp. of olive oil and Pam
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- juice of 1/4 of a lemon
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons goat cheese (which I forgot to bring to work 🙁 )
- 3 pieces of cooked bacon
- 4 1/2 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 3 servings of Annie’s Light Goddess Dressing (2 tablespoons is 2 points!)
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Remove and drain the bacon fat (I know Jessica just had a heart attack if she read this!). Add the olive oil and a spray of Pam and add garlic. Cook for a couple minutes. Add baby spinach and just cook until slightly wilted. Add lemon juice and zest and remove from heat.
Add the orzo, bacon and pecans and mix well. I put this mixture in a separate container. In another bag, I put the romaine, carrots and strawberries. When I got to work, I tossed the romaine, carrots and strawberries in the Annie’s dressing. (I also had some leftover zucchini from the night before and tossed that in the orzo mixture too). I heated the orzo mixture for about 30 seconds and scooped that on top of my romaine salad.
This was not only delicious, but completely filling. I ate lunch around 1:00 and it kept me full all the way to dinner – sometimes when I eat a salad I can be hungry a couple of hours later.
Tony had a doctor appointment this afternoon, so I had him run to Fresh Market for me to pick up bay scallops and tuna steaks. He also bought me. . . .CHEESE!
Seared Tuna Steak Salad
- makes 2 servings – 8 Points Plus (the side dish is just one serving for me – the tuna is 4 points and the side dish is 4 points)
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. lemon zest, frated
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- two 5 ounces tuna steaks
- 1 1/2 cups chopped romaine heart
- 1/4 cup chopped red pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped yellow pepper
- 1/2 cup cooked orzo
- any additional zero point veggie you want to add to your salad
- 1 tablespoon Annie’s Light Goddess Dressing
Mix together the oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture over two tuna steaks. Dip the sides of the tuna steaks into toasted sesame seeds. Heat a nonstick skillet over high heat. Spray the steaks with Pam so they don’t stick.
Cook one minute a side for rare. I still like it on the medium side – so I cooked mine for two minutes a side (next time I think I’ll do mine just a minute and a half a side). In a bowl, mix the romaine, peppers, orzo and tablespoon of Annie’s dressing and salt and pepper to taste. Slice the tuna steak and serve over the orzo salad.
I loved this dinner! But I have to thank Tony for introducing me to tuna steaks. It took me a really long time to get over how raw it looks – the first time he made it for me I made him cook it until it was all grey!
Who wants some cheese?
For those of you who made it all the way down this far – I am doing a mini-BSI this week on the side. The wonderful people from Cabot cheese have offered me a $25 gift basket to give away to one of my readers! All you have to do is submit a recipe or recipe link in the comments section of this post, or email me your recipe to mybizzykitchen@gmail.com with your favorite recipe using cheese.
You all know what a cheese whore I am so I am anxiously awaiting your recipes! A winner will be picked by . . . Tony! Yep, let’s let him be a judge for this one! I’ll announce the winner on April 11th – good luck! 😀
Stats for Tuesday:
- 36 points (including wine)
- 17 flex points left for the week
- 45 minute walk outside carrying 4 pound weights
Today is Wednesday . . . so I’ll be Hanging with Hannah! We are going to do a group exercise class and pick up Chipotle on the way home. Did any other of you Weight Watchers get the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons at your meetings? I’ve only been there once, so any suggestions would be appreciated! And then we’ll watch American Idol. 😀
Have a great day!
We like a very simple recipe of 2% american or chedder melted over pasta. Always easy, always good.
This is my current fave – http://www.food.com/recipe/traditional-english-cheddar-cauliflower-cheese-gratin-216237
I am totally ADD so I change my mind on faves every week!!
I <3 cheese
Aunt Dorris' Chicken
place 6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts in a pan, add slices of swiss cheese to the top of each piece of chicken
mix one can of cream of mush soup with 5 oz applce juice and pour on top
mix pep farm stuffing mix with a few tablespoons of butter and pour on top
Bake at 375 for about 50 minutes
Macaroni and cheese is my favorite way to use cheese. I just follow Mary of Owlhaven’s recipe here:
http://www.owlhaven.net/2006/09/22/homemade-macaroni-and-cheese/
It’s tasty!
I love to cook with cheese. . . .especially one with a “bite” like the more aged. Extra sharp cheddar is great in many things. Love Vermont white cheddar.
My quick recipe is for an appetizer:
2 English muffins cut into 4’s ( will have 16 pieces-tops and bottoms)
1/2 c. shredded cheese
1 tbl. green onions chopped- especially tops
1/4 c Crab meat (optional)
1 tbl. Light mayo or enough to hold cheese and onions together
Mix, spread on muffin pieces then broil until bubbly.
Can vary amounts according to how much you are serving. Enjoy
I don’t have a lot of cheese recipes since I’m lactose intolerant, but I have fallen in love with pimiento cheese spread. Always wondered what all the fuss was about until I tried it. It’s so easy to make and so very delicious. This is my own version.
PIMIENTO-PECAN CHEESE SPREAD CROSTINI
Recipe courtesy of The Bear Cupboard (www.bearcupboard.blogspot.com)
For Pimiento-Pecan Cheese Spread:
3/4 cup toasted chopped pecans
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, or Neufchatel cheese, softened
2-1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup mayonnaise
4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese with jalapenos, grated using large holes of box grater
1/2 tsp. Louisiana pepper sauce
1 (10 oz.) pkg. good-quality aged cheddar cheese, grated using large holes of box grater
1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimientos with juice
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
For Crostini:
1 baguette, sliced
1 jar roasted red peppers, sliced in thin strips
Prepare pimiento-pecan cheese spread: In work bowl of food processor, pulse pecans till finely chopped. Transfer to medium bowl. Combine cream cheese, garlic, mayonnaise and Monterey Jack cheese in work bowl; pulse till smooth; transfer to bowl with pecans. With spatula, stir in cheddar cheese, pimientos and parsley*. Refrigerate.
Prepare crostini: Heat oven to 400F. Place baguette slices on baking sheet and toast till crisp, about 5 minutes each side. Spoon some cheese spread on each baguette, then top with some roasted red pepper strips. Serve immediately, or place back in oven for about 5 minutes to just warm the cheese. Enjoy!
*Please be sure to add the parsley last. Otherwise, you might get green cheese spread, as I did the first time I made this.
I just recently tried this dish and is was super easy and so creamy delicious! It is worth a try. 🙂
Here is the link: http://www.katheats.com/?page_id=6977
Are you counting cream cheese in this contest? If so, I submit this WW Apple Cake that I make all the time because it is absolutely divine: http://losingit1.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/cinnamon-apple-cake-rachel/
If you aren’t counting cream cheese, then I submit this recipe using goat cheese which is equally as awesome…just in a different taste bud area: http://losingit1.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/for-mushroom-lovers-only-rachel/
I love love love Cabot 75% reduced fat cheese!
Absolutely! Thanks Rachel! 😀
I’m a hugeeee fan of grilled cheese with a little something extra.
seeded jewish rye sandwich bread
some extra sharp cheddar (white and orange for appearance if you can!)
chutney
1/6 of an apple, thinly sliced
I toss the chutney on the bread along with a little butter on the outside of the bread, add the cheddar and layered apple slices, and grill that puppy right up!! Savory, sweet, and satisfying!
http://southernfood.about.com/od/hamburgcasseroles/r/bl20908j.htm
Mac and cheese with bacon – no sauce though only a cup of cheddar, and one of fontina or havarti, and some sort of Swiss, so it is just Macaroni, cheeses and bacon!
i know this isn’t horribly exciting, but my favorite dish with cheese is a good, homemade macaroni and cheese. Super creamy and cheesy, baked until you get a crust on top. there’s nothing better!
That looks great! Here’s my recipe for Goat Cheese, Grape & Pecan Truffles:
http://iwasborntocook.blogspot.com/2011/04/yay-or-nay.html
Cool giveaway! I love this one: http://reciperhapsody.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/barbecue-bacon-grilled-cheese-sandwich/