Monday Menu with a smile

This is great! I just made me laugh out loud and the old stuff at the end brought tears to my eyes. I LOVE him.

This is my menu plan I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I am trying to prepare family meals that are Weight Watchers Friendly. Recipes are included for all of these recipes.

1. Sunday: Chicken and Cheese Casserole
   
2. Monday: Hamburger Stroganoff
3. Tuesday: Taco Soup
4. Wednesday: Out to dinner with friends
   
5. Thursday: Saucy Baked Pork Chops
6. Friday: Pork in cranberry sauce
   
7. Saturday: Roast Chicken with veggies
   

Weight Watchers Chicken and Cheese Casserole

6 points per serving.

55 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 8

* 2 cups cooked macaroni
* 2 cups chicken, chopped
* 2 cups cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
* 2 cups skim milk
* 8 ounces low-fat cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large casserole, combine all ingredients, mixing well.
3. Bake,covered, 35-45 minutes.
4. Remove cover; bake 10-15 minutes longer.
5. Serve immediately.

TACO SOUP ( 1 pt. for 1 cup)

1/2-pound turkey or 90% lean ground beef, buffalo, or Morning Star Crumbles
48 oz V-8
1 can kidney beans--drained
1 can garbanzo beans--drained (I just use 2 cans kidney beans total for beans)
1 can corn--drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning mix

1/4 Cup brown sugar (optional)

Brown the ground turkey or beef. Drain off any fat. Add remaining ingredients and simmer or cook in a crock-pot on low. I like to add water up to the top of the pot because I get more servings (at least 10). Serve with desired condiments: diced onion, grated cheese, sour cream, taco chips, etc (but add extra points for those) .

POINTS: 2 pts for 2 cup serving

PORK TENDERLOIN with BALSAMIC CRANBERRY SAUCE

Hands-on time: 15 minutes
Time to table: 25 minutes
Serves 4

• 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 pound pork tenderloin
• Salt & pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
• 1/2 cup non-fat chicken broth
• 1/2 cup canned cranberry sauce with whole berries
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 450F. Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in ovenproof skillet on medium high. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper, add to skillet. Sear pork on all sides, about 2 minutes, then transfer to oven for 10 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion reaches 150F. Cover meat with foil, let rest 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in another skillet on medium heat. Add onion and rosemary, sauté until onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir until cranberry sauce melts. Simmer slowly until meat is ready. Pour meat juices into sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Slice meat and serve with sauce.

POINTS: 6 pts for 1/4 of recipe

Hamburger Stroganoff

1 lb lean ground beef (I used Laura's Lean - 16 pts for the lb)
1 medium onion chopped
I can cambell's 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup (3 pts)
1 cup fat free sour cream (3.5 pts)
1 small can drained mushrooms

Brown beef and onions together, drain well. Stir in soup and sour cream and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over lite toast, pasta or baked potato.

1 cup = 5.625 pts (4 servings)
2/3 cup = 3.75 pts (6 servings)
1/2 cup = 2.813 pts (8 servings)

Saucy Baked Pork Chops

4 4-oz lean boneless Pork Chops
1 cup chopped Onion
1 can Healthy Request Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup
3 tbsp Ketchup
3 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce


Place pork chops in an oven-safe baking dish or the crock of a crockpot. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Mix the other ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over chops. If using the oven, bake at 350* for one hour. If using the crockpot, cook on low for 8-10 hours.

This makes fabulous gravy that is wonderful over mashed potatoes or grain of choice.