Weekend Recap & Thanksgiving Menu

Hi all! How was your weekend? I’m super excited to say that we got our Turkey Day meal planned out and over 50% of our Christmas shopping done this weekend. I may even get brave enough to bust out my Christmas cards tonight…maybe.

I have gone to the Great Plate Weight Watchers meetings so many times but it is still one of my favorite meetings. I love hearing what everyone is planning and how they balance out their Thanksgiving eats. My favorite tip is to only eat things you get once a year, like stuffing, and skip things you can get anytime like mashed potatoes. You also do not have to eat an entire slice of pie – cut your points in half by having half a slice (eaten slowly), then go back for “seconds” getting the other half if you really want it. Good stuff!

I lost .6 lbs this week which actually made me quite happy considering my Santana Row Christmas Tree Lighting indulgences last week.

This weekend we had a few meals out, a few meals in and I whipped up a new super easy recipe that I’ll be posting this week.

Breakfast out at Huckleberry’s (2 eggs over medium, 2 pieces bacon, 1 slice sourdough dry, 2 bites hash browns) – 9 spBreakfast in – (1 scrambled egg, 1 Aidells Chicken Apple Sauce, 1 slice butter bread topped with 1/2 Tbsp whipped butter) – 10 spStarbucks x 2!! Grande Nonfat Cappuccino with caramel drizzled on the foam only – 3 spMid Christmas Shopping reward for The  Husband – Habit Burger. I was really craving a real deal charburger so I went with it sans the mayo saving 3 sp and adding ketchup/mustard. 12 sp and worth every bite.I did pick a side salad instead of fries to balance it out. Served with fork dipped ranch – 3 sp.Today’s lunch was at China Village in Cotati – my reward for antiquing and gambling with him lol.

Hot & Sour Soup (2 sp)I love that they had Dim Sum on their menu. Steamed Shanghai Dumplings – 1 sp eachI picked the Kung Pao Shrimp for 9 sp and skip the steamed rice as it’s easy for me to pass up. If it was chow mein or fried rice, I’d eat it so that’s one way I balance it out. Sometimes I’ll ask for steam veggies instead of any of these then mix it all together for one big stirfry for less points.?Dinner both nights involved the new recipe I created. Here is a peak of what’s in it.

Cheesy Tortellini topped with spicy Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion, bell pepper…Then layered with marinara, water, cheese, pepperoni and Italian seasoning.Baked into one freakin’ amazing cheesy, deep dish, pizza, pasta casserole.1/8th of the pan is 8 Smartpoints and tastes even better the next day.

Pasta + Pizza = Love!

Served up with a big, simple salad for a complete 9 SmartPoints dinner.HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

• BA Pasta with shrimp, chard & tomatoes
• BA Kale Ricotta Tarts with Apple & Almond salad
• BA Browned butter, walnut pasta with kale, butternut & sausage or chicken with crunchy greens & Apple salad (I may have one of these for lunches).
• TURKEY DAY MENU: appetizers (veggie tray, olives, nuts, cheese, crackers), Turkey, fresh cranberry sauce, Stuffing Muffins, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy (for The Husband), Green beans with bacon, Fall Harvest Salad, Mini Lemon Cheesecakes with Berries
• The next day I’ll make Turkey Barley or Noodle Soup

What is going to be on your Thanksgiving Plate or Menu?

Night all!