Slow Cooker Meatballs

My husband loves meatballs. When we go to Subway that is the sandwich he gets, even though it isn't the healthiest on the menu. Meatballs tend to be point heavy. These yummy babies are 1 point a piece. I really enjoyed them but unfortunately my picky husband did not. He wasn't sure if it was the mini buns I bought to make sandwiches out of or the light Prego sauce. I think it's all in his head because I enjoyed every bite of my mini meatball sandwiches. The meatballs were moist and very flavorful. You could taste the Parmesan I put in them. The best part was I cooked them right in the slow cooker. I didn't think they were greasy or anything since I used the leanest beef I could find. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Meatballs
a Lacey Creation

15 meatballs, 1 WW point per meatball w/o sauce

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1 lb. really lean ground beef
1/4 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup fiber one cereal, crushed finely
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Egg Beaters
1/2 T Oregano
1/2 T Basil
1/2 T minced garlic
Jar of Spaghetti Sauce (I used Prego Light)

In a bowl mix together all of the ingredients until incorporated. I used my medium cookie scoop to help me make the balls but if you don't have one no worries just pinch off some beef and start rolling out balls with your hands. I made mine a little bigger because I knew I was making mini sandwiches. You can always make them smaller. In a slow cooker pour some of the spaghetti sauce on the bottom. Place all the meatballs in the slow cooker. Pour the rest of the sauce over the meatballs. Cook on low for 2-4 hours or until meatballs are cooked through.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Eve. I know I did. I enjoyed my evening watching movies with my furry babies and eating these yummy homemade pizza rolls. At one point a piece they are guilt free. I'm proud of myself for having a WW friendly new year's eve. It's hard to believe that 2011 is gone. That another year has passed. I bid 2011 farewell. It wasn't the greatest year ever but it wasn't the worst either. I had more ups than downs and I think that is all you can ask for. I am looking forward to 2012. May this year be fabulous.



Homemade Pizza Rolls
found on Dashing Dish

14 pizza rolls, 1 WW point per roll

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14 Wonton Wrappers
2/3 cup spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 of a green pepper chopped finely
1/4 of a red onion chopped finely
1 T Parmesan cheese

Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees

In a bowl mix together the spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, green pepper and red onion. You can use any toppings you want. Mushrooms would have been awesome but I was out. If you use meat the point value might go up.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.

Lay out the wonton wrappers on a flat surface. Spoon out a Tablespoon of the sauce mixture onto each wonton wrapper down the middle but staying away from the sides of the wrapper. Fill a small bowl with water. Working with one wonton wrapper at a time dip your finger into the water and trace the edges of the wonton wrapper with water. Fold over the wonton wrapper into a rectangle and seal the edges together. The water will act like a glue. Transfer to the baking mat. Repeat with remaining wrappers. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden brown.

3pt Homemade Oreos

I make Will his homemade Oreos using chocolate cake mixes. I wondered if I could make them for me modifying the recipe a little bit. Instead of oil I used water and instead of whole eggs I used egg whites. For the filling I used marshmallow creme. The batter isn't as stiff as the original recipe but I just used my smallest cookie scoop instead of trying to hand roll them. You could use two spoons if you don't have a cookie scoop. I think these turned out great and one of Will's friends must have liked them because he ate the rest of them. I wasn't to happy with Will giving away my cookies but I can make more.

3pt Homemade Oreos

21 servings, 3 WW points apiece

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1 box chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup water
3 egg whites
1/2 container marshmallow creme


Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl mix together the cake mix, water, and egg whites. Using a small cookie scoop drop batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten each cookie slightly with fingertips. Bake for 8 minutes. Recipe makes 42 cookies, 21 Oreos. Evenly distribute the marshmallow creme between 21 cookies. Top each cookie with another cookie. Enjoy.

If you don't want to sandwich these cookies together with creme you can eat them plain. They are really good and only 1 WW point apiece.

Meatballs

This picture looks messy but meatball sandwiches are messy so I think it's alright. I was inspired to make these from a Taste Of Home Comfort Foods cookbook. The same cookbook I got the wonderful Vegetable Chicken Soup recipe out of. The original recipe calls for beef and for the sandwiches to be open face but I used turkey and as you can see closed the sandwiches. I thought they turned out really good. Will said they were pretty good so that is his stamp of approval. I think I will try these with lean ground beef next time but this time I had ground turkey unthawed.

Meatballs
adapted from a Taste of Home cookbook

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Makes 32 meatballs, 1 WW point per meatball with sauce
Points very for what type of bread and cheese you use for the sandwich

1 package ground turkey, about 1 lb.
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
1 egg white
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 small onion chopped finely
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Cheese of choice, I used reduced fat Provolone which equals 1 WW point per slice
Bread of choice, I used ciabatta bread which is about 6 WW points per bun

In a bowl combine the first seven ingredients until fully incorporated. Roll into balls. I used my smallest cookie scoop to try and keep them uniformed and was able to make 32 meatballs. Spray a skillet with cooking spray or lightly coat with olive oil. Brown the meatballs in batches. Once browned place all the meatballs back in the pan and add the jar of spaghetti sauce. Cover the pan and let simmer for 10 to 20 minutes or until the meatballs are completely cooked through. I let them simmer for over 30 minutes. I turned the burner down to low and let them simmer away while I worked on other things. To make a sandwich take the bread and place a slice of cheese on one half of the bread. Place as many meatballs as you want on the cheese and top with the other half of the bread. Place in the microwave and heat for about a minute to allow the the cheese to melt. Enjoy!

These meatballs would be good in pasta too.

Cheater Biscuits and Gravy

When I say cheater I don't mean fattening because these are WW friendly. I say cheater because they are insanely easy to make. I'm not sure it can get any easier unless you used canned biscuits. I bought the Heart Smart Bisquick because it is low fat and better for you. The gravy is from a mix. I wasn't all that crazy about the McCormick mix because it was really peppery but if you like that then this mix is for you. I really like the country gravy mix from Wonder Bread Bakery. It's really good it's about the same amount of points. I love biscuits and gravy. It is my favorite thing to eat out for breakfast but as I'm sure you know country gravy is fattening and so are really good biscuits. This allows me to have my favorite without all the points.






Biscuits and Gravy

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2 WW points per biscuit, yielded 17 biscuits
1 WW point 1/4 cup gravy

3 cups Bisquick
1 cup water
1 package country gravy mix

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

In a bowl mix together the Bisquick and water. Lightly dust your work surface with Bisquick and knead the dough 10 times. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with a round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking pan and bake for 11-14 minutes.

For the gravy follow the instructions on the package. Serve over the biscuits. Enjoy!