Recipes

[Sarah]

Mmm, looks yummy! I'll have to try it this weekend.

[JENESIS]

We were at a Cuban restaurant a few weeks ago and this was on the menu. I was debating between chicken and this. I ended up with the chicken. Anyway, I found this the other day, and made it yesterday. VERY GOOD and VERY EASY.

I served it with rice and black beans, which is how they did it at the restaurant.

 

ROPA VIEJA

 

Serves 4 (We both have BIG appetites and there were 6 servings)

Active: 15 min/Total: 8 to 10 hr on low

 

Ropa vieja means "old clothes" in Spanish. This famous Cuban dish is so named because the shredded beef resembles clothes so worn that they fall apart. Alcaparrado means green olives, often stuffed with pimientos and capers mixed together.

 

2 cubanelle or Italian frying peppers, seeded and sliced

1 cup sliced onion

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

¼ cup tomato paste

1 Tbsp each olive oil, cider vinegar and minced garlic

1 tsp ground cumin

1 bay leaf

½ tsp salt

1½-lb boneless chuck steak

1/3 cup coarsely chopped alcaparrado (we used Goya), or 1/3 cup pimiento-stuffed olives plus

2 Tbsp chopped capers 1/3 cup chopped cilantro

 

1. Mix all ingredients except steak, alcaparrado and cilantro in a 3½-qt or larger slow-cooker. Top with steak; turn steak over to coat with mixture.

 

2. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours or until steak is very tender. Transfer steak to a cutting board. Remove and discard bay leaf. Tear steak in shreds using the two-forks method. Return shreds to cooker; stir in alcaparrado and chopped cilantro and serve.

[REBECCA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JENESIS We were at a Cuban restaurant a few weeks ago and this was on the menu. I was debating between chicken and this. I ended up with the chicken. Anyway, I found this the other day, and made it yesterday. VERY GOOD and VERY EASY. I served it with rice and black beans, which is how they did it at the restaurant. ROPA VIEJA Serves 4 (We both have BIG appetites and there were 6 servings) Active: 15 min/Total: 8 to 10 hr on low Ropa vieja means "old clothes" in Spanish. This famous Cuban dish is so named because the shredded beef resembles clothes so worn that they fall apart. Alcaparrado means green olives, often stuffed with pimientos and capers mixed together. 2 cubanelle or Italian frying peppers, seeded and sliced 1 cup sliced onion 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce ¼ cup tomato paste 1 Tbsp each olive oil, cider vinegar and minced garlic 1 tsp ground cumin 1 bay leaf ½ tsp salt 1½-lb boneless chuck steak 1/3 cup coarsely chopped alcaparrado (we used Goya), or 1/3 cup pimiento-stuffed olives plus 2 Tbsp chopped capers 1/3 cup chopped cilantro 1. Mix all ingredients except steak, alcaparrado and cilantro in a 3½-qt or larger slow-cooker. Top with steak; turn steak over to coat with mixture. 2. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours or until steak is very tender. Transfer steak to a cutting board. Remove and discard bay leaf. Tear steak in shreds using the two-forks method. Return shreds to cooker; stir in alcaparrado and chopped cilantro and serve.

That sound really good! I filed it with my other recipes. Do you serve it with rice or is it more like a stew??

What are alcaparrados? Can they be bought at the regular grocery store or do I need to go to a specialty store?

[JENESIS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REBECCA That sound really good! I filed it with my other recipes. Do you serve it with rice or is it more like a stew?? What are alcaparrados? Can they be bought at the regular grocery store or do I need to go to a specialty store?

I servied it with rice. I think you need some sort of starch with it.
The alcaparrados are green olives, capers, adn pimentos all in the same jar. I bought minein the Mexican food area of a normal store.

[MEAHGAN]

I make this as a topping for fish, chicken, pork, flank steak etc. It's awesome on just about anything!

 

1 large yellow pepper-seeded and cut into think strips

1-2 jalapenos-seeded and diced

12 garlic cloves diced

1 med-large sweet yellow onion-cut into thick strips

1 can diced tomatoes

1-2 tblsp capers-drained (I don't use these)

Cumin

Chili powder

Cayenne pepper

 

In medium fry pan-spray with nonstick cooking spray-add diced garlic and onion.

Cook until onion is soft. Stir in tomatoes, capers, jalapeno and yellow pepper-sprinkle desired amount of cumin, chili powder, and cayenne-bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes or until desired consistency.

 

It's sooooo easy and virtually NO POINTS!! It's all veggies:) I love it on grilled fish and pork loin:) Seriously- it's great on all meats I've tried it on though. It might even be good with eggs??

Anyway, enjoy!!

Meahgan

[MEAHGAN]

Here are some other things I try to utilize:

Dottie's Weight Loss Zone website, 2% Kraft Am.Cheese slices (1pt per slice) broth or tomato based soups-very low in the point range, Lite Caesar salad kit (2 pts for 1 cup), skinny cow anything, ww or lean cuisine meals, turkey cutlets (2 pts each and very good), ww english muffins and bagels, spray butter, Land O Lakes Fat Free 1/2 n 1/2, HC turkey slices, 100 calorie packs, La Tortilla factory carbless tortillas in various flavors (-0 pts-seriously!!), lots of veggies, lite and fit yogurt, diet tonic, diet sodas, soda water, zip fizz (costco), drinking lots of water, Crystal light to-go's, if you get a craving for fast food-KIDS CHICKEN TENDER MEAL, Subway:) California rolls, steamed dumplings, reg. coffee not lattes etc.,

 

I'm sure I have more-it's early:) I'll think of more and post. WW is great!! It's just getting used to it is all-but it works!! Best of luck to all who try it!!

Meahgan

[Sarah]

Thanks for the recipe and diet suggestions Meahgan!

[REBECCA]

Yum!!!!!!!

[gkashmira]

Great ideas Meaghan! I am definitely going to try that sauce - sounds like it would be delicious on the fake chicken (quorn) I like to eat too!

 

Here's something I've recently cooked up for dinner:

 

Creamy Chicken (fake) Polenta (or pasta)

cooking spray (0 points)

3 oz. pre-cooked basil polenta (2 pts.)

1 quorn naked breast (or you can use chicken) (1 pt.)

1/4 small onion chopped and some garlic (0 points)

a few sundried tomatoes - chopped (1 pt)

 

1 cup Trader Joe's Pomodorro sauce (1 pt) (or some other lower calorie pasta sauce OR crushed tomatoes and season w/ salt, pepper, garlic and parsley)

1 oz. reduced fat cream cheese (2 points)

 

Saute the the first 5 items together until cooked through (use olive or canola oil cooking spray) add in pasta sauce and cook until simmering. Lastly drop in clumps of the cc and stir until it melts. You get a BIG plate of food (you can also use 1 oz. high fiber pasta instead of the polenta) for only 7 points.

 

If you do pasta instead just boil in on the side and stir it in last.

 

YUM!

[gkashmira]

i also like this 3 point breakfast:

 

1 Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla Yogurt (the 60 calorie kind w/ no added sugar not the 90 calorie kind)

1/3 cup low fat granola

 

Stir together and it's simple but very delicious - the yogurt makes it feel very creamy and rich. Plus granola, while high in calories normally, is actually great in small portions because it's high in fiber and also very tasty!

 

Snacks:

Handful of cherry tomotoes (0 points)

small green apple (1 point)

2 1/2 cups light cheddar popcorn (air-popped) from trader Joe's - (3 points)

baby Bel light cheese (one circle ) - 1 point

Polly's light string cheese - 1 point

Green salad w/ fat free/low fat dressing (depends on dressing)

Progresso's low sodium vegetable soup (3 points per can)

(Can you guys tell how much I love cheese?)

 

Anyway that's how I'm surviving these days. Tomorrow is my weigh in day so keep your fingers crossed! (and I'll purposely wear very light clothes)

 

-K