pasta

Lemon Capellini

Weight Watchers

  • 6 ounces capellini or angel-hair pasta
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 – 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Cook the capellini according to package directions omitting the salt, if desired; drain.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring
frequently, until softened, 2 – 3 minutes. Add the capellini, parsley, lemon juice, and salt; toss to coat. Serve, sprinkled with pepper.
Makes 4 servings
Wwight Watchers Points – 4
Recipe adapted from Weight Watchers Stir it Up Cookbook

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Chicken Piccata

  • 4 (6 to 7 ounces each) chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Salt and coarsely ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 3 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed

Working with one chicken breast at a time, place each between two pieces of plastic wrap with the smooth side down (where the skin used to be). Working from the center to the edges, gently pound each chicken breast with a meat mallet to 1/4-inch thick. You want the smooth side to remain intact while the ragged side receives the impact of the mallet. And since chicken has little connective tissue, it’s important to use gentle strokes when pounding—the meat can tear easily.
In a shallow pie plate, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Roll chicken in flour mixture to coat all sides.
In a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat, heat butter and vegetable oil. Add chicken and cook 3 to 5 minutes per side or until fully cooked and tender. Pour lemon juice and white wine over chicken. Add capers and simmer another 2 to 3 minutes longer. Remove from heat and transfer chicken onto a serving platter.
Reduce liquid left in frying pan by boiling an additional 2 to 3 minutes; pour over the chicken and serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings.

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Baked Ziti

From the kitchen of: Rachel

  • 1 lb. ziti (also good with penne, rotini, or other shapes)
  • 16 oz. Ricotta cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 c. grated mozzarella
  • 8 oz. mozzarella cheese (grated or slices)
  • 2 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
  • 26-28 oz. jar favorite spaghetti sauce

Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish (lightly greased), pour 1/2 jar of spaghetti sauce.
In a large bowl, mix Ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, 1/3 c. mozzarella, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir in cooked ziti and mix well. Pour all into casserole pan.
Top with remaining 1/2 jar of sauce and 8 oz. mozzarella cheese. Serves a crowd! Bake 30-40 minutes (until bubbly) at 350 degrees. This recipe can be halved.

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Johnnie Marzetti

From the kitchen of: Doug Cruzan.

  • 1.5 lbs. hamburger
  • chopped onion
  • 3/4 package Kluski noodles
  • Approx. 1 3/4 cans tomato soup
  • Approx. 1 3/4 cans creme of mushroom soup
  • Velveeta cheese (block slices)
  • salt & pepper to taste

Fry hamburger with onion and drain. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Mix hamburger, tomato and creme of mushroom soup in large bowl. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with Velveeta chunk slices. Bake until cheese is completely melted.

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Penne con Fagiolini

From the kitchen of: Unknown.

  • 1 1/2 lb. fresh Green beans
  • 1 lb. Penne Pasta
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 3 cloves Garlic, crushed
  • Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste

Clean string beans and trim ends.

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil; in it, cook the beans until tender.

Bring a second pot of lightly salted water to boil, and cook the Penne pasta just until al dente.

While string beans and pasta are cooking, warm the olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, and saut_ until lightly browned.

Drain the string beans, reserving 1/4 cup of the water they were cooked in.

Add the green beans, pasta, salt and pepper, and the 1/4 cup cooking water to the oil and garlic in the skillet. Stir together for about 1 minute to warm through, then serve. Serves 4.

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Lasagna

From the kitchen of: Better Homes and Gardens.

This is a popular family favorite for us. We alter the original recipe by reducing the amount of salt; the original calls for 1 1/2 teaspoons in the meat sauce, but it’s way too much.

  • 1 pound sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon whole basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 16 ounce can tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • 12 ounce can tomato paste
  • 10 ounces lasagna noodles
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups (24 oz) cottage or ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound mozarella cheese

Brown meat and drain. Add garlic, basil, salt, tomato sauce and paste ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes, or 15 minutes in microwave. Cook noodles in boiling water until tender. Beat eggs, add next 4 ingredients. Layer noodles, egg mixture, meat sauce, and mozarella in 13 x 9 x 2 pan. Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8-10.

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