Lemon-Pepper Tuna Nicoise Salad

This refreshingly light salad is a definite must-have again lunch in my rotation for only 247 calories!  I wound up using diced and seasoned refrigerated potatoes (by the hashbrowns in the dairy aisle) because not a single store had the refrigerated potato wedges the recipe calls for, but a potato is a potato and these had an extra kick of spice that really kicked up the flavors this time around!  I just fried up the whole bag and divided it up saving a serving for my youngest's breakfast and then put about 2 oz into each salad container.

(Only 3 servings pictured because I ate the 4th!)

Ingredients:

2 tsp butter

2 cups refrigerated potato wedges

6 cups mixed salad greens

3 2.6-oz pouches lemon-pepper or herb-seasoned chunk light tuna

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced

2 Tbs white wine vinegar

2 Tbs olive oil

1/2 tsp Dijon-style mustard

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions:

In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the potato wedges.  Cover and cook about 15 minutes or until golden brown flipping or stirring occasionally.  Cool completely.

In four salad containers, if portioning out, evenly layer salad greens, tuna, tomatoes, egg slices and potatoes. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours. 

In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, mustard and black pepper. 

Divide among four small containers if portioning out in advance. 

Drizzle on dressing portion over the one salad portion.  Cover and shake or toss with a fork to combine.

YIELDS:  4 servings

SERVING SIZE:  ~1-1/2 cups greens, 1/2 c potatoes, 2 oz tuna, 1/4 c tomatoes, and 1 Tbs dressing

Nutritional Information:  247 calories, 12 g fat (3 g sat fat), 125 mg chol, 543 mg sodium, 14 g carb, 4 g sugars, 4 g fiber, 20 g protein

Fab Grab Spicy Sweet Mix - 1/4 cup for 2 Weight Watchers Points

I Found this at my local Meijer store in the bulk-package Food section.  This is actually delicious and very low in points.  Perfect to calm a crunch craving.  It's a sweet and spicy combo that I enjoy.  I hope you do too!

At 1/4 cup, it's only 2 Weight Watcher Points.  At 1/2 cup, it's only 4 Weight Watchers Points....you get the idea. It's also a great grab-and-go item. Yum. 

Fab Grab for Lunch Option - Only 7 Weight Wacher Points

Okay, so it's not the healthiest choice, but it's an easy choice when you are on the run or out and about and in doubt about what you can have.  You can bop on into the grocery store, or probably party store, and grab one of these wraps and just know it's only 7 points.  It is a ready-made wrap.  You just peel back the paper top and it's ready to eat as is.

If you are like me and don't like to be wasteful, yet crave a regular ol' sandwich occasionally and don't want to waste the rest of the lunch meat you had to buy to make that single sandwich, then this is an option for you that you can dress up with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.

Flavorful Find - 4 Weight Watcher Points for Half the Package

I Found this in the grocery store on sale and decided to give it a try.  I like lentils and this was pretty good.  It's loaded with protein and dietary fiber at 10 grams and 7 grams per serving respectively for only 4 Weight Watcher Points per serving (2 servings per package).

The package says you can use it as a taco topping, in stuffed bell peppers, party dips, meatloaf, serve with flatbreads, toss with noodles, swirl into soup, serve as a side dish, jazz up salads, sprice up rice dishes.

I'm thinking I'll be trying it in some tacos or a taco salad tomorrow.  To heat, you just pop it into the microwave (with the edge torn open) for 90 seconds.

Planning Ahead and Freezing is Key for Me

I bought a 3-pound package of ground turkey the other day.  I usually divide it up into 1-pound portions and Freeze using my FoodSaver system.  However, I decided to take it another step Further today.

I hate wasting Food, even the herbs I buy. When I Found myself with the turkey out on the counter ready to divide and use a pound to make my Favorite turkey burgers for 6 Weight Watcher Winning Points along with a bunch of cilantro, as it calls for 2 tablespoons, it hit me---combine all the ingredients First and Form into burger patties prior to Freezing them! Der. 

There is another Frequently used Food item that requires the cilantro and the chipotle pepper as well for which you should wear gloves to mince -- the dressing for my Mexican Chicken Salad Platter.  I made two batches of the burger patties and the dressing all at once even though I don't currently have a plan for the salad because it keeps in the Fridge wonderfully.

Out of 2 pounds of ground turkey, I made 10 four-ounce turkey burgers.   I suppose I will use one-pound worth for myself and yank out the other 5 for a Family dinner because, yes, the whole Family eats these burgers.  (The math doesn't add up here because of the weight of the other ingredients added to the ground turkey.)

Here is a photo of the individually Frozen turkey burger patties, which I then promptly packaged up individually and sealed. (I probably would have packed 5 together for a Family night separated by wax paper, but I'm out of the larger bags currently.)

I love, love, love when I Find a way to simplify!