Breakfast for Dinner

A really great way to stretch your grocery budget AND to make your family think they're getting a great treat is to serve breakfast for dinner. I do it once a week now. I was afraid that when I started Weight Watchers, I'd have to give up my breakfast for dinner routine. As a matter of fact, I thought I'd have to give up a lot of things.

As it turns out, I gave up nothing, except for 35 pounds so far (since mid-September). I still eat everything I used to eat. I just watch my portion sizes. I have never, not once, felt deprived, or "on a diet" since beginning with Weight Watchers. And that's key to sticking to a weight loss plan, isn't it? Feeling satisfied!

Last night, we had pumpkin waffles (two waffles each, for just 5 points!) and baked apples. It was delicious, satisfying, and belly-warming on that cold winter night. I want to share with you the recipe for baked apples. I modified it slightly from the original Weight Watchers recipe, but the Points Plus value remains the same.

Baked Apples
serves 6 (5 points each)

What You Need:

• 6 apples (I used red delicious, because they were on sale!)
• 12 Tbsp raisins
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt
• 2 Tbsp chopped toasted pecans

How it's Done:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut a small slice off the bottom of each apple, so that it stands up straight in your baking dish.
3. Scoop out the core with a knife and spoon or a melon baller, but leave the bottom intact.
4. Fill each apple with 2 Tbsp raisins. Sprinkle them with the cinnamon.

5. Combine the cider and maple syrup. Pour this around the apples.
6. Bake, uncovered, for about an hour. Baste the apples with the syrup/juice mixture every ten minutes.
7. Top each apple with 1 Tbsp yogurt and 1 tsp chopped pecans. Serve immediately.

Double Apple Cookies

In an effort to A.) feed my children healthy things, B.) stay on budget, and C.) use up what needs using, I created this cookie recipe. They are soft and fragrant, and the girls love them. They use real apples, applesauce, and just a touch of sugar. I made them for their lunchboxes. I try to include a yummy treat each school day, and I'm a few days away from shopping day, which means that the cupboards are getting to the bare mark. I had two apples that needed to be used up. I needed a sweet treat for lunches. So, these cookies were born.

Double Apple Cookies

What You Need:

• 2 apples, cored and shredded
• 1/2 cup applesauce (I used natural, unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat is great here, but 1/2 and 1/2 would do just fine)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

How it's Done:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a couple cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine shredded apples, applesauce, egg, and oil. Mix well.
3. Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla extract.
4. Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to the wet ingredients, and stir until all are combined.
5. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the bottoms are beginning to brown and the cookies spring back when pressed gently.

Apple-Cherry Crumble

Day 18.

It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday today. The kids have the day off from school and the Hubs has the day off from work. They all slept in while I snuck downstairs to cook up this delicious breakfast treat. When we woke Little One from her restful slumber, she inquired, "Why do you have to wake me up on a holidayyyyyy?"

This is why, Deary. This is why.

Apple-Cherry Crisp

serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 apples (I used Braeburn), peeled, cored, and diced


• 1/2 a lemon


• 1/3 cup dried cherries


• 1 Tbsp corn starch


• 1/3 cup granulated sugar


• 1/8 tsp each nutmeg, ground cloves, and cinnamon


• 1 Tbsp butter


• 1/4 finely chopped pecans


• 1 cup rolled oats


• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour


• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar


• 2 tsp cinnamon


• 3 Tbsp melted butter

How it's Done:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9" square baking dish with non-stick spray.


2. Toss the apples with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Add cherries, cornstarch, granulated sugar, 1/8 tsp coves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Pour into prepared dish. Dot with 1 Tbsp butter.


3. Combine the rest of the ingredients to make a crumble topping. Evenly distribute over fruit filling.


4. Bake for 35 - 40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream if desired. I whip a little heavy cream with some cinnamon, vanilla, and honey.