Leek, Eggplant, and Tomato Pasta

Now that school is back in full swing, things have started to get a little crazy. I'm finally starting classes for my specialty, pediatrics, and I couldn't be happier, but it is a ton of work and takes a ton of time. I just keep telling myself it will all be worth it to see PNP after my name!

I'm still trying to make time for things that I enjoy doing however, like making and photographing recipes for this blog. I also went bowling this weekend and bowled an abysmal 46 and 59. Yikes.

Anyway, this recipe was something new for me. I got the leek and eggplant in my bi-weekly delivery from Boston Organics and had no idea what to do with them. I don't think I've really ever cooked with these two ingredients. But I was down for a challenge. I also got cabbage and butternut squash in my delivery that I am still trying to figure out.

While I know that I like everything I got in my box, they are not things I would normally buy for myself. That's one of the reasons I enjoy getting the delivery - it forces me out of my comfort zone and forces veggies into me since I don't want to waste anything.

Recipe Redo: Lemon Caper Tilapia

This recipe was originally posted in December of 2011. From time to time, I am going to go back and redo some of the recipes that I made back when I didn't really know what I was doing. I still am not the best photographer, but I can at least make it look like something you might want to put in your mouth.

Originally, I thickened this recipe with cornstarch, but I remade it using butter, and the results were a lot better. So while this has more fat than the original posted recipe, I think it is worth it.

This dish is so light and flavorful and is definitely one of my favorites. It is satisfying enough to keep you full for a while, but does not weigh you down. I like to serve it with rice and spinach and spoon some of the lemon juice over both of them.

Stovetop Mac & Cheese

Look at all the cheesy goodness! I absolutely love macaroni and cheese, but unfortunately it is not very figure friendly. I recently picked up the Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook and knew I had to try this recipe as soon as I saw it. I swapped out almost all the cheeses that the cookbook used and added ones that I like and I also decided to use whole wheat pasta instead of regular. Feel free to use whatever cheeses you want. I've been eating this for lunch for the past couple of days. It was so simple and easy to make and it definitely satisfied my craving for mac & cheese!

Sausage, Peppers and Onions

These sandwiches are absolutely delicious and taste just like the sandwiches you would get in the ballpark. Since you make these at home, you can be sure of where your sausage and other ingredients come from. Baseball season is over, but you can enjoy these sausages year round and without the guilt.

I used sweet Italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods and it came out wonderfully. Feel free to vary the sausage - hot or mild turkey or regular Italian sausage will work fine as well. Next time I make it I will probably use a mixture of mild and hot sausage.

I served the sausage mixture on top of Portuguese rolls, which added 4 Points+. Any type of bread will work, or you can serve over pasta. I'm sure a nice crusty baguette to soak up all the juices would be really tasty.

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

All the deliciousness of chicken parmesan, just with more pasta. I got the inspiration for this recipe from Creative Kitchen. It is delicious and super filling, the perfect meal. I do not have a problem with whole wheat pasta at all, but I know a lot of people dislike the taste. Feel free to substitute regular pasta. I also used thin spaghetti, but regular spaghetti, or really any other shape, would work as well.

Spinach and Feta Pizza

The combination of spinach and feta is one of my favorite flavors. Almost nothing can't be improved with spinach and feta. OK, maybe spinach and feta pancakes is taking it a bit too far, but you get what I mean. This pizza replaces the sauce with spinach and abundant flavor. If you love spinach and feta as much as I do, this recipe is definitely for you.

I got the idea for this recipe from Allrecipes.com. I modified it to make it easier and to suit my personal tastes a bit better. I have also made it with some cooked, diced chicken and olives on top. I'm sure sundried tomatoes or peppers would also be nice. Feel free to experiment, because remember, everything tastes good with spinach and feta.

Bow Ties with Broccoli Pesto

I got the inspiration for this recipe from one of my Weight Watcher's cookbooks, Fresh, Fabulous, Fast. I recently got a food processor and I was looking for a good recipe to try out on it. I love pesto, and thought the idea to make it with broccoli was really interesting. I made a few changes to the original recipe, but it still turned out pretty good. It came together fast and was perfect for a weeknight meal.

Pasta and Broccoli with Pecorino Romano Cheese

Pasta is always a good option when you need a quick dinner. However, the same old pasta with red sauce gets very boring after a while. This is an absolutely delicious recipe that I got from Gina at Skinny Taste. It is simple and easy to whip up in just a few minutes. The perfect weeknight meal.