WW Update & Recipe

Another Week, another Weight Watchers visit...

I haven't posted an update in a little while so I thought I would catch up a bit here!

1/1/12 - joined
1/8/12 - down 2.8
1/15/12 - stayed the same
1/22/12 - missed this week
1/28/12 - down 2.6 (and I have no switched to Saturday weigh ins)
2/4/12 - down .4
2/11/12 - down 2
2/18/12 - stayed the same
2/25/12 - down 2
3/3/12 - down .5
3/10/12 - down 2
3/17/12 - I stayed home with my baby boy instead of getting up and rushing to WW!
3/24/12 - Not sure what happened here...I might have eaten a cheeseburger the night before...I never said I was perfect!
3/31/12 - down .6 (finally made an appearance after a 2 week hiatus)
4/7/12 - down 1.2

Total Down = 14.2 LBS!

If I add that to what I lost in that first couple of weeks post baby...I am looking at around 37ish lbs...and I am pretty damn proud of that number!

Now a recipe that has kept me on track during the weeks (when I make it). I don't eat this every week because it would just make me bored with it, but every few weeks I throw this in a crock pot on Sunday so I have something besides Smart ones to eat for lunch while in the office.

This is a Broccoli/Cheddar/Potato Soup...it's hearty, and filling, and most importantly...LOW POINTS! Oh...and barely any ingredients and super easy! 

I made this on the Weight Watchers website so that it would calculate the points correctly. This is an abbreviated version of the Cream of Broccoli Soup that is on the Weight Watchers website. It was recommended by a friend, so I tried her abbreviated version, and then decided on making my own version. Less ingredients means; Less Food Shopping. Less Money, and typically LESS POINTS!

Just all around SIMPLE. To just have to throw a handful of ingredients in a crock pot for a meal is ideal in my book!

Some little quirks I make to this.

• I typically use fresh broccoli..it's just better and more flavorful. I resort to frozen if I'm in a rush. 
• You can add more milk, but that also means more points. It's a pretty thick soup, so if you want it more watery definitely add more milk, for me personal I would rather it thicker with less points. 
• For cheese I use Saragento Cheddar Jack shredded cheese, it works perfectly. 
• I also add a dash of salt and pepper as it's all cooking. 

Now how do I make it you ask? Well let me tell you...

Throw it all in a crock pot, put that baby on high and let it cook!

But if you care for more details, this is how I do it

I usually do about 5 hours (longer if using frozen broccoli). I check on it and stir occasionally to make sure it blends while cooking. I add the cheese usually during the last hour of cooking, although I am sure it doesn't really make much of a difference.

Get out the crock pot and let it start to heat up on high.
Add in the 3 cans of Cream of Broccoli Soup (I use Campbell's)

While the canned soup is heating I started to chop of my fresh broccoli (or you can just dump in your frozen broccoli, much easier if it is thawed for a bit before cooking, but if you forget or just don't have the time just cook in the crock pot for longer than the typical time to allow the veggie to soften)

Once the broccoli is added in, I pour in the 2 cups of 2% milk, a dash of salt and pepper

 I let it cook for at least 5 hours (longer if I am using frozen broccoli).
Once it is in the last hour of cooking I add in the cup of cheese!

And voila! It actually looks blended and ends up tasting pretty great too! 

Below is the actual recipe from WW if you are curious what those extra ingredients are...or how I cut some of the ingredients down.

1 tsp unsalted butter   (I took out)

1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped   (I took out)

20 oz frozen chopped broccoli, thawed   (I use fresh broccoli)

32 1/4 oz canned condensed cream of potato soup, three 10 3/4 oz cans

4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk    (I cut down to 2 cups and used 2% instead)

3/4 cup(s) low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, extra-sharp   (I took it up to 1 full cup)

1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard   (I took out)

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste (I don't measure, just sprinkle some in)

I hope someone out there tries this is and likes it! I have found helpful and easy during my post baby weight loss process!!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday!