Breakfast Archives -

Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Rachel — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:27:33 +0000

This post is sponsored by Calphalon. All opinions and recipe are mine alone. #EspressoWithCalphalon

Rise and shine, friends! I recently added a new appliance to my kitchen and let me tell you, it’s been a game changer. Christmas came early when Calphalon reached out and asked if I wanted to try their Temp iQ Espresso Machine – yes please! When I worked in the city I used to make multiple trips to the coffee shop for specialty drinks each week. Now that I work from home and live 30 minutes from the nearest coffee shop, my fancy coffee drinks are sorely missed…. VERY sorely missed. I’ve had an espresso machine on my wish list for a long time and, you guys, this baby does not disappoint.

I’ve been using the Temp iQ Espresso Machine in my kitchen for several weeks now and drink after drink, I am amazed at the high quality espresso. Tony and I have had so much fun experimenting with different creations – we like to make one for each other each morning! We’ve been whipping up lattes, cappuccinos, protein coffees, iced americanos, and London fog steamers to start our day. I seriously can’t get enough so I even picked up some decaf beans so that I can enjoy drinks at night!

The espresso maker is simple to use right out of the box. It uses precise temperature for an even extraction throughout the brew cycle and is pre-programmed for single and double shots. The 15-bar Italian pump allows for maximum flavor extraction and let me tell you, when this thing is running it smells deeeevine – you’d swear you were sitting in your favorite coffee joint!

I also love the built in steam wand which produces a dry steam for creamy froth with microfoam milk – it quickly steams the milk and creates the perfect foamy texture to create lattes and cappuccinos. I plan to add latte art to my list of hobbies very soon!

If you are in the market for a true coffee shop experience in your own home look no further – the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine is your answer. Head to your local Bed Bath & Beyond to find one! Also makes an incredible gift for the holidays – tis the season!

Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Today I’m sharing a simple and delicious Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino recipe with you guys. The drink is perfect for this time of year – sweet, spicy, and topped with the fluffiest foam you can imagine. One serving is 70 calories or 2 SmartPoints on all three MyWW plans. Enjoy!

Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 1 cappuccino

Ingredients

1 shot freshly brewed espresso
6 oz skim milk (can sub other milks)
¼ tsp cinnamon + more to garnish
1 tbsp maple syrup, to taste (I used sugar free)

Instructions

Using the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine, brew one shot of espresso into a medium mug.
Stir in cinnamon and maple syrup.
Place milk into the stainless pitcher and use the attached steam wand to heat and froth the milk. Create as much foam as you'd like.
Pour the steamed milk into the espresso and top with foam. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 1 Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino.

2 Blue SmartPoints/2 Green SmartPoints/ 2 Purple SmartPoints on MyWW

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 serving | Calories: 70 Fat: 0 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 12 Sugar: 9 Fiber: 0 Protein: 6

I am so excited you are making one of my recipes and I would love to see how it turns out! Make sure to share it on Instagram and tag me @rachelshealthyplate and use #rachelshealthyplate so I can see your creation!

The post Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino appeared first on .

Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Hash Brown Bake

Rachel — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 13:53:49 +0000

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SmithfieldⓇ. The opinions, text, and recipe are all mine.

My favorite kind of recipes in a nutshell: 1) simple, 2) make ahead, 3) crowd-pleasers, and 4) plenty of leftovers. My Broccoli, Ham, and Cheese Hash Brown Bake recipe checks all the boxes! This easy breakfast casserole is perfect to meal-prep for busy weeks, guaranteed to make your mornings a little less stressful! The best part?! There’s basically no prep work needed – you just combine a handful of ingredients and bake. It’s really too good to be true. My hash brown bake makes 8 hearty servings at 6 WW Blue SmartPoints and 10 WW Green SmartPoints or 340 calories each.

Now, let’s talk about the good stuff – what’s inside! I mentioned earlier that you just need a handful of ingredients. The bake is filled with shredded potatoes, diced ham, broccoli, eggs, and cheddar cheese. Such a yummy combo! You simply combine the ingredients with a few spices and bake. You’ll be set with tasty breakfasts for the whole week!

For the diced ham I picked up a package of new-to-me SmithfieldⓇ Anytime FavoritesⓇ Diced Ham which I found located in the pork section at my local Meijer. This great product is so convenient and super versatile! You can make so many quick meals with it. It would be perfect to add to salads, omelets, lunch wraps, snack plates – you name it! Any product that comes pre-prepped and saves me time is a winner in my book.

Along with the pre-diced ham we need a bag of frozen hash browns, frozen broccoli, skim milk, eggs, and shredded cheese. Told ya it was easy, huh?! The casserole literally has everything you need: soft potatoes, flavorful ham, veggies, and nutty cheese that’s all held together with eggs.

While I like to meal prep this casserole for easy breakfasts to eat during the week, it would also be fabulous served for brunch. It reheats perfectly and when I have a few extra minutes I like to throw it in the air fryer to get the outside a little extra crispy – yum! I always pair the hash brown bake with a side of fresh fruit for a delicious, complete meal.

Do yourself a favor and add this one to your menu! You can pick up a package of Smithfield Anytime Favorites Diced Ham and the rest of the ingredients at your local store. Click here to save $1.00 off of any Smithfield Anytime Favorites product at Meijer. (Offer good until 11/9/19)

My Broccoli, Ham, and Cheese Hash Brown Bake makes 8 hearty servings at 6 WW Blue SmartPoints and 10 WW Green SmartPoints or 340 calories each. Enjoy!

Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Hash Brown Bake

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

60 mins

Total time

1 hour 5 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 8oz package Smithfield Anytime Favorite Diced Ham
1 30oz package frozen shredded hash browns
2 cups diced frozen broccoli florets
1 cup skim milk
15 eggs
4oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and spray a 13x9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl toss together the diced ham, diced broccoli, and shredded hash browns. Pour into baking dish.
In the same bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the potato mixture.
Sprinkle the top of the dish with the cheese.
Bake uncovered for 60-70 minutes, until the center is set, and the edges are golden brown. Check for doneness by testing the center with a knife. If you'd like to brown the cheese, broil the hash brown bake for a few minutes before removing it from the oven. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 8 servings at 6 WW Blue SmartPoints or 10 WW Green SmartPoints each.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ⅛ of the recipe | Calories: 340 Fat: 14 Carbohydrates: 27 Sugar: 4 Fiber: 3 Protein: 24

The post Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Hash Brown Bake appeared first on .

Meal Prep: Freezer Smoothie Packs

Rachel — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 15:04:31 +0000

Summer is here which means I’m wanting to spend time outside as much as possible. More time outside = less time in the kitchen. I’ve been looking for ways to step up my food prep game and after reading about the FoodSaver®, I knew this little machine could be a game changer! If you’ve never played around with vacuum sealing in the kitchen then you better buckle up, because I’m about to blow your mind. The FoodSaver® has ALL KINDS of great uses, which we’ll talk about in a minute, plus I’m going to show you one of my favorite ways to use it in: DIY Smoothie Packs.

Let’s do a quick rundown of this fun little gadget, shall we? The FoodSaver® FM2000 Vacuum Sealing System is a compact appliance that is simple to use and will prolong the life and quality of your food – it keeps food fresh up to 5x longer! Plus, it’s a great tool to use for meal prep because you can cook one time in bulk and divide it into multiple portions for future use – and it’ll be just as fresh each time! This not only saves you a TON of time, but it’ll save your wallet too! Buying in bulk is always cheaper and you’ll have so much less food going to waste.

Great uses for the FoodSaver®

Buy items like meat once a month when they are on sale – portion into vacuum seal bags and freeze until ready to use
Package leftovers into single serve meals for later. Having a freezer stocked with single serve meals is a lifesaver on busy nights! Reheat it in the microwave right in the bag.
Reseal snack bags, such as potato chips, to keep your snacks fresh for longer!
Keep unused portions of ingredients fresh for future use. You know those times when you only need half of an ingredient and have no plans to use it again in the near future? Seal it up and never worry about wasted money on half used ingredients again!
Non-Food sealing: FoodSavers® aren’t just for food! Get creative with uses. Sealing up a bag of toiletries when you travel is a great way to prevent messy leaks in your suitcase.

Other great FoodSaver® features:

Bags and rolls are recyclable
Bags are resealable – simply cut off the existing seal, make sure the top of the bag is clean, and then reseal!
FoodSaver® makes a TON of great accessories such as canisters for pantry items, marinade containers, sealable lids for mason jars, bottle stoppers, deli containers, etc. Each FoodSaver® comes with an accessory hose to use with these items.

Smoothie Packs with the FoodSaver®

Now that we’ve established how awesome the the FoodSaver® is, let’s talk about one of my FAVORITE ways to use it – smoothie packs! I love smoothies in the summer but I do not love having to pull a bunch of ingredients out of the freezer, fridge, and pantry each time I want to make one. I load mine up with protein powder and other boosters so I’ve got a lot of ingredients to get out. With FoodSaver®, I can put all of my ingredients into a single-serve bag and then just pop one out of the freezer when I’m ready. I just need to add my liquid and blend away! HUGE time saver.

I shop for my fruit when it’s on sale and then spend a few minutes assembling my bags. Once they’re full I vacuum seal the tops and in a just a few minutes, I have enough smoothie packs to last for weeks!

Here’s the basic formula I use for my smoothie packs:

1 cup frozen fruit
1 cup greens (spinach or kale)
1 scoop protein powder
Additional smoothie boosters (I’m currently using organic acai berry powder and an organic energy blend made with beets and cacoa)
1 cup liquid added when ready to blend (I use unsweetened almond milk)

That’s it! I love having these smoothie packs on hand for easy breakfasts and whenever I’m in the mood for something refreshing. They’ll keep in the freezer for months with no worries of freezer burn.

Today I prepped my two favorite combos:

Mixed berry + Kale
Tropical Fruit (mango, pineapple, banana) + Spinach

If you want to check out FoodSaver® for yourself visit their website – your fridge and your budget will thank you and you’ll constantly be thinking up of news ways to use it! FoodSaver® is the #1 best selling vacuum sealing brand + all of their products come with a 5 year limited warranty and are ETL Safety Certified.

This post is sponsored by FoodSaver®. All comments, opinions, and recipe are my own.

The post Meal Prep: Freezer Smoothie Packs appeared first on .

Denver Omelet Egg Bites

Rachel — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 21:38:26 +0000

Back with another delicious egg bites recipe for you guys! My love for egg bites is getting pretty serious here, y’all – this is recipe number four. My sister is my official egg bites taste tester and she says this one is her favorite. Her favorite so far, anyway, because ya know…. there WILL be more! I took the filling from a traditional Denver omelet and loaded up these delicious little bites. They’re full of sauteed peppers, onions, diced ham, and cheese. YUM! One batch entire batch (7 egg bites) is 4 Blue WW SmartPoints or 8 Green WW SmartPoints and 375 calories.

In case you guys missed it in my previous recipes, if you don’t own an Instant Pot you can totally make these babies on the stove top. #GameChanger. The texture of the stove top egg bites is nearly identical to the ones you make in the Instant Pot. The insides are soft and silky annnd it’s even quicker to make them this way. Wiiiinnnning, win, win, winning. For either method, all you need is a steam rack and a silicon mold.

To make my Denver Omelet Egg Bites the first order if business is taking care of the veggies. I always have a bag of peppers and onions hanging out in the freezer because they’re perfect for bulking up eggs, tacos, topping pizzas, or even starting a pot of soup. Anyway, that’s what I used here! We put 1/2 cup in a skillet coated with cooking spray and saute until tender. Divide the veggies between the molds and top with diced ham.

We add the rest of our ingredients into a blender and quickly blend until light and frothy. For this recipe I used 2 eggs, 2 egg whites, almond milk, and shredded cheese. If you happen to be dairy free you can omit the cheese and replace it with 1 oz of non-dairy cream cheese (such as Kite Hill). We pour the blended mixture into the molds and all that’s left to do is cook! The whole process takes just a couple of minutes. Easy peasy.

To Cook in Instant Pot

To cook these in an Instant Pot you’ll want to add 1 cup of water into the bottom of the pot and then place the filled mold (covered with foil) onto a steam rack. Select the steam setting and cook for 8 minutes. Allow the pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.

To Cook on Stove Top

To cook these on the stove top you’ll need a pan large enough to fit the steam rack and silicon mold. Place enough water in the bottom of the pot so that it comes just to the bottom of the steam rack. Bring the water to a boil and then gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot. Cover, reduce heat to a low boil, and steam for 10 minutes. Turn heat off and allow to sit for 5 minutes.

All done! I love to serve these with some fresh fruit and a batch of my Air Fryer Potatoes.

Enjoy! One entire batch (7 egg bites) is 4 Blue WW SmartPoints or 8 Green WW SmartPoints and 375 calories.

Equipment Used For This Recipe:

Silicon Mold with Steam Rack and Instant Pot (optional)

Pssst – if you like this recipe be sure to check out my other egg bites recipes:

Denver Omelet Egg Bites

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

23 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 7 egg bites

Ingredients

2 eggs*
2 egg whites*
½ cup diced peppers and onions (I used a frozen mix)
2 oz deli ham, diced small
⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 oz shredded lite/part-skim mozzarella cheese (see notes for nondairy option)
salt and pepper

Instructions

Spray a 7 hole silicon mold with cooking spray. Set aside.
Spray a skillet with nonstick spray and saute peppers and onions until soft and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes.
Divide the vegetables, black beans, and chopped/crumbled sausage between the molds.
Place egg, egg whites, cheese, almond milk, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor. Blend until mixture is light and frothy.
INSTANT POT: To cook in Instant pot cover the mold loosely with foil. Place 1 cup of water into the bottom of the instant pot and then gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot. Close the lid and turn the valve to seal. Select steam setting and cook for 8 minutes. After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, and carefully lift the mold out of the pot.

STOVE TOP: To cook on stove top fill a large pot with enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the steam rack. Bring to a boil. Gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot and cover. Reduce heat to a low boil and steam for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Carefully life the mold out of the pot.
Place a paper towel over the top of the mold, turn a large plate upside down over the paper towel and then carefully flip so that the egg bites turn out onto the paper towel lined plate. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 7 Denver Omelet Egg Bites at 4 Blue WW Smart Points or 8 Green WW SmartPoints for the entire batch.

*Do not use egg or egg whites from a carton - the bites will have too much moisture and will not set correctly.

Blue WW SmartPoints Info: ham (2sp), shredded cheese (2sp), ⅓ c almond milk (0sp), eggs (0sp), peppers/onions (0sp) = 4 points total

To Make Dairy Free: omit the Swiss cheese and replace with 1 oz dairy free cream cheese (i.e. Kite Hill)

To Freeze: Freeze in a single layer on a tray. Once frozen, store in ziplock bag or container. To reheat place egg bites on a paper towel lined plate and heat in microwave 30-45 seconds, until hot.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 7 egg bites | Calories: 375 Fat: 15 Saturated fat: 5 Carbohydrates: 9 Sugar: 6 Fiber: 2 Protein: 35

The post Denver Omelet Egg Bites appeared first on .

Air Fryer Potatoes

Rachel — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 23:17:00 +0000

A few weeks ago over on my Instagram stories I shared how I make perfect, super crunchy potatoes in the air fryer. You all asked for an official recipe so here it is! Here’s the scoop on these: I precook the potatoes in the microwave which means they are soft and tender on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. These are perfect for breakfast but I also love to serve them for dinner with grilled chicken, steak, you name it – they’re GOOD. One serving of my Air Fyer Potatoes is 4 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans and 130 calories.

Let’s talk about why these potatoes are so good, shall we? Before I started precooking the potatoes I was having trouble getting the insides cooked to my likeness before the outside started to burn. But that’s not the only reason to precook – it makes the outside SUPER crunchy, just the way I like them! When we dice the potatoes we toss them with olive oil and seasoning and then give them a rough stir. This kinda breaks up the outside of the potatoes and gives them some texture. THIS is what we want. THIIIS is the part that turns to crunchy gold. Trust me here, folks.

I always season the potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika but they are super versatile so feel free to play around with different combos! When we serve them for dinner we love to add some rosemary and thyme.

Give these a try – I’m sure they will be your new favorite method for cooking potatoes. They turn out legit perfect every single time.

P.S. If you just need enough for 1 or 2 servings you can easily divide the recipe – check the recipe notes for details.

One batch of my Air Fryer Potatoes makes 4 servings at 4 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans and 130 calories each. Enjoy!

Equipment Used For This Recipe:

Air Fryer Potatoes

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 lb (about 4 medium) potatoes (russet, gold, or red varieties work well)
4 tsp olive or avocado oil
¼ tsp paprika (I use smoked paprika)
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
other seasonings, as desired (we use rosemary and thyme often)

Instructions

Wash potatoes and wrap them in a damp paper towel. Microwave potatoes until they are about 80% cooked through. You can microwave each potato, one at a time, for about 3-4 minutes (depending on size). Or microwave them all together for about 12 minutes or so, checking for doneness in 4 minute increments. They'll finish cooking in the air fryer.
Once potatoes are cool enough to handle give them a large dice place in a mixing bowl.
Add oil and seasonings and give them a rough toss until everything is well coated. The outsides should appear a little beat up (see photo in post). This will add texture and make them super crispy.
Place potatoes in the air fryer and cook at 400F for 12-15 minutes until they are golden and crisp, shaking the basket every so often. Season finished potatoes with extra salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 4 servings of Air Fyer Potatoes at 4 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans.

If you need fewer servings you can scale the recipe down. Use a 4 oz potato and 1 tsp oil per serving. I wouldn't suggest cooking more than 1 lb of potatoes in the air fryer at once or they'll be over crowded.

Points Info per serving: 4 oz potato (3 sp), 1 tsp oil (1 sp) = 4 WW SmartPoints total.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ¼ of the recipe | Calories: 130 Fat: 5 Saturated fat: 1 Carbohydrates: 20 Sugar: 1 Fiber: 1 Protein: 2

The post Air Fryer Potatoes appeared first on .

Southwest Egg Bites

Rachel — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 23:32:15 +0000

I guess it’s safe to say that I’m a little bit, errr, more like A LOT a bit, obsessed with egg bites these days. They’re an easy and filling breakfast and I just can’t get over the creamy texture in the middle. Oh so good! I wanted to turn one of my favorite omelets into an egg bite recipe and boy, it did not disappoint. These Southwest Egg Bites are loaded with sausage, black beans, peppers, and onions and I’m pretty sure they’ll be one of your favorites! I topped mine with some of my Zero Point Blender Salsa and it was legit the perfect combo. One entire batch of these Southwest Egg Bites is 2 Blue WW SmartPoints or 7 Green WW SmartPoints.

If you missed it in my previous egg bites recipes, I figured out an easy way you can make egg bites on the stove top. The texture is nearly identical to the instant pot version and they’re even quicker to make! I am usually making mine on the stove top these days just for the ease of it. For either method, all you need is a steam rack and a silicon mold.

Here’s a rundown on how we’re gonna make these Southwest Egg Bites: First we start by sauteing up some peppers and onions. I always have a bag of frozen peppers and onions hanging out in my freezer so that’s what I used. Once they’re nice and tender we divide them between our silicon molds and add in some crumbled sausage and black beans. (Feel free to leave out the sausage for a vegetarian-friendly version!)

We add the rest of our ingredients into a blender and quickly blend until light and frothy. For this recipe I used 2 eggs, 2 egg whites, almond milk, and spreadable pepper jack cheese. If you happen to be dairy free you can omit the pepper jack cheese and replace it with 1 oz of non-dairy cream cheese (such as Kite Hill). We pour the blended mixture into the molds and all that’s left to do is cook! The whole process takes just a couple of minutes.

To Cook in Instant Pot

To Cook on Stove Top

Voila! All done! You can enjoy these on their own or top them with whatever sounds good. Here are a few of my favorite toppings:

extra shredded cheese
Zero Point Blender Salsa
avocado
sour cream or Greek yogurt
cilantro
Zero Point Quick Pickled Onions
hot sauce

Enjoy! One entire batch (7 egg bites) is 2 Blue WW SmartPoints or 7 Green WW SmartPoints.

Equipment Used For This Recipe:

Silicon Mold with Steam Rack and Instant Pot (optional)

Pssst – if you like this recipe be sure to check out my other egg bites recipes:

Southwest Egg Bites

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

23 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 7 egg bites

Ingredients

2 eggs*
2 egg whites*
½ cup chopped bell peppers and onions (I used a frozen blend)
Precooked turkey or chicken sausage (I used 2 links Jones Dairy Farm Chicken Sausages or you can use ¼ c Jimmy Dean crumbled turkey sausage. Use 1 point worth of whatever brand you'd like.)
¼ c black beans, drained and rinsed
1 wedge spreadable pepper jack cheese (I used Laughing Cow)
⅓ c unsweetened almond milk
salt and pepper

Instructions

Spray a 7 hole silicon mold with cooking spray. Set aside.
Spray a skillet with nonstick spray and saute peppers and onions until soft and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes.
Divide the vegetables, black beans, and chopped/crumbled sausage between the molds.
Place egg, egg whites, cheese, almond milk, salt, and pepper into a blender or food processor. Blend until mixture is light and frothy.
INSTANT POT: To cook in Instant pot cover the mold loosely with foil. Place 1 cup of water into the bottom of the instant pot and then gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot. Close the lid and turn the valve to seal. Select steam setting and cook for 8 minutes. After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, and carefully lift the mold out of the pot.

STOVE TOP: To cook on stove top fill a large pot with enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the steam rack. Bring to a boil. Gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot and cover. Reduce heat to a low boil and steam for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Carefully life the mold out of the pot.
Place a paper towel over the top of the mold, turn a large plate upside down over the paper towel and then carefully flip so that the egg bites turn out onto the paper towel lined plate. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 7 Southwest Egg Bites at 2 Blue WW SmartPoints or 7 Green WW SmartPoints for the entire batch.

*Do not use egg or egg whites from a carton - the bites will have too much moisture and will not set correctly.

Blue WW SmartPoints Info: sausage (1sp), pepper jack cheese (1sp), eggs (0sp), black beans (0sp), ⅓ c almond milk (0sp), peppers/onions (0sp) = 2 points total

To Make Dairy Free: omit the Swiss cheese and replace with 1 oz dairy free cream cheese (i.e. Kite Hill - will increase points value by 1 point)

To Freeze: Freeze in a single layer on a tray. Once frozen, store in ziplock bag or container. To reheat place egg bites on a paper towel lined plate and heat in microwave 30-45 seconds, until hot.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: For all 7 egg bites | Calories: 405 Fat: 15 Saturated fat: 5 Carbohydrates: 18 Sugar: 5 Protein: 32

The post Southwest Egg Bites appeared first on .

Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Egg Bites

Rachel — Tue, 28 May 2019 21:44:01 +0000

You guys!! I’ve been experimenting with different flavors of egg bites lately and this one is my NEW favorite. These little babies are filling and delicious, plus they are simple to make! It just so happens that I’ve also perfected how to make these on a stove top – no instant pot required! We’ll get to that in a bit, but first, back to this combo. The bites are loaded with flavorful ham, broccoli, and Swiss cheese. The eggs themselves have a soft and creamy texture from the steam cooking. If you haven’t made your own egg bites yet, THIS is the recipe to start with. Makes 7 egg bites at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints and 7 Green WW SmartPoints or 360 calories for the entire batch.

Alright, let’s talk about how we’re gonna make these heavenly little bites. All you need is a steam rack and a silicon mold. You can choose to make these in an Instant Pot OR on top of the stove – both methods are equally delicious! To be honest, I’ve been using the stove-top method more often because it doesn’t require lugging out my Instant Pot and you don’t have to wait as long for the pot to heat up. Juuuust saying.

We start by spraying the silicon molds with a little cooking spray and adding in our chopped broccoli and diced ham. We add the rest of our ingredients into a blender and quickly blend until light and frothy. For this recipe I used 2 eggs, 2 egg whites, almond milk, and spreadable Swiss cheese. If you happen to be dairy free you can omit the Swiss cheese and replace it with 1 oz of non-dairy cream cheese (such as Kite Hill). We pour the blended mixture into the molds and all that’s left to do is cook! The whole process takes just a couple of minutes.

To Cook in Instant Pot

To Cook on Stove Top

Give these a try and let me know what you think! My recipe for Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Egg Bites makes 7 egg bites at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints and 7 Green WW SmartPoint or 360 calories for the entire batch. Enjoy!

Equipment Used For This Recipe:

Silicon Mold with Steam Rack and Instant Pot (optional)

Pssst – if you like this recipe be sure to check out my other egg bites recipes:

Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Egg Bites

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

23 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 7 egg bites

Ingredients

2 eggs*
2 egg whites*
1 wedge light spreadable Swiss Cheese (I used Laughing Cow - see notes for nondairy option)
⅓ c. unsweetened almond milk
2 oz deli ham, diced small
⅓ c. chopped steamed broccoli, remove excess moisture with a paper towel (I place a handful of frozen florets in the microwave for 2 minutes and then dice small)
salt and pepper

Instructions

Spray a 7 hole silicon egg mold with cooking spray.
Divide the diced broccoli and ham between the molds.
Place egg, egg whites, cheese, almond milk, salt, and pepper into a blender. Blend until mixture is light and frothy.
Divide the egg mixture evenly between the molds.
INSTANT POT: To cook in Instant pot cover the mold loosely with foil. Place 1 cup of water into the bottom of the instant pot and then gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot. Close the lid and turn the valve to seal. Select steam setting and cook for 8 minutes. After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, and carefully lift the mold out of the pot.

STOVE TOP: To cook on stove top fill a large pot with enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the steam rack. Bring to a boil. Gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot and cover. Reduce heat to a low boil and steam for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Carefully life the mold out of the pot.
Place a paper towel over the top of the mold, turn a large plate upside down over the paper towel and then carefully flip so that the egg bites turn out onto the paper towel lined plate. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 7 Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Egg Bites at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints and 7 Green WW SmartPoints for the entire batch.

*Do not use egg or egg whites from a carton - the bites will have too much moisture and will not set correctly.

Blue WW SmartPoints Info: ham (2sp), Swiss cheese (1sp), ⅓ c almond milk (0sp), eggs (0sp), broccoli (0sp) = 3 points total

To Make Dairy Free: omit the Swiss cheese and replace with 1 oz dairy free cream cheese (i.e. Kite Hill - will increase points value by 1 point)

To Freeze: Freeze in a single layer on a tray. Once frozen, store in ziplock bag or container. To reheat place egg bites on a paper towel lined plate and heat in microwave 30-45 seconds, until hot.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 7 egg bites | Calories: 360 Fat: 14 Saturated fat: 9 Carbohydrates: 9 Sugar: 4 Fiber: 2 Protein: 34

The post Broccoli, Ham, & Cheese Egg Bites appeared first on .

Instant Pot Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites

Rachel — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 13:42:53 +0000

Y’all, I got an Instant Pot for Christmas which means I’m a super-official, card-carrying-member of the cool kids club now. I guess!? Although I felt a little intimated trying figure out how to work the thing, and at the whole responsibility of not blowing my kitchen up, I knew EXACTLY what my first recipe would be with my shiny new kitchen toy: EGG BITES! I’m a lot obsessed with Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites and if you’ve ever had them, you understand why. They are soft, silky, heavenly little egg cups. Kinda magical if you’ve never had a sous vide egg before. And if you’ve had them then you also, unfortunately, know that despite being delicious they’re kinda small, not all that filling, and pretty darn pricey. Hence the need to make my own! My Instant Pot Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites are 4 Blue WW SmartPoints and 8 Green WW SmartPoints + 350 calorites for all 7 bites (or 50 calories each)!! #PointsBargain!

Sooo… even though these were the first thing I wanted to make with my Instant Pot, I actually figured I better learn how to use it first. I test drove it on some boiled eggs. Mind blown at how quick and easy it was. Sadly my attempt at egg bites didn’t go so well…. I guess there’s a learning curve or something. While my first few batches of egg bites tasted great I had trouble getting them to hold together. No worries though, I fiiiinally perfected it and I’m excited to share this simple recipe with you. Now, if you don’t have an Instant Pot, fear not, I’ve still got you covered. Check the recipes notes for details on how you can make egg bites on the stove top (aka what I used to do before Christmas!)

Let’s get to the recipe, shall we? Aside from the creamy texture, the best thing about these egg bites is that they’re packed with protein, yummy cheese, and flavorful bacon. PLUS you can eat way more than the little ol’ Starbucks serving. I’ve created a version with bacon and cheese they couldn’t be easier to make.

Into a blender we add eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. Blend well, until the mixture is smooth and frothy. We pour the mixture into our Instant Pot mold that’s already filled with some crumbled bacon and then we cook. That’s it – takes just a couple of minutes to prepare!

You have to give these a try and let me know what you think! Keep your eyes peeled for more egg bite recipes because I’ve got a few more flavor combos in mind that I’m dying to make. My Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites recipe makes 7 bites at 4 Blue WW SmartPoints and 8 Green WW SmartPoints or 350 calories. Enjoy!

PS: I usually divide my egg bites into two servings and save half for breakfast to go the following day! Simply reheat for 15-30 seconds.

Equipment used for this recipe:Instant Pot and Silicon Mold

See recipe for instructions on how to make these egg bites on the stove top AND how to make a dairy free version!

Pssst – if you like this recipe be sure to check out my other egg bites recipes:

Instant Pot Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

18 mins

Total time

23 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 7 egg bites

Ingredients

2 eggs*
2 egg whites*
½ cup low fat cottage cheese
1 oz lite shredded mozzarella
1 piece of bacon, cooked & crumbled
salt and pepper

Instructions

Spray a 7-hole silicon instant pot mold with cooking spray.
Place a few pieces of crumbled bacon into the bottom of each mold. Set aside.
Place eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, mozzarella into a blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Blend until well mixed and frothy
Divide the egg mixture evenly between the molds.
INSTANT POT: To cook in Instant pot cover the mold loosely with foil. Place 1 cup of water into the bottom of the instant pot and then gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot. Close the lid and turn the valve to seal. Select steam setting and cook for 8 minutes. After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Release any remaining pressure, and carefully lift the mold out of the pot.

STOVE TOP: To cook on stove top fill a large pot with enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the steam rack. Bring to a boil. Gently lower the steam rack and mold into the pot and cover. Steam for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Carefully life the mold out of the pot.
Place a paper towel over the top of the mold, turn a large plate upside down over the paper towel and then carefully flip so that the egg bites turn out onto the paper towel lined plate. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 7 Instant Pot Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites - the entire recipe is 4 Blue WW SmartPoints or 8 Green WW SmartPoints total.

*Do not use egg or egg whites from a carton - the bites will have too much moisture and will not set correctly.

Blue WW SmartPoints Breakdown: ½ cup lowfat cottage cheese (2sp), 1 oz lite mozzarella (1sp), 1 piece bacon (1sp), everything else (0sp) = 4 points for the entire recipe.

To Make Dairy Free: replace the cottage cheese with ⅓ c. unsweetened almond milk (0sp) + replace the shredded cheese with 1 oz dairy free cream cheese (2sp - such as Kite Hill). This would make the entire recipe 3 points.

To Freeze: Freeze in a single layer on a tray. Once frozen, store in ziplock bag or container. To reheat place egg bites on a paper towel lined plate and heat in microwave 30-45 seconds, until hot.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: For all 7 Egg Bites | Calories: 347 Fat: 18 Saturated fat: 7 Carbohydrates: 5 Sugar: 5 Fiber: 0 Protein: 40

The post Instant Pot Bacon & Cheese Egg Bites appeared first on .

Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos

Rachel — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 14:05:15 +0000

Tacos…. the most important meal of the day. So naturally, you should totally make them for breakfast. There’s a million and one ways to make tacos – soft or crunchy shell, an endless combination of fillings, and then an insane amount of crazy-good toppings. Although it’s hard to narrow down all the fun combinations, I went for a simple and hearty combo with these babies! My Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos are super quick to make and they’re 5 Blue WW SmartPoints or 11 Green WW SmartPoints for three filling tacos. #YAAAS

I don’t know about you, but I find crunchy tacos waaaay more satisfying to eat. Unfortunately all the oil needed to make them crispy means they’re usually not touted as a health food. Buuuut, did you know it’s easy to make crunchy tacos in a skillet with regular ol’ corn tortillas and a little cooking spray? The key is to cook them low and slow so they get extra crispy and just the right amount of golden brown.

I filled my tacos with fat-free refried beans, some smokey seasonings, scrambled eggs, and shredded cheese. And I HAD to serve them with a side of my 0 Point Blender Salsa because it’s THE BEST! This combo was so hearty and filling – they’re legit the perfect way to start the day!

Of course you can have fun with the fillings and use this same technique to make any kind of taco you want. It’s so fun to get creative and see what yummy combos you can come up with!

Here’s a few more fillings that I love to use for breakfast tacos – I just mix and match depending on what I have on hand!

Sauteed peppers and onions
Black beans or refried beans
Scrambled egg or fried egg
Egg Whites
Chorizo or crumbled turkey sausage
Diced ham
A variety of cheese
Roasted sweet potato

And don’t forget about all the topping options!

Blender Salsa – 0 points
Salsa verde – 0 points
Avocado – 1 or 2 points
Creamy Avocado Sauce – 2 points
Picked onions – 0 pionts
Cilantro – 0 points
Green onion – 0 points
Hot sauce – 0 points
Pickled Jalapeno – 0 points

Also, If you’re looking for a low carb breakfast taco you’ve got to try my Egg “Tacos”! They’re gluten-free, high in protein, and super versatile too.

Regardless of how you like your tacos, I hope you give my crunchy breakfast tacos a try!

My Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos are 5 Blue WW SmartPoints or 11 Green WW SmartPoints. Enjoy!

Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

15 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 3 tacos

Ingredients

3 extra thin corn tortillas (I used Mission brand)
2 eggs, scrambled
6 Tbsp fat free refried beans
1 oz lite shredded mozzarella cheese
Chili powder
Cumin
Cooking Spray
Toppings as desired: hot sauce, avocado, salsa, cilantro, pickled onions, etc

Instructions

Assemble your tacos: Spread 2 tbsp of refried beans on each corn tortilla. Sprinkle with a little bit of chili powder and cumin, to taste. Divide shredded cheese and scrambled eggs between the tortillas. Fold each taco in half.
Generously spray a heavy skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Place the tacos in the pan and allow to cook several minutes, until golden and crispy. If the tacos are cooking too fast, reduce heat to medium-low. (The lower you cook, the crunchier you can get them!).
Spray the tops of the tacos and carefully flip. Continue cooking until the second side is golden and crunchy. (Mine usually take 4-5 minutes per side). Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Notes

Makes 3 Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos at 5 Blue WW SmartPoints or 11 Green WW SmartPoints.

Blue WW SmartPoints Info:
- 3 extra thin corn tortillas (4 points)
- shredded cheese (1 point)
- everything else (0 points)

Cooking note: If your tacos crack a little at the bottom it's okay - the beans and cheese will hold everything together! The key for crispy tacos is using a heavy pan and cooking low and slow.

Additional toppings, such as salsa or avocado are not included in the nutritional info or points.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 3 tacos | Calories: 390 Fat: 14 Saturated fat: 4 Carbohydrates: 40 Sugar: 4 Fiber: 9 Protein: 26

The post Crunchy Bean & Egg Breakfast Tacos appeared first on .

Egg in a Hole Everything Bagel

Rachel — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 00:24:47 +0000

Mind. Blown. Everything Bagel meets Toad in the Hole – a.k.a., the most perfect breakfast creation! This idea came to me last time I was making a batch of two-ingredient dough bagels. It worked so well I may never go back to egg-less bagels again. It’s everything you need for breakfast in one perfect little pastry! My Egg in a Hole Everything Bagels are simple to make and come to 3 Blue WW SmartPoints/6 Green WW SmartPoints or 203 calories each.

These guys are so much fun to make! They are perfect to serve for guests, great for brunch, and easy to meal prep to have on hand for the week. I’ve meal prepped them twice and they reheat well in the toaster oven or microwave.

The base of the bagel is the standard two-ingredient dough mix of half nonfat Greek yogurt and half self-rising flour. The key for our egg in a hole is making sure we have a nice big opening for the egg. I created an extra large opening but forming my dough around the bottom of a glass! The dough rises a lot in the oven so it’s important to make a hole bigger than you would expect to need. The bagels bake about halfway before we add in the egg.

I used everything bagel seasoning (my fav!) for the bagels but if you aren’t a fan they’d also be delicious with nutty sesame seeds on top. You can find everything bagel seasoning at most stores these days or you can order online or even make your own (just google a recipe).

Give these a try and let me know what you think!

My Egg in a Hole Everything Bagel recipe makes 4 bagels at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints/6 Green WW SmartPoints or 203 calories each. Enjoy!

Egg in a Hole Everything Bagel

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 4 bagels

Ingredients

1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt (pour out any liquid sitting on top)
1 cup self-rising flour, plus a little extra for kneading
Everything bagel seasoning (store bought or homemade)
4 eggs
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine the flour and Greek yogurt. Mix well, until a dough ball forms. If dough is too dry, add a little extra yogurt. If dough is really wet, add a little extra flour.
Lightly flour a work surface and turn dough out. Knead well, until a smooth dough ball forms. Add a little extra flour, as needed, to prevent sticking.
Divide dough into four even pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope until it is long enough to wrap around the bottom of a glass.
Place a glass on the baking sheet. (Mine was 2.75 inches in diameter. Look for one that's 2.5-3 inches wide.) Carefully wrap the dough around the base of the glass, pinching at the ends to form the bagel (see photo in blog post). Remove glass and repeat with remaining pieces of dough until you have four bagels.
Brush the egg white over the tops and sides of the bagels and generously sprinkle with the everything bagel seasoning.
Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully crack one each into the center of each bagel.
Bake for an additional 8-12 minutes, depending on how done you want the egg yolk. Cook until the bagel is golden brown and the egg is cooked to your liking. Remove from oven and let sit 2-3 minutes before enjoying.

Notes

Makes 4 Egg in a Hole Everything Bagels at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints or 6 Green WW SmartPoints each.

Cooking Tips:
- Try to make sure the bagel is the same thickness all the way around. If one side is really low the egg will run out.
- Bagels reheat best in a toaster oven but can also be reheated in a microwave for about 30 seconds. If you are planning to reheat and like your egg yolk a little soft, I'd under cook the egg by a few minutes so that it's perfect when you reheat.
- Recipe is easy to divide if you'd only like to make 1 or 2 bagels at a time.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 bagel | Calories: 203 Fat: 5 Saturated fat: 2 Carbohydrates: 26 Sugar: 5 Fiber: 1 Protein: 15

The post Egg in a Hole Everything Bagel appeared first on .