Hummus - 6 Smart Points

Over the years, I've tasted Hummus several times and always found it to be awful.  This recipe is one that I will actually eat--and enjoy.  Perhaps the reason I've never cared for commercially prepared Hummus is the tahini paste in it.  This recipe does not contain any oil or tahini paste.  It is fat free as well as vegan.

I'm becoming very interested in the idea of a whole food plant based diet.  Watching several documentaries about our food sources, government interference in food production, the impact on the environment of raising food animals, and the health benefits of not consuming any animal flesh makes the idea of the plant based diet seem very appealing.

Giving up all meat, including fish and poultry, all dairy products and eggs isn't something that I'm ready to do at this time.  But, I am adding more and more vegetables, grains, and legumes into our meals and one day I may find myself ready to totally switch to the whole food plant based diet.

HUMMUS
Makes 3 1/2 cups

6 Smart Points per cup

2 cans chickpeas, drained

2 large cloves garlic

1 T. lemon juice

1 ½ tsp. ground cumin

1/3 cup vegetable broth

Salt to taste

Combine ingredients in food processor and process

into a smooth paste.

 3 1/2 cups chickpeas = 21 Smart Points

I added 2 finely diced fresh jalapeno peppers.  Cilantro would be a good addition also.  The garlic cloves I used were quite large so you may need to use more than two. 

Savory Apple-Chicken Sausage -- 0 Smart Points

***Edited 12/7/17---with the new Freestyle program, this recipe is now zero points.

SAVORY APPLE-CHICKEN SAUSAGE

Ingredients

• 1 large tart apple, peeled and diced
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground chicken
•  

·         Directions

·         In a large bowl, combine the apple, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Crumble chicken over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight 3-in. patties.

·         In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook patties over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Drain if necessary. Yield: 8 patties.

I used ground Smart Chicken which is 12 Smart Points for 16 oz.  Each patty would have 1.5 Smart Points or 3 Smart Points for 2 patties

Air Fryer Cinnamon "Rolls"

So what do you do when it's 95° outside, you're bored and want to bake?  Get out the air fryer and a can of biscuits and make rolls.

Start to finish, it took less than 30 minutes to do eight of these and they are really good!

All you need is a can of biscuits of your choice,  some melted butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture.

 Roll out each biscuit on a piece of waxed paper.

 Brush with melted butter and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar mixture.

 Starting on the long side, roll each edge to the center and pinch to seal.

 I sprayed my basket with some oil, but I doubt if it was really needed.  My air fryer is not a really large one so I could only cook 2 or 3 at a time.  Leave plenty of space between them or they'll be one big roll by the time they finish baking.

I set my temperature at 320° and checked them after they'd baked 5-6 minutes. 

After they finished baking, I brushed them with more melted butter and let them cool on a rack.

It's quite an easy way to have super fast cinnamon rolls.  These would be great for breakfast with a good, hot cup of coffee.

Chicken Tortilla Soup -- 1 Smart Point

This calculates at only 1 Smart Point per serving.  If you choose to add the sour cream and tortilla chips, include the points for the brands you use.

The lime juice and fresh cilantro give a real brightness to the flavor!

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Smart Points – 5 for complete recipe – makes 5 servings

1 Smart Point per bowl

1 – 32 oz. carton Swanson chicken broth

1 – 2.5 oz. can Great Value chunk chicken breast

1 – 10 oz. can Great Value mild dice tomatoes & green chilies

Juice of 1 lime

Chopped cilantro

Place undrained can of chicken in a 2 quart saucepan.  Shred chicken

with a fork.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes and lime juice.

Heat thoroughly.

Ladle into bowl.  Top with chopped cilantro.

You can also add a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips, if desired. 

Smart Points

Chicken broth             1

Chicken                      2

Tomatoes                    2