Quick Ricotta Spaghetti

I present to you, Quick Ricotta Spaghetti, and I can eat as much of it as I want, without guilt.

How is this you say?

Because of Weight Watcher’s new Simple Start plan. Each item is a non-trackable item. I have lost 5.2 pounds since I started using Simple Start with the Simply Filling plan. After months of sitting on a plateau, I can proudly report this plan is working for me again! Woohoo!

Here’s what you do:
Chop half sweet onion and four cloves garlic, sauté in one tablespoon of olive oil. Add frozen basil cube (equal to one teaspoon), 1 tablespoon garlic salt with parsley, chopped yellow and red pepper. Sauté until cooked through. Add medium size can of crushed tomatoes seasoned with basil. Heat through while boiling package of whole wheat noodles; I prefer thin spaghetti noodle. Drain noodles, add to sauce and toss with 7 oz. of fat free ricotta cheese. Top your serving with steamed broccoli florets, for extra bulk.

Alternatives: use less peppers and add ground chicken to the sauté. Some red pepper flakes would be good to spice it up a bit if you desire.

These frozen basil cubes were a shopping surprise one day, and this is the first time I’ve tried them in a meal. I was wondering, as I smelled the fresh basil scent as it melted: what about a ricotta, basil and onion sauce? I could even add some roasted almonds and make it a bit like pesto, but without the oil. I think the answer will be: Mmmmmm!

Tonight I started the above workout challenge with two of my friends. I will let you know how it goes. I am committed to workout three times, thirty minutes each this week; the week begins today. I plan to post a weekly update each week, along with the results of weigh-in.

After a month, I’d like to celebrate achieving my 50 pound weight loss star from Weight Watchers. That’s six more pounds to go!

What goals are you working toward today?