If you were a fan of The Sopranos, you'll likely remember that Carmela Soprano made baked ziti for every occasion: births, funerals (given husband Tony’s "profession," there were lots of funerals), birthdays and holidays. Baked ziti is an Italian-American comfort food layered with meatballs and cheese. Whenever Carmela appeared on camera holding a foil-covered casserole, I knew it was her ziti and I wanted some. Ziti recipes abound online but most of them are meat, cheese an

Recently I invited a friend for dinner and told him that it wasn't going to be a gourmet dinner but more like what Grandma used to serve. He quickly replied, "Great! I love Grandma food!" Actually, I didn't get this recipe from my Grandma, who was an immigrant from Switzerland. A good friend gave it to me years ago and I make it whenever I crave something warm and comforting for dinner. If you're a Weight Watchers member, you know that WW has enhanced its Zero-Point food list

Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish of tender marinated pieces of chicken grilled on a skewer. (Souvlaki is Greek for skewer.) It’s traditionally served with tzatziki sauce, a combination of grated cucumber and Greek yogurt. I found this lightened recipe in an old Cooking Light cookbook that delivers all of the bright, citrusy flavors of authentic Souvlaki with very little fat, calories and WW Points. Let’s face one undeniable fact about chicken: it’s a popular, low-fa

For those of us who managed to avoid cooking during our scorching hot summer, here’s an no-brainer transition into fall cooking. You can’t get more basic than chicken noodle soup, and this recipe from Southern Living eliminates most of the actual cooking! Grab a rotisserie chicken and in about a half hour you have homemade chicken noodle soup that Mom would be proud of. Don’t believe me? Even Mom would tell you to give it a try. After all, it’s chicken noodle soup! It’s good

As Fall descends upon us, it's time to bring out our slow cookers for the soups and stews that warm our souls during the cold weather months (if they ever arrive!). Shredded chicken This recipe from Southern Living contains only 5 ingredients and is the flavorful, healthy basis for multiple meals. You can serve it over rice, or as a filling for tacos. How about taco salad or quesadillas? Tonight we're enjoying leftover salsa chicken on jacket potatoes, the British term for ba

This Mediterranean-inspired recipe hails from the Weight Watchers recipe box. It's crazy low in calories/WW Points and is a longstanding favorite for easy, savory late summer dining. The salad is a mixture of grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese and either mint or basil tossed together with olive oil and lots of lemon juice. If you're not into chicken (or you've eaten so much you're beginning to sprout feathers) why not air fry some salmon instead? Chicken, salmon, s

When you air fry assorted bell pepper slices, you've got the beginnings of an almost endless supply of meals. Here are just a few examples: Eggs: add them to scrambled eggs or an omelet. Add some feta cheese. Chicken and peppers: Toss them with grilled chicken, add some Parmesan and serve over rice or cauliflower rice. Pasta: Toss with pasta, garlic, cherry tomatoes and maybe even some spinach. Top with Parmesan. Fish topping: Warm them up and serve them over air fried salmon

Sprinkle on some grated Parmesan cheese when serving If you own an air fryer, did you know that it’s a great way to roast vegetables? An air fryer cooks at intense heat in a small space. Vegetables come out perfectly cooked and crisped around the edges in less time than it takes for conventional cooking. This recipe calls for just enough to serve two. You can vary amounts to suit your needs, but remember that for optimal browning, it’s best to place veggies in a single layer

Chutney is an optional, but delicious condiment. Chicken Country Captain is a beloved Southern chicken stew made with curry, tomatoes and bell peppers. Its origins date back to the early 19th century when British trade ships brought exotic spices from India to the ports at Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA. If you’re not from the South, you may not be familiar with this dish but you’ll find it in most Southern Junior League cookbooks. It’s that iconic. Here is a trimmed down v

When I first saw this recipe from Mark Bittman in the NYT Cooking section, I had reservations. How could such simple ingredients become a savory soup in less than 10 minutes? Mark has been a major influence on American cooking for 30 years and is known for his straightforward style and simple recipes, so I decided to give it a try. I followed his directions with one exception: instead of adding just "a splash of stock," I added 1/2 cup of broth, knowing that I may need more a

Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer consisting of grilled bread topped with garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. I found this bread-free version in a Sunset Magazine article titled, 25 No-Cook Recipes Because, Come On, It’s the Middle of Summer!" This delightful salad is also lettuce-free and it's packed with protein and fiber. The recipe calls for one can of cannellini beans and two cans of water-packed tuna. Since there are just two of us, I used one can of tuna but still used th

Back in the day, Weight Watchers used to give out weekly recipe cards to members. This one from 2023 for a roast turkey breast reminded me of my mom. We visited her every year and when we walked in her front door from the airport, there was always a cooked turkey breast sitting on a rack in a roasting pan in the kitchen. She vowed that turkey sandwiches made with freshly roasted turkey breast were infinitely tastier than ones made with deli turkey slices, and she was right. I