With the upcoming months ahead, there will be a whirlwind of activity preparing for the holidays. To stay on track with weight loss and to resist going through the drive thru, you have to plan your meals. So, this will be the first week featuring low point freezer cooking meals perfect for Weight Watchers Freestyle.
This past weekend I did some freezer batch cooking. I cooked 2 very low point soup recipes that are quick to make, freeze well and are delicious. In fact, you probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen to make these freezer meals now.
Also, the containers I use in the pictures below hold 2 cups of soup. But the points listed below for the soups are for 1 cup. You can find the freezer pint containers here. These are double thick and freeze foods very well with no freezer burn. They stack well in the freezer, never crack and are microwave and dishwasher safe. They come 36 to a pack with lids and are only about $14.00Â I have had these containers for years.
Caribbean Black Bean Soup
3 Slices of Center Cut Bacon
1 Onion, Diced Small
2 Red Bell Peppers, Seeded and Diced Small
1.5 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
2 Jalapeno Peppers, Diced Small
1 Teaspoon each of Ground Cumin & Ground Coriander
12 Ounces of Beef Broth
4 (15 ounce) Cans of Black Beans, Undrained
2 Tablespoons of Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon of Shaohsing Cooking Wine, Optional
Vegetable Cooking Spray
DIRECTIONS:
- Spray a pan with vegetable cooking spray. Heat on high. When pan is hot, add center cut bacon slices and cook until crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to absorb the bacon grease when done.
- Remove all bacon grease from pan except for 1 tablespoon. Add in the vegetables, cumin and coriander. Cook on medium heat until vegetables are soft. (To keep all the vegetables the same size, I use this tool).
- Empty 3 cans of the black beans into a blender. Puree until smooth.
- Add pureed bean mixture to vegetables in the pot. Stir in the bacon, beef broth, lime juice and Shaohsing Cooking Wine, if using. Heat through for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add in remaining can of black beans and stir to combine. Cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat.
- Serve with 0 Point Yogurt Cheese (recipe here), jalapeno, diced onion or up to 1/4 cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese. Using these toppings will NOT increase the points per serving.
- This makes about 8 cups. Each cup serving is 1 SmartPoint on the Blue and Purple Plans and 5 SmartPoints on the Green Plan. Enjoy!
PRINTABLE
- 3 Slices of Center Cut Bacon
- 1 Onion, Diced Small
- 2 Red Bell Peppers, Diced Small
- 1.5 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
- 2 Jalapeno Peppers, Diced Small
- 1 Teaspoon each Ground Cumin & Ground Coriander
- 12 Ounces Beef Broth
- 4 (15 ounce) Cans of Black Beans, Undrained
- 2 Tablespoons of Lime Juice
- 1 Tablespoon of Shaohsing Cooking Wine, Optional
- Vegetable Cooking Spray
- Spray a pan with vegetable cooking spray. Heat on high. Add center cut bacon slices and cook until crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to absorb the bacon grease when done.
- Remove all bacon grease from pan except for 1 tablespoon. Add in the vegetables, cumin and coriander. Cook on medium heat until vegetables are soft. (To keep all the vegetables the same size, I use this tool).
- Empty 3 cans of the black beans into a blender. Puree until smooth.
- Add pureed bean mixture to vegetables in the pot. Stir in the bacon, beef broth, lime juice and Shaohsing Cooking Wine, if using. Heat through for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add in remaining can of black beans and stir to combine. Cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat.
- Serve with 0 Point Yogurt Cheese (recipe here), jalapeno, diced onion or up to ¼ cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese. Using these toppings will NOT increase the points per serving.
- This makes about 8 cups. Each cup serving is 1 SmartPoint on the Blue and Purple Plans and 5 SmartPoints on the Green Plan. Enjoy!
Broccoli Cheese Bisque
2 lbs of Broccoli Florets
1 White Onion, Diced Small
2 Celery Stalks, Diced Small
2 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
8 Cups of Chicken Broth
1 Cup of Fat Free Half & Half
Salt/Pepper to Taste
1 Cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
DIRECTIONS:
- Combine all vegetables and chicken broth in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered until the broccoli is fork tender. Turn off heat.
- About 2-3 cups at a time, puree vegetables and broth in a blender. Empty pureed mixtures into a large bowl. If you like your bisque thick, add a small amount of broth to the vegetables into the blender until vegetables are gone. If you have broth left in the stock pot, save for another use or add your vegetable mixture to the broth.
- Add salt and pepper to taste to pureed vegetables. Stir in 1 cup of Fat Free Half and Half and return to stove to heat through.
- After 5 minutes, turn off heat and add in 1 cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese. Stir to combine.
- This makes 8 – 1 cup servings at 1 SmartPoint on the Blue, Green & Purple Plans. Enjoy!
PRINTABLE
- 2 lbs of Broccoli Florets
- 1 White Onion, Diced Small
- 2 Celery Stalks, Diced Small
- 2 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
- 8 Cups of Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup of Fat Free Half & Half
- Salt/Pepper to Taste
- 1 Cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
- Combine all vegetables and chicken broth in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered until the broccoli is fork tender. Turn off heat.
- About 2-3 cups at a time, puree vegetables and broth in a blender. Empty pureed mixtures into a large bowl. If you like your bisque thick, add a small amount of broth to the vegetables into the blender until vegetables are gone. If you have broth left in the stock pot, save for another use or add your vegetable mixture to the broth.
- Add salt and pepper to taste to pureed vegetables. Stir in 1 cup of Fat Free Half and Half and return to stove to heat through.
- After 5 minutes, turn off heat and add in 1 cup of Kraft Fat Free Cheddar Cheese. Stir to combine.
- This makes 8 - 1 cup servings at 1 Smartpoint per serving on the Blue, Green & Purple Plans. . Enjoy!
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of the items below from Amazon (that was used in making these recipes), I will receive a small percentage at no cost to you. Thank you!
Items Available at Amazon.com
Shaohsing Cooking Wine
Vidalia Chop Wizard
Reditainer Extreme Freeze Pint Containers
Remember that these pictures show the soups ready for the freezer in 2 cup containers. Trust me, you’ll want to freeze them this way, since 1 cup is a tease – they are that delicious.
I hope this inspires you to do some low point freezer cooking meals for yourself to help you stay on the path of weight loss. It’s waiting for you!