Category Archives: Summer

Grilled Ham and Pineapple Salsa

If you don’t have a grill, just pan fry or broil the ham. But whatever you do, don’t skip the pineapple salsa – it was just marvelous !

Grilled Ham and Pineapple Salsa
Grilled Ham and Pineapple Salsa

6 servings
140 calories per serving

Salsa:
8 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice
2 T orange marmalade
1 T chopped cilantro
2 t chopped jalapeno pepper
2 t lime juice
¼ t salt

Ham:
1 1 ½ lb. slice pre-cooked ham slice

Heat grill. Combine all salsa ingredients and set aside. Grill ham 10-15 minutes or until heated through – then top with salsa and serve immediately.

Marinated Tomatoes

This dressing was a super change from the ordinary vinegar dressing – the Dijon gave just enough tang to make the dish interesting without overpowering the flavor of the tomatoes. I am looking forward to farmer’s market tomatoes !

Marinated Tomatoes
Marinated Tomatoes

8 servings
60 calories per serving

Dressing:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped oregano
2 T oil
1 T Dijon mustard
½ t salt
½ t pepper
½ t onion powder

Salad:
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 pint yellow pear tomatoes, halved
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

Combine all dressing ingredients and toss with tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour so flavors mix.

Frosty Fruit Cups

These little desserts very much remind me of a yogurt pie recipe which I actually have scheduled to make in a couple of weeks. These only take 5 minutes to throw together and they are so sweet and tart ! You can really use any flavor yogurt and any chopped fruit so mix it up and have some fun 🙂

Frosty Fruit Cups
Frosty Fruit Cups

12 servings
74 calories per serving

2 c nonfat orange yogurt
17 oz. can apricot halves, drained and chopped
¼ c chopped pecans

Combine yogurt and fruit. Divide among 12 muffin cups and sprinkle with nuts. Freeze 2 hours and them remove from cups and serve in small bowls. I use silicone cups for desserts such as these. (they are also great for making cupcakes !!)

If they remain frozen for more than a couple of hours, defrost for 10 minutes or so before serving.

Cheeseburgers

Coming to the end of Retread Week – here is another family favorite that is not off bounds just because you are on a 400 calorie meal plan !!

There’s nothing like a burger – when you want one, you want one, and nothing else will do. Instead of heading out for fast food, throw these together. Even the kids will love them !!

Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers

4 servings
357 calories per serving

1 lb 96% lean ground beef
4 Kraft FF singles
4 whole wheat buns, toasted
4 lettuce leaves
4 onion slices
4 tomato slices
Ketchup and mustard
Pam

Shape meat into patties and place in hot skillet that has been sprayed with pam. Cook 5 min per side or until desired doneness. Or grill the burgers outside on the grill. Top with cheese right when they are done cooking. Serve on a toasted bun with all the condiments and additions.

Zesty Coleslaw

The mustard in the slaw is a nice unexpected flavor – it was not too much, just enough to be interesting without overpowering the dish. How can you beat coleslaw – only 45 calories per serving !

Zesty Coleslaw
Zesty Coleslaw

8 servings
45 calories per serving

8 c coarsely shredded cabbage
1 large carrot, grated
½ c fat free mayo
2 T white vinegar
2 T pineapple juice
3 T spicy brown mustard
1 ½ T sugar
1/8 t pepper
¼ t salt

Combine cabbage and carrot. In another bowl combine all the rest of the ingredients and then pour over the cabbage and toss well. Chill in the refrigerator.

Cucumber Bites

These cucumber bites make a great appetizer or side on a lunch platter.

Cucumber Bites
Cucumber Bites

4 servings
90 calories per serving

1/2 c shredded carrot
1/2 c 1/4 less fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese with Chive and Onions
2 cucumbers

Keep 2 T of carrots aside for garnish. Mix the rest of the carrots and cream cheese. Cut cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Place cheese mix in cucumbers. Cut each half into 5 pieces. Top each piece with leftover carrots.

Mexican Kabobs

Retread #2 – Oh so yummy ! I served them with roasted tomatoes and zucchini fritters for a super tasty, healthy and balanced meal 🙂

I usually skip right by kabob recipes – threading the skewers is a pain and a lot of time, the food falls off into the grill. Now I use a grill basket instead and gather up as many kabob recipes as I can 🙂 Just be sure not to stir or shake the basket too often. You want the food to get the nice little charred ends just as you would if you were cooking on skewers. Add some extra veggies and a bit more spice to bulk up the meal without adding too many more calories – grape tomatoes, button mushrooms, different color peppers….they all work well.

Mexican Kabobs
Mexican Kabobs

4 servings
145 calories per serving

1 lb boneless pork cut into 1 inch cubes
1 T taco seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 large onion in thin slices
1/2 medium green bell pepper in thin slices
Pam

Combine all ingredients and toss to coat well. Grill 10-15 minutes in a grill basket sprayed with Pam or on skewers that you have thread with the pieces. Here’s a link to the grill basket that I use:

You can also put all the ingredients in a bowl to mix, and then place on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam under a heated broiler for 10-12 minutes.

Grilled Caramel Apples

Apples and caramel – what a mix !! There’s no one here that didn’t want seconds of this tasty treat !

Grilled Caramel Apples
Grilled Caramel Apples

4 servings
245 calories per serving

2 large apples
24 caramels, unwrapped
2 t water

Heat grill and fold 4 pieces of heavy duty foil then spray with Pam. Cut apples in half and remove cores. Cut each half into 4 wedges. Place 6 caramels in center of each piece of foil and place apple wedge over and sprinkle with ½ t water. Wrap each foil packet securely and grill 15-20 minutes or until all melted. You can also do this in the oven – preheat to 425 degrees and place the packets on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until all is melted.

Zucchini with Lemon and Cilantro

This was great served warm and equally as good chilled. The lemon and cilantro flavorings are what make this a really tasty side salad.

Zucchini with Lemon and Cilantro
Zucchini with Lemon and Cilantro

4 servings
69 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. zucchini (about 3), cubed
1T oil
Coarse salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 T fresh cilantro, chopped

Heat oil in a large skillet and add the zucchini and toss then season with salt and pepper and cook about 5 minutes letting cubes brown a bit. Add lemon juice and cilantro and mix well. Season with more salt and pepper and serve.

Key Lime Pie

This is always a crowd pleaser and people can’t believe it’s made without sugar (Equal is the sweetener here). This is a perfect and refreshing end to a meal.

Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie

8 servings
150 calories per serving

1 low fat prepared graham cracker crust
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1 ¾ c skim milk
8 oz. low fat cream cheese, at room temperature
12 packets Equal
½ c fresh lime juice
Green food coloring (optional)
Lime slices (optional for garnish)

Sprinkle gelatin over ½ c milk in small pan and let stand 3 minutes then cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved. Beat cream cheese until fluffy and then beat in res of the milk and the gelatin mix. Then mix in the juice and 12 packets of Equal. Add a couple of drops of green food coloring if you wish. The pie will be very thin and runny but will firm up quickly. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

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