Category Archives: Sides

Cheesy Stuffed Potatoes

November 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Whether you serve these as a dinner side, a snack or an appetizer, you’ll be in love. Cheese and potatoes are just meant to go together !

16 servings
142 calories per serving (1 serving = ½ potato)

3 1/4 pounds russet potatoes (equaling roughly 8 potatoes)
1 c milk
1/3 c light sour cream
1/4 c low fat buttermilk
1 c shredded fontina or swiss cheese
1/4 c finely chopped chives (or 1 t dried chives)
2 T butter
Salt and pepper to taste
6 T grated parmesan cheese
paprika

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Clean potatoes and pierce them then bake one hour or until tender. Let cool a bit and then cut in half lengthwise and scoop out most of the flesh leaving a shell and about ¼ inch of potato on it. Preheat your broiler at this point. Mix the scooped out flesh with milk, sour cream, buttermilk, salt and pepper then stir in the fontina, chives and butter and place potatoes on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with parm and paprika. Broil 3-5 minutes or until cheese is all melted.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Sides

Orzo Primavera

November 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a great recipe. It has my favorite pasta, orzo ! Plus is has lotsa healthy veggies and a simple parmesan sauce. I could eat this every day !!

8 servings
120 calories per serving

14.5 oz. can chicken broth
1/3 c water
1 c orzo
2 1/2 c fresh vegetables, diced very small (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, celery, green onions, red peppers )
1/3 c grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring broth and water to a boil then stir in orzo and cover and cook 7 minutes. Add in veggies and cook another 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in cheese, salt and pepper.

Dinner, Mexican, Sides

Sofrito Beans

November 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Sofrito is filled with just incredible spices – when you add that and bacon to beans, there is nothing better ! The creamy texture of the beans mixed with the spicy sofrito is just perfect.

8 servings
290 calories per serving

2 c canned black beans, rinsed and drained
6 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 c sofrito sauce (In the Mexican section at your grocer)

Cook bacon then add beans along with sofrito and cook 15 minutes.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Coconut Corn

October 31, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This creamy corn dish has a sweet, mild flavor – one the whole family will enjoy. Though the ingredients sounds very Thai inspired, the flavors are mild and you can pair this with anything.

4 servings
148 calories per serving

2 c frozen corn, thawed
1 c lite coconut milk
1/4 t salt
2 T chopped cilantro
1 T lime juice
½ t red pepper flakes

Mix corn, milk and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until milk has mostly evaporated. Stir in cilantro, lime and red pepper.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Veggies and Noodles

October 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Cooking the garlic in the dressing gives this dish a great flavor, so full of garlic, but the flavor is not biting, it is mellow and perfect.

4 servings
105 calories per serving

2 large zucchini
2 large carrots, peeled
1 c egg noodles
1/4 cup light Italian dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel zucchini and carrots into long ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Cook noodles according to package instructions and add veggie ribbons to the boiling water the last minute. Drain and return to pot.

Saute garlic and dressing 2 minutes and then pour over the noodles and veggies and sauté 2 minutes to heat through. Add salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Lemon Cauliflower

October 29, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is so lemony and so refreshing – a perfect cauliflower dish !

6 servings
82 calories per serving

1 large head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets
2 lemons
2 T oil
2 T chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Steam cauliflower 4-6 minutes. Remove skin from a lemon and then cut out the segments without any membrane
(LINK FROM CITURS SALAD)./ Make sure you work over a bowl so you catch all the juice. Then squeeze the leftover membranes into the bowl to get out all the remaining juice. Chop the segments and add to the juice. Add oil, basil, salt and pepper. Stir in steamed cauliflower and serve.

Dinner, Sides

Grilled Mushrooms with Couscous

October 18, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Savory with just a bit of sweet from the dried cranberries. An earthy dish that is a great vegetarian main dish or a perfect side to a fish or chicken dinner.

4 servings
208 calories per serving

4 whole Portobello mushrooms
4 T white balsamic vinegar
Pam
½ c chicken or vegetable broth
½ c water
¼ t turmeric
2/3 c couscous
¼ c dried cranberries
½ t lemon zest
¼ t salt
1 t oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. chopped fresh spinach
2 T water
1 T margarine
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped

Cut 4 slits in the top of each mushroom about 2 inches long and ½ inch deep. Remove stems and place top facing up in a baking dish. Sprinkle with half the vinegar and spray with Pam. Turn the mushrooms over and sprinkle with the rest of the vinegar. Spray again with Pam. Cover dish with plastic wrap and set aside. Combine broth, water and turmeric in a small pan. Bring to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Stir in the couscous, cranberries, lemon and salt. Remove from heat and cover and let stand 5 minutes or until ready to serve the dish. Heat another saucepan and add oil and then sauté garlic for one minute. Add the greens and 2 T water and cook 3 minutes. Add the margarine and stir in for 30 seconds. Remove from pan and keep warm. Cook mushrooms 3 minutes each side and place stem side up on a serving plate. Spoon the couscous mix on the top and then top with the greens. Sprinkle with bell pepper and serve immediately.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Jalapeno Tomatoes

October 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Spicy and savory side dish that is perfect next to Mexican inspired meals. The cumin really makes this a different tasting salad.

8 servings
58 calories per serving

4 c halved cherry or grape tomatoes (plus any other sliced garden tomatoes you have)
1/3 c sliced scallions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and sliced thinly
1/3 c white balsamic vinegar
1 T brown sugar
1 T oil
2 t minced ginger
1 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the tomatoes, scallions, garlic and jalapeno. Mix the rest of the ingredients to make a dressing then pour over the tomatoes and chill for at least 1 hour.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Zucchini Fries

October 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Though in a typical aioli the mayo is made from scratch by whipping the eggs, you can make a quick version with low fat mayo, garlic and lemon zest and you’ll be in dipping heaven. The zucchini fries are perfect with the sauce. Try serving next to a chicken or turkey burger for a saintly version of a burger and fries.

8 servings
108 calories per serving

1 lb. zucchini (about 3)
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 pack Shake and Bake
1 egg
1/2 c low fat mayo
1 t lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pam

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Cut zucchini into ¼ inch ‘french fries’. Mix cheese with Shake and bake and place in a zip loc bag. Whisk egg and toss with zucchini then drain off any excess egg and working in batches place zucchini in zip loc and shake to coat. Spread zucchini on baking sheet and cook 12-13 minutes turning half way through.

Mix mayo, lemon and garlic and serve as a dipping sauce.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Company Casserole

October 5, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is just what it’s called…a great company casserole. It is easy to prep, all the prep is done way ahead, and the result is a creamy, tasty vegetable side dish that disappears very quickly !

7 servings
178 calories per serving

1 can low fat cream of celery soup
1 c low fat sour cream
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ c finely chopped onion
9 oz. frozen cut green beans, thawed
6 oz. frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 c frozen corn, thawed
¼ c crushed low fat Ritz crackers
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion then stir in the veggies and place in a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cover and bake 25 minutes. Then uncover, sprinkle crumbs around edges and spritz the crumbs with the ICBINB spray. Bake another 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.