Monthly Archives: January 2010

Beef, Dinner, Polish

Lazy Man’s Stuffed Cabbage

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I love stuffed cabbage, but it is a major undertaking when you are rolling them all individually. Get the same taste with so much less effort with this great ‘Lazy’ recipe. Here you just make a casserole with layers of all the ingredients and it cuts the prep time down incredibly.

Lazy Man's Stuffed Cabbage
Lazy Man's Stuffed Cabbage

4 servings
394 calories per serving

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 cup uncooked brown minute rice
1 onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 c ketchup in mix and 1/2 c for top of casserole
1 medium head of cabbage, sliced
Couple of drops of smoked flavoring (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t onion powder
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Brown meat and onion in a skillet. Drain well. Cut cabbage into small shreds (not so small as coleslaw cabbage, just smallish slices). Add tomatoes, ketchup, smoked flavor, salt, pepper, onion powder and rice to meat. Simmer 2 minutes. If rice needs more water to soak up, add it (last time I made it, it needed about ½ cup added) . Place a layer of cabbage in a large baking pan sprayed with Pam. Cover with a layer of the meat mix. Repeat with a layer of cabbage. Add extra ketchup to the top layer. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cabbage is tender.

Lunch, Mexican, Sandwiches

Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla

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So easy, so simple. Mexican grilled cheese ! 🙂

Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla
Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla

1 serving
202 calories per serving

1 whole wheat tortilla (80 calorie version)
1/4 c salsa
1/2 c chopped mushrooms
1/4 c fat free shredded cheddar cheese
2 T low fat sour cream

Sprinkle the mushrooms and cheese on half the tortilla. Fold over and place in a heated skillet. Cook 2 min. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Asian, Sides, Vegetables

Homemade Lo Mein

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It is sooooo worth finding these noodles and making this dish. It is authentic, satisfying , soooo low cal considering the big portion you get and it is truly delicious.

Homemade Lo Mein
Homemade Lo Mein

4 servings
212 calories per serving

2 8 oz. packages of House Tofu Shiratake Noodles (available in most food markets and definitely in Asian markets. You’ll find them with the tofu products – SO LOW cal and so noodly!)
4 T olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 T green onions, sliced
1 c celery, sliced thinly
2 c carrots, shredded (buy them pre-shredded to save time)
3 T teriyaki sauce
3 T Kraft Asian Sesame Dressing
Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare noodles according to package instructions (rinse, microwave 1 minute, dry on a paper towel). Cut the noodles into 3 or 4 inch lengths. Using a pair of kitchen scissors makes this task easy. Heat oil in a non stick pan. On medium high, cook garlic, onions, celery and carrots. Cook 5 -7 minutes, until veggies are soft. Stir in noodles and press into a flat layer. Cook 3 minutes on high heat. Add the teriyaki and dressing and mix well. Cook 3-4 minutes longer on medium high heat.

Asian, Dinner, Fish, Kid Friendly

Asian Shrimp

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This sweet shrimp dish is best served with another Asian inspired dish, I choose to pair it with my Homemade Lo Mein. It cooks in just minutes and definitely is kid friendly with the sweet sauce. Just leave out the red pepper flakes if serving to young ones.

Asian Shrimp
Asian Shrimp

4 servings
239 calories per serving

1 T dark sesame oil
2 t minced garlic
4 scallions, sliced
1 lb. medium sized shrimp, peeled and cleaned with tails off
1/4 c water
2 T soy sauce
4 t cornstarch
2 t red pepper flakes
2 t Splenda brown sugar
4 t toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Heat oil on medium high heat. Add garlic and onions and saute for 1 minute. Add shrimp and cool 6 minutes or until shrimp is just about done. While the shrimp cooks, combine water, soy sauce, cornstarch, pepper and sugar. Pour over shrimp in skillet and cook 1-2 minutes or until the sauce thickens up. Remove from heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Lunch, Mexican, Salads

Santa Fe Bean Salad

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This has a lot of flavor and is a great lunch salad. You don’t even realize you’re eating lettuce 🙂 And it even fills up my husband ! If you don’t like black beans, substitute kidney or white beans.

Santa Fe Bean Salad
Santa Fe Bean Salad

4 servings
305 calories per serving

1/3 c salsa
3 T low fat sour cream
1 T cider vinegar
15 oz can black beans, rinsed
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 c corn
1/2 c diced avocado
1/4 c chopped cilantro
6 c chopped romaine
2 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded
24 baked tortilla chips

Stir together salsa, sour cream and vinegar to make sauce. Combine the beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado and cilantro with the sauce. Divide lettuce and place on plates. Top with 1/2 c of the bean mix. Sprinkle with cheese. Place 6 chips around each plate and serve.

Breakfast

Scrambled Eggs with Cheese (and a side of toast)

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This is a great place to mix and match – anything that goes into an omelette can go in here – mushrooms, peppers, onions, ham, etc.

Scrambed Eggs and Cheese
Scrambed Eggs and Cheese

1 serving
205 calories per serving

1/2 c Egg Beaters
1 Laughing Cow light cheese, cut in cubes
Pam
1 piece of 45 calorie bread, toasted
1 T buttery spread

Heat pan on medium heat. Remove from heat and spray with Pam. Return to heat. Add Egg Beaters and scramble lightly. Once eggs are set, add cubes of cheese and fold in until well distributed and eggs are done.

Toast bread and add 1 T buttery spread. Serve immediately.

Italian, Sides, Vegetables

Sauteed Escarole

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This is one of my favorite dishes at Italian restaurants. It may seem like a lot of escarole to start, but it cooks down a TON. My version is the super garlic version – feel free to tone it down by using half the recommended garlic !

Sauteed Escarole
Sauteed Escarole

4 servings
87 calories per serving

2 T olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
8 c cleaned and chopped escarole
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 t garlic powder
OPTIONAL – 1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes

Heat the oil in a large skillet on medium high. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute, stirring constantly so that the garlic does not burn and get bitter. Add escarole a few handfuls at a time and mix every 30 seconds or so making sure all escarole comes in contact with the bottom of the pan so it heats and wilts. Once wilted a bit, add salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Continue cooking 5 minutes or until to desired doneness. You can take it off while there is still some crunch to the larger pieces, or I like to cook it all down quite a bit and serve it very wilted and cooked.

Lunch, Soups

Cuban Black Bean Soup

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Black Beans are a great source of fiber and a great, filling addition to many salads, stews, etc. In this purer form, their earthy flavor really comes out.

Cuban Black Bean Soup
Cuban Black Bean Soup

4 servings
368 calories per serving

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 small red onion
2 garlic cloves
2 T olive oil
1 c water
1/2 c sofrito (jars are sold in the Mexican section of your grocery store – near the Goya products)
2 T cilantro leaves
8 T light sour cream (2T per serving)

Place red onion, garlic and sprigs of cilantro in small food processor and puree. Remove and set aside. Place oil in small sauce pan and heat. Add garlic and onion mix and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Place beans, water, sofrito and 1 T cilanto leaves in blender. Blend on medium speed until desired consistency – I like some big chunks left in mine, so I don’t go too crazy here. Stir into saucepan and heat through. Pour into bowls and top each bowl with 2 T sour cream and serve immediately.

Dinner, Italian, Pasta

Cavatelli with Escarole

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This is one of my absolute favorites and I have made it many times. It’s a great meal to serve for guests as they do not feel like they are on a diet (just give them bigger portions) and you don’t have to break your 400 calorie habit when entertaining !

Cavatelli with Escarole
Cavatelli with Escarole

4 servings
359 calories per serving

8 oz frozen cavatelli
1 1/2 t oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb. escarole
1 can small white beans, drained and rinsed
1 c low fat chicken broth
1/4 t salt
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese

Cook the cavatelli according to package instructions. Drain and keep warm. In a Dutch oven or large pot heat oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and red pepper and cook, stirring frequently, about 1 minute. Clean the escarole, trimming away any bad spots and getting rid of the tough outer leaves and then chop it or tear it into pieces about the same size you would make them for a salad. Add a handful of escarole at a time to the pot stirring until it is all mixed well. Cook 5 minutes. Add the beans and cook 5 or more minutes, or until the escarole is wilted. Add the broth and salt and garlic powder and cook 5 minutes. Add the cavatelli and cook a minute or so, just to heat through pasta. Remove from pan, sprinkle with cheese, and serve immediately.

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