Home Fries

If you can resist the urge to stir these, the outsides get so nice and crispy ! Combine that with the soft and fluffy insides and it’s quite a taste treat. The dry mustard gives these an unexpected flavor – very subtle but still noticeable.

Home Fries
Home Fries

6 servings
122 calories per serving

1 T oil
1 ½ lb. small red potatoes cooked and quartered (to cook, boil in unsalted water 15 minutes or until tender)
2 medium shallots, chopped
1 t paprika
½ t parsley flakes
½ t dry mustard
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper

In a large skillet heat oil on medium high heat. Add potatoes and cook on one side 3-4 minutes. Resist the urge to stir 🙂 If you let them sit, they will get a nice brown ‘skin’ and taste so much better ! Turn potatoes, add shallots and cook another 4 minutes or so. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Saute 1-2 minutes or until potatoes are completely done.

Mocha Bundt

This is a very dense cake – almost more like a brownie consistency. But no matter the consistency – it’s CHOCOLATE ! Served with a nice spritz of whipped cream, it hit the spot.

Mocha Bundt
Mocha Bundt

16 servings
250 calories per serving

3 1/2 c cake flour
2/3 c cocoa powder
3 T dry milk powder
1 3/4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
7 T margarine, softened
3/4 c Splenda
1/3 c Splenda brown sugar blend
3 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 c low fat buttermilk
3/4 c strong brewed coffee
Pam
Whipped Cream for garnish

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with Pam. Sift flour, cocoa, milk, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl beat margarine and both sugars until mixed and then beat in eggs and egg whites one at a time beating 1 minute after each egg. Combine buttermilk and coffee in a cup. Beat 1/3 if the flour mix into the margarine mix on low speed and then beat in half of the coffee mix and continue beating until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat and then pour batter into pan and smooth the top. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes and then on a wire rack until completely cool. Serve with whipped cream.

Cold Antipasto

This is a nice change from having a regular salad next to your meal – I sometimes put it out as an appetizer or even add a few breadsticks and make a lunch of it 🙂 By cooking the veggies and leaving them in the ‘brine’ you get a giardiniera flavor, though not as strong since it sits for just a few hours before serving.

Cold Antipasto
Cold Antipasto

4 servings
149 calories per serving

1 c vegetable broth
½ c dry white wine
½ t oregano flakes
¼ t crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb. carrots, sliced on the diagonal
2 c cauliflower florets
¼ lb. green beans, sliced in half on the diagonal
½ c pickled pepperoncini peppers
¼ c white vinegar
1 t oil
½ t salt
½ c cubed mozzarella cheese (part skim)

In a large skillet bring the broth, wine, oregano and red pepper flakes to a simmer and then add the carrots. Cover and cook 6 minutes. Add the cauliflower and beans and return to simmer and cook 8 minutes more. Put the veggies and liquid in a bowl and stir in the pepperoncini, vinegar, oil and salt. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Just before serving, plate the veggies along with the cheese.

Parmesan Chicken

Quick and simple to do, yet a really flavorful way to serve chicken. Serve with a salad and a small baked potato for a great meal.

Parmesan Chicken
Parmesan Chicken


4 servings
206 calories per serving

1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1/2 t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
4 b/s breasts – Perdue Perfect Portion 5 oz each (150 calories each)

Mix cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Moisten chicken with water and place in baking dish. Sprinkle cheese mix evenly across chicken. Broil 6-8 minutes. Let sit a few minutes before serving.

Zucchini Pizzas

These were just fabulous ! The big cheese flavor makes you forget that you have a zucchini under there instead of a crust. And using tomato paste instead of sauce really makes for a rich flavor. You get a whole zucchini’s worth for just 90 calories !!

Zucchini Pizzas
Zucchini Pizzas

36 pizzas
90 calories per serving (1 serving = 12 pieces)

3 medium zucchinis each sliced into 12 pieces
6 oz. can tomato paste
36 thin slices 1 inch square part skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 c parmesan cheese
Mixed Italian herbs (oregano, basil, parsley)

Preheat broiler. Parboil zucchini slices 1-2 minutes and then drain on paper towels. Place on a baking sheet and top each piece with 1 t tomato paste and one slice cheese. Then top with ½ t parmesan and herbs. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing

A classic combination with just a little twist – the apples in the stuffing add a bit more overall crunch to the dish making this a definite keeper recipe. Make sure you use pork chops that are on the thicker side so they don’t dry out.

Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing
Pork Chops with Apple Stuffing

6 servings
370 calories per serving

6 boneless pork chops (about 4 oz. each)
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
1 T oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and coarsely chopped
14.5 oz. chicken broth
1 can low fat cream of celery soup
¼ c white cooking wine
6 c herb seasoned stuffing cubes
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 13×9 baking dish with Pam. Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper and cook in oil in a heated skillet. Brown pork about 3 minutes per side and remove from pan. Add onion and celery to skillet and cook 3 minutes. Add apples and cook another minute. Add broth, soup and wine and stir well then bring to a simmer and remove from heat and stir in stuffing cubes. Pour stuffing into baking dish and then place pork chops on top. Cover tightly with foil and bake 40 minutes or until pork is done.

Stuffed Shells Florentine

Wow – this is a great filling meal for only 220 calories and if you have a low cal side dish, you can up the amount of shells you eat and still stay under 400 calories. The mushrooms and spinach really bulk up the meal and you feel like you are cheating, but you’re not 🙂

Stuffed Shells Florentine
Stuffed Shells Florentine

8 servings
220 calories per serving

1 c coarsely chopped mushrooms
½ c chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ t parsley flakes
¼ t pepper
¼ t salt
16 oz. fat free cottage cheese
10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
½ c Egg Beaters
24 jumbo shells
15 oz. marinara sauce
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Saute mushrooms, garlic, onion, and seasonings in a skillet sprayed with Pam. Remove from heat and stir in cottage cheese, spinach and eggs. Spoon the mix into the shells. Spread ½ c of sauce into the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish and place the shells in the dish. Top with the rest of the sauce and bake 35-40 minutes. You can make these well ahead and keep refrigerated and then just slip into the oven 40 minutes before it’s time to eat – that makes it a great convenient meal and a great one for entertaining.

Couscous Salad

I usually have couscous heated but this salad is served cooled or chilled and it is a new and different flavor experience. Couscous is just a tiny pasta, almost like pastina. And you can find it boxed and usually in with the rices and rice mixes at your grocery store. Give it a try for something different !

(I just noticed that with all my couscous recipes, I photograph it in the same dish…what’s with that? hehehe I guess it’s THE couscous star.)

Couscous Salad
Couscous Salad

4 servings
131 calories per serving

1/2 c whole wheat couscous
1/2 c boiling water
1 c canned diced tomatoes
1/2 c diced English cucumber
1 T fresh oregano, chopped
1 T fresh parsley, chopped
1 T fresh basil, chopped
2 T red wine vinegar
4 t extra virgin olive oil
1/4 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground pepper

Combine couscous and water in large mixing bowl and let sit until water is absorbed. Mix together vinegar, salt and pepper and oil. When couscous is cool, fluff with a fork and add the remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Serve as is or chill for a bit before serving.

Elvis’ French Toast

French toast with a peanut butter and jam filling – yummy ! You only get ½ of the sandwich for 236 calories, but this is a filling, sweet, satisfying dish and even at half a sandwich, you and your taste buds will be happy 🙂

Elvis' French Toast
Elvis' French Toast

6 servings
236 calories per serving

¼ c preserves
6 slices whole wheat bread
¼ c creamy peanut butter
½ c Egg Beaters
¼ c skim milk
Pam
1 large banana, sliced
1 T honey
1 T orange juice
1 T dry roasted peanuts, chopped

Spread preserves over 3 bread slices and peanut butter over the other 3 slices and make sandwiches. Cut the sandwiches diagonally and dip in a mix of milk and eggs. Spray skillet with Pam and on medium high heat cook the sandwiches 2 minutes or so per side. Combine banana slices, honey, juice and peanuts. Plate sandwiches and top with the banana mixture.

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