This tangy, savory dressing really hits the spot over field greens. And you’re certainly not going to find a bottled dressing weighing it at only 18 calories per tablespoon. So whip some up and pour it on…thick !

Homemade French Dressing

Makes 1 ¼ c
18 calories per T

¾ c water
2 t cornstarch
¼ c lemon juice
¼ c ketchup
2 T oil
1 t Worcestershire sauce
¾ t salt
¼ t paprika
¼ t pepper
¼ t dry mustard
¼ t Equal or Splenda

Mix water and cornstarch in a pan and bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat and cook 5 minutes or until thick and clear. Remove from heat and let cool. When cool add the rest of the ingredients and beat until smooth. Cover and refrigerate. Shake well before using.

Stir fry is a nice way to add a veggie side dish without it being a green salad or just a can of veggies opened up and heated. They don’t take much time (especially if you buy pre-chopped veggies at your supermarket). And I like that you can throw in just about anything and easily change it up – try adding some baby corn, or water chestnuts or bean sprouts (all available in the canned in the Asian section of your market) and you have a whole new dish – the same sauce still works !

Veggie Stir Fry

4 servings
34 calories per serving

¼ c chicken broth
1 T orange juice
1 T soy sauce
1 ½ t cornstarch
1 ½ t grated ginger root
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 ½ c small cauliflower florets
1 c julienned carrots
1 c zucchini, halved and thinly sliced
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
2 t chili garlic sauce (available in the Asian section of your market)
Pam

Stir broth, juice, soy and starch together and set aside. Spray a large skillet with Pam and heat on medium high – then add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds or so. Then add cauliflower and cook 2 minutes. Then add carrots and cook another 2, then add zucchini and cook 2 more. Stir in the broth mix and bring to a simmer then cover, add the chili garlic sauce and cook 1 minute or until the sauce is thick and turns glossy.

This is great served with sliced up veggies or pita chips. It has a nice mellow flavor and makes a great snack or appetizer.

White Bean and Garlic Dip

10 cloves garlic
1 19 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 T low fat sour cream
2 T lemon juice
2 t sesame oil
½ t ground coriander
¼ t salt
¼ c chopped parsley
1 t paprika

In a small pot of boiling water cook the garlic for 3 minutes. Drain and reserve 2 T of the cooking liquid. Peel the garlic and in a food processor mix the garlic, reserved cooking liquid and beans and mix until you have a smooth puree. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, oil, coriander and salt and process to blend. Serve sprinkled with parsley and paprika.

You can use the popsicle ‘molds’ you get at the store, or even more fun is placing the mix in Dixie cups, adding a stick, and then peeling away the cup just before serving. Simple, simple to do and a very tasty evening treat. At only 82 calories per creamy pudding pop, I might just have one every night

Bananasicles

7 servings
82 calories per serving

3.4 oz. package of instant banana pudding mix
2 c skim milk
1 banana cut into small pieces
7 T sugar free chocolate syrup (the type you use to make chocolate milk)

Place 1 T of chocolate syrup into the bottom of each cup. Combine pudding and milk until thick then stir in banana pieces and divide mix into 3 oz. paper cups. Cover with foil and poke through popsicle sticks and freeze 3 hours. Peel away cup to serve.

The curry sauce in this dish is just perfect – very creamy and just enough of it. This makes a great professional tasting dinner and does not take long at all to put together.

Curried Shrimp and Broccoli

4 servings
290 calories per serving

1 c uncooked brown rice
1 c water
1 t oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 c small broccoli florets
½ c fat free chicken broth
3 t curry powder
1 c fat free evaporated milk
1 T cornstarch
½ t salt
4 t lime juice
¾ lb. cleaned and shelled shrimp
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook rice in water according to package instructions. Heat oil in skillet and add garlic and cook 30 seconds then add broccoli, broth and curry and heat until simmering. Cover and continue cooking 8 minutes or until broccoli is starting to get tender. Mix milk, starch and salt and add to skillet. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in lime juice and shrimp and cook until shrimp is done and all is heated through. Add salt and pepper.

Another installment of stuffed mushrooms ! The pesto flavor really comes through and makes these a success story. Much easier than chopping stems and cooking sausage…these come together very quickly and are a great appetizer, snack, or side dish.

Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms

12 servings
50 calories per serving (1 serving = 2 mushrooms)

24 baby portobello mushrooms
1/3 c part skim ricotta cheese
3 T pesto (available in the refrigerator section of your local market)
2 t whole wheat flour
2 T grated romano or parmesan cheese
1 T breadcrumbs
Pam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Remove the stems from the mushrooms and place the mushroom caps on the baking sheet with the stem side facing up. Mix the ricotta, pesto and flour. Spoon the mix evenly into the mushroom caps and press down. Combine the parmesan and breadcrumbs and sprinkle on top of the mushrooms. Press down lightly. Bake 15-20 minutes or until browned.

This Indian condiment / sauce is great served next to any spicy dish. It will remind you of tzatziki because of the cucumber and yogurt, but the similarity ends there with a whole different flavor combination from the green peppers and cilantro. This is so refreshing and at 23 calories per serving, you can serve it next to just about anything.

Cucumber Raita

7 ¼ c servings
23 calories per serving

8 oz. plain low fat yogurt
2 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped or grated
¼ c finely chopped green bell pepper
2 T finely chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
¼ t ground cumin
Black pepper
¼ t salt

Whisk yogurt and add all the rest of the ingredients other than the pepper. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled. Sprinkle with pepper just before serving.

Though the dressing is a simple vinegar and oil mix, this salad does not lack in flavor. The egg yolks and tomatoes give this most of its flavor. Try making a nice big serving dish instead of placing on individual bowls – it makes a pretty centerpiece to a party table

Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad

4 servings
190 calories per serving

4 large eggs, hardboiled and sliced
½ c balsamic vinegar
4 t oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ head lettuce separated into leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Set on medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover and keep at a low boil 2 minutes. Shut heat, but leave eggs in pan and covered for 13 more minutes. Then rinse eggs under cold water. Refrigerate eggs for ½ hour as they will peel easier this way. Combine oil and vinegar. Place the lettuce leaves down and then add the tomatoes and cucumbers to the plates. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then pour over the dressing. Finally place the egg slices on top of each plate.

These steaks are just DELICIOUS! I had my doubts of how the pesto and parmesan flavors would go with steak, but this was just great. It was a mild yet super flavorful addition to the steak and added back a lot of moisture that grilling can deplete. Serve with a quick salad such as Tomato, Cucumber and Egg salad for a great BBQ meal.

Pesto Stuffed Steaks

6 servings
284 calories per serving

2 beef rib eye steaks, about 1 ½ inches thick (2 pounds)
¼ c pesto sauce
2 T shredded parmesan cheese
1 T oil

Heat the grill. Make a horizontal slit in each steak to form a pocket and stuff with pesto and cheese and then press closed. Drizzle with oil and then grill 7 minutes each side or to desired doneness. Cut into thin strips before serving.

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