Sometimes you’re just looking for bowl of warmth to fill your belly. I always find that oatmeal is very satisfying and it is very food for you. I think it makes a great snack that will take away the biggest of hunger pangs.

Maple and Nut Oatmeal

1 serving
212 calories for serving

1 packet instant oatmeal
2/3 cup skim milk
1 packet Equal
1 T maple syrup

Mix oatmeal and milk and microwave for 60-90 seconds. When done, stir in equal and maple syrup. Enjoy !

Garnish with some nuts to get your MUFA – 1 T chopped nuts is approximately 85 calories.

These are just scrumptious ! Another one of those snacks then when left unattended, they just seem to disappear A nice healthy alternative for snacking.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls

9 servings
98 calories per serving

5 c popped popcorn
¼ c honey
¼ c creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Put popcorn in a large pan (like a roaster pan) and warm in the oven. In a small pan on medium heat, boil honey 1-2 minutes and then reduce heat and add peanut butter, mixing well. Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn and stir well. Tear off 9 ten inch pieces of wax paper and place a bit more than ½ c of the mix on each sheet then fold the corners up and form the popcorn mix into a ball. Store with the wax paper on the balls at room temperature.

A zesty sandwich perfectly portable and wonderfully good !

Roast Beef and Swiss Sandwich

1 serving
326 calories per serving

1 Arnold Sandwich Thin roll (only 100 calories!)
4 oz. lean deli roast beef, thinly sliced
1 slice low fat swiss cheese
1/3 c spinach leaves
1 slice red onion
½ T horseradish
½ T light mayonnaise

Mix mayo and horseradish and spread on bun then top with meat, cheese, spinach and onion.

This is a great ‘white pasta’ dish – the ricotta, parmesan, spinach and garlic just work so well together. And when you add in the toasted pine nuts, the flavor meter goes off the charts. You definitely have to try this one !!

Penne with Spinach

2 servings
357 calories per serving

4 oz. whole wheat penne pasta (if you use FiberGourmet pasta, the calories drop by 60 calories per serving !)
6 oz. fresh or frozen spinach
½ c part skim ricotta cheese
2 T shredded parmesan cheese
1 t lemon zest
¼ t kosher salt
½ t pepper
2 T toasted pine nuts

Cook pasta according to package instructions adding frozen spinach to the water the last 2 minutes. If using fresh spinach, put spinach in colander and drain pasta over it. Put pasta in bowl with spinach and stir in cheeses, lemon, salt and pepper. Plate and add pine nut garnish.

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Don’t be afraid of pate – if you like liver, you’re going to love this ! This is such a great appetizer dish – people always go crazy for pate ! This one is so simple to prepare and is sooooo tasty. You can make it a day ahead and have it ready to go for a cocktail party.

Chicken Liver Pate

1 cup
79 calories per serving (1 serving = 1 T pate and 2 crackers)

2 slices bacon
8 oz. chicken livers
½ c chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T milk
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
¼ t nutmeg
Crackers or Melba Toast rounds

Cook bacon until crisp and remove from skillet and reserve 2 T drippings. Crumble bacon. Add chicken livers, onion and garlic to reserved drippings and cook 10-15 minutes or until done then cool slightly. Mix livers, bacon, 2 T milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg in processor. Line a mold with plastic wrap and spoon in mixture. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. Unmold onto a plate and serve with crackers.

This recipe packs so much flavor into one dish – the milky sauce mixes just perfectly with the cayenne and onion to create a rich vegetable dish that has you coming back for more.

Spicy Corn and Peppers

6 servings
127 calories per serving

2 T butter
½ c onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
¼ t cayenne pepper
Coarse salt
16 oz. frozen corn
½ c diced tomatoes, drained (canned)
½ c whole milk

Melt butter in a skillet and add onion, pepper, cayenne and 1 t salt. Cook 7-8 minutes or until onion is soft then add the corn and tomatoes and cook 10 minutes. Stir in the milk and then remove from heat and serve.

Simple, versatile dinner that is ready in no time and tastes like a million bucks. You could easily substitute chicken or pork and leftover meats would be great to use here. You can also sub in any frozen veggie mix.

Beef Ramen Bowl

4 servings
255 calories per serving

1 lb. beef sirloin cut into thin strips
2 c water
3 oz. Asian or Beef flavor ramen noodle mix
1 lb. fresh stir fry veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, red peppers)
¼ c soy sauce
Pam

Spray a skillet with Pam and cook beef 5 minutes or until browned then remove from skillet and keep warm. Boil stir in veggies and heat to boiling and continue to cook 4 minutes or until veggies are a bit tender. Stir in seasoning packet and broken up noodles and continue cooking 3 minutes. Finally add soy and then add beef and heat through.

What a perfect flavor ! This can be served on toast points as an appetizer, or you use can use it as an addition or topping to other foods. The flavor is FANTASTIC !

Mushroom Shallot Spread

4 servings
68 calories per serving

1 lb. coarsely chopped mushrooms
6 shallots, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
3 T oil
Salt

Chop the ingredients pretty finely in a food processor to get a nice consistency. Heat oil in a skillet and cook shallots 7 minutes. Add garlic and mushrooms and cook until all the water is released from the mushrooms (about 10 minutes) then season with salt and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the water is dried up and the mushrooms are dry (about another 10 minutes. Spread on toast points, use in scrambled eggs, or soup, serve aside grilled steaks – or even try spreading this on rolls and make mini pizzas (recipe to be posted soon !).

Vanilla ice cream AGAIN? Well – that’s not what you’ll be thinking when you eat this one up ! The crispy, sweet tortillas make a regular dessert a SUPER dessert.

Cinnamon Tortillas and Ice Cream

6 servings
248 calories per serving

2 T sugar
1 ½ t cinnamon
3 8 inch fat free flour tortillas cut into 6 wedges each
1 T butter, melted
1/3 c caramel topping
3 c light vanilla ice cream

Preheat broiler. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Brush butter over both sides of the tortilla wedges and sprinkle with the sugar mix. Broil 1 minute each side.

Microwave caramel topping 45 seconds. Scoop out ice cream and top with caramel sauce. Serve with cinnamon wedges.