Monthly Archives: December 2010

Italian, Lunch, Sandwiches

Italian Combo

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This is a hearty sandwich – lots of meat, a great cheese and a nice filling roll. If you pack it for lunch, just pack the dressing separate and drizzle on last second.

Italian Combo
Italian Combo

1 serving
378 calories per serving

1 club roll (club rolls are small sub/hero rolls)
4 thin slices deli ham (Oscar Mayer pre-packaged meats are great)
15 slices turkey pepperoni
1 slice low fat provolone cheese
Chopped lettuce or a leaf of romaine lettuce
2 thin tomato slices
1 T fat free balsamic vinaigrette

Put all ingredients on roll and drizzle dressing over the top.

Dinner, Mexican

Black Bean Chili

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This is a great quick chili – you can serve it with rice, drop the whole thing in some broth to make a soup, or eat as is with a nice dollop of sour cream on top.

Black Bean Chili
Black Bean Chili

4 servings
253 calories per serving

2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 oz. diced tomatoes
1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
2 t chili powder
1 t oregano flakes
1 t ground cumin
2 15 oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Place onion and garlic in a hot saucepan sprayed with Pam and cover and cook on low 5 minutes stirring occasionally and adding up to 1 couple of tablespoons of water to keep them from scorching. Stir in tomatoes and their juice, peppers, chili powder, oregano and cumin and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to low and simmer 5 minutes then add the beans and simmer another 5 minutes.

Chicken, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Chicken and Dumplings (Crock Pot)

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This recipe confirmed all my earlier suspicions – – I REALLY REALLY don’t like dumplings ! heheheh But I know there are lotsa people out there who do and my husband (who is a bona fide dumpling lover) said these were quite tasty !

Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and Dumplings

8 servings
400 calories per serving

Soup:
4 c cubed cooked chicken (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
6 c fat free chicken broth
1 T parsley, chopped
1 c onion, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
6 c diced potatoes
1 c green beans
1 c carrots, sliced

Dumplings:
1 c white flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 t salt
4 t baking powder
1 egg, beaten
2 T oil
2/3 c skim milk

Combine all soup ingredients in crock. Cover and cook 4-6 hours. Transfer to a large soup pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer. To make the dumplings, mix flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl. In another bowl mix egg, oil and milk and then add to flour mixture. Drop by large tablespoonfuls on top of the simmering broth until the surface is covered. Cover and simmer 18 minutes.

Dinner, Pasta, Product Reviews, Sides

Three Cheese Risotto

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Does making risotto scare you? It scares me ! Especially after watching Hell’s Kitchen with Chef Gordon Ramsay screaming at everyone that they can’t get the risotto right 😉

Queue up “Rocky” music….Plentiful Pantry has come to the rescue – and now you can be a winner whenever you make risotto ! Their Three Cheese Risotto mix could not be any easier to prepare. Just add water, simmer, add cheese and you have PERFECT risotto.

Three Cheese Risotto
Three Cheese Risotto

It’s creamy, elegant, moist, cheesy, and so very flavorful. I think next time I am going to add some sauted mushrooms in for a beautiful Mushroom Risotto. The box makes 6 servings and it comes out to 140 calories per serving.

I don’t know how they do it, but all of their mixes turn out the most fabulous results. They must have some pretty good test kitchen chefs !! Thanks again, Plentiful Pantry – you made another meal a success.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Yummy Burgers

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Just adding some spices to ground beef before grilling it can make SUCH a difference. Don’t think that you need cheese and tons of condiments on a burger for flavor. Instead, try adding some lower cal herbs and spices to the meat and see what great burst of flavor you get !

Yummy Burgers
Yummy Burgers

4 servings
314 calories per serving

¼ c beef broth
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 t chili powder
1 t onion powder
½ t red pepper flakes
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
1 pound lean ground beef
4 burger buns

Combine all the spices with the meat and make 4 patties. Grill burgers 6-8 minutes or until desired doneness. Serve on buns.

Beef, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Cola Pot Roast (Crock Pot)

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The soda really marinates and tenderizes the roast – this has a special flavor, one you’ll find yourself craving ! Pictures of pot roast never do it justice. Believe me, no matter how it looks, you want to make this one because it tastes just great.

12 servings
170 calories per serving

3 lb. beef roast
2 cans low fat cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
32 oz. diet Pepsi or diet Coke

Place meat in crock. Mix together soups and soda and pour over the roast. Cover and cook on high 6 hours.

At the end, put a nice brown on it by broiling for 5 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes, then slice.
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Lunch, Sandwiches, Turkey

Turkey and Brie Sandwich

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The arugula on this sandwich is the perfect pairing to the creamy brie and the sweet apples – it gives it just the right amount of contrast. This is one of my top 10 sandwiches of all times ! Brie+ turkey+apple+arugula=YUMMY !

Turkey and Brie Sandwich
Turkey and Brie Sandwich

2 servings
399 calories per serving

4 slices 45 calorie whole wheat bread
Pam
I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter spray
6 oz. thinly sliced turkey breast (deli meat)
3 oz. brie
¾ c baby arugula
1 apple, sliced
Heat brie in microwave 15 seconds or so to soften it and then spread on 2 pieces of bread. Top with turkey, apples and arugula and finish making the sandwich. Spray a heated pan with Pam. Spray outsides of sandwich with a couple spritzes of butter spray and cook 2-3 minutes per side in a hot skillet or a total of 3-4 minutes in a Panini press.

Holiday Meals

Christmas Meal Recommendations

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The holidays are a time to splurge…especially when it comes to food. But splurging does not necessarily mean going off the deep end 😉 Here is a suggested meal plan that will give you a complete meal for under 1000 calories. Most SINGLE entrees are that high or more in calories – but here I give you a complete meal !! From soup to nuts, you can have soup, an appetizer, a main meal, 2 sides and 2 desserts for only 992 calories ! You just can’t beat that.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

Here are links to the recipes 🙂

Spinach Soup with Wontons
Stuffed Mushrooms

Baked Ham
Anchovy and Bibb Lettuce
Au Gratin Potatoes

Champagne Fruit
Apple Raisin Sour Cream Pie

Chicken, Dinner, Mexican

Sofrito Chicken Stew

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A rich stew with lots of flavor – the dark meat chicken definitely gives this dish extra texture and the olives give it great authenticity. Sofrito is a tomato, pepper, onion and garlic base for many Latin dishes. The mixture of flavors is sooooooo good. Serve with Rice Pilaf for a perfect meal.

Sofrito Chicken Stew
Sofrito Chicken Stew

2 servings
238 calories per serving

2 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts (3 oz. each)
1 T oil
¼ t kosher salt
1/8 t pepper
¼ c diced onions
1 T garlic clove, minced
¼ c diced red bell pepper
¼ c diced yellow bell pepper
¼ c diced green olives
4 T tomato paste
1 c chicken broth
2 T cilantro, chopped

Cut chicken into thin strips. Heat 1 t oil and cook chicken over medium high heat. Season with salt and pepper and continue cooking about 5 minutes, Place on a plate and keep warm. Add rest of oil to pan and sauté onion 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 1 minute. Stir in peppers and olives and cook 1 minute then add chicken back to the pan along with tomato paste and broth. Simmer about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Spicy Gingerbread

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This recipe makes a nice spicy gingerbread packed with tons of classic flavor. Serve it warm or room temperature and enjoy the homey goodness.

Spicy Gingerbread
Spicy Gingerbread

16 servings
184 calories per serving

2 c flour
1 c light molasses
¾ c buttermilk
½ c Splenda
½ c margarine, at room temperature
¼ c Egg Beaters
2 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
½ t ginger
¼ t ground cloves
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat flour, molasses, buttermilk, Splenda, margarine, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves on low speed until moistened then beat at medium speed 3 minutes. Spread batter into a 9 inch pan sprayed with Pam and bake one hour. Cool on wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

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