Rum Glazed Banana Tarts

These were sure a hit ! Whenever you cook bananas, you bring out the flavor 10 times and this recipe is no exception. The toast makes a perfect vessel to make this a finger food. Try putting some Redi-Wip on top. Next time I may even add a little nutella to the toast – that would make it even better.

Rum Glazed Banana Tarts
Rum Glazed Banana Tarts

4 servings
266 calories per serving

4 large slices wheat bread, crusts removed
2 T butter
2 T light brown sugar
2 T rum
3-4 ripe bananas cut in half and then sliced thinly into long slices

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Flatten bread with a rolling pin to 1/8 inch thick and place on a baking sheet. Melt butter and brush both sides of bread with half the butter and bake until lightly browned, about 4 minutes per side. Reheat the leftover butter and add sugar and bring to a boil then remove from heat and add in rum. Place banana slices on bread overlapping them a little and bake 5 minutes then remove from heat and brush with rum mix.

Hot Chicken and Swiss Sandwich

Sometimes serving a sandwich hot makes it sooooo much more special. This is one of those times. The melted swiss just gives it a whole other dimension.

Hot Chicken and Swiss Sandwich
Hot Chicken and Swiss Sandwich

1 serving
295 calories per serving

1 small club roll
4 slices thin sliced deli chicken breast (Oscar Mayer pre-packaged meats are great)
1 slice low fat swiss cheese
1 t light mayonnaise
1 t mustard
¼ t parsley flakes
¼ t basil flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
½ c spinach leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix mayo and mustard and spread on bread. Add chicken and cheese and sprinkle with the spices. Wrap in foil and bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, add spinach leaves and enjoy !

Gruyere Cauliflower

How completely decadent this is !!! The cheese sauce is just fantastic – I think gruyere and cauliflower were meant to go together. If you don’t like gruyere, swap out the cheese – but makes sure it is a harder cheese (less calories) and one that has a pretty distinct flavor – maybe a nice shaved romano or provolone.

Gruyere Cauliflower
Gruyere Cauliflower

6 servings
151 calories per serving

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
Pam
1/2 t kosher salt, divided
2 t buttery spread
1/3 c panko breadcrumbs
1/2 c shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
1/2 c onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T flour
2 c skim milk
3 T chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with Pam. Top cauliflower with salt and pepper and bake one half hour. Preheat broiler. Melt spread and stir in breadcrumbs then mix in ¼ c of the cheese and set aside.

Heat a pan and spray with Pam. Cook onion 5 minutes adding water if necessary to keep the onion moist. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add flour and cook 1 minute stirring constantly and then gradually add mill whisking constantly. Bring to a boil then lower heat to medium and continue cooking 3 minutes to thicken up the sauce. Remove from heat and still in the rest of the cheese, some salt and pepper, and the parsley. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and broil 3 minutes.

Chocolate Caramel Bars

Fudgy layers of chocolate heaven !! First you have a chocolate chip cookie crust – then you add chocolate covered rice chex and peanuts. And as if that were not enough – you add a layer of caramel chocolate fudge to the top. OH SO GOOD !

Chocolate Caramel Bars
Chocolate Caramel Bars

36 servings
190 calories per serving

1 roll refrigerated chocolate chip cookies (18 oz.)
11 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips
18 oz. caramel apple dip
3 c Rice Chex cereal
1 c chopped peanuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Break up cookie dough and press it into the bottom of an ungreased 13×9 baking dish. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown then cool 15 minutes. In a saucepan heat 1 c chocolate chops and 1 c caramel sauce. On medium heat stir and cook until smooth then remove from heat and stir in cereal and peanuts. Spread the cereal mix over the crust. In the saucepan heat the rest of the chips and caramel and cook until melted. Spread over the cereal mix then refrigerate ½ hour or so then cut into bars.

Asian Soup with Shrimp

Such a great Asian inspired soup ! This makes a great lite lunch and all the veggies and shrimp really fill you up – it’s amazing, but you CAN feel full after just 125 calories !!

Asian Soup with Shrimp
Asian Soup with Shrimp

6 servings
125 calories per serving

6 c fat free chicken broth
1 c water
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
16 oz. package frozen Japanese style vegetable blend
3/4 lb. peeled and cleaned shrimp
1/4 c sweet rice wine or water
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t sesame oil
3 T soy sauce
2 T lemon juice

Bring broth, water and ginger to a boil. Remove ginger and discard. Add veggies, shrimp, rice wine, soy sauce, spices and lemon juice. Cook 6-7 minutes and then add the sesame oil and serve immediately.

Orange Cream

Orangey, creamy, tons of pudding flavor – all for so few calories ! If you want them to come in with even less calories and still have a nice portion, just cut out a few of the orange segments and some of the granola.

Orange Cream
Orange Cream

4 servings
170 calories per serving

1 box (4 servings) sugar free low fat vanilla instant pudding
1 c orange juice
1 c fat free Cool Whip, thawed
2 granola bars, crushed
15 oz. can mandarin oranges

Beat pudding mix and juice with wire whisk 2 minutes. Refrigerate 5 minutes and then fold in Cool Whip. Divide into 4 parfait glasses. This step can be done up to a day ahead of serving. Just before serving top with granola and orange segments.

Homemade Tortilla Chips

These are GREAT ! And at only 91 calories, you’ll be making these all the time. This recipe sprinkles them with chili powder – very nice. But you could just as easily use different spices instead. These went great with the Black Bean Dip recipe I have !

Homemade Tortilla Chips
Homemade Tortilla Chips

48 chips
91 calories per serving (13 chips)

6 corn tortillas
1 c water
Chili powder to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Dip each tortilla in water and then cut into 8 wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with chili powder. Bake 5-8 minutes or until crisp. Cool on wire rack before serving.

Black Bean Dip

OH SO GOOD ! Ditch the canned black bean dips ! This one takes no time to put together and is so fresh tasting. This makes a great appetizer served with homemade tortilla chips.

Black Bean Dip
Black Bean Dip

6 servings
139 calories per serving

15 oz. can of black beans, rinsed and drained
2 c corn
2 green onions, sliced
½ c plain nonfat yogurt
½ t thyme
½ t chili powder
1/2 t cumin
Pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree for 20 seconds or until mixture is smooth. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

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