Spicy and savory side dish that is perfect next to Mexican inspired meals. The cumin really makes this a different tasting salad.
Jalapeno Tomatoes
8 servings
58 calories per serving
4 c halved cherry or grape tomatoes (plus any other sliced garden tomatoes you have)
1/3 c sliced scallions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and sliced thinly
1/3 c white balsamic vinegar
1 T brown sugar
1 T oil
2 t minced ginger
1 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix the tomatoes, scallions, garlic and jalapeno. Mix the rest of the ingredients to make a dressing then pour over the tomatoes and chill for at least 1 hour.
Though in a typical aioli the mayo is made from scratch by whipping the eggs, you can make a quick version with low fat mayo, garlic and lemon zest and you’ll be in dipping heaven. The zucchini fries are perfect with the sauce. Try serving next to a chicken or turkey burger for a saintly version of a burger and fries.
Zucchini Fries
8 servings
108 calories per serving
1 lb. zucchini (about 3)
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 pack Shake and Bake
1 egg
1/2 c low fat mayo
1 t lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pam
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Cut zucchini into ¼ inch ‘french fries’. Mix cheese with Shake and bake and place in a zip loc bag. Whisk egg and toss with zucchini then drain off any excess egg and working in batches place zucchini in zip loc and shake to coat. Spread zucchini on baking sheet and cook 12-13 minutes turning half way through.
Mix mayo, lemon and garlic and serve as a dipping sauce.
Super good – this stacks up to any taco you find out there and the kids love to make these. These tacos really hit the spot.
Soft Chicken Tacos
10 servings
249 calories per serving
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite sized cubes
1t red vinegar
Juice of one half a lime
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t oregano flakes
10 6 inch flour tortillas
1 tomato, diced
1/4 c shredded lettuce
1/4 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 c salsa
Pam
1 avocado, sliced
Spray a skillet with Pam and cook chicken 6-7 minutes or until done. Mix in vinegar, juice, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano and simmer 5 minutes. Heat tortillas half a minute in microwave. Put chicken mix in tacos and top with cheese, tomato, lettuce and salsa. Top with 2 slices of avocado per taco.
I love simply sautéed chicken – it needs nothing more than garlic powder, salt and pepper to have a great flavor. But then you take some honey roasted tomatoes and add them to the top for extra flair – – and you end up with a dish that is bright and fresh.
Balsamic Chicken
4 servings
238 calories per serving
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 T honey
1 1/2 t oil
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
6 oz. boneless skinless chicken tenders (or very thin cutlets)
1/2 t pepper
Pam
2 t white balsamic vinegar
Preheat oven to 450. Mix tomatoes, honey and oil and then spread on a baking sheet and bake 12 minutes. When done, set aside. Mean while, sprinkle chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper and sauté in a heated pan spray with Pam. Cool 4-5 minutes each side or until done. Remove from pan and brush with vinegar. Place on a platter and cover with tomatoes. Serve immediately.
Festive, fruity, summery and a great drink for entertaining.
Sparky Sangria
10 servings
155 calories per serving
1 c cherries, sliced off the pit or pitted and sliced
1 c blueberries
1 c raspberries
1 c strawberries, sliced
1 nectarine, chopped
2 c apricot nectar
750 ml bottle white or red wine
2 c lemon lime seltzer
Add fruit to nectar and chill an hour or more. Add wine and seltzer just before serving.
My blog and this post won an award 🙂 One of the top 70 food blogs at eCollegeFinder !
Having a snack attack? Lotsa students are out there burning the midnight oil cramming and writing papers – this post is dedicated to them ! 🙂
Late night snacking can kill your diet if you’re eating tons of processed, high cal and high fat foods. Here are some great ideas that are easy to prepare, full of flavor and much better options.
Microwave Chips
Oh so much better for you than the bagged version Microwave Chips
These are a great quick appetizer but they also make a great lunch ! Add in any herbs you like to the cream cheese.
Appetizer Rolls
1 serving
43 calories per serving
2 slices turkey lunchmeat (thin sliced, lean – Hillshire Farms prepackaged lean meats are great)
2 slices lean ham lunchmeat (thin sliced, lean – Hillshire Farms prepackaged lean meats are great)
2 t non fat cream cheese
Chopped herbs (basil, parsley, dill)
Add herbs to cream cheese and spread on ham slices. Top each ham slice with a turkey slice. Roll up like a jelly roll and slice into pinwheels . Refrigerate up to 3 hours or serve immediately.
Pork with a great crunchy coating, plus a side salad with a surprisingly good dressing !
Pork and Greens
6 servings
342 calories per serving
1/4 c green salsa (salsa verde)
1 T yellow mustard
1/3 c low fat mayo
2 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 lb. boneless pork chops (¼ inch thick)
35 Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers, finely crushed
2 T oil, divided
7 oz. Spring Mix (or your favorite mixed leafy greens)
Mix together salsa, mustard and 1 T may0 and set aside – this is the salad dressing. Mix garlic and mayo and coat pork (put it on like you are buttering bread) then coat with the crumbs. Heat skillet and add half the oil. Cook half the chops 5 minutes per side or until done. Add the other oil and repeat with the remaining chops. Mix greens and dressing.
This is just what it’s called…a great company casserole. It is easy to prep, all the prep is done way ahead, and the result is a creamy, tasty vegetable side dish that disappears very quickly !
Company Casserole
7 servings
178 calories per serving
1 can low fat cream of celery soup
1 c low fat sour cream
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ c finely chopped onion
9 oz. frozen cut green beans, thawed
6 oz. frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 c frozen corn, thawed
¼ c crushed low fat Ritz crackers
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
Pam
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion then stir in the veggies and place in a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cover and bake 25 minutes. Then uncover, sprinkle crumbs around edges and spritz the crumbs with the ICBINB spray. Bake another 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
This is a great cake that can be left rather plain or you can dress it up with a drizzle of heated apricot jam or some whipped cream. The apricot flavor is so sweet and the brown sugar is so homey – this is a perfect way to jazz up a box cake mix !
Apricot Cake
12 servings
285 calories per serving
1 moist white cake mix (240 calories per serving prepared as directed)
2 16 oz. cans apricot halves, drained
½ c Splenda brown sugar substitute
Pam
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix with water, oil and eggs and prepare as directed. Pour into 2 8×8 squared or 8 inch round baking pans sprayed with Pam. Drop apricots on top rounded side up (they will sink). Sprinkle with Splenda and bake 35-40 minutes. Optionally, squirt with some canned whipped cream.
