So filling, so homey – this one comes out a bit wetter than a stew, but is not quite in the realm of a soup. It’s a great cold weather meal that really sticks with you.

Chicken and Barley Stew

4 servings
356 calories

1 c uncooked quick cooking barley
42 oz. fat-free chicken broth
1 T oil
1 3/4 c chopped onion
10 oz. frozen mixed vegetables
1 c chopped cooked chicken (Perdue Shortcuts work great here !)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 t thyme flakes

Place barley and broth in a large pan and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Heat oil in a skillet and add onion. Saute for 5 minutes then add mixed veggies and sauté another 2 minutes. Add veggies to barley mix along with chicken and spices and simmer 5 minutes.

Ham, alfredo sauce, pasta. They just go together so well. Add in some cheese and sun dried tomatos and you have a smash hit that the whole family will love.

Rotini with Ham

6 servings
289 calories per serving

8 oz. rotini FiberGourmet pasta
16 oz. jar low fat Alfredo Sauce
19 oz. can asparagus spears cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 c sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), rehydrated in warm water
1 c diced cooked ham
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and Swiss)
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat alfredo sauce then stir in pasta, asparagus,. sun dried tomatoes and ham. Stir in half the cheese and turn all into the baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake another 5 minutes.

Watching your diet does not mean you can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day ! With sensible portions, you too can be eating corned beef and cabbage and reciting Irish tales and blessings

I personally do not like corned beef very much and never cook it (thank goodness our dear friend makes it for my husband) – - so you won’t see a picture or recipe creation here. But I wanted to lay it out for you calorie wise…

3 oz. of boiled corned beef is 180 calories
4 oz. of boiled corned beef is 240 calories
Cabbage is so low in calories it is silly – 1/2 c boiled cabbage is 17 calories
1/2 c of boiled potatoes is 68 calories
1 c of boiled potatoes is 136 calories

If I were going to eat this, I would do the lower meat and higher potato count because I am a verified carb hound So my meal would come in at 350 calories for:

3 oz. corned beef
1 c boiled cabbage
1 c boiled potatoes

But you can flip it and do more meat and less sides if you wish ! The recipes for this are pretty simple – throw the stuff in water with the seasoning packet that comes with the meat and boil like heck Here are links to a few recipes to help you judge timing:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage-I/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage-3/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage-II/Detail.aspx

AN IRISH BLESSING

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

What’s not to like in a dinner or chicken, mushrooms, shallots and herbs?! This is a great meal and if you have leftovers, cut up the chicken and place in broth with the mushrooms and shallots – you end up with a great soup !

Mushroom Herb Chicken

4 servings
226 calories per serving

4 6 ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts (if not very thin cutlets, pound them down)
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
Pam
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1/3 c dry sherry or chicken broth
1 t marjoram flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Cook chicken 6-7 minutes per side or until browned. Remove chicken and spray with Pam again. Add shallots and cook 3 minutes adding a tablespoon full of hot water if they start to dry out. Add mushrooms, sherry and marjoram, then add back chicken and cook until chicken is fully cooked.

Fruit salad with a kiss of lime and honey. This is a great fruit combination – the sweet mango, crunchy jicama, tart pomegranate and citrus are a perfect taste treat. So very healthy, make a batch and eat off it for a few days !

Winter Fruit Salad

8 serving
118 calories per serving

1/2 c pomegranate seeds (about 1 pomegranate)
1/2 c julienned jicama (if you do not have this substitute apple)
2 medium ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into thin slices
2 tangerines or clementines, peeled and sectioned
2 blood oranges, peeled and sectioned (sub red grapefruit or navel oranges if you cannot find blood oranges)
1 pear, thinly sliced
2 T fresh lime juice
2 T honey
1/4 t ground red pepper
1/8 t coarse sea salt

Mix the fruits and toss gently. Combine honey, lime, salt and pepper and pour over fruit. Serve room temperature or chilled.

The creamy, decadent topping is what makes this pie super special. This one is just a little sweet and a lot yummy

Sweet Potato Pie Deluxe

12 servings
287 calories per serving

1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/3 c skim milk
145 oz can fat free sweetened condensed milk, divided
3 T brown sugar
2 T butter, melted
3/4 t ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
2 eggs
1 frozen pie crust bottom, thawed (or you can use refrigerated dough)
1/2 c low fat cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap potatoes in foil and bake 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until very tender (you can also jump start these by piercing and microwaving for 5 minutes). Let cool a bit and then scoop out flash and mash. Add milk, 1/4 c condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, 1/2 t cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Mix well then add eggs 1 at a time. Pour into thawed pie crust and bake 45 minutes or until set. Mix the rest of the cinnamon with the cream cheese and beat with a mixer then add 1/2 c plus 2T of the condensed milk and beat on medium. Pour over the pie and let stand 15 minutes then serve.

These are more delicious than regular stuffed peppers – the cream sauce mixes in with the meat and rice so beautifully – every ounce is coated and it makes for a super creamy taste sensation.

Inside Out Stuffed Peppers

6 servings
311 calories per person

1 lb. lean ground turkey
2 green peppers, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 c cooked brown rice or even use a chicken or beef flavored rice mix for extra flavor
16 oz. jarred marinara sauce
1 c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 c cream cheese cooking creme (I used Philadelphia tomato and basil flavor)
1/4 c chopped basil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown meat, peppers, salt and pepper in a large skillet. Add in garlic during the last minute of cooking. Drain and add rice, sauce, 1/2 c mozzarella and cream cheese. Mix well and spoon into a 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 c mozzarella and bake 25 minutes.

This tastes much like the spinach dip you often find in a hollowed out bread bowl – but this one adds many more veggies and is a much healthier and lower cal option.

Spinach and Ranch Snack

18 servings
170 calories per serving (2 T dip and 15-17 crackers)

1 c low fat sour cream
¼ c light ranch dressing
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 shredded carrot
½ c finely chopped yellow bell peppers
Wheat Thins or Triscuits

Mix sour cream and dressing then stir in veggies.

The colors are so vibrant that you can taste this dish with your eyes ! And the flavor was just tremendous !!! I served it with a little brown rice right in the broth and it was a meal that we are still talking about. You definitely have to try this one.

Poached Fish in Asian Broth

4 servings
203 calories per serving

Broth:
3 c chicken broth
2 T sherry or white wine
2 T soy sauce
2 slices lemon
3 thin slices peeled ginger root
¼ t cayenne

Fish:
1 lb. orange roughy or other thick mild fish fillets
Extra water if necessary
6 green onions (green part only) in thin slices
1 medium red bell pepper in thin slices
1 rib celery cut in ¼ inch pieces
½ t sesame oil
1 carrot, grated
Fresh pepper to taste

In a large non aluminum skillet bring broth ingredients to a boil over high heat. Rinse and dry fish. Reduce heat and place fish in broth. Add water if needed to cover the fish all the way. Simmer for 10 minutes per inch of fish thickness or until fish is done. Remove fish with slotted spoon and place into 4 soup bowls. Boil liquid and add green onions, peppers and celery and cook 3 minutes. Remove and discard lemon and ginger. Take vegetables and place over fish. Stir oil into broth and then pour into bowls. Sprinkle carrot over bowls and season with pepper.

Brie is just meant to go with fruit – the sweet fruit and the oaky brie just go so well together. This makes a great appetizer, breakfast, lunch or dessert. The melted brie is just divine !

Fruit and Cheese Quesadillas

6 servings
177 calories per serving

2 T honey
2 t lime juice
½ t grated lime rind

1 c peaches, peeled and sliced thinly
1 ½ Splenda brown sugar blend
3 oz. Brie, thinly sliced
6 6 inch fat free flour tortillas (80 calories each)
Pam

Stir together honey, juice and zest. Mix peaches and sugar and divide evenly into each tortilla. Add ½ oz. cheese to each. Fold over and place in a hot pan sprayed with Pam. Cook 2 minutes then flip over and cook another 2 minutes.