A very simple and different side dish – feel free to substitute fresh corn kernels.
Corn and Zucchini
4 servings
159 calories per serving
1 can corn
1 T oil
1 medium zucchini
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 c fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 t white vinegar
Heat oil over medium high heat. Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and slice into half moons. Add zucchini and garlic to pan. Cook 1-2 minutes. Add corn and season with salt and pepper. Cook 3 minutes then remove from heat and stir in vinegar and basil.
If you use Perdue Chicken Shortcuts, the prep on this is 5 minutes – that’s it ! And it tastes like you spent hours putting it together – it is a very spicy, super flavorful and highly nutritious meal. Don’t serve to the kids with the chili sauce in it, but if you are adventurous, try 2 t instead of 1 ½ of the chili sauce – -it makes it a kickin’ hot soup 🙂
Asian Chicken Soup
5 servings
120 calories per serving
3 c fat free chicken broth
2 c shredded cooked chicken (Perdue Shortcuts work great here !)
2 t soy sauce
1 1/2 t chili sauce with garlic (available in the Asian section of your food market)
2 1/2 c frozen broccoli stir fry mix
Combine broth, chicken, soy and chili sauce. Cover and bring to a boil and then add vegetables and return to boil. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Another day. Another meatloaf 🙂 There are so many variations and I just have to try them all 🙂 So far my favorite is still Good and Healthy Meatloaf. But this one works too – it does not look so full of veggies, so it might do better with kids 🙂
Mushroom Meatloaf
6 servings
265 calories per serving
8 oz. assorted mushrooms (or all button mushrooms is fine too)
1 T oil
1 t garlic clove, minced
½ c parsley, chopped
½ c pureed diced tomatoes (canned)
8 oz. lean ground beef
8 oz. ground pork
1 c quick oats
½ medium onion
¼ c Egg Beaters
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t kosher salt
½ c ketchup
Pam
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a baking dish with Pam. In a food processor, pulse the onion until minced and then add the mushrooms and process until minced and then sauté them in a hot pan with the oil about 5 minutes. If they remain wet, drain the liquid out of the pan. Add garlic, parsley and tomatoes and then set aside.
Mix meats, oats, egg, Worcestershire, and salt into the mushroom mix. Shape into a loaf and set in baking dish or a loaf pan. Spread ketchup over the top and bake an hour or until done. Let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing.
Quick prep, creamy chocolate filling, crowd pleasing taste – – what else can a Chocolate Cream Pie offer?!?!
Chocolate Cream Pie
8 servings
214 calories per serving
2 c skim milk
2 packages sugar free chocolate pudding (1.3 oz. each)
1/4 c dark chocolate chips
1 low fat graham cracker crust (6 oz.)
8 oz. Cool Whip Free, thawed
Cocoa Powder for dusting
Mix milk and pudding in a medium pan on medium heat whisking continually. Cook 8 minutes or so, until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add chips stirring until all are melted. Fill a large bowl with ice water and place bottom of pan in the ice bath for 5 minutes or until cooled off – be sure to stir frequently so the mix will cool down quicker. Pour the mix into the crust and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours or more. Just before serving, put on a layer of whipped topping and garnish slices with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Don’t tell Julia child that we are not using her recipe ! This is a time consuming recipe, but it is great for special occasions – it’s not just everyday that you get Beef Bourguignon 🙂
Beef Bourguignon
6 servings
344 calories per serving
2 1/2 t oil, divided
1 1/2 lb. lean beef stew meat
2 c sliced onions
2 c sliced carrots
1 c diced green bell pepper
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
12 oz whole mushrooms, quartered
1 14 oz. can beef broth
1 1/2 c red wine (a Burgundy or Beaujolais is recommended)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
3 T flour
2 T butter, softened
To caramelize onions, heat a skillet on medium high heat and add 1 t oil than add onion slices and cook on medium high heat for 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a bit if salt and pepper and then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 15 minutes, again, stirring frequently. You want the onions to become a nice golden color, but remain very moist. If they start to dry out in the first 7 minutes, reduce the heat a little. If they start to dry out during the covered cooking period, add a tablespoon or more of hot water and mix well.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven* to medium high heat. Blot meat on paper towels – it will brown much better the drier it is. Add beef and cook until brown. Remove from pot and set aside. Add carrot, mushrooms and green pepper to pot. Cook 4 minutes then add onions and cook another 2 minutes and then return beef to pot. Add tomatoes, broth, wine, garlic, tomato paste, bay, salt and pepper to pot. Mix well and cover and bring to a simmer and cook on low for 2 hours. Discard bay leaf. Combine flour and butter and mix well until it becomes all incorporated into a paste. Spoon 1/2 c of pan juices into the flour and whisk until very smooth. Then add back to pan and stir. Serve immediately.
*Dutch Oven – every kitchen needs a Dutch oven – some recipes just do not come out the same without one. It is a very heavy duty pot that allows you to cook things slowly for hours without burning the contents. From soups to stews to sauces, this is a kitchen must have. I don’t think you need a really pricey one (some come in at over $330 ! yeeks !) as I have an $80 version that has been treating me good for years and years.
Simply Louisiana – that is the best way to describe this dish. If you don’t like okra, skip it – maybe add some green bell peppers instead. But if you want it authentic, be sure to add in the okra.
Bayou Chicken
4 servings
234 calories per serving
2 T flour
1 1/4 t Cajun seasoning
3/4 lb. chicken tenders
2 t canola oil
1 1/2 c corn
1 1/2 c frozen okra, thawed
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c fat free half and half
1/4 t salt
Pepper
3 scallions, sliced
Combine flour and 1/2 t Cajun seasoning in a zip loc bag and drop in the chicken. Seal the bag and shake well to coat all the chicken pieces. Heat 1 1/2 t oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and then add the corn, okra, tomato and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Add the half and half and the rest of the Cajun seasoning and simmer 1-2 minutes longer. Return the chicken to the pan and heat through. Sprinkle with scallions just before serving.
These are not are not a replacement for burgers – if you think of it that way, you are going to be disappointed. Take these for what they are – an amazing savory, tasty pressed veggie patty that is only 120 calories. Topped with avocado and salsa, and placed on a bun, it makes a great meal.
Black Bean Burgers
4 servings
380 calories per serving
4 Morningstar black bean burgers
4 Arnold Thins 100 calorie flat buns
1 avocado, sliced (or 3 T Wholly Guacamole per burger)
1 c salsa
Cook black bean burgers according to package instructions. Place on buns and top with 1/4 the sliced avocado and 1/4 c salsa. Although not shown on the package, I often heat the oven to 375 degrees and place the burgers on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam and then cook for 15 minutes – they come out perfect !
Sometimes just plain simple potatoes is what hits the spot. Here is a little twist without deviating from the theme too much 🙂
New Potatoes
4 servings
134 calories per serving
16 oz. new potatoes, washed
2 T canola oil
½ t kosher salt
¼ t fresh ground pepper
Pam
Place potatoes in a zip loc bag and use a rolling pin to smash them quite a bit cracking their skin. Spray a skillet with Pam and then add oil and heat on medium high heat before adding potatoes. Partially cover skillet and cook potatoes 20 minutes or until browned all over. Add salt and pepper.
Quick, easily portable and a great lunch. If you gotta have mayo instead of mustard, then use low or no fat and reduce the light ranch dressing.
Turkey Sandwich Lunch Platter
1 serving
305 calories per serving
2 slices 45 calories wheat bread
5 slices deli turkey
1 slice tomato
1 lettuce leaf
mustard
1/2 c baby carrots
1/2 c celery sticks or broccoli florets
1/4 c light ranch dressing for dipping (or onion dip made with no fat sour cream)
These make a great appetizer or side on a lunch platter.
Cucumber Rounds
6 servings
50 calories per serving
1 English cucumber, peeled (if you use a regular cucumber, be sure to scoop out the seeds)
1/4 c Philadelphia 1/3 less fat cream cheese, chive and onion flavor
Fresh dill sprigs (optional)
12 little strips sundried tomatoes (blot off oil)
Cut cucumber into 12 slices. Scoop out a bit if the middle of each to make a little ‘cup’ to hold the cheese. Fill each with cheese. Top each with a sprig of dill and a strip of sundried tomato.
