Category Archives: Summer

Frozen Grasshoppers

June 5, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Always a hit – Always enjoyed – and so very simple to make ! After I cut them up, I wrap them individually in plastic wrap and freeze in single portions.

16 servings
260 calories per serving

28 Oreo cookies
1 ½ qt. mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
8 oz. Cool Whip, thawed
1 square grated semi sweet chocolate

Line a 13×9 pan with foil extending the foul over the sides of the pan. Crush 20 cookies (I put them in a zip loc bag and pound with the bottom of a mug – but using a food processor or blender works well too) and sprinkle crumbs into the pan. Spread ice cream over crumbs and then top with cool whip and chocolate then freeze 3 hours. Before serving, let sit out 15 minutes to soften a bit. Serve each piece with ½ a cookie on top.

Drinks, Fruit, Kid Friendly, Summer

Watermelon Water

June 4, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great refreshing drink on a hot summer day – prepare it ahead of time and chill well. It also makes a great mixer with vodka or rum. If you don’t have the basil, this whips up fine without it 🙂

6 servings
68 calories per serving

8 c watermelon chunks
6 large basil leaves
Pinch of sea salt
¼ t white vinegar
1 qt. chilled water

Place the watermelon in a food processor and puree. Bruise the basil leaves and place in the puree with salt and vinegar. Strain through a colander into a pitcher. Stir in water and serve.

You can also not strain it and end up with a more pulpy version.

Save a few chunks for garnishes !

Chicken, Lunch, Sandwiches, Summer

Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich

June 2, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Using the mustard mix as a basting sauce while cooking makes this so much better than just putting the mustard on the bread. The flavor gets really intensified and this ends up being a really great lunch sandwich.

4 servings
240 calories per serving

¼ c Dijon mustard
2 T honey
1 t oregano flakes
¼ t salt
¼ t cayenne pepper
4 5 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 whole grain sandwich buns (100 calories each)
4 slices tomato
4 lettuce leaves

Mix mustard, honey, oregano, salt and cayenne and brush on chicken. Grill 15-20 minutes or pan fry in a skillet sprayed with Pam for 6-8 minutes or until done. Brush with extra sauce throughout the cooking. Serve on buns with lettuce and tomato.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Summer, Vegetables

Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad

May 27, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Though the dressing is a simple vinegar and oil mix, this salad does not lack in flavor. The egg yolks and tomatoes give this most of its flavor. Try making a nice big serving dish instead of placing on individual bowls – it makes a pretty centerpiece to a party table 🙂

4 servings
190 calories per serving

4 large eggs, hardboiled and sliced
½ c balsamic vinegar
4 t oil
2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ head lettuce separated into leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Set on medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover and keep at a low boil 2 minutes. Shut heat, but leave eggs in pan and covered for 13 more minutes. Then rinse eggs under cold water. Refrigerate eggs for ½ hour as they will peel easier this way. Combine oil and vinegar. Place the lettuce leaves down and then add the tomatoes and cucumbers to the plates. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then pour over the dressing. Finally place the egg slices on top of each plate.

Dessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

Yogurt Pie

May 26, 2010 admin Leave a comment

I’ve been making this recipe for years, and my Mom for years before that. It is always a great summer time treat that even yogurt non-likes find tempting and delicious. Sometimes I take the filling and make ice pops out of it rather than placing in a pie crust. No matter how you slice it, you will love this pie !

8 servings
200 calories per serving

1 prepared low fat graham crust
20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained well
8 oz. tub Cool Whip lite, thawed
6 oz. non fat lemon yogurt (don’t substitute – you need the lemon flavor to bring some tang to the pie)
6 oz. non fat yogurt – any flavor
Some fruit for garnish

Mix all ingredients and place in the pie crust. Cover and freeze at least 5 hours. Defrost 10-15 minutes before serving. If the pie has been frozen longer than over night, you may need to defrost 20 -25 minutes before serving.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Summer

Creamy Cheesy Chicken

May 23, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Creamy and cheesy this is ! The Swiss cheese in this made for a very mellow flavor that mixed very well with the chicken and broccoli. But I’m sure that any other flavor would do very well. This is one of those great recipes where you have everything incorporated – a protein, a starch and a veggie.

5 servings
390 calories per serving

3 c (6 oz.) uncooked wide egg noodles
2 t oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
3 c frozen broccoli florets
1 t minced dried onion
1 t onion powder
½ c white wine
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1 c (4 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
2 t Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Heat oil and add chicken and cook 4-5 minutes or until browned. Add broccoli, onion flakes and onion powder and cook 4 minutes or until hot then reduce heat and stir in wine. Cover and cook 4-5 minutes or until chicken is done. Add noodles, soup, cheese, mustard, salt and pepper and cook until cheese is melted and all is hot.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Summer

Grilled Marinated London Broil

May 20, 2010 admin Leave a comment

If you let this marinate overnight, the meat will be that much more tender and flavorful ! I often plan these for entertaining – they are so easy to do so very savory. They get a nice seared crisp outer layer which tastes just grate with the soy marinade.

4 servings
170 calories per serving

1 lb. lean London broil
2 T minced garlic (jarred is fine)
2 T soy sauce
1/2 c water

Place meat in a zip loc. Add remaining ingredients, zip up and mush it all around so all the meat gets covered. Let sit overnight. Heat a grill to high and sear the meat for 3 minutes each side then lower temperature and then cook to desired doneness. If you do not have access to a grill, you can also quick brown this in a large skillet sprayed with Pam and then finish cooking until desired doneness in a hot oven (375 degrees or more).

Drinks, Summer

Virgin Melon Margarita

May 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Frothy, refreshing, just the right amount of sweet and very good for you – that’s a great line up in a drink that takes a snap to put together !

2 servings
121 calories per serving

2 c honeydew melon chunks
½ c orange juice
1 T lime juice
1 T honey
4 ice cubes

Place all in a blender and mix well.

Pasta, Salads, Sides, Summer

Macaroni Salad

May 16, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This recipe was given to me by a friend and it is the most awesome mac salad – I think what makes the difference is that the onion and celery are so minced (rather than the typical chopped) that you get a coating of them on each and every noodle and that means lots of extra flavor per bite !

6 servings
232 calories per serving (312 per serving using regular pasta)

8 oz. FiberGormet rotini pasta or elbow noodles
1 small onion, minced very fine
1 c celery, minced very fine
1 c low fat mayo
1 T wine vinegar
2 t mustard
1 ½ t salt
¼ t pepper

Cook pasta according to package instructions and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Combine with all the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavors mingle. Let sit out 10 minutes before serving so the dressing warms up a bit and mix well again.

NOTE: I mince the celery and onion together in a food processor, but you can do it by hand if you wish

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork, Summer

Grilled Pork Chops with Garlic

May 7, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Sometimes simple is the best. And pork chops are just great simply sprinkled with garlic and grilled. Here I added a dollop of My Salsa Verde for only a few extra calories. It gives the meat some extra moisture and a whole lotta extra flavor.

4 servings
135 calories per serving

4 4 oz. boneless pork chops
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder

Preheat grill. Place chops in a dish and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle with minced garlic and a bit of water to help keep them moist. Cool 5 minutes per side or until done.