Tag Archives: side

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Summer, Vegetables

Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad

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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 🙂

Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad
Tomato, Egg and Cucumber Salad

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.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Lemon Curried Pea Salad

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This is a great salad to serve next to eastern inspired dishes such as Chicken Satay.

Lemon Curried Pea Salad
Lemon Curried Pea Salad

8 servings
80 calories per serving

Salad:
15 oz. can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
11 oz. can corn, drained
½ c chopped red onion
½ c thinly sliced celery
1 t finely shredded lemon peel

Dressing:
2 T lemon juice
1 T water
1 t oil
1 clove garlic, minced
½ t curry powder
½ t Dijon mustard
1/8 t pepper

Mix salad ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with salad. Cover and refrigerate several hours for flavors to mingle.

Dinner, Sides

Cheesy Spinach and Rice

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Serving a combo veggie and starch side always cuts down on the work of a meal. This one is packed with wholesome spinach and cheesy enough to make it a welcome addition to any meal.

Cheesy Spinach and Rice
Cheesy Spinach and Rice

6 servings
140 calories per serving

2 c cooked instant white rice
9oz. package frozen spinach
¼ c Egg Beaters
¼ c slim milk
1 T minced onion flakes
½ t onion garlic powder
¼ t salt
½ t basil flakes
1 c (4 oz.) low fat shredded swiss cheese
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook rice according to package instructions using no margarine or oil. Spray an 8×8 baking pan with Pam. Microwave spinach until warm, 3 minutes or so and then place in a colander and press out all the liquid then combine with rice and all the rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Place in prepared dish and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and cook 15 minutes. Then uncover and cook an additional 7 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Alternately, replace swiss cheese with parmesan cheese and you’ll get a whole different flavor here.

Lunch, Mexican, Salads, Sides

Spicy Black Bean Salad

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I’ve been making this side salad for years. It is great alongside so many dishes ! Sometimes it’s even good as a lunch served with a few low fat crackers.

Spicy Black Bean Salad
Spicy Black Bean Salad

10 servings
250 calories per serving

15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can mandarin oranges, rinsed
2-3 scallions, thinly sliced
1/3 c chunky salsa
¼ c lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ t ground cumin

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Appetizers, Sides, Snacks

Homemade Flatbreads

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I make these so often that I just had to repost – – this last time I used olive oil and simply sprinkled with sea salt and they were just divine !

These flatbreads are so versatile. They make a great side, or a great snack or even a great appetizer. Try different spice combinations – olive oil and parmesan cheese, or olive oil and cayenne pepper and garlic powder for a zesty taste treat. To make a sweet version, sprinkle with a mixture of Splenda brown sugar and cinnamon.

Homemade Flat Breads
Homemade Flat Breads

4 servings
80 calories per serving
1 serving = 3 flat breads

1 1/2 t kosher salt
1 t poppy seeds
1 t sesame seeds
1 1/2 t sesame oil (you can sub olive oil)
1 1/2 t water
12 wonton wrappers

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay wontons flat without overlapping on a cookie tray. Mix oil and water and brush over wontons. Sprinkle with salt and seeds. Bake 5 minutes or until crisp.

Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Broccoli Salad

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Pre cooking the broccoli and cauliflower change this up nicely from your typical salad where the veggies are served raw. With the dressing, this tasted much like a mild giardiniera.

Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad

4 servings
49 calories per serving

¾ c broccoli florets
¾ c cauliflower florets
½ c celery slices
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 T oil
3 T white vinegar
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
1/8 t garlic powder
1/8 t onion powder

Place broccoli and cauliflower in a dish with ¼ c water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave 4 minutes to soften a bit. Drain and add the pepper and celery. Mix the dressing and pour over the veggies and chill an hour or more to mix flavors.

Appetizers, Kid Friendly, Sides, Snacks

Cheesy Spirals

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Don’t let the fact that there is not a lot of cheese in these dissuade you – these are so very good and the fragrance of them under your nose while you are biting in makes them all the more better. Great as an appetizer or a snack or a side, these cheesy bread puffs are awesome !

Cheesy Spirals
Cheesy Spirals

8 servings
70 calories per serving

4 oz. can of low fat crescent rolls
¼ c chopped green onions
1/8 t garlic powder
¼ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Remove dough from can but do not unroll it. Cut into 8 slices and place slices on an ungreased cookie sheet and place all the ingredients on top of the rolls and press down lightly. Bake 10-13 minutes or until golden brown.

Salads, Sides

Kitchen Sink Salad

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This is my ‘recipe’ for a salad that contains ‘everything but the kitchen sink’. Sometimes it’s the best unplanned dish of the week.

By the end of the week I have a bunch of bits and pieces of veggies left over – so I use them all in a salad – whatever I have, it gets thrown in. And because the salad is so full of flavor from all the veggies, I use NO OIL. And that makes for one LOW CAL, LOW FAT salad !

Sometimes I even put in bits of other prepared salads I had made – this picture shows a salad where I added in some left over cucumber and radish salad – and even some black beans. Try it – it makes salad eating so much more pleasurable !

Kitchen Sink Salad
Kitchen Sink Salad

1 serving
30-80 calories per serving

2 c field greens or any other leftover lettuce you have
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t onion powder
1/4 t oregano flakes
Vinegar (balsamic, red wine, anything)
Citrus juice – up to a tablespoon of lime juice, lemon juice, orange juice – whatever floats your boat
1 c Veggies – cucs, broccoli, carrots, celery, jicama, zucchini
1/4 c Beans – black beans, chick peas, cannellini beans
1/4 c Fresh herbs – parsley, cilantro, basil

Mix it all up and enjoy !

Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Zucchini and Tomato Salad

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Most don’t think to use zucchini in its raw state – but it is marvelously crunchy and mellow and a great addition to salads. This salad is mainly zucchini and it’s really tasty.

Zucchini and Tomato Salad
Zucchini and Tomato Salad

5 servings
117 calories per serving

1 garlic clove, minced
2 T red vinegar
1 T fresh chopped parsley
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 c oil
2 1/4 c thinly sliced zucchini
1 1/2 c grape tomatoes, halved
1 T fresh chopped basil

Combine garlic, vinegar, parsley, salt and pepper. Add oil and whisk well. Add zucchini and tomatoes and toss gently. Sprinkle with basil just before serving.

Sides

Whole Wheat Garlic Toast

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This is so low cal and so satisfying. When serving next to pasta, I add a couple teaspoons of parmesan cheese. I serve this next to soups, salads, and alongside very light meals, because if I don’t have some carbs with my meal, I just don’t feel satisfied.

Whole Wheat Garlic Toast
Whole Wheat Garlic Toast


1 serving
50 calories per serving

1 slice 45 calories whole wheat bread
10 sprays I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray
Sprinkle of oregano flakes
1/4 t garlic powder

Spread butter on bread. Sprinkle with oregano and garlic powder. Place in toaster oven until lightly browned.

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