Crock Pot Appetizer Meatballs

Though I usually serve this as a quick and easy appetizer, I sometimes double up the serving and make it a main dish meal. Adding just a few things to bottled sauce can round out the flavors and make it taste much more homemade.

Crock Pot Appetizer Meatballs
Crock Pot Appetizer Meatballs

8 servings
180 calories per serving (3 meatballs)

24 Shady Brook Farms turkey meatballs (Italian spiced)
1 jar Paul Newman’s marinara sauce
Garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
6 T parsley, chopped
½ c grated parmesan cheese

Place the sauce in a small pan on medium low heat. Add the garlic powder, salt and pepper, parsley and cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes.

If you are going to eat soon, pre-heat the meatballs in the microwave for 5 minutes. Then place in crock with sauce and heat on low for 1 hour. Otherwise, place meatballs in crock pot and pour the hot sauce over them. Cover and keep on low or warm setting for up to 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE !!!

My guilty pleasure….2 Dove Chocolates a day. This ‘diet’ does not mean chocolate can never pass your lips again. This is not a diet, anyhow – this is a way of life and my life needs chocolate ! This whole meal plan that I have been following and sharing allows you to eat a little of everything, definitely in moderation, but a little bit of everything fits in.

I am still losing 1 or more pounds per week and over the months, it really adds up. I hope you see good results too 🙂

Dove Chocolate
Dove Chocolate

2 Dove Chocolates
88 calories

Spicy Soup

When I eat something nice and spicy, it somehow leaves me more satisfied – my mouth KNOWS it just ate ! This soup does the trick. Serve with a side of Whole Wheat Garlic Toast for a nice, complete meal.

Spicy Soup
Spicy Soup

2 servings
248 calories per serving

2 c vegetable stock or broth (Emeril’s is great !)
2 small cans Spicy V-8 juice
1 T minced onion
2 T minced celery
1/4 c celery, thinly sliced
3 T fresh celery leaves
1 1/2 c shredded carrots
1 15.5 oz. can chick peas
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder to taste

Mix all together in a pan and simmer 15-20 minutes. To give it more of a Mexican flair, add a bit of ground cumin and 1/4 c cilantro leaves. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Whole Wheat Garlic Toast

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.

Potato with Mexican Topping

Serve this super filling potato with 2 T low fat sour cream for just another 40 calories. Leave out the layer of beans and this one is kid friendly.

Potato with Mexican Topping
Potato with Mexican Topping

1 serving
226 calories per serving

6 oz. potato
2 T shredded fat free cheddar cheese
10 sprays ICBINB
1/4 c black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 t taco seasoning
2 T chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional – sour cream

Pierce the potato several times and microwave 8 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Cut oval hole in the top (like you would in a pumpkin) taking care not to cut through the whole shell. Scoop out the meat of the potato and place in a bowl. Add butter spray, cheese, salt and pepper, and taco seasoning and stir to mix.

Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and stir. Fill the potato shell with a layer of black beans, then the potato mix and microwave another 30 seconds. Sprinkle top with a few reserved beans and the chopped tomatoes. Microwave 2 minutes to heat through or stick in the oven for 5-7 minutes.

Apple Crisp

This is so low cal on its own that there’s plenty of room to add a nice scoop of light vanilla ice cream 🙂

Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp

9 servings
132 calories per serving

3 medium apples, cored and sliced thin
1 t cinnamon
2 T sugar
2 T flour

Topping:
1 c quick oats
1 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 c brown sugar
2 T margarine

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix first four ingredients and place into a 9 inch square baking dish. In a small bowl mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over the apples. Bake until apples are soft, about 30 minutes.

Southwest Vegetable Bake

Very flavorful and very different – the hominy really makes this one special. But if you don’t like hominy, just add more corn or skip it all together.

Southwest Vegetable Bake
Southwest Vegetable Bake

4 servings
269 calories per serving

2 11 oz. cans whole kernel corn with peppers
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
1 15.5 oz. can white hominy, drained
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t salt
½ t ground cumin
½ t chili powder
1/2 c shredded pepper jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients other than cheese in a baking dish. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the shredded cheese, then bake another 5 minutes uncovered.

French Toast with Benefits

This stuffed French toast is a welcome change to boring old French toast. The surprise inside is preserves and creamy cheese ! Make it different every week by changing the flavor of the preserves and the fruit topping.

French Toast with Benefits
French Toast with Benefits

2 servings
268 calories per servings

2 T low fat cream cheese
4 slices whole wheat bread (45 calories per slice)
2 T strawberry preserves
1/2 c egg beaters
3 T skim milk
1 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
Pam
optional – fresh or frozen berries for the top

Spread cream cheese on 2 slices of bread leaving a small border so it will not melt out of the sandwich when cooking. Put preserves on the other 2 pieces and make a sandwich. Cut in half. Beat eggs and whisk in milk, vanilla and spices. Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Dip the sandwich halves in the egg mix and let site a few seconds to soak up some of the mixture. Put in 2 at a time if you have room the bowl. Cook 3 minutes each side.

Caesar Salad with Shrimp

This is a nice protein packed lunch that’s not short on flavor – add some extra garlic if you like your Caesar extra zippy.

Caesar Salad with Shrimp
Caesar Salad with Shrimp

2 servings
220 calories per serving

6 c chopped romaine lettuce
4 T shredded parmesan cheese
8 oz. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T lemon juice
2 T low calorie Caesar dressing
Pam

Combine lemon and garlic in a small bowl and add shrimp. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour. Spray a skillet with Pam and add shrimp. Cook until pink about 3-4 minutes. Pour shrimp over lettuce and top with dressing and shredded cheese.

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