Spanish Chicken

February 14, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Quick and easy yet tasty and healthy !

2 servings
207 calories per serving

2/3 c finely chopped onions
¼ c sliced mushrooms
1 ¼ c cubed cooked chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts work great here)
½ 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
½ c cooked rice
½ c tomato juice
½ c chicken broth
1/3 c frozen peas
1/4 t tarragon flakes
1/4 t rosemary
Pinch of pepper
Pam
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Saute onion and mushrooms in a pan sprayed with Pam. Cook 4-5 minutes then place in a 1 quart baking dish and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Cover and bake 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Sides

Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)

February 13, 2012 admin Leave a comment

So rich, so creamy, so flavorful – this risotto is perfect next to anything.

6 servings
231 calories per serving

5 cups chicken stock
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
2 springs of parsley
2 T oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 celery stalk, chopped
2 strips bacon, chopped
1 c raw arborio rice
2 c frozen peas
1 T butter
2 T chopped parsley
3/4 c grated parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste

Place stock and fresh herbs in a soup pot and bring to a boil then reduce heat and keep at a simmer. Saute onion, celery and bacon 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat then cook 1 minute. Remove herbs from stock and add 1/2 c of stock to rice mix and stir constantly so stock is absorbed. Add another 1/2 c and cook until stock is absorbed. Then add peas. Continue to add stock 1/2 c at a time and cook until absorbed until rice is tender and the mix is a little thinner than risotto. When done, stir in parsley, butter and parmesan and serve immediately.

Sides, Vegetables

Zucchini Fritters

February 12, 2012 admin 1 Comment

This one is a great side dish. It’s tasty and something a little different than usual. You might even get the kids to eat zucchini 🙂

4 servings
155 calories per serving (serving = 2 fritters)

2 c shredded zucchini (use a cheese grater – the same size you would use to shred cheddar cheese)
1/2 c panko breadcrumbs
1/2 c shredded parmesan cheese (not grated, shredded)
1/3 c shredded onion
1/4 c Egg Beaters
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 t black pepper
2 t oil, divided

Combine the first 7 ingredients. Heat 1 t oil. Spoon 1/2 of mix by quarter cupfuls into pan. Press down a bit with the back of a spoon to make sure each fritter holds together well. Cook 2 minutes each side. Repeat with the second batch.

Appetizers, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Mexican

No Guilt Cheese Quesadilla

February 11, 2012 admin Leave a comment

When you spread a Laughing Cow cheese wedge on a tortilla and replace the need for lots of regular high fat cheese, you end up with a lunch or appetizer that is not only packed with flavor, but it’s virtually no guilt !

2 servings
137 calories per serving

1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle cheese
2 flour tortillas (80 calories each)
1/3 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
Pam

Spread the Laughing Cow cheese on the tortilla. Top with cheddar and fold. Spray pan with Pam and heat well. Add tortillas. Spray the sides of the tortillas facing up. Cook 2 minutes then flip and cook the other side 2 minutes.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Mini Cinnamon Nut Rolls

February 9, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Not Cinnabon, but definitely a tasty and low cal substitute when you’re in the mood for something sweet and gooey. Have 2 rounds for only 120 calories – add a nice latte and it’s a decadent snack. This recipe is definitely kid friendly – very sweet, very cinnamony !

20 servings
60 calories per serving (1 roll=1serving)

8 oz low fat crescent rolls
2 t sugar
2 t cinnamon
2 T very finely chopped walnuts
Butter flavored Pam
2/3 c powdered sugar
1 T skim milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll dough and press together perforations. Cut lengthwise and sprinkle both halves with cinnamon, sugar and nuts. Roll pressing firmly to make nice even rolls without air bubbles. Pinch the seams to keep the rolls closed. Cut each roll into 10 rounds. Coat a baking sheet with Pam and place rolls on their sides on the sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Mix the sugar and milk and drizzle over the hot rounds and serve immediately.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Veggie Bake

February 8, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Very cheesy, very veggie – this is a veggie dish that will really get the kids eating up !

6 servings
211 calories per serving

1 can 26 oz. Light Cream of Chicken Soup
2/3 c low fat sour cream
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t onion powder
10 oz. frozen veggie mix (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli), thawed
6 oz. frozen green beans, thawed
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 c shredded Swiss cheese
1 c Stovetop stuffing mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, onion powder and pepper then stir in veggies, 1/2 c cheese. Turn into a 2 quart baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Stir and then top with the rest of the cheese and the stuffing mix and bake 5 minutes uncovered.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Stir Fried Bok Choy

February 7, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a great, crisp side dish that can be paired with just about anything. I bet it can even get cabbage by your kids 🙂 Add a teaspoon of chili sauce with garlic (found in the Asian section of your market) to make this a super spicy dish.

4 servings
87 calories per serving

2 t peanut or olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh ginger
¼ c chicken broth
¼ c water
1 red bell pepper in small ¼ inch squares
2 carrots halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 c 1 inch strips of bok choy or Napa cabbage
1 t sugar
½ t salt
2 t sesame oil

Heat oil in a skillet on medium low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute then add the broth and ¼ c water and cover and cook for 7 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrots and cook 1 minute then add the cabbage and mix well. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and cook 5 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Drizzle with the sesame oil (and optional chili and garlic sauce) and serve immediately.

Appetizers, Asian, Pork

Crispy Wontons

February 6, 2012 admin Leave a comment

These are the perfect little appetizers. You don’t really taste the cream cheese, but it’s there for the onion flavor and to keep the pork moist. These would also be great dropped in hot chicken broth and boiled for 5 minutes or so. Serve a few next to a big green salad with ginger dressing for a nice light dinner.

16 servings (1 serving = 2 wontons)
120 calories per serving

8 oz. Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 lb. ground pork, cooked, well drained
1 t minced ginger
1 t sesame oil
32 wonton wrappers
2 t sesame seeds
2 T soy sauce
1 T rice wine or water
1 T water
Pam

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix pork, cream cheese, ginger and oil and place 1 T of mix onto each wonton wrapper. Fold into wonton shape (see the video below for easy to follow instructions). Spray a baking sheet with Pam and place wontons on sheet. Brush wontons with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown Then lower oven to 350 and bake another 5 minutes. Mix soy, rice wine and 1 T water and serve with wontons as a dipping sauce. Alternately you can serve with prepared ginger soy sauce.

Chicken, Italian, Lunch, Soups

Ricotta Ball Soup

February 4, 2012 admin Leave a comment

So different from the ordinary soup or the ordinary meatball. And so very tasty ! I don’t know which is better – the lemony broth or the big cheese balls !

6 servings
268 calories per serving

1 lb. ground chicken
2 c part skim ricotta
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 c egg beaters
1 1/2 t kosher salt
8 cup no fat chicken broth
Zest of one lemon
6 oz. baby spinach

Mix chicken, ricotta, parmesan, Egg Beaters and salt. Refrigerate 15 minutes. In a soup pot combine broth and zest and bring to a boil. Make 18 meatballs with the chicken mix. They will barely hold together, but just keep as ‘ball-like’ as possible and drop into the broth. They will immediately sink. Simmer until they float and are completely done, about 15 minutes. Add spinach and let wilt for 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Pasta, Sides

Chili Cheese Macs

February 3, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This recipe transforms regular mac and cheese into a Mexican flavored side dish that is great next to a lean piece of chicken or fish.

4 servings
290 calories per serving

7.25 oz. boxed Mac and Cheese dinner
1 c canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 c canned diced tomatoes, drained
1 t chili powder
1/2 t cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Make the mac and cheese according to the package instructions using margarine and skim milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat through.

400 Calories or Less

Monthly Archives: February 2012