Tag Archives: cheddar cheese

Rice and Beans

May 31, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Can you say YUMMY?!?!?! This is such a great QUICK and EASY recipe, yet the results taste like you’ve been in the kitchen for hours. This is an ample serving. You could easily just have half a serving for a side and still have room in your calories for some fish or chicken on the side.

4 servings
400 calories per serving

1 ½ c chopped green peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T oil
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ¼ c water
2 c Minute brown rice
¼ c cilantro chopped
1 c low far shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby or Monterey Jack)

In a large skillet on high heat, heat the oil and cook the peppers and garlic 2 minutes then add tomatoes, beans and water. Bring to a boil and stir in rice and reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer 5 minutes then remove from heat and stir in cilantro and top with cheese. Let stand 5 minutes, covered.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Turkey

Taco Pie

May 23, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Whip this up in a flash – save and bake later or bake right away for a super Mexican inspired dinner. Serve with some sliced avocado for a special treat.

6 servings
296 calories per serving

1 lb. extra lean ground turkey
2 t dried onion
1 Tbsp. taco seasoning (more if you like your meat zesty and flavorful)
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
12 oz. frozen corn, thawed and drained
4 La Tortilla Factory low carb tortilla wraps (only 80 calories each!)
1 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c light sour cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown meat with dried onions and taco seasoning then add tomatoes and corn and cook 5 minutes. Spoon 1 1/2 c of the mix into a 2 quart square or round casserole dish. Spread out and then top with 2 tortillas. Add the rest of the meat mix and 1/2 c of cheese. Add 2 more tortillas and the rest of the cheese and cover and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Broccoli Tomato Side Salad

May 12, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Simple yet special with the addition of the cheese and sunflower seeds. Serve this up and watch it disappear !

8 servings
108 calories per serving

6 c broccoli florets, chopped coarsely
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
1 c shredded low fat cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
2 T sunflower seeds
½ c light vinaigrette dressing
1 T Splenda
2 t Dijon mustard

Mix broccoli, tomatoes, cheese, and seeds. Mix dressing, Splenda and mustard and then mix with veggies.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Pork

Rotini with Ham

March 8, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Ham, alfredo sauce, pasta. They just go together so well. Add in some cheese and sun dried tomatos and you have a smash hit that the whole family will love.

6 servings
289 calories per serving

8 oz. rotini FiberGourmet pasta
16 oz. jar low fat Alfredo Sauce
19 oz. can asparagus spears cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 c sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), rehydrated in warm water
1 c diced cooked ham
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and Swiss)
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat alfredo sauce then stir in pasta, asparagus,. sun dried tomatoes and ham. Stir in half the cheese and turn all into the baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake another 5 minutes.

Drinks, FiberGourmet, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Sides

Baked Mac and Cheese

December 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Add a layer of healthy spinach, use low fat cheese and FiberGourmet pasta and quickly you have a healthy alternative and a fan favorite 🙂

4 servings
366 calories per serving

3 T breadcrumbs
1 t oil
½ t paprika
20 oz. frozen spinach, thawed
1 3/4 c skim milk, divided
3 T flour
2 c shredded low fat extra sharp Cheddar cheese
1 c low fat cottage cheese
1/8 t nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
8 ounces FiberGourmet penne or elbow pasta
Pam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with Pam. Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika. Squeeze out spinach in a colander so it is very dry. Mix ¼ c milk with flour. Heat 1 ½ c milk until steaming and them whisk in the rest of the milk and continue whisking until it is thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar until melted. Then stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook pasta about 4 minutes (do not cook all the way or it will be too mushy after it bakes). Mix pasta and cheese and place half of it in the baking dish. Then add the spinach and top with the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mix and then bake 30 minutes or until golden.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Company Casserole

October 5, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is just what it’s called…a great company casserole. It is easy to prep, all the prep is done way ahead, and the result is a creamy, tasty vegetable side dish that disappears very quickly !

7 servings
178 calories per serving

1 can low fat cream of celery soup
1 c low fat sour cream
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ c finely chopped onion
9 oz. frozen cut green beans, thawed
6 oz. frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 c frozen corn, thawed
¼ c crushed low fat Ritz crackers
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion then stir in the veggies and place in a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cover and bake 25 minutes. Then uncover, sprinkle crumbs around edges and spritz the crumbs with the ICBINB spray. Bake another 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Asparagus with Cheese Sauce

September 13, 2011 admin Leave a comment

A quick cheese sauce is all sweet Spring asparagus needs – this one is delicious !

4 servings
110 calories per serving

1 lb. fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
1/3 c water
1/4 c Miracle Whip or light mayonnaise
1/4 c skim milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Steam or par boil asparagus for 4-5 minutes. Mix the other ingredients and microwave until melted. Serve sauce over asparagus.

Dinner, Mexican

Mini Chile Rellenos

August 2, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a great Chile Relleno dish – it has all the flavor and so very little work. It is super easy to put together and turns out a perfect little cup of Mexican goodness.

4 servings
215 calories per serving

2 4 oz. cans diced green chiles, drained and patted dry
3/4 c frozen corn, thawed and patted dry
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c skim milk
6 large egg whites
4 large eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Preheat oven to 400. Spray 8 six ounce or 4 10 ounce ramekins (small oven safe glass or ceramic pots) with Pam and place on a baking sheet so you can remove them from the oven easily.

Whisk together eggs, egg whites, salt, pepper and milk. Place the chiles on the bottom of the cups then add corn and scallions Sprinkle with cheese then pour in the egg mix. Bake 35-40 minutes or until eggs are set. The larger the ramekins, the longer these will need to cook.

Dinner, Lunch, Soups

Cheesy Broccoli and Bean Soup

July 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This sure doesn’t taste like it’s only cooked 8 minutes – it tastes much more like a soup that has been prepped and cooked for hours. The depth of flavor is fantastic. It has a bright and vibrant broccoli taste that is mellowed by the beans and cheese. Very, very good ! This is quite a good serving size – you can easily move this to 5 side servings and have this next to a salad or sandwich.

3 servings
220 calories per serving

14 oz. vegetable broth
1 c water
1 lb. broccoli florets
14 oz. cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese

Boil water and broth in a saucepan. Add broccoli and cover the pan and cook 6 minutes then add the beans, salt and pepper and cook 2 minutes. Place half the soup in a blender with ½ c of the cheese. Puree and place in a bowl. Repeat with the remaining soup and cheese.

Kid Friendly, Lunch, Sandwiches, Turkey

Turkey Melt

June 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Hot turkey and gravy out of the oven are good enough along – but add in bacon and cheese and you definitely have a winner ! I can’t believe this is only 293 calories – it tastes so decadent.

4 servings
293 calories per serving

8 slices wheat bread (45 calories per slice or less) toasted
1 lb. sliced cooked turkey
1/2 c water
1 c condensed low fat Cream of Mushroom soup
1 c shredded low fat sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices lightly cooked turkey bacon

Preheat broiler. Lay toast on a baking sheet and distribute turkey slices among bread. Mix water and soup and heat thoroughly. Spoon heated soup over turkey and sprinkle with the cheese and then top with bacon. Broil 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted.