Spice it up with some homemade Spanish rice. This recipe is easy to do and gives you a great side dish ! You could easily substitute the type of tomatoes and peppers to make this exactly how you like it.
Spanish Rice
6 servings
144 calories per serving
½ c finely chopped shallots
½ c chopped bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T oil
1 t chili powder
28 oz. can diced tomatoes and their juice
¾ c long grain rice
4 oz. can diced green chilies
Hot pepper sauce to taste
1 c water
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil and cook shallots, pepper and garlic until tender. Add chili powder and cook 1 minute then add tomatoes, rice, chilies, hot pepper sauce, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil them reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
To me, there is nothing more heavenly on my tongue than a melting morsel of brie. Now add in that I am a carb hound and cannot live without pasta…follow me to Pasta and Brie courtesy of Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts. This recipe is PERFECT !! It combines 2 of my most favorite things in the world. I don’t know who at the Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts came up with this recipe, but it outranks any pasta and cheese recipe that I have ever tried. It is true heaven.
Along with the perfect brie flavor, the fresh herbs and pine nuts are just a flavor explosion. This is definitely one of those meals that will impress…and it’s not hard to put together at all.
I tweaked their version just a bit to bring this in under 400 calories. It’s a bit high on the calorie count, so serve as a side to a light piece of fish – or have it for lunch. The portion size is definitely enough for a filling lunch and you won’t forget the cheesy brie goodness.
PASTA AND BRIE (BALTIMORE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE)
Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts has many, many recipes for you to try out (just go to the menu option ‘Programs” and then you will see a link to the recipes. And if you know someone with a passion for food looking for formal schooling, pass along the link. So make sure to visit – just click the banner below 🙂
4 servings
387 calories per serving
4 oz. brie (I removed the coating but you don’t have to)
1 T olive oil
3 T chicken broth
15 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
2 t minced garlic
1 T chopped parley
4 basil leaves, sliced thinly
1 oz. pine nuts, toasted
Salt and pepper to taste
6 oz. FiberGourmet pasta (penne, rotini or short fettuccine) – without FiberGourmet, you have to add 80 calories per ounce of pasta)
Heat oil and broth and add in the tomatoes. Add in the garlic, parsley, basil, nuts, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Stir brie into tomato mix and mix well to melt then pour it over the pasta and serve immediately.
Savory, cheesy, hot baked goodness ! This pasta and veggie dish has just enough spice and everything is right. The mixture of cheeses is awesome and when you add in all the veggies. This becomes a super nutritious, healthy meal.
Italian Veggies and Pasta
4 servings
390 calories per serving
8 oz. uncooked FiberGourmet rotini (with regular pasta, add 80 calories per serving)
3 c diced, peeled eggplant
1 c thinly sliced zucchini
1 c chopped green pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ t basil flakes
½ t oregano flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
8 oz. spicy tomato sauce
4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 oz. shredded gruyere cheese
2 T grated parmesan cheese
Pam
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain, cover and keep warm. In a Dutch oven or large skillet combine eggplant, zucchini, pepper, garlic, seasonings, tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover and simmer 20 minutes. Spray a 9×13 pan with Pam and spoon in pasta then sprinkle with parm and pour over the veggie mix. Sprinkle with mozzarella and gruyere cheeses. Broil 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
How nice to place some ingredients in a slow cooker/crock pot and come back 4 hours later to a perfectly cooked meal ! Serve with a small side of mashed potatoes for a great meal.
Barbecue Pork Chops (Crock Pot)
4 servings
237 calories
8 5-ounce boneless pork chops
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam
1/2 c BBQ sauce
14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes
10 oz. frozen vegetables
Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. Spray a warm skillet with Pam and return to heat. Add chops and cook until brown on both sides. Pam a crock pot and place the chops in the crock. Mix the sauce, tomatoes and vegetables. Stir well and pour over the chops. Cook on high 4 hours.
The BBQ sauce is what really makes the dish – make sure to choose one of your favorites and to embellish it with extra garlic, lemon, vinegar….whatever makes it good to you !
This is loaded with veggies and tastes so good ! It’s way quicker than a regular paella and if you really want some seafood in there, add some Buttery Baked Shrimp. Paella is a great healthy dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Vegetable Paella
6 servings
362 calories per serving
3 T oil
½ onion, chopped
½ green bell pepper, chopped
½ poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
12 oz. sliced mushrooms, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t paprika
1 t oregano
½ t pepper
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 ½ c brown rice (MINUTE rice)
2 ½ c vegetable stock / broth
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 ½ t salt
9 oz. baby spinach leaves, chopped roughly
1 c frozen peas and carrots, thawed
1 c frozen or canned artichoke hearts
2 T red vinegar
¼ c chopped parsley
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot on medium heat and cook onion 7 minutes. Add bell pepper, poblano pepper, mushrooms and salt and cook 5 minutes then add garlic, paprika, oregano, red pepper and black pepper and continue cooking another minute or two. Add stock and tomatoes and salt and bring to a boil. Then stir in rice. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook 7 minutes. Stir in spinach, peas, artichokes, vinegar and half the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cover again and let sit 5 minutes for all the juices to absorb. Serve with parsley garnish.
A simple and hearty soup that tastes delicious. It’s a very versatile recipe – add some veggies, small pasta or extra spices to easily change it up. But don’t skip the ham – that is what really give it the great flavor 🙂
Ham and Bean Soup
6 servings
273 calories per serving
15.5 oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
4 c fat free chicken broth
1 1/2 c diced extra lean ham (you can also use Canadian bacon)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 t chili powder
¼ t pepper
¼ t salt
½ t onion powder
Combine all and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook 15 – 20 minutes or until soup is slightly thickened.
This is a meal that the family was raving about…there was much satisfaction around the dinner table the night I made this one ! Even though it is a very quick sauce, it grabs the flavor from the pork and quickly becomes a sauce full of depth. Be sure to add on the fresh herbs – they really add to the awesome flavor of this dish.
Parmesan Pork and Penne
4 servings
380 calories per serving
If you don’t use the FiberGourmet pasta, the meal does not come in under 400 calories.
8 oz. FiberGourmet penne pasta
3 T bread crumbs
3 T grated parmesan cheese
¾ lb. pork tenderloin sliced thinly
2 t oil
Pam
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained this time
8 oz. tomato sauce
2.25 oz. can sliced black olives, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t basil flakes
½ t oregano flakes
½ t parsley flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T fresh chopped basil
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese in a zip loc bag then add the pork slices and shake. Heat oil in skillet and also spray it with Pam and then cook pork 4-6 minutes or until browned on both sides. Add tomatoes, sauce, salt, pepper and olives and bring to a boil the reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until pork is tender. Serve pork mix over cooked penne. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.
What a great quick and easy meal for a weeknight ! It’s kinda like having sausage and peppers over rice – definitely a great flavor !
Rice and Sausage
4 servings
397 calories per serving
Pam
10 oz. low fat andouille sausage or kielbasa, cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 c cooked brown rice
Heat skillet and spray with Pam and cook sausage until crispy, about 10 minutes. Add onion, garlic, red pepper, celery, salt and pepper and cook 8-10 minutes then add tomatoes and cook another 4 minutes. Serve with brown rice.
Tortellini are so versatile. And this is a great recipe to show off their cheesy goodness 🙂 The sauce is light and packed with healthy veggies.
Tortellini and Veggies
4 servings
182 calories per serving
1 9 oz. package of refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 T oil
2 medium shallots, minced
1 medium bell pepper in 1 inch pieces
2 c chopped plum tomatoes (about 6 tomatoes)
1 medium zucchini cut in half lengthwise and then sliced into half moons
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t basil flakes
½ t oregano flakes
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat oil in pan and cook bell pepper and shallots in oil 4-5 minutes then add tomatoes, zucchini and seasonings and cover and cook 5 minutes. Finally add in tortellini and cook 3 minutes or until hot.
Top off the dish with some fresh herbs of your choice (basil and parsley do quite well).
This is just a perfect clam sauce – not too many clams, just the right thickness, just enough spice. Because FiberGourmet makes the calorie count so much lower, you have room for a salad and some garlic toast next to this meal !
Pasta with Clam Sauce
4 servings
265 calories per serving
8 oz. FiberGourmet fettuccine noodles (without FiberGourmet pasta, you have to add another 80 calories per serving to this)
2 6.5 oz. cans chopped clams
1 T oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T anchovy paste or minced anchovies
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1/3 c tomato paste
¼ c chopped parsley
¼ t pepper
¼ t salt
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
2 t lemon juice
Cook pasta until tender, but still somewhat firm. Drain the clams keeping the juice from one can. Heat oil in a pan and cook garlic one minute then mix in anchovies, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, parsley, pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder and clam juice. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add the clams and lemon juice and heat 2 minutes making sure not to come to a boil. Serve sauce over pasta.
