Tag Archives: olives

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Pork

Parmesan Pork and Penne

September 30, 2010 admin 1 Comment

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.

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.

Appetizers, Italian, Snacks

Lemon Marinated Antipasto

September 28, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Great as an appetizer, a snack, a lunch side – and this antipasto does not skimp on the ingredients…olives, sausage, cheese, peppers, oh my ! This is very lemony – if you prefer, you can substitute vinegar for the lemon.

12 servings
220 calories per serving

1 lb. spicy turkey sausage
1 T oil
½ c oil
2 t grated lemon zest
½ c lemon juice
2 T chopped basil
½ t oregano flakes
1 t parsley flakes
½ t basil flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz. roasted red peppers, drained and cut into small strips
12 oz. mozzarella cheese cut into cubes
1 c pitted kalamata olives

Cook sausage in 1 T oil until done. When cool, cut into slices. Whisk oil, lemon juice and spices with garlic. Layer sausage, pepper strips, cheese and olives in 2 quart size jars and pour over the dressing. Cover and chill 1-2 days. Try to remember to shake the jars a bit each time you open the frig those 1-2 days – that way the lemony marinade coats all the bits of goodness. Let stand at room temp 30 minutes before serving.

(you don’t need the jars – you can do this in a bowl or even a zip loc bag !)

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Pasta, Sides

Mexican Mac and Cheese

July 30, 2010 admin 1 Comment

This is one of the better mac and cheese recipes I have done. Make sure you stir the mix enough to get all the cheese melted. And try not putting in the half and half until a good amount of the cheese is already melted so you don’t get unmelted lumps. This really hit the spot and you can certainly change it up by adding bits of different vegetables, maybe even some hot peppers 😉

4 servings
245 calories per serving

2 c FiberGourmet rotini pasta (without FiberGourmet, the recipe comes in at 285 calories per serving)
¼ c sliced black olives
½ c fat free half and half
½ t salt
1 small red bell pepper chopped
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies, drained
4 slices fat free Kraft American cheese slices

Cook pasta according to package instructions and stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until cheese is all melted.

Lunch, MUFAs, Salads, Tex Mex, Vegetables

Southwest Spinach Salad

July 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

What a symphony of flavors ! Your mouth doesn’t know what to be the happiest about – is it the pine nut accent? Or the spicy pepperjack cheese? Or the creamy avocados? Or the smoky chipotle dressing? This is one of THE BEST salads I’ve ever made.

4 servings
300 calories per serving

8 c fresh baby spinach
1/2 c corn with sweet peppers
1/3 c halved black pitted olives
2 T chopped fresh cilantro
2 oz. diced pepper jack cheese
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges each
2 hard boiled eggs, quartered
1 ripe avocado cut into 16 slices
3 T lime juice
2 T oil
1 t chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1/8 t salt
1 garlic clove, minced
2 T toasted pine nuts
A few extra squirts of lime juice if you like your salad nice and ‘wet’

Combine spinach, corn, olives, cilantro and cheese. Place 2 c worth on each plate. Arrange tomato, egg and avocado slices atop the spinach. Combine lime juice, oil, chopped chipotle, salt and garlic. Whisk well and pour over salads. Sprinkle with pine nuts.

Dinner, Salads, Sides

Roasted Garlic Potato Salad

July 5, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Just one more, just one more ! That’s what you’ll be saying after you have a few bites of this warm potato salad. The flavors were outstanding and it’s a nice dish next to fish or chicken.

8 servings
173 calories per serving

2 lb. small new potatoes, quartered (about 20)
2 T oil
1 bulb garlic
1 t oil
½ c sliced green onions
2 T white balsamic vinegar
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
2 T oil
¼ c sliced olives
¼ c sun dried tomatoes, drained and cut into thin strips

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put potatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with 2 T oil and toss then roast 10 minutes and stir. Cut the top off the bulb of garlic (DO VIDEO) and remove any loose paper skin and then cut side up in a baking cup and drizzle with 1 t oil. Cover with foil and place in oven and continue roasting 10 minutes. Stir potatoes and add onions and continue baking another 15 minutes or until potatoes and garlic are tender. Let stand until garlic is cool enough to handle. Squeeze out garlic cloves and mash with vinegar, salt and pepper then whisk in 1 T oil. Mix in the olives and tomatoes with the potatoes and then add the dressing and toss to coat.

Fish, Lunch

Tuna on Toast Lunch Plate

July 1, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a nice quick lunch that is satisfying and nutritious. Don’t like pickles? Try chopped celery or onion in the tuna instead. Change up the side vegetable for variety. But I like to keep the tzatziki (dip made of yogurt, garlic and cucumber) for dipping, it’s lo cal and yummy.

tuna on toast — Tuna on Toast Lunch Plate

2 servings
378 calories per serving

1 can solid white albacore tuna packed in water
3 slices pickles (Claussen Burger Slices)
2 ½ T mayonnaise with olive oil
¼ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

4 slices (45 cal each) wheat bread

20 small green olives stuffed with pimento

2 c carrot chips
½ c Tzatziki (store bought) for dipping carrots

Drain the tuna and place in a bowl. Chop pickles into small bits and place in bowl with tuna. Add mayo, onion powder, salt and pepper. Mix with a fork.

Toast bread and put ½ of the tuna mix on each sandwich. Divide olives, carrots and tzatziki among plates.

MUFAs

MUFAs in Your Diet

April 26, 2010 admin 6 Comments

MUFAS are monounsaturated fatty acids. They are the ‘healthy’ fats that we find in food such as avocados, olives, olive oil, dark chocolate, peanut butter, and nuts and seeds of all types. Many times people following low cal meal plans leave this out of their diets because the food items containing MUFAs are high in calories. DON’T DO IT !

For weeks I have been ‘stuck’. After dropping 30+ pounds consistently losing a pound a week, week after week, all of the sudden for a month or more I am stuck. Many dieters call this a plateau and they scream about it. I see why – here I am eating right, even lowering my daily caloric intake, my activity level is the same or higher – and I cannot continue dropping the pounds. What’s going on?

Well, I looked back and realized that I had been foregoing the MUFAs to increase other caloric intake. It was not even junk that I was adding – it was more veggies and fruits. Alas !

So last week I go back to peanut butter or yummy Barney Butter almond butter on my toast in the mornings. I add back semi-sweet chocolate chips as a nice little after lunch or dinner snack. I add back guacamole / avocado. And I add back a bit more olive oil and olives. Guess what? I’m down 2 pounds in a week !

It can only be the MUFAs ! Be sure to add them to your meal plans. As well as helping you feel satisfied (don’t all high fat items make you happy? hehehe) they supposedly also help your body flush out other not so healthy fats. Whatever the case, I am a believer – I have seen it for myself now and I’ll be making more room in my diet for the MUFAs I need to keep losing weight and reaching my goals 🙂

Kid Friendly, Lunch

Lunch Platter

April 14, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Another favorite chosen for RETREAD week – I love a platter of stuff 🙂

Sometimes I just don’t want a prepared meal – I want to pick like I am eating appetizers at a party. This dish is also a great snack if you have the calories left from eating a lighter lunch and dinner that day. Add more veggies (carrots, radishes, cucs) to make it larger without adding many more calories.

1 serving
330 calories per serving

15 slices turkey pepperoni
15 Triscuits Thin Crisps crackers
1 Babybel cheese
10 green pimento stuffed olives
Celery Sticks

Dinner, Fish, Italian

Sicilian Scallops

March 22, 2010 admin Leave a comment

I always find bay scallops sweeter than their larger sisters. The spinach mix gives this dish a special feel and it is sooooo low calorie !

4 servings
197 calories per serving

1 ¼ lb. bay scallops or seas scallops, quartered
Pam
1 T oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T chopped basil
¼ t salt
½ t black pepper
1 c cherry tomatoes
4 c spinach leaves
¼ c sliced black olives
2 T grated parmesan cheese

Rinse and dry scallops. Spray skillet with Pam and then add oil and heat. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes. Do not let it brown or it will be bitter. Add scallops, basil, salt and pepper and cook until scallops are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. If you get a lot of water in the bottom of the pan, drain it or the scallops will not brown. Remove to a platter and keep warm. Add tomatoes and spinach to skillet and cook just until spinach is wilted. Add olives and cheese and mix well. Place tomato mix around bed of scallops and serve immediately.

Appetizers, Snacks

‘Who Dat?’ Superbowl Dip

February 7, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great party dish and I’m serving it up for Superbowl. Unlike most of the other snacks that will be around, this one is low cal and nutritious so I will try and stay on the side of the table with this instead of the KFC wings 😉

32 servings
42 calories per serving (1 serving = 2 T)

1 can refried black beans
1 T chili powder
½ r cumin
1 c light sour cream
1 c shredded light cheddar cheese
3 green onions, sliced
1/3 c sliced black olives
1 tomato, chopped

Mix the beans, chili powder and cumin and spread on the bottom of a serving bowl or pie plate. Top with a layer of sour cream. Sprinkle with cheese, onions, olives and tomato. Refrigerate until well chilled. Serve with tortilla chips.