Tag Archives: cheese

Breakfast, Instructional, Kid Friendly, Videos

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Muffin

January 31, 2010 admin 1 Comment

This breakfast muffin has not one, but TWO pieces of Canadian bacon, cheese and eggs – all for 250 calories ! Compare that to the fast food breakfast sandwiches that weigh in between 300 and 500 calories and the choice is clear !

1 serving
250 calories per serving

1/4 c Egg Beaters
2 slices Canadian bacon
1 slice Kraft fat free American cheese
1 lite whole wheat muffin, toasted
1 T lite buttery spread
Pam

Heat pan on medium high heat. Remove from heat and spray with Pam. Return to heat. Add Egg Beaters and reduce heat to medium and use a spatula to keep eggs contained to a small circle while they set and cook. Cook until done. Meanwhile, heat bacon in microwave 30 seconds. Butter muffin and place cheese on hot toasted muffin so it will melt. Add eggs and bacon.

Here’s a quick video to show you how to prep the eggs:

Crock pot, Dinner, Instructional, Italian, Videos

Lasagna (Crock Pot)

January 28, 2010 admin 2 Comments

Even traditional lasagna lovers like this one – and it is nice and easy to do. Start it at lunch time and have dinner ready 4 hours later. Take a look at my video below for instructions on how to layer it in your crock.

8 servings
275 calories per serving

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 c diced eggplant
1 jar Paul Newman’s marinara sauce
1/4 t red pepper flakes
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
¼ t basil flakes
1 c water
15 oz part skim ricotta cheese
1 T chopped parsley
1/4 c Egg Beaters
1 c shredded parmesan cheese (not grated, shredded)
8 no boil lasagna noodles

Brown the ground beef in a heated skillet and drain off any fat and water. Stir in the pepper, sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, basil flakes, water, and eggplant. In a bowl combine the egg, cheeses and parsley. Place a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a crock pot. I find my oval shaped on works the best here. Top with 2-3 noodles, nipping off the corners in order to get a nice fit. Add another layer of meat sauce and then one thick layer of the cheese mixture. Top with a final layer of noodles and then a final layer of meat sauce. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.

Here is a video of how to layer it up in the crock pot:

Appetizers, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Turkey

Crock Pot Appetizer Meatballs

January 26, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Kid Friendly, Mexican, Sides

Potato with Mexican Topping

January 25, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Sides, Tex Mex

Southwest Vegetable Bake

January 24, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Breakfast, Kid Friendly

French Toast with Benefits

January 24, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Dinner, Italian, Lunch

Eggplant Pizza

January 21, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This one really hits the spot ! I spice it up a little by adding crushed red pepper flakes 🙂 Don’t like eggplant, then substitute tomato slices. But be sure to give this one a try.

4 servings
295 calories per serving

1/2 c marinara sauce
1 10 oz. Boboli (precooked pizza shell available at all food markets)
1 small eggplant, peeled and cut into thin slices
1/2 c part skim ricotta
2 T parmesan cheese
2 T thinly sliced basil
Dried oregano flakes
Onion powder
Garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread sauce on Boboli. Sprinkle with a little dried oregano flakes, onion powder and garlic powder. Top with eggplant slices and drop ricotta by tablespoonfuls evenly over the eggplant. Bake directly on oven rack 12-15 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and parmesan right when it comes out of the oven.

Kid Friendly, Sides

Cheesy Potato Balls

January 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

A great potato side dish that is a bit different from your regular mashed or baked potatoes. Kids love these – what’s not to love….cheese and potatoes in one great package ! I often add canned green chilies or some steamed chopped up green bell peppers and steamed shredded carrots to give these a little extra flavor and some color.

8 servings
185 calories per serving (1 serving=3 potato balls)

1 package Oreida frozen steamed mashed potatoes
1 T light butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2 1/2 oz. shredded light cheddar cheese
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1 t garlic powder
Pam
1 large egg white
1 1/2 t skim milk
2 T water
2/3 c bread crumbs

Prepare potatoes according to package directions. Mix with butter, salt and pepper. Cool potatoes to room temperature and add cheeses and garlic powder. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Make 24 balls and place on sheet of paper or foil. Mix egg white, water and milk in a small bowl. Put bread crumbs in a bowl. Dip balls in egg and then drop into crumbs to coat – do one at a time. Place on baking sheet and mist tops with more Pam.

Bake 10 minutes and serve immediately. If you have had the mix refrigerated over 3 hours, you may want to cook 15 minutes to make sure they are heated through.

Kid Friendly, Mexican, Snacks

Cheesy Nacho Bites

January 17, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Get your microwaved snack in 30 seconds – there’s no shorter countdown to cheesy nachos !

4 servings
290 calories per serving

24 baked tortilla chips
1 c shredded pepper jack cheese
24 t salsa

Place 6 chips on a paper plate. Sprinkle with 1/4 c cheese. Microwave 20 seconds or until cheese is melted. Top with 1 t salsa per chip. Repeat for 3 other servings.

Breakfast, Lunch, Mediterranean, Sandwiches

Mediterranean Muffin

January 16, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This makes a great breakfast, brunch or lunch. Try changing it up a little by switching green olives for black, fresh tomato for sundried, etc.

1 serving
360 calories per serving

1 light whole wheat English muffin
1 Babybel cheese, sliced into thin rounds
2 slices turkey bacon
5 sundried tomato strips
2 T chopped black olives
4 very thin slices cucumber
1 Romaine lettuce leaf

Cook bacon according to package instructions. Toast muffin. While still hot, place cheese slices on bottom half. Then add bacon, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, lettuce and top with the other half of the muffin.