Tortellini with Tomatoes

This is a great dinner – you can serve this warm, at room temperature or even cold. The cheesy tortellini are the perfect base for a savory dressing and tons of flavorful tomatoes and rich artichokes and asparagus. The arugula and fresh basil top it off perfectly.

Tortellini with Tomatoes
Tortellini with Tomatoes

6 servings
400 calories per serving

2 9 oz packs fresh cheese tortellini
1 lb asparagus, sliced into 1 ½ inch long slices
3 T red vinegar
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 T olive oil
Salt to taste
1/4 t pepper
4 c baby arugula
1 1/2 c cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 c grated parmesan
1/3 c thinly sliced fresh basil
14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and cut in fours

Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Add asparagus into the pasta water during the last 2 minutes of cooking time then drain all. Mix vinegars, oil, salt and pepper and mix with pasta, arugula, tomatoes, cheese, basil and artichokes.

Key Lime Parfait

This has such a burst of lime flavor ! Your tastebuds really dance when you enjoy this parfait. At only 125 calories – have 2 🙂

Key Lime Parfait
Key Lime Parfait

8 servings
125 calories per serving

12 oz. evaporated milk
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
½ c confectioner’s sugar
½ c low fat sour cream
½ t grated lime zest
½ c bottled or fresh key lime juice

Pour the milk in a bowl and place in the freezer for about an hour, or until crystals begin to form. In a glass measuring cup, sprinkle gelatin over ¼ c cold water and let stand 5minutes then place the cup in a pan of simmer water and heat 4-5 minutes or until gelatin has dissolved and then cool it to room temperature.

Beat the milk until soft peaks form and then gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the sour cream and lime zest and then the cooled gelatin mix. Place bowl in refrigerator and chill ½ hour or so then fold the juice into the milk mixture and place into parfait glasses and chill another 2 hours.

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

This is just as great served fresh as it is chilled and served the next day. A great side salad for dinner or lunch !

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

6 servings
126 calories per serving

1 c uncooked couscous
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped (I like to use the virtually seedless English cucumber)
¼ t oil
¼ t vinegar
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil 1 c of water, add couscous and stir well, then cover and remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and stir in the tomatoes and cucumbers. Then stir in the oil, vinegar and spices.

Sauted Portobellos

Portobellos have such a great earthy flavor that you don’t want to douse these with too many spices and cover up the natural flavor. Just a little garlic, salt and pepper will do with Portobellos.

Sauted Portobellos
Sauted Portobellos


4 servings
51 calories per serving

12 oz portobello mushrooms (or a mixture of your favorite mushrooms including some portobellos)
1 T oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 large basil leaves, cut in thin strips
½ c chopped parsley

Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Saute garlic for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper, lower heat to medium, and cook to desired doneness. I like my mushrooms cooked down quite a bit. Sprinkle herbs on during the last minute of cooking.

Chicken and Rice Soup

The egg in this soup makes for a super rich and creamy broth – this is kinda high cal for soup, but it is satisfying, filling and so worth it. Sometimes I just crave a soup rich with rice and chicken (and devoid of any veggies!) and this is it. It really hits the spot 🙂

Chicken and Rice Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup

4 servings
353 calories per serving

7 cups fat free chicken broth
¾ lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
1 c long grain white rice
3 large eggs
1/3 c lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix broth and chicken in a pot and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Lower heat a bit and continue cooking until chicken is done, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove chicken to a plate and when cool, shred into bite sized pieces. Bring broth back to a good simmer and add rice and cook about 18 minutes and then put chicken back in the pot. Whisk eggs until frothy and then whisk in the lemon juice. While continuing to whisk, add 1 c hot broth to the egg mix. Then whisk the egg and lemon mix into the large pot. Add salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Open Faced Warm Mozz Sandwiches

Cheesy, quick and easy – and very different with some alfalfa sprouts thrown on for good measure !

Open Faced Warm Mozz Sandwiches
Open Faced Warm Mozz Sandwiches

4 servings
185 calories per serving

4 slices 45 calorie whole wheat bread, toasted
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 medium tomato, sliced
5 oz. alfalfa sprouts
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread toast with cream cheese and then layer on tomato and sprouts. Top with mozz and bake 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup (Crock Pot)

I just found a new favorite chicken soup ! For years I have made ‘my chicken soup’ more often than any other recipe. But this one just takes the cake and this is my new ‘go to’ recipe. It combines home cooked goodness with just a little something extra…the evaporated milk makes the broth become such a mellow base and the roasted chicken has such a great texture – very different from your traditional soup where you cook the chicken in the broth. Give it a try !!

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup (Crock Pot)
Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup (Crock Pot)

6 servings
373 calories per serving

1 c onions, chopped
1 c carrots, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 t oil
¼ t flour
½ t oregano flakes
¼ t onion powder
¼ t garlic powder
6 c fat free chicken broth
2 c water
4 c diced potatoes (I used canned)
1 t salt
2 c skinless roasted chicken, diced (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
2 c wide egg noodles
1 c fat free evaporated milk

Heat a skillet and add oil and brown onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Stir in flour, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder and then pour into crock and mix in broth, water, potatoes and salt. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours. Add chicken, noodles and milk and cook until noodles are tender, about ½ hour. If you don’t have a crock pot, you can easily do this stove top. Just let it simmer for an hour or 2 at very low temperature for the first step, then add the chicken, noodles and milk and let cook another 15 minutes or so.

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