Even though I make these pops in a Zoku maker, you can make any of these recipes in traditional pop makers – each pop here is 2 oz. so adjust accordingly. And if you love pops like me, then do yourself a favor and get a Zoku 🙂 Their recipes turn out fantastic pops – I often skinny them up a bit, but I mostly use their measurements and basic recipe and am always pleased with the results.
The layer of graham cracker in this one really makes it taste like a slice of key lime pie – awesome !
Key Lime Pops
6 servings
83 calories per serving
1 c skim milk
¼ c sweetened condensed milk
¼ c key lime juice (or regular lime juice)
2 T clover honey
¼ c crumbled graham crackers (optional)
Lime slices (optional)
Whisk all ingredients. If you want to place a lime slice along the side of the mold, do so. Then pour in ingredients and freeze completely (7-9 minutes in the Zoku, 6 hours in the freezer). If you want to use layers of graham cracker (like a graham cracker crust on a pie), then let a layer of lime freeze all the way – then add a layer of the graham crumbs and pack them down before adding more base liquid.
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
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.
These potatoes come out so tender and the spritz of citrus at the end gives them a great flavor !
Potatoes in Foil
4 servings
167 calories per serving
1 ½ lb. new potatoes, halved
4 garlic cloves
1 T oil
Kosher salt to taste
Pepper to taste
¼ c cilantro leaves or basil leaves
Lemon or Lime wedges
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make a large double layer square of foil and place potatoes and garlic on it and drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Close up tightly and grill, rotating packet often, 25 minutes or until done. Before serving, add in cilantro, extra salt and pepper, and spritz with lime.
Check out the online cookbook, Keep the Beat ™ (available in pdf format) for some great ideas for healthful food that kids will eat and they will enjoy preparing with you. Kids learn by example – show them how good healthy food can be !!!
This is a great combination of an empanada and a pita – the recipe is fun to make and is a great healthy alternative to traditionally fried empanadas. You can easily change this up and use leftover pork or turkey instead. And you can even make it a bit more authentic by adding some sofrito to the mix. This was a great meal !
Empanapita
4 servings
373 calories per serving
2 6½-inch whole wheat pitas
1 c Tangy Salsa (see recipe below – or you can sub a store bought salsa)
For filling:
2 c canned low-sodium black beans, rinsed
2 c frozen broccoli, corn, and pepper vegetable mix, thawed
2 c grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced (Perdue Shortcuts work great here !)
½ c shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
¼ c sofrito tomato cooking base (in the Goya section of your market) – optional
1 T fresh cilantro, chopped
2 T scallions, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
For Tangy Salsa (22 calories per serving):
½ c jarred roasted red peppers, drained and patted dry
½ c no-salt-added diced tomatoes (or substitute 1 medium tomato, chopped)
1 small lime, peeled and cut into small chunks
¼ t ground black pepper
¼ t ground cumin
1 T fresh cilantro, rinsed and chopped
Tangy Salsa
Preheat oven to 400 ºF. Combine beans, vegetables, chicken, cheese, sofrito and seasonings. Mix well.
Cut pitas in half, and open the pockets. Divide filling evenly between the four and place on a nonstick baking sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes until the filling is hot, cheese melts, and chicken is reheated. You can make these a bit ahead of time and heat when ready – this makes it a great recipe for when you are having guests.
For salsa, combine all ingredients and toss well (it is best if you make this ahead and let sit an hour or 20 so let the flavors mingle). Serve each empanapita with ¼ cup of Tangy Salsa.
Don’t skimp on the salsa – it really makes the meal ! I added ¼ c lime juice, 1 T sliced scallions, salt and pepper and omitted the roasted red peppers. The lime pieces add such a nice fresh flavor !!
Quite sweet and definitely tastes of the islands ! This sweet/spicy sauce would do well on any white fish, but I love tilapia !
Spicy Jamaica Tilapia
6 servings
150 calories per serving
¼ c brown sugar
1 t ground cumin
1 t red pepper flakes
6 tilapia fillets, 4 oz. each
¼ c lite zesty Italian dressing
¼ c lime juice
½ c orange juice
¼ c chopped cilantro
2 T chopped mint leaves
Heat dressing in a skillet on medium high. Combine sugar, pepper and cumin and sprinkle 2 T over one side of the fish and put in skillet sugar side down then sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mix. Cook 5 minutes each side or until done. Remove from pan. Add juices to skillet and heat through then stir in cilantro and mint and spoon over the fish.
This is an excellent soup ! Be sure to remember the lime splash just before serving – it makes a big difference in the flavor.
Shrimp and Rice Soup
4 servings
320 calories per serving
4 c chicken broth
2 c water
1 c Minute Rice
1 T oil
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1 1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and cleaned
4 lime wedges
1 c bean sprouts (fresh or canned)
3 T sliced scallions
3 T chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix broth and water in a soup pot and bring to a boil then stir in rice and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in bean sprouts and let stand 5 minutes. Heat oil and sauté garlic, onions, shrimp and pepper flakes 3 minutes or until shrimp are done. Stir shrimp into soup, add salt and pepper, and garnish with cilantro. Sprinkle with lime just before serving.
For those that like it HOT, HOT, HOT – – this is the soup. The addition of the Spicy Hot V-8 makes for a perfect spicy base. Be sure to remember the lime splash just before serving – it makes a big difference in the flavor.
Spicy Hot Tomato Soup with Shrimp
4 servings
348 calories per serving
3 c chicken broth
2 c Spicy Hot V-8 juice
1 c Minute Rice
1 T oil
1 t minced garlic
¼ c sliced shallots
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and cleaned
4 lime wedges
1 c chopped mushrooms
1 c bean sprouts (fresh or canned)
3 T chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix broth, juice and water in a soup pot and bring to a boil then stir in rice and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in bean sprouts and let stand 5 minutes. Heat oil and sauté garlic and shallots for 2 minutes. Stir in shrimp, mushrooms, salt and pepper and sauté 3 minutes or until shrimp are done. Stir shrimp and cilantro into soup. Sprinkle with lime just before serving.
What a crisp and refreshing pop ! And when you are done, your mouth tastes like you just ate a bunch of ginger snap cookies. These are definitely on my list of recipes to make again 🙂
Ginger Pops
4 servings
52 calories per serving
½ c lemon lime seltzer
1/2 inch ginger
Juice of one lime
Juice of one lemon
3 T honey
1 cup ice
Place all in a blender and mix well. Spoon into popsicle molds and freeze at least 4 hours.
2 11 oz. cans of corn, well drained
2 T butter, soft
¼ t grated lime zest
2 t lime juice
½ t minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (available in the Mexican section of your grocer – or with most other Goya products)
1 t chili powder
½ t Kosher salt
Melt the butter and mix in the rest of the ingredients other than the corn. Then stir in corn and simmer until heated through.
