Tag Archives: mozzarella

Appetizers, Italian, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Snacks

Mini Pizzas

February 11, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Easy as pie and so much better for you then the predone ones you get in the freezer section. These take just a moment to prepare and are done cooking in 3-4 minutes. You just can’t go wrong with this crowd pleaser. Serve as an appetizer, lunch, or a quick after school snack !

6 servings (1 bagel per serving)
120 calories per serving

6 mini bagels
1/4 c pizza sauce
1 t oregano flakes
1 t basil flakes
3/4 cup part skim shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat broiler. Split the bagels and toast them lightly. Then spread with sauce and sprinkle with spices. Finally add the cheese and then broil 3-4 minutes to melt cheese. Add some crushed red pepper if you like it spicy !

Italian, Lunch, Sandwiches

Easy Caprese Panini

January 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Caprese is a style of salad made with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella – here we place it all in a sandwich and heat it up so that all the flavors intensify.

1 serving
329 calories per serving

1 Arnold Sandwich Thins bun
1 T prepared low fat pesto
2 tomato slices
2 oz. part skim mozzarella cheese
3 large basil leaves
ICBINB Spray
Pam

Spread pesto inside roll and add tomato, cheese and basil. Spray the outsides of the buns with a few spritizes of ICBINB spray. Spray a pan with Pam and heat to very hot. Add sandwich and grill2 minutes. Flip and grill another 2-3 minutes.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Pasta

Italian Veggies and Pasta

January 20, 2011 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Spinach and Mushroom White Lasagna

January 2, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The white sauce in this recipe is so very flavorful ! This is a perfect non traditional lasagna. Without using FiberGourmet lasagna noodles, this one comes in over the 400 calorie mark. Thanks again, FiberGourmet ! I couldn’t do it without you 🙂

6 servings
296 calories per serving

18 uncooked no boil FiberGourmet lasagna noodles
3 c skim milk
½ t oregano flakes
½ t basil flakes
1 t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ t salt
1 c chicken broth
3 T cornstarch
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1 lb. frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry in a colander
½ c sliced green onions
4 oz. shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
2 c sliced mushrooms

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pan combine milk and seasonings and bring to a boil. Combine starch and broth and slowly add to milk mix stirring constantly. Cook on medium 5 minutes or until bubbly, stirring constantly then stir in half the parmesan cheese. Spread ½ c sauce in a 13×9 pan and then layer in this way –

Noodles
Spinach
Sauce
A bit of parm
Mozzarella
Noodles
Mushrooms
Spinach
Sauce
A bit of parm
Noodles
Sauce
A dusting of parm

Cover with foil and bake 55 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with last ½ of the mozzarella and let stand 15 minutes.

Chicken, Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Chicken Parm with Pasta

November 10, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is one of my favorite dishes, but the restaurant version will kill you with calories. This one has been lightened up quite a bit – it comes in at only 324 calories and that includes a generous side of pasta (thanks FiberGourmet!!)

4 servings
324 calories per serving

4 4 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts
Water
1/2 c bread crumbs
¼ c parmesan
½ t garlic powder
½ t oregano flakes
½ t parsley flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam
¼ c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
½ c marinara sauce for chicken (Paul Newman’s is good)
1 ½ c marinara sauce for pasta
2 T parmesan
6 oz. FiberGourmet penne, fettucicine or rotini pasta

Preheat broiler. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with Pam. Mix breadcrumbs with ¼ c parmesan cheese. Mix herbs and spices. Rinse chicken breasts in water and then sprinkle with herb mix before dipping in breadcrumbs to coat. Press crumbs into the chicken so they stick well. Lay chicken in pan and sprinkle with any remaining bread crumbs.

Broil 6 minutes, turn and lightly spray the tops with Pam (so they will brown nicely) and then broil another 6 minutes. Meanwhile cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat 1 ½ c sauce (for pasta) in microwave or on stovetop. When pasta is done, drain, mix with sauce and sprinkle with 2 T parmesan cheese.

Remove chicken from oven and cover with ½ c sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Turn off broiler and turn oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken back in oven 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melty.

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, Kid Friendly, Turkey

Turkey and Noodle Bake

August 15, 2010 admin Leave a comment

I have made other dishes like this that turn out to be a healthier Hamburger Helper (like my Turkey Stroganoff), but this one is THE one – it is a little moister than my other version, and the flavoring is just perfect. You definitely have to try this one out !!

6 servings
352 calories per serving

1 ¼ lb. lean ground turkey
1 ½ c sliced mushrooms
½ c chopped onion
½ c chopped green bell pepper
21 oz. fat free brown gravy
½ t onion salt
½ t salt
½ t pepper
3 c cooked yolk free egg noodles
1 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook turkey, mushrooms, onion and green pepper in a skillet until turkey is no longer pink then add onion salt, salt and pepper and mix well. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes then place noodles in a 3 quart dish sprayed with Pam and top with the meat mix. Pour the gravy over. Sprinkle with cheese, cover and bake 20 minutes then uncover and bake another 15 minutes.

Dinner, Instructional, Sides, Videos

Twice Baked Potatoes

July 21, 2010 admin Leave a comment

So very good ! You can stuff potatoes with just about anything but this recipe turns out a perfect twice baked potato – the sour cream and mozzarella are just perfect here.

4 servings
172 calories per serving

4 medium baking potatoes
1/3 c low fat sour cream
2 T chopped fresh basil and chives and parsley
2 T grated parmesan cheese
Skim milk
¼ c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Clean potatoes, dry them and prick them with a fork. Bake one hour. Cut a 1 inch slit in the top and spoon out pulp into a bowl. Do this gently so the skin stays in tact. Use a blender so you get nice whipped consistency and mix together the pulp, sour cream, herbs and parmesan cheese. Add a few tablespoons of milk if the mix is too dry. Stuff the mixture back into the potato skins and sprinkle with mozzarella. Place in a baking dish and bake 20 minutes or refrigerate and then when you bake, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes then uncover and bake another 20 minutes.

To hollow out the potatoes, after you bake them, let them cool and then follow the instructions in this video.

Italian, Kid Friendly, Lunch

Ham and Cheese Calzone

June 3, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This makes a splendid calzone – and at a fraction of the calories of a pizza shop one ! The cheese melts beautifully and the portion size was just perfect. If you’ve never had a calzone before, it’s just pizza dough wrapped around cheese and other goodies – this one has ham, but some people prefer just cheese.

4 servings
277 calories per serving

1/3 c fat free ricotta cheese
½ t oregano flakes
½ t parsley flakes
½ t pepper
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
¾ c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
¼ c shredded parmesan cheese
¼ c finely chopped ham
1 10 oz. tube pizza dough
Pam

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking sheet with Pam. Mix ricotta, spices, parmesan. Mozzarella and ham. Unroll the dough and press it into a 10 inch circle or 10×12 rectangle. Spoon the mix onto one half leaving a 1 inch border and then fold the other side over and seal the edges by pinching the dough to secure. Bake 8 minutes then turn over and bake another 6 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool – then cut into 4 servings. Optionally serve with some low fat marinara sauce for dipping.

Lunch, Sandwiches, Vegetables

Grilled Garden Sandwiches

May 14, 2010 admin Leave a comment

For only 260 calories you get a big, beefy sandwich just packed with veggies that are sooooo flavorful. And the mozzarella cheese is just the ‘icing on the cake’ here !

4 servings
260 calories per serving

8 slices whole wheat bread
1 medium zucchini cut lengthwise into ¼ inch thick slices
1 small red bell pepper halved
½ small eggplant, peeled and cut into ½ inch thick slices
½ c fat free Italian dressing
¾ c shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat broiler. Brush one side of the veggies with dressing and broil dressing side up for 5 minutes. Turn, recoat and broil another 5 minutes. Then cut everything into bite sized pieces. Toast bread and sprinkle 4 pieces with cheese then top with the veggies and cover with the rest of the bread.