Lemon Garlic Potatoes

February 4, 2010 admin Leave a comment

These have a great fresh flavor and are very different from your typical potato recipes – the lemon really gives them a blast of unexpected flavor. If you’re pressed for time, try microwaving the potato cubes for 6 minutes or so – that will cut down the boiling time by half.

6 servings
103 calories per serving

1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cubed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Black pepper to taste

In a pot over medium heat, combine the potatoes and with enough water to cover them by 1″. Add salt. Cook 20-25 minutes, or until tender. Drain and return to the pan and add lemon juice, oil, garlic, and pepper to taste. Saute for 2 minutes to allow the garlic to cook some.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

Baked Ham

February 4, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Lean ham is a great ‘diet’ meal – it is relatively low in calories and definitely does not feel like you are eating diet food ! And the precooked, boneless ones available at the food store are a snap to make.

8 servings
188 calories per serving

2 lb. boneless precooked ham

Place ham in an oven safe dish with a little water. Tent with foil and place in a preheated 325 degree oven. Bake 30-45 minutes or until hot throughout. Let stand 5 minutes and then slice into thin slices. Serve with creamy horseradish sauce.

Sides, Vegetables

Lemony Green Beans

February 3, 2010 admin 2 Comments

Way better than the standard green bean and Durkee onion casserole ! So much fresher and oodles more flavor !!

4 servings
49 calories per serving

1 pound green beans in 1 inch pieces
2 teaspoons butter sprinkles (I Use Molly McButter)
2 teaspoons finely chopped basil
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon oil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large pan, bring 1 inch water to a boil and place the beans on a steaming rack inside the pan. Cover and steam for 5 – 7 minutes. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with the butter, basil, zest, oil and pepper. Mix well and serve immediately.

Lunch, Mediterranean, Sandwiches

Greek BLT

February 3, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Look at all that cheese, and bacon ! This is great as a breakfast or lunch. There’s lots of strong flavors here but they combine well together.

1 serving
340 calories per serving

1 whole wheat English muffin
2 T black olive spread (tapenade) – or just chopped black olives
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light cheese, regular flavor
1/4 c sliced cucumber
3 sundried tomatoes diced up
3 large romaine leaves
2 slices cooked turkey bacon

Toast muffin. Spread cheese on both sides. Spread olive tapendade on one half. Pile up the rest of the stuff and dig in 🙂

Salads, Sides

Apple Salad

February 3, 2010 admin 1 Comment

A sophisticated blend of endive, watercress and apple that cures boring salads !

4 servings
132 calories per serving

Dressing:
2 T oil
1 T cider vinegar
1 t sugar free maple syrup
2 t Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Salad:
2 heads endive
1 bunch watercress
4 stalks celery
1 apple

Mix dressing. Core and slice endive. Remove thick stems from watercress. Slice celery and apple thinly. Mix together and add dressing. Add 2 T crumbled goat cheese for only 40 calories more.

Dinner, Pork

Lemon Parsley Pork Chops

February 2, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Super savory and very easy to make. The topping has such a burst of lemony flavor that you don’t want to stop eating !

4 servings
208 calories per serving

1 T oil
Pam
4 boneless pork chops (3 ounces each)
1/2 onion, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c hot water
4 T parsley, chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of one half lemon

Heat oil and Pam in skillet on medium high heat. Saute the onion for 3-4 minutes. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and then add to pan. Cook 3 minutes. Turn meat over and add garlic and continue cooking another 3 minutes. Add water. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook 10 minutes.

Uncover and cook 5 more minutes. Remove chops to a plate and keep warm. Add parsley and lemon zest to pan. Cook down for about 2 minutes on high. Squeeze in lemon juice and cook down 30 seconds more. Spoon this mix over the chops and serve immediately.

Fish, Lunch

Shrimp Cocktail Lunch

February 2, 2010 admin Leave a comment

When you are using shrimp in a shrimp cocktail, splurge and get them at a fish market or a food market that has a good fish department – they are just fresher and better suited to cocktail. I like my cocktail sauce very zesty – if you cannot find a spicy enough one at the food store or fish market, just stir in some extra prepared horseradish.

1 serving
179 calories per serving

4 large shrimp, cleaned and cooked
4 T cocktail sauce
1/2 lemon, cut in wedges

2 c field greens
1/2 c sliced cucumber
2 T low fat dressing

Spritz the shrimp with lemon and put on a plate with cocktail sauce for dipping.

Mix cucumber, salad and dressing.

This one is satisfying, packed with protein, yet so low fat and low cal that you can have an extra latte today 🙂

Chicken, Dinner, Lunch

Healthy Buffalo Chicken

February 1, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great appetizer or lunch portion – for dinner, add a nice salad or fruit mix on the side.

4 servings
230 calories per serving

1 lb. chicken tenders cut in half
1/2 t cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
3 T cayenne pepper sauce (Frank’s Hot Sauce)
1 T water
1 T buttery spread, melted
1/3 c low fat sour cream
1/4 c crumbled blue cheese
2 T low fat mayonnaise
2 T skim milk
1/4 t Worcestershire sauce
Carrot and celery slices

Preheat broiler. Spray baking sheet with Pam. Toss chicken with cayenne pepper and 1/4 t salt. Place chicken on pan and broil 6 inches from heat for 5 minutes. Microwave cayenne sauce, water and butter 10 seconds. Brush onto chicken and broil 2 minutes longer, then flip chicken, coat with more sauce and broil another minute or until chicken is done.

Make dip by combining sour cream, cheese, mayonnaise, milk and Worcestershire. Serve chicken with dip, carrots and celery sticks.

Chicken, Lunch, Soups

Creamy Chicken Soup

February 1, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a filling, creamy soup packed with iron – get your Popeye on ! Serve with whole wheat garlic toast for a great lunch meal.

3 servings
262 calories per serving

4 oz. dry cheese tortellini
8 oz. fat free chicken broth
1 can reduced fat cream of chicken soup
5 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed
4 oz diced cooked chicken (Purdue Shortcuts strips save time here)
1 c skim milk
1 c water
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil water and cook tortellini according to instructions. Heat all other ingredients and bring to boil and heat thoroughly. Add tortellini. Heat for another few minutes.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Lemon Cookies

February 1, 2010 admin 1 Comment

So buttery, so lemony, so good ! These are like lemon shortbread and they just melt in your mouth. A little high on the calorie count, but sooooo worth it. And 3 cookies really is enough for a snack – these are so rich !

30 cookies
328 calories for 3 cookies

2 c flour
1 c confectioner’s sugar
1 t Kosher salt
1 T plus 1 t lemon zest
1 t lemon juice
1 c sweet butter cut into pieces
2 large egg yolks
1/4 c granulated sugar

Pulse flour, confectioner’s sugar, salt and lemon zest. Add butter and process until coarse like breadcrumbs. Add yolks and lemon juice and process until dough comes together. Divide dough in half and form each into a log. Wrap in plastic and freeze until firm, about 3 hours. If you freeze any longer than 3 hours, these will be too hard to slice and you’ll need to let defrost a bit or microwave for 30 seconds or so.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread sugar on a piece of foil and roll logs in the sugar. Cut into 1/4 thick slices and place on baking sheets 1 inch apart as they will spread as they cook. Bake 15 minutes or until edges are browned.

400 Calories or Less

Monthly Archives: February 2010