Tag Archives: bacon

Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)

So rich, so creamy, so flavorful – this risotto is perfect next to anything.

Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)
Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)

6 servings
231 calories per serving

5 cups chicken stock
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
2 springs of parsley
2 T oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 celery stalk, chopped
2 strips bacon, chopped
1 c raw arborio rice
2 c frozen peas
1 T butter
2 T chopped parsley
3/4 c grated parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste

Place stock and fresh herbs in a soup pot and bring to a boil then reduce heat and keep at a simmer. Saute onion, celery and bacon 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat then cook 1 minute. Remove herbs from stock and add 1/2 c of stock to rice mix and stir constantly so stock is absorbed. Add another 1/2 c and cook until stock is absorbed. Then add peas. Continue to add stock 1/2 c at a time and cook until absorbed until rice is tender and the mix is a little thinner than risotto. When done, stir in parsley, butter and parmesan and serve immediately.

Rice Pilaf

This rice dish adds in veggies and lots of extra flavor from the shallots and garlic – this is definitely not your boring rice side dish !

Rice Pilaf
Rice Pilaf

4 servings
167 calories per serving

½ c finely chopped shallots
½ c sliced mushrooms
¼ c chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T butter
¾ c long grain rice
1 ½ t chicken or beef bouillon powder
¼ t pepper
½ t salt
1 ½ c water
2 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled

Melt butter in a pan. Cook shallot, mushrooms, celery and garlic until tender. Stir in rice, flavoring, salt and pepper and water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat., cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in bacon just before serving.

Sauteed Escarole with White Beans

I have a lot of recipes pairing white beans and escarole – but this one is just a bit more – this one adds extra veggies and the dish is totally different than plain old sautéed escarole. The creamy texture of the beans just goes great with the crisp zucchini and corn.

Sauteed Escarole with White Beans
Sauteed Escarole with White Beans

4 servings
210 calories per serving

2 heads escarole, rinsed well and chopped
2 oz. pancetta or bacon, chopped
1 zucchini, quartered and cut into julienne strips
1 garlic clove, minced
1 c frozen corn kernels , thawed
15 oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 T red wine vinegar
1 t olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
Pam

Heat a large skillet and spray with Pam. Add escarole and cook 6 minutes to wilt. Remove and set aside. Cook bacon 2 minutes then add zucchini and cook 4 minutes. Add garlic and corn and cook 1 minutes. Add back the escarole then mix in parsley, beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, vinegar and oil. Toss well and serve.

Turkey, Bacon and Avocado Wrap

Wraps make great lunches and you can stuff them with just about anything. This one has some of my favorite things…including BACON ! And spreading the Laughing Cow cheese on the whole wrap ensures that you get cheesy goodness in every bite !

Turkey, Bacon and Avocado Wrap
Turkey, Bacon and Avocado Wrap

1 serving
344 calories per serving

1 Wrap (80 calorie La Tortilla Factory version)
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Cheese (original Swiss flavor)
2 slices turkey bacon
3 slices deli turkey
Alfalfa sprouts or some shredded lettuce
1/2 c chopped or sliced tomatoes
3 slices avocado

Cook the bacon according to package instructions. Lay wrap on flat surface. Spread the cheese wedge on it. When placing ingredients down the center of the wrap, do not go quite to the bottom – leave a little room (1 inch) so you will be able to wrap is securely. Place the turkey slices down the center. Lay the bacon slices down the center. Spread sprouts and tomato down the center. And finally lay the 3 avocado slices down the center. Wrap securely.

Some people shy away from them for the simple reason that they do not know how to wrap them so that the stuff stays in place. Take a quick look at my video showing you how to get a nice tight wrap that will not leak.

Sofrito Beans

Sofrito is filled with just incredible spices – when you add that and bacon to beans, there is nothing better ! The creamy texture of the beans mixed with the spicy sofrito is just perfect.

Sofrito Beans
Sofrito Beans

8 servings
290 calories per serving

2 c canned black beans, rinsed and drained
6 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 c sofrito sauce (In the Mexican section at your grocer)

Cook bacon then add beans along with sofrito and cook 15 minutes.

Bacon and Cheese Hotdog

What a great change to your regular hotdog. The kids will gobble these up ! If you use a low fat bun and non fat hotdogs, you can get this calorie count down quite a bit.

Bacon and Cheese Hotdog
Bacon and Cheese Hotdog

1 serving
330 calories per serving

1 low fat beef hot dog
2 slices cooked turkey bacon, crumbled
1 whole wheat hot dog bun
1 slice Kraft fat free cheese
1 T barbeque sauce or ketchup

Grill or boil the hot dog. Place cheese in bun and add hot dog. Top with sauce and bacon crumbles.

Succotash

I was a weird kid – I loved succotash and asked for it regularly ! I had not made it in quite some time, but now that I have the perfect recipe, I’ll be making it a whole lot more often.

Succotash
Succotash

8 servings
182 calories per serving

4 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
16 oz. frozen lima beans
1/2 c water
10 oz. frozen corn
1/2 c skim milk
2 T butter
2 T cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 t Molly McButter

Heat a skillet and cook bacon until crisp then remove it and drain on paper towels. Add onion and cook 5-6 minutes. Add beans and water and cook 5 minutes then add corn, milk, butter and vinegar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in bacon. Add Molly McButter, salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Turkey Melt

Hot turkey and gravy out of the oven are good enough along – but add in bacon and cheese and you definitely have a winner ! I can’t believe this is only 293 calories – it tastes so decadent.

Turkey Melt
Turkey Melt

4 servings
293 calories per serving

8 slices wheat bread (45 calories per slice or less) toasted
1 lb. sliced cooked turkey
1/2 c water
1 c condensed low fat Cream of Mushroom soup
1 c shredded low fat sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices lightly cooked turkey bacon

Preheat broiler. Lay toast on a baking sheet and distribute turkey slices among bread. Mix water and soup and heat thoroughly. Spoon heated soup over turkey and sprinkle with the cheese and then top with bacon. Broil 3-4 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Brussel Sprouts Gratin

B A C O N. Bacon makes everything better and this is no exception. So tasty !

Brussel Sprouts Gratin
Brussel Sprouts Gratin

6 servings
133 calories per serving

2 slices hickory smoke bacon (or use regular bacon and ad a drop of ‘smoke’ flavor seasoning)
4 shallots, thinly sliced
2 lb. brussel sprouts, halved
1 c water
½ t kosher salt
¼ t pepper
Pam
2 oz bread crumbs
3 T butter

Preheat broiler. Cook bacon until crisp then remove from pan, cool and crumble. Add shallots to bacon drippings and sauté 4 minutes. Add sprouts and 1 c water and bring to a boil then cover pan loosely with some foil and continue cooking 6 minutes or until tender. Add salt and pepper and mix. Melt butter in a small pan and add breadcrumbs and some salt and sauté to toast the crumbs. Add bacon crumbles to breadcrumbs. Turn sprouts into a baking dish sprayed with Pam and sprinkle with the breadcrumb mix. Broil 3 minutes.

Baked Pierogi

Take regular old store bought pierogi and turn them into a meal fit for a king ! The cheese sauce on top of these is out of this world good when mixed with the potato and cheese pierogi filling.

Baked Pierogi
Baked Pierogi

4 servings
281 calories per serving

1 16 oz. package or frozen pierogies
Pam
2 lean bacon slices, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 oz. low fat cream cheese
½ c chicken broth
½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
¼ c sliced scallions
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pierogies in a bowl and cover with hot water to defrost. Drain well. Spray 9×13 pan with Pam and add pierogies. Heat a skillet and cook the bacon the remove and set aside (crumble it when it is cool enough). Add garlic to pan and sauté 30 seconds then add cream cheese and cook 1 minute. Whisk in broth and then pour over the pierogies. Add the cheese on top and bake 20 minutes or until heated. When done, sprinkle with bacon, scallions, salt and pepper.

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