Tag Archives: cheese

Eggplant with Bruschetta

April 24, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a great appetizer – breaded eggplant, ricotta and tomato bruschetta. It’s like an inside out eggplant rollatini with a topping of bruschetta and herbs.

6 servings
177 calories per serving

1 medium eggplant, peeled and sliced
Salt
½ c Egg Beaters
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
¾ c breadcrumbs
¼ c parmesan cheese
2 T olive oil (save ½ t for tomatoes)
14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained well
2 t white vinegar
1 c fat free ricotta cheese
Chopped basil

Slice the eggplant thinly and lay rounds on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and let sit ½ so pull out some of the bitterness. Rinse and pat dry. Mix eggs, salt and pepper. Mix breadcrumbs, garlic and cheese. Heat 1 T oil in skillet. Dip eggplant in egg and then crumbs to coat. Work in batches and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Add extra oil in between batches. Drain on paper towels. Place on a platter and top each round with some ricotta cheese. Mix tomatoes and vinegar and ½ t oil and divide among eggplant rounds. Garnish with chopped basil.

Dinner, Pork

Pork and Orzo

April 23, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a fantastic dish – the feta cheese brings a nice flavor and makes the dish much more special. It’s a great balanced meal in a bowl – all your protein, veggies and carbs all in one nice package.

6 servings
373 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. pork tenderloin
1 t coarsely ground pepper
2 T oil
½ t Kitchen Bouquet (flavoring in the gravy or spice section of your market)
3 qt. water
1 ¼ c orzo
¼ t salt
6 oz. baby spinach
1 c grape tomatoes, halved
¾ c reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled
Lemon juice

Rub pepper into meat and cut into bite sized pieces then cook in oil over medium heat for 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in Kitchen Bouquet and stir well. Cook pasta for 9 minutes in boiling water and then stir in spinach and cook a minute longer. Add tomatoes to the pork and cook 1 minute then add the drained orzo and finally add the feta cheese. Just before serving, splash with some fresh lemon juice.

Lunch, Mexican, Vegetables, Videos

Vegetable Burritos

April 20, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is one of those recipes where you just don’t miss the meat – not one bit ! Roasting the veggies first gives them a great flavor, then you add chili powder, then you add rice simmered with chipotle for the smoky flavor and then you add CHEESE ! This is a satisfying, perfect lunch.

4 servings
380 calories per serving

Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/3 c water
½ c brown rice
1 T minced canned chipotle in adobo sauce
4 bell peppers cut into thin strips
4 medium carrots thinly sliced
1 T oil
1 T chili powder
6 oz. fresh spinach leaves thinly sliced
4 10 inch burritos
¾ c low fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese
½ c salsa (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring water to a boil and add rice and 1 t salt along with the diced chipotle. Cover and cook 45 minutes then remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes. Toss pepper, carrots, oil and chili powder in a baking pan and roast about ½ hour then add spinach and toss. Warm tortillas and add rice, cheese and veggies and wrap. Serve with salsa.

Here a quick video on how to create a wrap so it does not leak

Chicken, Dinner

Chicken Cordon Bleu

April 18, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a very traditional dish that has been skinnied up – but don’t think it’s short on the flavor !

4 servings
275 calories per serving

4 5 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 c shredded Swiss cheese
2 T low fat cream cheese
1/4 c breadcrumbs
1 T chopped parsley
4 t oil, divided
1/4 c chopped ham

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Mix swiss and cream cheese. Mix some pepper with the breadcrumbs and parsley then add 2 t oil. Heat 2 t oil in an oven proof skillet and cook the chicken 2-3 minutes per side to brown it. Move chicken to a baking sheet sprayed with Pam and spread with cheese. Sprinkle with ham and breadcrumbs. Bake 7-8 minutes or until done.

Dinner, Italian, Pasta, Sides

Parmesan Orzo

April 12, 2012 admin Leave a comment

There is so much cheesy goodness in this side dish – don’t think of it as pasta with a sprinkling of cheese. It is much more pasta with a gooey, yummy cheese sauce.

4 servings
263 calories per serving

2 T butter
1 c uncooked orzo
1 14.5 oz. can chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c chopped fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a sauce pan and sauté orzo until lightly browned. Add the broth and bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to low and cook 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Mix in cheese, basil, salt and pepper.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Soups

Ravioli Soup

April 2, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a superb soup – the broth is so rich and full bodied it could almost be used as a tomato sauce if you thickened it up some. The ravioli are a great addition as the cheesiness mixes so well with the tomato based broth. Any cheese pasta would do well here, but the ravioli makes it just a little different and oh so yummy !

4 servings
274 calories per serving

1 T olive oil
2 c frozen bell pepper and onion mix, thawed and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 t crushed red pepper
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
32 oz. vegetable broth
1 c hot water
1 t basil flakes
1 t oregano flakes
9 oz. frozen cheese ravioli
2 c diced zucchini
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large soup pot and add peppers, onions, garlic and red pepper. Saute for 4 minutes then add tomatoes, broth, water and spice. Bring to a boil and add ravioli and cook 3 minutes less than the package instructions. Add zucchini, return to boil and cook another 3 minutes. Garnish with some parmesan cheese if you would like (not included in calorie count).

Lunch, Sandwiches

Laughing Cow Egg Salad

March 27, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Laughing Cow has some great recipes. Their light cheese wedges are only 30 calories per wedge and they come in a variety of flavors. So much flavor is packed into those little wedges ! With all the flavor and creaminess from the cheese, you barely miss the mayo in this recipe !

2 servings
130 calories per serving

2 wedges light Laughing Cow Cheese (original Swiss flavor works great here), chopped finely
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 t yellow mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
2 dill pickles slices, chopped finely

Mix all ingredients and chill for an hour. Served on 2 slices of light whole wheat bread, and you come in at only 220 calories for a filling, nutritious lunch sandwich.

Appetizers

Spinach Artichoke Cups

March 15, 2012 admin Leave a comment

These little cups from heaven are the perfect appetizer ! Take a awesome spinach artichoke dip and put it in a little wonton cup and you have a whole new recipe. You don’t need calorie laden dippers to scoop the dip, so you end up with only 60 calories per cup – you just can’t go wrong there !!

24 servings
60 calories per serving

24 won ton wrappers
14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
1 c low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and squeezed dry in a colander
1/3 c light mayo
1/3 cc grated parmesan cheese
1/4 c finely chopped red or green peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with Pam and place 1 wrapper in each cup with the edges extending beyond the cut. Place muffin tins on a cookie sheet so you can easily grab them from the oven. Bake 5 minutes then remove from oven. Mix all the rest of the ingredients and fill the cups then bake 15 minutes or until heated through.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Broccoli and Cheese

March 13, 2012 admin Leave a comment

A nice zesty way to serve up your broccoli !

6 servings
70 calories per serving

4 cups broccoli florets
3 T water
1/4 c Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 c low fat mozzarella cheese

Place broccoli and water in a glass bowl and microwave 5 minutes or until somewhat tender then drain and toss with dressing and cheese. Serve immediately.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Pork

Rotini with Ham

March 8, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Ham, alfredo sauce, pasta. They just go together so well. Add in some cheese and sun dried tomatos and you have a smash hit that the whole family will love.

6 servings
289 calories per serving

8 oz. rotini FiberGourmet pasta
16 oz. jar low fat Alfredo Sauce
19 oz. can asparagus spears cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 c sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), rehydrated in warm water
1 c diced cooked ham
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and Swiss)
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat alfredo sauce then stir in pasta, asparagus,. sun dried tomatoes and ham. Stir in half the cheese and turn all into the baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake another 5 minutes.