Simple does not always mean plain. This is a simple soup of just a few ingredients, but it turns out a restaurant class meal – classic flavor and perfectly mild spicing.

Celery Root Soup

4 servings
180 calories per serving

2 T butter
1 c thinly sliced leek
1/2 c carrot, finely chopped
2 T white wine
3 c peeled and cubed celery root (about 3/4 pound)
3 c chicken broth
1 c water
1/2 t coarse salt
1/2 t black pepper
1 3/4 c cooked wild rice
2 T fresh chives, chopped finely

Melt butter in soup pot. Add leek and carrot then cover and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 minutes or until tender. Add wine, celery root, broth, 1 c water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then cover and cook 10 minutes. Place 1 c soup mix in a blender and blend until smooth then add back to soup pan and add rice. Cook 15 minutes. Garnish with chives just before serving.

This was sooooo good – it’s like Thanksgiving dinner without all the work. I use the scallopini cut of turkey cutlets so they are nice and thin and you can cook them up quickly so they don’t get dried out. Add a small green salad on the side and you have a great balanced meal that makes the day feel like a holiday

Turkey and Stuffing

4 servings
390 calories per serving

4 slices fresh turkey breast (3/4 lb.)
½ c chopped green pepper
2 T water
2 c fat free chicken broth
12 oz. fat free turkey gravy
3 c dry cubed seasoned stuffing
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Spray a skillet with Pam and on medium high heat cook turkey breasts sprinkled with salt and pepper; cook 4 minutes each side or until turkey is golden then remove from skillet and keep warm. Combine pepper and water in pan. Cover and cook 2 minutes. Add gravy, reserving ¼ cup for later use, Add broth to skillet and bring to a boil and then remove skillet from heat. Stir in stuffing and mix well then return turkey to the pan. Cover and let stand 5 minutes and then our extra gravy over the top and serve.

This recipe was really interesting. Usually when you think of pulled pork, you expect a spicy Southwest flavor. But this one has an awesome Chinese sauce that is mellow and mild and is perfect with pulled pork.

Chinese Pulled Pork

8 servings
227 calories per serving

1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c hoisin sauce
3 T ketchup
3 T honey
2 t minced garlic
2 t grated fresh ginger
1 t dark sesame oil
1/2 t five-spice powder
2 lb. boneless pork roast, trimmed
1/2 c chicken broth

Mix soy, Hoisin, ketchup, honey, garlic, ginger, oil and five spice and place in a zip loc bag. Add roast and mush it around so the spice adheres to the roast. Place in refrigerator for 3 – 24 hours. When ready to cook, place in crock and cook on low 8 hours. Remove roast and cover to keep warm. Place broth in croc, re-cover and cook another 1./2 hour or until sauce thickens. Shred pork and serve with extra sauce.

If you do not have Chinese 5 spice, here’s a quick recipe so you can make it yourself:

Mix all of this in a spice grinder and then use the appropriate amount in your recipe:

1 T peppercorns
1 T cloves
1 t anise seed or 1 T star anise
1 T fennel seeds
1 T cinnamon

What’s not to like in a dinner or chicken, mushrooms, shallots and herbs?! This is a great meal and if you have leftovers, cut up the chicken and place in broth with the mushrooms and shallots – you end up with a great soup !

Mushroom Herb Chicken

4 servings
226 calories per serving

4 6 ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts (if not very thin cutlets, pound them down)
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
Pam
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1/3 c dry sherry or chicken broth
1 t marjoram flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Cook chicken 6-7 minutes per side or until browned. Remove chicken and spray with Pam again. Add shallots and cook 3 minutes adding a tablespoon full of hot water if they start to dry out. Add mushrooms, sherry and marjoram, then add back chicken and cook until chicken is fully cooked.

By adding pesto to the broth, you end up with a soup that is so tasty and delicious ! It really makes an ordinary chicken broth something very special.

Chicken and Pesto Soup

5 servings
235 calories per serving

2 teaspoons oil
1/2 cup carrot , julienned or shredded
8 oz. leftover cooked chicken
1 large clove garlic, minced
5 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 t oregano flakes
4 oz. baby spinach, coarsely chopped
15 oz. can chick peas, rinsed and drained
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T prepared pesto (available in the refrigerator section of your market)

Heat oil in soup pan and add carrot and chicken and heat for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add broth, oregano, salt and pepper and heat 2 minutes. Add spinach and chick peas and cook 3 minutes. Add the pesto sauce and cook 5 minutes so all flavors blend.

Quick and easy yet tasty and healthy !

Spanish Chicken

2 servings
207 calories per serving

2/3 c finely chopped onions
¼ c sliced mushrooms
1 ¼ c cubed cooked chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts work great here)
½ 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
½ c cooked rice
½ c tomato juice
½ c chicken broth
1/3 c frozen peas
1/4 t tarragon flakes
1/4 t rosemary
Pinch of pepper
Pam
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Saute onion and mushrooms in a pan sprayed with Pam. Cook 4-5 minutes then place in a 1 quart baking dish and mix in the rest of the ingredients. Cover and bake 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

This is a great, crisp side dish that can be paired with just about anything. I bet it can even get cabbage by your kids Add a teaspoon of chili sauce with garlic (found in the Asian section of your market) to make this a super spicy dish.

Stir Fried Bok Choy

4 servings
87 calories per serving

2 t peanut or olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh ginger
¼ c chicken broth
¼ c water
1 red bell pepper in small ¼ inch squares
2 carrots halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 c 1 inch strips of bok choy or Napa cabbage
1 t sugar
½ t salt
2 t sesame oil

Heat oil in a skillet on medium low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute then add the broth and ¼ c water and cover and cook for 7 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrots and cook 1 minute then add the cabbage and mix well. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and cook 5 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Drizzle with the sesame oil (and optional chili and garlic sauce) and serve immediately.

This turns out a creamy, delicious side dish that goes great with beef, chicken, pork or fish. The ranch dressing gives it a nice tang and an unexpected flavor.

Broccoli and Rice

8 servings
113 calories per serving

1 c Minute brown rice, uncooked
1 c fat free chicken broth
1 ½ c frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained (or you can use fresh)
2/3 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 c light ranch dressing
½ c egg beaters
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fix rice according to package instructions but use broth instead of water. Cool rice a bit and add in the rest of the ingredients. Spoon the mix into a casserole dish sprayed with Pam and bake 25 minutes or until browned.

Do you LOVE artichokes? Then this is for you !! This is a great hearty dish with lots of flavor. Serve next to some broiled chicken sausage for a great healthy meal.

Artichoke Stew

4 servings
152 calories per serving

2 t oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 oz. ham, thinly sliced
2 9 oz. packages frozen artichoke hearts (or canned in water, drained well)
½ c white wine or chicken broth
2/3 c chicken broth
½ t basil or thyme flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c chopped parsley
2 t buttery spread

Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic for 7 minutes. If they start to dry up, add a T or so of hot water. Add the carrots and ham and cook another 4 minutes. Stir in the artichokes and cook another 3 minutes then add the wine and bring to a boil and cook 4 minutes or until the liquid is reduced by half. Then add the broth, thyme, pepper and salt and return to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cook 10 minutes or until the artichokes are tender. Add the parsley and butter at the end just before serving.

I love lentils in soup. This recipe uses them in a super savory stew with enormous flavor. Try serving as a lunch or as a side to a fish or chicken dinner.

Lentil Stew with Carmamelized Onions

4 servings
229 calories per serving

1 T oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 15 oz. cans lentils, rinsed and drained
2 ¼ c chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t garlic flakes
¼ c plain low fat yogurt
1 T chopped parsley
½ T chopped chives
1 T chopped cilantro

Heat oil and add onion. Cook 15 minutes or until soft and golden. Add some very hot water a tablespoon at a time if the onions start to dry out. Add broth and lentils, season with garlic powder, garlic flakes, salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer and cook ten minutes. Half way through, smash some lentils against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon to make the broth thicker. Serve with fresh herbs and yogurt on top.