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

Chicken Cordon Bleu

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.

The creamy, decadent topping is what makes this pie super special. This one is just a little sweet and a lot yummy

Sweet Potato Pie Deluxe

12 servings
287 calories per serving

1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/3 c skim milk
145 oz can fat free sweetened condensed milk, divided
3 T brown sugar
2 T butter, melted
3/4 t ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
2 eggs
1 frozen pie crust bottom, thawed (or you can use refrigerated dough)
1/2 c low fat cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap potatoes in foil and bake 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until very tender (you can also jump start these by piercing and microwaving for 5 minutes). Let cool a bit and then scoop out flash and mash. Add milk, 1/4 c condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, 1/2 t cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Mix well then add eggs 1 at a time. Pour into thawed pie crust and bake 45 minutes or until set. Mix the rest of the cinnamon with the cream cheese and beat with a mixer then add 1/2 c plus 2T of the condensed milk and beat on medium. Pour over the pie and let stand 15 minutes then serve.

These are more delicious than regular stuffed peppers – the cream sauce mixes in with the meat and rice so beautifully – every ounce is coated and it makes for a super creamy taste sensation.

Inside Out Stuffed Peppers

6 servings
311 calories per person

1 lb. lean ground turkey
2 green peppers, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
2 c cooked brown rice or even use a chicken or beef flavored rice mix for extra flavor
16 oz. jarred marinara sauce
1 c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 c cream cheese cooking creme (I used Philadelphia tomato and basil flavor)
1/4 c chopped basil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown meat, peppers, salt and pepper in a large skillet. Add in garlic during the last minute of cooking. Drain and add rice, sauce, 1/2 c mozzarella and cream cheese. Mix well and spoon into a 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 c mozzarella and bake 25 minutes.

Velvety. Smooth. Rich. Creamy Rice !

Creamy Rice

8 servings
170 calories per serving

1 small onion, chopped
1/4 c fat free Zesty Italian Dressing
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
14.5 oz. vegetable broth
1 c frozen peas
2 c instant white rice, uncooked
4 oz. low fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 t grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c parmesan cheese

Heat a skillet and add dressing – heat 30 seconds. Then add onions and cook 5 minutes or until tender. Then add mushrooms and cook another 4 minutes or until tender. Add broth and peas and bring to a boil then stir in rice and cream cheese and cover. Remove from heat and let stand for 8 minutes then stir in zest, salt and pepper and parmesan.

These are the perfect little appetizers. You don’t really taste the cream cheese, but it’s there for the onion flavor and to keep the pork moist. These would also be great dropped in hot chicken broth and boiled for 5 minutes or so. Serve a few next to a big green salad with ginger dressing for a nice light dinner.

Crispy Wontons

16 servings (1 serving = 2 wontons)
120 calories per serving

8 oz. Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 lb. ground pork, cooked, well drained
1 t minced ginger
1 t sesame oil
32 wonton wrappers
2 t sesame seeds
2 T soy sauce
1 T rice wine or water
1 T water
Pam

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix pork, cream cheese, ginger and oil and place 1 T of mix onto each wonton wrapper. Fold into wonton shape (see the video below for easy to follow instructions). Spray a baking sheet with Pam and place wontons on sheet. Brush wontons with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown Then lower oven to 350 and bake another 5 minutes. Mix soy, rice wine and 1 T water and serve with wontons as a dipping sauce. Alternately you can serve with prepared ginger soy sauce.

I like when you can take a healthy vegetable and disguise it enough that you can get a picky kids to eat it This one has enough cheese and crumbly topping to make it disappear !

Broccoli AuGratin

8 servings
120 calories per serving

3 c water
2 c baby carrots, cut in half
4 c broccoli florets (very small pieces)
10 whole wheat Ritz crackers, crushed
3 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T butter, melted
4 oz. light Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 oz. light cream cheese

Preheat broiler. Boil water and add carrots. Simmer for 8 minutes then add broccoli and simmer another 3 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl.

Microwave Velveeta and cream cheese on high 1 minute then stir and cook another 30 seconds or until completely melted. Pour on top of veggies. Mix crackers and parm and butter and sprinkle on top of the veggies and cheese and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown the crumbs.

These are a great quick appetizer but they also make a great lunch ! Add in any herbs you like to the cream cheese.

Appetizer Rolls

1 serving
43 calories per serving

2 slices turkey lunchmeat (thin sliced, lean – Hillshire Farms prepackaged lean meats are great)
2 slices lean ham lunchmeat (thin sliced, lean – Hillshire Farms prepackaged lean meats are great)
2 t non fat cream cheese
Chopped herbs (basil, parsley, dill)

Add herbs to cream cheese and spread on ham slices. Top each ham slice with a turkey slice. Roll up like a jelly roll and slice into pinwheels . Refrigerate up to 3 hours or serve immediately.

A perfect side – so simple, yet so special. These will disappear as quick as you can make them !

Parmesan Rolls

16 servings
139 calories per serving (1 piece)

4 oz. low fat cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 c low fat parmesan cheese
2 cans low fat crescent rolls
¼ c chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese and ¾ c of parmesan cheese until well mixed. Separate crescent rolls and spread 1 1/2 T cream cheese mix onto the dough and roll as directed on the package Place on baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining parm. Bake 15 minutes

Adding cheese and fresh herbs transforms regular chicken thighs into a restaurant worthy dish. You can really change these up by just adding different herbs to the cream cheese. I always use fresh herbs for a crisp, fresh flavor. But dried herbs will do in a pinch !

Chicken Stuffed with Garlic Cream Cheese

6 servings
247 calories per serving

6 4 oz. boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 t fat free cream cheese
7 basil leaves, chopped
Pam
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat small skillet and add Pam. Saute garlic 2 minutes. Add garlic and basil to cream cheese. Chicken thighs are usually folded over in the package. If they are not, or if you are using chicken breasts instead, then you will need to make a deep slit in the meat so that later you can stuff them. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cool 35 minutes. Remove and carefully place 2 t of the cream cheese mix in the pocket (either the folded over section or the slit that you cut). Put chicken back in the over and bake another 5 minutes or until done throughout. Cool 5 minutes then serve.

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

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.