By mixing the cream and the vinegar, you are almost making your own ‘sour’ cream. This is a very rich tasting dressing for the cucs and it is a nice side dish to serve with chicken or fish dishes.

Cucs in Cream Sauce

2 servings
70 calories per serving

2 medium cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
2 t salt
2 T heavy cream
2 t vinegar
¼ t salt
1/8 t pepper

Mix cucs with salt and let stand 1 hour in a colander. Drain and pat dry. Mix cream, vinegar, salt and pepper and add cucs. Chilll 3-4 hours.

Very orangey – very authentic – very, very good !

Orange Pork and Broccoli

4 servings
314 calories per serving

3/4 lb. pork loin cut into thin strips
2 T red wine or beef broth
1 T soy sauce
1 T cornstarch
3/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1 T dark sesame oil
2 c broccoli florets
1 orange bell pepper, cut into strips
1 1/2 t grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 c orange juice
1/4 c hoisin sauce (available in the Asian section at your food market)
2 T honey
2 c hot cooked brown rice

Mix pork, wine, soy, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet on high heat. Add broccoli and pepper and stir fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the pork and stir until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the finer and cook 1 minute longer. Add the juice, hoisin sauce and honey and cook until pork is done and sauce is thickened some, about 3 minutes. Serve with the hot cooked rice on the side.

This is such a great flavorful dish – and all the added zucchini makes it a healthful option. This tasted just as good cold the next day and would be a great take along for a packed lunch – even add a few strips of grilled chicken if you want !

Pasta with Pesto and Zucchini

6 servings
311 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet pasta (without FiberGourmet, you have to add 80 calories per serving!)
2 t oil
2 ½ c sliced zucchini
3/4 c prepared low fat pesto sauce
¼ c fat free half and half
salt and pepper to taste
2 T grated parmesan cheese
2 T chopped basil

Heat 2 t oil and sauté zucchini 5 minutes. Add 1 t minced garlic, salt and pepper and cook another minute. Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water, drain reserving 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid. Add pasta to zucchini and stir then add reserved water, half and half, pesto sauce and additional salt and pepper. Serve garnished with parmesan and basil.

This tastes much like a German potato salad since it does not use mayo. But instead of vinegar, this one uses fresh lemon and tons of great fresh herbs to make a bright, fresh potato salad that is a sure hit !

Lemony New Potato Salad

6 servings
207 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. small new potatoes, sliced ½ inch thick
2 t lemon zest
¼ c lemon juice
Kosher salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh herbs, such as a combination of chives, parsley, and basil
2 T oil

Steam potatoes 15-20 minutes or until tender. Mix lemon zest, lemon, salt and pepper and pour over cooked potatoes. Refrigerate 1 hour. Mix herbs and oil and mix into cooled potatoes. Chill for an hour or more so flavors mingle. Stir again just before serving.

Authentic, delicious, Greek pasta dish – easy to make and a great meal for entertaining or for every day !

Greek Pastitsio

8 servings
370 calories per serving

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
24 oz. marinara sauce
2 T red wine vinegar
2 T butter
1 1/2 c skim milk
1 c strained plain Greek yogurt
1/4 t nutmeg
2 c FiberGourmet elbow macaroni, cooked
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown onions in a skillet sprayed with Pam. Add turkey and brown. Drain. Add sauce and vinegar and cook for 15 minutes. Melt butter and add milk. Bring to a boil on medium heat stirring constantly then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in yogurt and nutmeg. Add macaroni, salt and pepper and stir. Spread meat sauce into a 13×9 baking dish and top with macaroni. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 50 minutes.

Can you say YUMMY?!?!?! This is such a great QUICK and EASY recipe, yet the results taste like you’ve been in the kitchen for hours. This is an ample serving. You could easily just have half a serving for a side and still have room in your calories for some fish or chicken on the side.

Rice and Beans

4 servings
400 calories per serving

1 ½ c chopped green peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T oil
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ¼ c water
2 c Minute brown rice
¼ c cilantro chopped
1 c low far shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby or Monterey Jack)

In a large skillet on high heat, heat the oil and cook the peppers and garlic 2 minutes then add tomatoes, beans and water. Bring to a boil and stir in rice and reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer 5 minutes then remove from heat and stir in cilantro and top with cheese. Let stand 5 minutes, covered.

Just enough spice, just enough glaze – this is a great grilled chicken.

Spicy Hot Glazed Chicken

4 servings
361 calories per serving

3 T honey
3 T soy sauce
1 t grated lime zest
3 T lime juice
1 t red pepper flakes
½ t hot chili garlic sauce (available in the Asian section of your market)
4 5 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts

Mix honey, soy, lime zest and juice, and red pepper in a zip loc bag. Add chicken, seal and refrigerate for 2-12 hours. Preheat grill and spray with high heat cooking spray and cook chicken 5 minutes each side or to desired doneness.

I am betting you can smell this cooking from all the way over there ! The parmesan and cheddar cheeses blend to perfection and the pasta…well, it just feeds the soul. The portion size will be cut down dramatically to come in at 400 calories if it were not for the FiberGourmet pasta.

Veggie Mac and Cheese

4 servings
399 calories per serving

10 oz. Fiber Gourmet Penne pasta
2 t oil
1 9 oz. yellow summer squash halved lengthwise and sliced thinly
1 9 oz. bag frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
4 scallions sliced thinly
1 bottled roasted red peppers, rinsed and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 T flour
2 ½ c skim milk
¾ t salt
1 c grated no fat cheddar cheese
¼ c parmesan cheese
Pam

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat and add squash, scallion, artichokes, peppers and garlic. Cook 7 minutes. Add flour and stir well and then gradually add milk. Add salt and cook an additional 5 minutes. Add the hot veggies and sauce to the pasta along with the cheddar cheese and mix well and turn into an 11×7 baking pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle with parmesan and bake ½ hour or until hot and crusty.

This has WOW flavor ! Serve this next to any Asian inspired dish (Asian Grilled Chicken comes to mind) for a great salad that takes over every tastebud in your mouth !

Asian Sesame Slaw

8 servings
60 calories per serving

1/3 c Miracle Whip light
2 T KRAFT Light Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing (I use this dressing in hot and cold dishes)
3 T lime juice
6 cups finely shredded cabbage (get the Dole pre-shredded to save a lot of time)
1 c snow peas, julienned
1 carrot, coarsely grated (not necessary if you use the Dole cabbage that has carrot in it already)
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1/4 c chopped cilantro
1 T minced ginger
2 T sesame seeds, toasted
Touch of salt

To toast sesame seeds, place in a hot skillet and sauté for a couple of minutes until they turn golden and are aromatic. Mix lime, Miracle Whip and Sesame dressing well and pour over the rest of the ingredients (except the sesame seeds). Mix well. Chill at least 2 hours. Sprinkle with seeds just before serving.

Whip this up in a flash – save and bake later or bake right away for a super Mexican inspired dinner. Serve with some sliced avocado for a special treat.

Taco Pie

6 servings
296 calories per serving

1 lb. extra lean ground turkey
2 t dried onion
1 Tbsp. taco seasoning (more if you like your meat zesty and flavorful)
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
12 oz. frozen corn, thawed and drained
4 La Tortilla Factory low carb tortilla wraps (only 80 calories each!)
1 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c light sour cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown meat with dried onions and taco seasoning then add tomatoes and corn and cook 5 minutes. Spoon 1 1/2 c of the mix into a 2 quart square or round casserole dish. Spread out and then top with 2 tortillas. Add the rest of the meat mix and 1/2 c of cheese. Add 2 more tortillas and the rest of the cheese and cover and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes.