Tag Archives: Kid Friendly

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

December 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is more like an asian noodle bowl with a bit of broth than it is a soup with some noodles. It is filling and scrumptious.

4 servings
290 calories per serving

1 T oil
1 T minced garlic
1 T bottled or fresh grated ginger
1 t lemon pepper seasoning
2 c water
28 oz. chicken broth
1 lb. chicken breast tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces (Perdue Shortcuts or leftover chicken pieces work great here !)
4 oz. uncooked fine (spaghetti-like) asian rice noodles (I use Japanaese Somen rice noodles)
1/4 c cilantro, chopped
1 T lime juice
1 t lemon zest
1/2 t salt
1.4 t pepper
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Heat oil and sauté ginger, garlic and lemon pepper 3 minutes. Then add water and broth and bring to a boil. Add chicken, zest and pasta and cook 4 minutes then remove from heat and stir in cilantro, juice, salt, pepper and scallions. Let stand 5 minutes for flavors to mingle. If you like it spicy, add 1 t of hot chili and garlic sauce (available in the Asian section of your market).

Dessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

PB and Chocolate Smores

December 22, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Smores – sweet, delicious and they bring out the kid in you – here we do it all without the camp fire !

9 servings
170 calories per serving

3 T creamy peanut butter
9 reduced fat Honey Grahams, broken in half to make 18 squares
3 T hot fudge sauce
1/2 c mini marshmallows

Take 9 squares and spread each with 1 t peanut butter, then 1 t fudge then place 3-4 marshmallows on top. Cover with another cracker to make a sandwich.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place Smores on a baking sheet and cook 9-11 minutes or until chocolate is melted and marshmallow are puffed.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Creamy Beef Dinner

December 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is like a cross between a stroganoff and a goulash – very, very good and quite satisfying. The cream sauce is just delicious 🙂

4 servings
390 calories per serving

1 T oil, divided
1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
1/2 t pepper
3 c whole wheat egg noodles, uncooked
1/4 c Light Zesty Italian Dressing
2 onions, chopped
1/2 lb. Portobello mushrooms, sliced
3 T minced garlic
1 T paprika
3/4 c beef broth
1 c frozen peas
1/2 c light sour cream
1 small tomato, chopped

Heat 1 ½ t oil in a skillet and add beef. Sprinkle with pepper and brown meat 2 minutes. Work in batches with the rest of the meat and oil so as not to overcrowd the pan and make sure meat is patted dry – these 2 things will help make sure it browns nicely. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Heat dressing in skillet and add onions and cook 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic and paprika and cook 12 minutes. Stir in broth and peas and simmer 2 minutes then add meat and cook 5 minutes to heat through. Stir in sour cream at the very end and serve over noodles with the tomato sprinkled over the top.

Dinner, Fish, Kid Friendly

Chili Lime Shrimp

December 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Chili / Lime is one of my favorite flavor combinations. Put it on just about anything and you get a smile from me 🙂 Add it to shrimp for a quick dinner that tastes anything but quick !

4 servings
186 calories per serving

Pam
¾ cup scallions, chopped
1 ½ lb. raw peeled cleaned shrimp
1 t chili powder
2 T lime juice
2 T buttery spread
½ t salt
1/ t garlic powder

Heat a skillet and spray it with Pam. Add ½ c scallions and cook 1 minute. Add 1 T hot water if needed to keep the scallions from getting dry. Add shrimp and spices and cook 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in juice and spread. Garnish with the remaining scallions.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Summer, Tex Mex

Southwest Sirloin

December 11, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This simple sauce turns out a spicy, smoky, sirloin. Try it on chicken or pork as well !

4 servings
265 calories per serving

1 lb. sirloin steak
2 t oil
1 ½ T taco seasoning
1/3 c steak sauce

Heat grill. Run steak with oil and then coat with taco seasoning. Grill steak basting with steak sauce as you go. Cook to desired doneness. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing into thin slices.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Soups

Tuscan Chicken Soup

December 9, 2011 admin 1 Comment

Warm soup on a cold day; nothing could be better. This soup is a little bit pasta fagioli, a little bit chicken soup, a little bit minestrone and a little bit straccitella – it’s everything soup 🙂

6 servings
390 calories per serving

1 T olive oil
1 T butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 c coarsely chopped carrot
1 medium onion, chopped
13.25 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 1/2 c diced potatoes
2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained – take ½ c and mash them; leave the rest whole
4 cups fat free chicken broth
2 cups vegetable broth
1 c water
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1 t oregano flakes
1 t parsley flakes
3 c cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
10 oz. spinach
3 T chopped basil
Salt and pepper to taste
½ c grated parmesan cheese

Heat butter and oil in a soup pot – sauté onion 4 minutes. Add garlic, carrot, mushroom and potato and sauté another 7 minutes. Add broth, beans, mashed beans and seasoning and simmer 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook 3 minutes. Add basil and spinach and cook another 3 minutes. Garnish with parmesan cheese.

Appetizers, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Snacker Potato Balls

December 8, 2011 admin Leave a comment

These make a great snack, a perfect appetizer, or a wonderful dinner side dish. The shake and bake crumbs really give them a nice flavor through and through.

2 balls = 111 cals
Makes 24 balls

2 lb. baking potatoes (about 5), peeled and cut into chunks
2 scallions, thinly sliced
¼ c egg beaters
Salt and pepper to taste
4 oz. low fat velveeta, cut into 24 cubes
1 pouch Shake and Bake

Cook potatoes in boiling water 20-25 minutes or until tender then drain and cool for ½ hour. Mash them and add scallions, egg beaters, salt and pepper. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll potato mix into 24 balls (about 2 T each) inserting a cube of velveeta into each and making sure it is all sealed up in the middle. Sprinkle shake and bake on a baking sheet and place potato balls on sheet and turn so they get coated. Bake 16 minutes.

Drinks, FiberGourmet, Kid Friendly, Pasta, Sides

Baked Mac and Cheese

December 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Add a layer of healthy spinach, use low fat cheese and FiberGourmet pasta and quickly you have a healthy alternative and a fan favorite 🙂

4 servings
366 calories per serving

3 T breadcrumbs
1 t oil
½ t paprika
20 oz. frozen spinach, thawed
1 3/4 c skim milk, divided
3 T flour
2 c shredded low fat extra sharp Cheddar cheese
1 c low fat cottage cheese
1/8 t nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
8 ounces FiberGourmet penne or elbow pasta
Pam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with Pam. Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika. Squeeze out spinach in a colander so it is very dry. Mix ¼ c milk with flour. Heat 1 ½ c milk until steaming and them whisk in the rest of the milk and continue whisking until it is thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar until melted. Then stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook pasta about 4 minutes (do not cook all the way or it will be too mushy after it bakes). Mix pasta and cheese and place half of it in the baking dish. Then add the spinach and top with the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mix and then bake 30 minutes or until golden.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Peaches and Cream

December 1, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I love fruit with vanilla yogurt. Adding some jam and graham cracker crumbs just makes it that much better ! This is a special dessert that the family will love.

1 serving
270 calories per serving

1/2 c frozen vanilla yogurt (I love Turkey Hill brand)
½ can (OZ) canned peaches in juice, drained and pat dry a bit
1 T raspberry or strawberry jam, warmed in the microwave
2 T Cool Whip
2 T crushed graham cracker

Place yogurt in bowl and add peaches. Drizzle jam on top then add whipped topping and graham crackers.

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

Crock Pot Pork Loin

November 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This tenderloin comes out juicy and tender after cooking all day. There is nothing quite as convenient as a crock pot ! The onion soup mix holds all the flavor you need to make this a family favorite.

6 servings
291 calories per serving

2 lb. pork tenderloin
1 oz. envelope dry onion soup mix
1 c water
3/4 c red or white cooking wine
3 T garlic, minced
3 T soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Place meat in crock and sprinkle with the soup mix. Add water, wine and soy and turn the meat to coat it. Spread garlic on top of roast and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on high 4 hours or low 7-8 hours. If you like the top to be brown, broil for a few minutes before slicing.