Tag Archives: Kid Friendly

Chocolate Bark

March 11, 2012 admin 1 Comment

This chocolate bark is made with matzah crackers and it is just delicious – – and the prep time is only 5 minutes ! This is great to serve as a dessert when you have company. If you don’t like almonds, use any chopped nuts.

8 servings
109 calories per serving

2 1 oz. UNSALTED matzah crackers
1 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate bar chopped up into small pieces (or semisweet chocolate chip morsels)
2 T toasted chopped almonds

Place chocolate in microwave and cook on high 1 minute. Stir and cook another 30 seconds. Mix well assuring it is all melted and no chunks are left. Pour over crackers and spread with a spatula until well covered. Sprinkle with almonds and press them into the chocolate so they stick well. Let stand until hardened and then cut into 4 pieces each.

Make sure you don’t skip the ‘toasting the nuts’ portion of the recipe. It really makes a difference in their flavor and just takes a few minutes – chop your nuts and then place in a dry hot skillet. Stir and continue cooking a few minutes until toasted. You will know they are ready as they will be a little browned and you will start to smell the aroma 🙂

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.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Mushroom Herb Chicken

March 6, 2012 admin Leave a comment

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 !

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.

Dinner, Fish, Kid Friendly

BBQ Shrimp

February 29, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is one of the simplest things to do – but it tastes sooooo good ! You can use raw or cooked shrimp – just adjust your cooking time to not overdo. Serve with Spanish Rice for a perfect meal.

4 servings
150 calories per serving

1 lb. cleaned medium shrimp with tails on
½ c BBQ sauce
Pam

Preheat grill or broiler. Spray grill or baking sheet with Pam and add shrimp. Brush shrimp with sauce and cook 2 minutes each side or until shrimp are done.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Authentic Lasagna

February 27, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Thank you, thank you, thank you @ FiberGourmet ! This lasagna comes in at just 325 calories per serving because of your noodles !!! There is just no way to get close to a regular lasagna for under 400 calories – – until now ! The portion size is huge, the meal very, very tasty and I don’t even have to wait for ‘cheat day’.

6 servings
325 calories per serving

¾ lb. lean ground turkey
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ c parsley
28 oz. can diced tomatoes with their juice
14/5 oz. cam stewed tomatoes with their juice and tomatoes chopped up
8 oz. cam tomato sauce
6 oz. can tomato paste
2 t oregano flakes
1 t basil flakes
¼ t pepper
½ t salt
1 t onion powder
½ t garlic powder
2 c no fat cottage cheese
½ c grated parmesan
15 oz. no fat ricotta cheese
12 oz. FiberGourmet Lasagna Noodles (no boil noodles)
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh herbs – basil, parsley
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a pan with Pam and cook turkey until almost done – make sure to crumble it as you cook it. Then add garlic and cook another few minutes. Add 2 T parsley, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder then cook on low heat 45 minutes.

Mix 2 T parsley with the cottage cheese, parmesan and ricotta and stir well. Spread ¾ c tomato sauce in a 13×9 pan. Arrange a layer of noodles over the mix and then top with half the cheese mix, another 2 c of the tomato mix, and 2/3 c of the mozzarella. Repeat layers and then top with a final layer of noodles and put the remaining sauce over the top. Cover with foil and bake 1 hour. Then sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella and bake uncovered for 10 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Creamy Rice

February 24, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Velvety. Smooth. Rich. 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.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Spanish Chicken

February 14, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Quick and easy yet tasty and healthy !

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.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Sides

Risi e Bisi (Rice and Peas)

February 13, 2012 admin Leave a comment

So rich, so creamy, so flavorful – this risotto is perfect next to anything.

6 servings
231 calories per serving

5 cups chicken stock
1 sprig of thyme
1 bay leaf
2 springs of parsley
2 T oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 celery stalk, chopped
2 strips bacon, chopped
1 c raw arborio rice
2 c frozen peas
1 T butter
2 T chopped parsley
3/4 c grated parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste

Place stock and fresh herbs in a soup pot and bring to a boil then reduce heat and keep at a simmer. Saute onion, celery and bacon 5 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat then cook 1 minute. Remove herbs from stock and add 1/2 c of stock to rice mix and stir constantly so stock is absorbed. Add another 1/2 c and cook until stock is absorbed. Then add peas. Continue to add stock 1/2 c at a time and cook until absorbed until rice is tender and the mix is a little thinner than risotto. When done, stir in parsley, butter and parmesan and serve immediately.

Appetizers, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Mexican

No Guilt Cheese Quesadilla

February 11, 2012 admin Leave a comment

When you spread a Laughing Cow cheese wedge on a tortilla and replace the need for lots of regular high fat cheese, you end up with a lunch or appetizer that is not only packed with flavor, but it’s virtually no guilt !

2 servings
137 calories per serving

1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle cheese
2 flour tortillas (80 calories each)
1/3 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
Pam

Spread the Laughing Cow cheese on the tortilla. Top with cheddar and fold. Spray pan with Pam and heat well. Add tortillas. Spray the sides of the tortillas facing up. Cook 2 minutes then flip and cook the other side 2 minutes.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Mini Cinnamon Nut Rolls

February 9, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Not Cinnabon, but definitely a tasty and low cal substitute when you’re in the mood for something sweet and gooey. Have 2 rounds for only 120 calories – add a nice latte and it’s a decadent snack. This recipe is definitely kid friendly – very sweet, very cinnamony !

20 servings
60 calories per serving (1 roll=1serving)

8 oz low fat crescent rolls
2 t sugar
2 t cinnamon
2 T very finely chopped walnuts
Butter flavored Pam
2/3 c powdered sugar
1 T skim milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll dough and press together perforations. Cut lengthwise and sprinkle both halves with cinnamon, sugar and nuts. Roll pressing firmly to make nice even rolls without air bubbles. Pinch the seams to keep the rolls closed. Cut each roll into 10 rounds. Coat a baking sheet with Pam and place rolls on their sides on the sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Mix the sugar and milk and drizzle over the hot rounds and serve immediately.