Tag Archives: Lunch

Chicken Salad with Couscous

December 20, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Chicken salad is great. Israeli couscous is great. Add the 2 together and you get a perfect portable lunch.

4 servings
345 calories per serving

1 c uncooked Israeli couscous
1/4 c chopped kalamata olives
2 T chopped parsley
2 T oil
1 T lemon juice
1 t grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste
1 garlic clove, minced
14 oz. boneless skinless chicken, broiled and cut into slices (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)

Cook couscous according to package directions the drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Mix olives, parsley, lemon, oil salt, pepper and olives. Add couscous and chicken and toss.

Fish, Lunch, Salads

Tuna Antipasto Salad

December 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Just enough tuna, just enough beans, just enough of everything to make this a great lunch. This travels well as long as you keep it refrigerated. A great, healthy lunch !

4 servings
320 calories per serving

15 oz. can chick peas, drained and rinsed
2 cans fancy white tuna packed in water
1 large red or green bell pepper, finely diced
½ c chopped parsley
1/2 c lemon juice, divided
4 T olive oil, divided
Salt and pepper to taste
8 cups mixed salad greens

Combine beans, tuna, bell pepper, parsley, 1/4 c lemon juice and 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the rest of the oil and lemon and toss with greens. Plate greens and sprinkle with salt and pepper then top with the tuna mix.

Dinner, Lunch, Sides, Vegetables

Celery and Cuc Salad

December 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Fresh from the garden ! A quick side salad of cucumbers and celery. Oh so good.

4 servings
38 calories per serving

4 celery stalks sliced thin
1 small-medium cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded and cut into very thin slices
1/3 c packed parsley leaves
3 t sherry vinegar
2 t oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all in a bowl and mix well.

Chicken, Lunch

Luncheon Chicken Salad

December 5, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Chicken salad served on a lettuce leaf and with pita wedges instead of on sandwich bread just makes it a whole different beast. And all the fresh flavors in this particular recipe renewed my love of chicken salad.

4 servings
382 calories per serving

2 c diced cooked chicken breast
1 1/4 c chopped seeded cucumber
1/2 c matchstick carrots
1/2 c sliced radishes
1/3 c chopped green onions
1/4 c light mayo
2 T chopped cilantro
1 t minced garlic
1/4 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
4 romaine lettuce leaves
4 6 inch whole wheat pitas, cut into 4 pieces each

Mix chicken, cucs, carrots, radishes and green onions. Whisk together mayo, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. Then mix that into the chicken and veggies. Place a lettuce leaf on each plate and top with 1 c chicken mixture. Serve with pita wedges.

Kid Friendly, Lunch

Beanies and Weenies

November 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Kids love it, adults love it, and it could not be simpler ! Hot dogs and Pork and Beans all mixed up together just like they should be 🙂

1 serving
330 calories per serving

1 fat free hotdog, sliced
1 c Campbell’s pork and beans

Heat hot dog slices in a small sauce pan for 4 minutes. Add beans and cook to heat through, about 4 minutes.

Dinner, Lunch, Soups

French Onion Soup

November 11, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Great French onion flavor in a simple to prepare soup that has such a depth of flavor. The sweet onions cook to perfection and the melted cheese over the top of the French bread is just delicious. The parmesan really adds a nice touch.

6 servings
255 calories per serving

2 T margarine or butter
2 1/2 large Spanish onions, peeled, sliced very thin
½ t Kitchen Bouquet
2 cloves garlic, minced
14.5 oz. beef broth
2 1/2 c cold water
½ c cooking wine (red or white)
2 bay leaves
6 slices French bread, toasted
1 c shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter and add onions. Cook ½ hour or until golden brown. Stir frequently and add a tablespoon or 2 of extra hot water if needed to keep onions from getting crisp. Add Kitchen Bouquet, some salt and the minced garlic and cook a minute longer. Add broth, water, wine, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Preheat broiler. Remove bay leaves and place in individual oven safe ramekins or bowls. Top with a slice of French bread and sprinkle with parmesan then the grated Swiss and broil 3-4 minutes or until cheese is all melted and just starting to brown.

Lunch, MUFAs, Sandwiches, Turkey

Turkey, Bacon and Avocado Wrap

November 9, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Wraps make great lunches and you can stuff them with just about anything. This one has some of my favorite things…including BACON ! And spreading the Laughing Cow cheese on the whole wrap ensures that you get cheesy goodness in every bite !

1 serving
344 calories per serving

1 Wrap (80 calorie La Tortilla Factory version)
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Cheese (original Swiss flavor)
2 slices turkey bacon
3 slices deli turkey
Alfalfa sprouts or some shredded lettuce
1/2 c chopped or sliced tomatoes
3 slices avocado

Cook the bacon according to package instructions. Lay wrap on flat surface. Spread the cheese wedge on it. When placing ingredients down the center of the wrap, do not go quite to the bottom – leave a little room (1 inch) so you will be able to wrap is securely. Place the turkey slices down the center. Lay the bacon slices down the center. Spread sprouts and tomato down the center. And finally lay the 3 avocado slices down the center. Wrap securely.

Some people shy away from them for the simple reason that they do not know how to wrap them so that the stuff stays in place. Take a quick look at my video showing you how to get a nice tight wrap that will not leak.

Chicken, Lunch, Soups

Ginger Chicken Soup

October 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

A quick soup that tastes like its been simmering for hours. Great fresh flavors and only 121 calories per serving !

2 servings
121 calories per serving

4 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1 c Perdue Shortcuts chicken cut into bite sized pieces (or make your own by sautéing a boneless skinless breast and then cutting it up into small pieces)
1 c green pepper slices (sliced very thin)
¼ c sliced scallions
1 c chicken broth
1 c beef broth
½ c water
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t onion powder
Optional red pepper flakes if you like it spicy

Combine all in a small pan and cook for 15 minutes.

Lunch, Mediterranean, Salads, Sandwiches, Vegetables

Veggie Pitas

September 29, 2011 admin Leave a comment

It’s a salad in a pita ! And a mighty good one at that !

4 servings
260 calories per serving

2 T oil
1 T vinegar
1 t grated lemon zest
1 t oregano flakes
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
Salt to taste
1/8 t cayenne pepper
¾ c chopped romaine lettuce
½ c finely chopped tomato
½ c finely chopped English cucumber
¼ c chopped black olives
¼ c crumbled low fat feta cheese
4 6 inch pita pockets, sliced

Mix oil, vinegar, zest, oregano, garlic and cayenne. Add in all the rest of the ingredients and mix well then spoon mix into pita breads.

Lunch, Salads

Black Bean and Feta Salad

September 28, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Serve this one on top of a bed of your favorite greens for a super lunch salad.

6 servings
230 calories per serving

2 15 oz. cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
2 T fresh basil, chopped
4 oz. low fat crumbled feta with garlic and herbs
2 T oil
1 T lemon juice
¼ t black pepper

Mix all together and cover and chill for several hours.