Tag Archives: onion

Irish Colcannon

March 21, 2013 admin Leave a comment

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with potatoes and cabbage. It makes an excellent side dish. And it’s a perfect way to use up left over cabbage and potatoes !

10 servings
115 calories per serving

1 1/2 lb. potatoes (about 4 large), peeled and quartered
3 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 c water
4 c cabbage, thinly sliced
2 T butter
1/2 c skim milk, warmed
Salt to taste

Put potatoes in a large Dutch oven and add enough cold water to cover the potatoes then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Heat a skillet and cook bacon then remove it from pan and drain. Add onions to skillet and cook 4 minutes. Add water and stir to loosen the bits stuck to the pan then add cabbage, cover and cook 7 minutes until water is evaporated. Mash drained potatoes with butter and milk then add the cabbage mix and salt and mix well.

Fish, Lunch, Soups

Fish and Potato Chowder

March 7, 2013 admin Leave a comment

What a splendid soup ! Subtle fish flavor, remarkably good broth, and just the perfect lunch on a cold, blustery day. Fish chowders made with delicate white fish are such a nice change from clam chowders. They are definitely milder and the consistency is just right.

4 servings
307 calories

2 slices bacon
3 c red potato, diced (or I used canned diced potatoes)
1 c chopped onion
3 T flour
16 oz. clam juice
2 c skim milk
1 T chopped thyme (or 1 t thyme flakes)
½ t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 t onion powder
12 oz. skinless halibut fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces (or other firm white fish)
2 T chopped parsley

Cook bacon in soup pot until crisp them remove, cool and crumble. Reserve 1 T of the drippings in the pan and add potato and onion and cook 5 minutes. Then add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add clam juice and bring to a boil then cover, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender (less time is needed if you use canned potatoes). Add milk and simmer (do not boil). Add spices and fish and cook 3 minutes or until fish is done. Stir in parsley at the very end and garnish bowls with crumbled bacon.

Beef, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Sandwiches

French Dip Sandwich

December 7, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is your classic French dip with a twist – you add some sauteed peppers and onions to make an already good sandwich just GREAT ! You will find yourself making this one again and again !

4 servings
278 calories per serving

1 jar au jus gravy
32 slices thin sliced deli roast beef (Oscar Mayer pre-packaged meats are great)
4 small Club rolls
1 small onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
Pam

Saute onion and pepper in a pan sprayed with Pam. Add a tablespoon of water at a time if needed to keep moist. Cook until veggies are tender, about 7 minutes. In a skillet heat the gravy and add the roast beef to heat it through. Place meat on rolls and top with peppers and onions. Serve with dipping sauce.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Spinach Au Gratin

December 2, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Creamy, cheesy, savory spinach – a perfect side dish to a light fish meal.

6 servings
200 calories per serving

1 medium onion, thinly sliced
6 slices pre-cooked bacon, finely chopped
15 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves
4 oz. low fat cream cheese, cubed
15 Ritz Crackers, coarsely crushed
2 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T butter, melted
Pam

Preheat broiler. Spray pan with Pam and add onion. Cook 5 minutes adding a couple of tablespoons of hot water along the way if needed to keep the onions moist. Add bacon and cook 3 minutes. Add spinach and cook 3 minutes to wilt the spinach then remove from heat and add cream cheese being sure to mix well. Turn into a casserole dish sprayed with Pam. Mix crackers, parmesan and butter and sprinkle over the casserole. Broil 2 minutes to brown the crackers.

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican, Pork

Mexican Pork Stew (Crock Pot)

October 29, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This turns out a dish much like pork carnitas, but with a bit more juice so you can enjoy it as a stew. Serve it piping hot and enjoy !

8 servings
252 calories per serving

3 lb. pork loin
1 1/2 c salsa verde
1 3/4 c chicken broth
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1/2 c low fat sour cream

Trim meat and cut into 2 inch chunks and place in crock pot; sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a saucepan mix salsa, broth, onion, cumin, salt and pepper and bring to a boil then pour it into the crock pot. Add tomatoes and mix. Cover and cool 6-7 hours or until meat is very tender. Transfer meat to a bowl and keep warm. Pour the sauce an veggies into a skillet and cook for 15-20 minutes to thicken sauce. Add in pork and ¼ c cilantro and heat through. Garnish each dish with sour cream and cilantro.

To make this without a crock pot, preheat oven to 350 degrees and place pork, salsa, broth, onion, cumin, salt, pepper, tomatoes and ¼ c cilantro in a large baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake 2 ½ hours. Uncover and bake 15 minutes. Garnish with sour cream and cilantro.

Cajun, Chicken, Crock pot, Dinner

Chicken Jambalaya (Crock Pot)

September 19, 2012 admin Leave a comment

A taste of Louisiana without all the work of a typical jambalaya. This is a really good version that is so easy to make ! It is homey and filling and flavorful and all the things a good jambalaya should be (even MUSHY is a good characteristic in a jambalaya and my daughter days this one is mushy). Serve with some extra tabasco on the side for people like me 🙂

6 servings
370 calories per serving

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
1 c chicken broth
2 c vegetable broth
¾ c water
1 ½ c raw brown rice
4 oz. low fat turkey sausage cut into slices
½ c celery, thinly sliced
Leaves from the top of the celery ribs
½ c onion, chopped
½ c green bell pepper, chopped
2 t Cajun seasoning
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ t hot pepper sauce
1 bay leaf
Salt to taste
14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes
Pam

Spray a skillet with Pam and on medium high heat, cook chicken and sausage until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side. Place in crock along with all the other ingredients. Cover and cook on high 5 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Cajun, Dinner, Fish, Summer

Grill Basket Cajun Shrimp

June 23, 2012 admin Leave a comment

Make this as spicy as you like by adding more Cajun seasoning. We like it hot, hot, hot ! This one takes over every tastebud in your mouth !

4 servings
243 calories per serving

1 lb. shrimp, peeled and cleaned
4 c mix of sliced onion, yellow bell peppers, green bell peppers
2 T oil
1 T Cajun seasoning
1 t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime wedges
Pam

Heat grill. Toss shrimp and 1 T oil. Mix veggies and 1 T oil and seasoning.

Spray grill basket with Pam and heat. Add shrimp and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add veggies and cook 6 minutes or until shrimp is done. Stir in juice of one lime. Serve topped with parsley.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Tomatoes with Ginger Dressing

April 21, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This ginger dressing rivals those served at Japanese steakhouse. Make a batch up and use it on salads and even atop fresh tomatoes as a great side dish to any meal.

3 servings
167calories per serving

2 T minced onion
3 T peanut oil
2 T distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 T finely grated fresh ginger
1T ketchup
1 T soy sauce
1/4 t minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
2 medium tomatoes, sliced thinly

Combine onion, oil, vinegar, ginger, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, salt and pepper in a blender. Process until combined. Lay tomato slices on a platter and drizzle with dressing.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Fish, Mexican, Pasta

Shrimp and Pasta with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

April 16, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This creamy sauce has a nice little kick from the chipotle pepper – you can kick it up as much as you want ! All the ingredients here mix to perfection and you end up with a winner dinner.

Shrimp and Pasta with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

4 servings
371 calories per serving

10 oz. FiberGourmet fettucine noodles (regular or flavored)
1 T oil
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 small bell pepper, sliced
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 canned chipotle pepper, minced, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the can
1/2 t cumin
1 lb. peeled and cleaned shrimp
2 t lemon juice
1 1/2 c fat free half and half
1/4 c chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven and sauté onion 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, peppers, tomatoes and cumin and sauté another 4-5 minutes. Add chipotle, shrimp, lemon and half and half and cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Add salt and pepper and cilantro. Stir in pasta and mix well.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Soups

Ravioli Soup

April 2, 2012 admin Leave a comment

This is a superb soup – the broth is so rich and full bodied it could almost be used as a tomato sauce if you thickened it up some. The ravioli are a great addition as the cheesiness mixes so well with the tomato based broth. Any cheese pasta would do well here, but the ravioli makes it just a little different and oh so yummy !

4 servings
274 calories per serving

1 T olive oil
2 c frozen bell pepper and onion mix, thawed and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 t crushed red pepper
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
32 oz. vegetable broth
1 c hot water
1 t basil flakes
1 t oregano flakes
9 oz. frozen cheese ravioli
2 c diced zucchini
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large soup pot and add peppers, onions, garlic and red pepper. Saute for 4 minutes then add tomatoes, broth, water and spice. Bring to a boil and add ravioli and cook 3 minutes less than the package instructions. Add zucchini, return to boil and cook another 3 minutes. Garnish with some parmesan cheese if you would like (not included in calorie count).