Some meals are just extra special and this is definitely one of them ! The perfect portion of pasta, chicken and veggies all covered in a scrumptious sauce and layers of cheese. You just can’t go wrong !

Chicken Florentine Casserole

4 servings
270 calories per serving

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 T flour
8 oz. FiberGourmet penne pasta (without FiberGourmet, you have to add 80 calories per serving)
2 T low fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing
1 c chicken broth
2 oz. light cream cheese, cubed
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and drained well (press it down in a sieve to get a lot of water out)
1 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
3 T grated parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat dressing in a skillet. Mix chicken with flour and add to skillet and cook 3-4 minutes or until browned. Add broth and cream cheese and cook until cheese is melted. Add the spinach, garlic powder, salt and pepper and heat 1 minute. Remove from heat. Mix drained pasta with skillet mixture and spoon half of it into a 2 quart casserole dish. Top with ½ the mozzarella then add the rest of the chicken mix. Finally top with the remaining mozzarella and the parmesan. Bake 20 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.

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

Baked Mac and Cheese

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.

This is a great ‘white pasta’ dish – the ricotta, parmesan, spinach and garlic just work so well together. And when you add in the toasted pine nuts, the flavor meter goes off the charts. You definitely have to try this one !!

Penne with Spinach

2 servings
357 calories per serving

4 oz. whole wheat penne pasta (if you use FiberGourmet pasta, the calories drop by 60 calories per serving !)
6 oz. fresh or frozen spinach
½ c part skim ricotta cheese
2 T shredded parmesan cheese
1 t lemon zest
¼ t kosher salt
½ t pepper
2 T toasted pine nuts

Cook pasta according to package instructions adding frozen spinach to the water the last 2 minutes. If using fresh spinach, put spinach in colander and drain pasta over it. Put pasta in bowl with spinach and stir in cheeses, lemon, salt and pepper. Plate and add pine nut garnish.

This is a meal that the family was raving about…there was much satisfaction around the dinner table the night I made this one ! Even though it is a very quick sauce, it grabs the flavor from the pork and quickly becomes a sauce full of depth. Be sure to add on the fresh herbs – they really add to the awesome flavor of this dish.

Parmesan Pork and Penne

4 servings
380 calories per serving

If you don’t use the FiberGourmet pasta, the meal does not come in under 400 calories.

8 oz. FiberGourmet penne pasta
3 T bread crumbs
3 T grated parmesan cheese
¾ lb. pork tenderloin sliced thinly
2 t oil
Pam
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained this time
8 oz. tomato sauce
2.25 oz. can sliced black olives, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t basil flakes
½ t oregano flakes
½ t parsley flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T fresh chopped basil

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese in a zip loc bag then add the pork slices and shake. Heat oil in skillet and also spray it with Pam and then cook pork 4-6 minutes or until browned on both sides. Add tomatoes, sauce, salt, pepper and olives and bring to a boil the reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until pork is tender. Serve pork mix over cooked penne. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.