Tag Archives: red pepper

Roasted Pepper Sauce

November 23, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is great served on top of any simple grilled beef, chicken, pork or fish but I personally think the sweetness of the red peppers pairs the best with a simple roasted chicken.

6 ¼ c servings
46 calories per serving

4 medium red bell peppers, washed, cored, cut in half and seeded
1 ½ c no fat chicken broth
½ c white wine
1 T chopped basil
2 T margarine
¼ t salt

Preheat broiler and place peppers skin side up on a baking sheet lined with foil. Cook 15 minutes or until blackened. Cover and let cool 15 minutes. The skins should now peel off easily. Blend peppers, broth and wine until smooth and then place in a saucepan with the basil. Bring to a boil and the reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. Then add margarine and salt and stir until melted. Cover and keep warm. You can also refrigerate this and just reheat individual portions in the microwave.

Appetizers, Mediterranean

Olive Tapenade

November 22, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I can’t stop eating this !! It is just delicious. Serve as a spread on sandwiches, or as an appetizer with melba toasts or some other cracker.

16 servings (1 serving = 2T)
37 calories per serving

1 c kalamata olives, pitted
1 c green olives, pitted
1 T chopped parsley
1 t chopped thyme
1 t grated lemon rind
¼ t pepper
10 oil cured olives, pitted
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 t red pepper flakes

Place all in a food processor and pulse until chopped pretty fine. Serve with crackers or pita chips.

Dinner, Sides

Grilled Mushrooms with Couscous

October 18, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Savory with just a bit of sweet from the dried cranberries. An earthy dish that is a great vegetarian main dish or a perfect side to a fish or chicken dinner.

4 servings
208 calories per serving

4 whole Portobello mushrooms
4 T white balsamic vinegar
Pam
½ c chicken or vegetable broth
½ c water
¼ t turmeric
2/3 c couscous
¼ c dried cranberries
½ t lemon zest
¼ t salt
1 t oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. chopped fresh spinach
2 T water
1 T margarine
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped

Cut 4 slits in the top of each mushroom about 2 inches long and ½ inch deep. Remove stems and place top facing up in a baking dish. Sprinkle with half the vinegar and spray with Pam. Turn the mushrooms over and sprinkle with the rest of the vinegar. Spray again with Pam. Cover dish with plastic wrap and set aside. Combine broth, water and turmeric in a small pan. Bring to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Stir in the couscous, cranberries, lemon and salt. Remove from heat and cover and let stand 5 minutes or until ready to serve the dish. Heat another saucepan and add oil and then sauté garlic for one minute. Add the greens and 2 T water and cook 3 minutes. Add the margarine and stir in for 30 seconds. Remove from pan and keep warm. Cook mushrooms 3 minutes each side and place stem side up on a serving plate. Spoon the couscous mix on the top and then top with the greens. Sprinkle with bell pepper and serve immediately.

Appetizers, Dinner, Lunch

Spinach Pie

August 9, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is basically a crustless quiche. It is great served for brunch, lunch, as an appetizer, or even as a dinner side dish. So good !

8 servings
150 calories per serving

16 oz. low fat cottage cheese
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, and drained well (press in a sieve to get rid of all the water)
1 c shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
4 eggs, lightly beaten
6 oz. roasted red peppers, well drained, and chopped
1/3 c grated parmesan
1 t oregano flakes
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix spinach and cheeses. Add eggs, peppers and spices. Pour into a 9 inch pie plate or cake pan sprayed with Pam. Bake 40 minutes or until the center is set. I like to use a glass pie plate for this, that way if the center does not set before the top is getting brown (which sometimes happens), you can slip it into the microwave for a few quick minutes to finish it up. This reheats great !

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Curried Cucs and Avocado

July 18, 2011 admin Leave a comment

My friend grows the tastiest cucs ! And they are just perfect in this salad. Just a bit of curry, just a bit of Tabasco, lotsa lime and great veggies. This is one you’ll make again and again.

3 servings
106 calories per serving

1 large cucumber peeled, seeded and diced
1 t salt
½ red bell pepper, diced
Zest of one lime
Juice of one lime
2 T chopped cilantro or parsley
1 ½ t sugar
½ t curry powder
A Couple of dashes of Tabasco
1 avocado, diced

Take the cucumber pieces and sprinkle with salt and set in a colander to drain. This helps some to remove some of the bitterness that some cucumbers have. Mix pepper, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, sugar and Tabasco. Pat the cucumbers dry and add to the pepper mix. Finally add the avocado and serve immediately.

Appetizers, Dinner, Italian, Vegetables

Grilled Antipasto

July 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a super savory, super healthy dish and a perfect summer dinner. The platter is just stunning to look at and this makes a great dish for entertaining. Serve as a full dinner or as an appetizer.

4 servings
291 calories per serving

6 T lemon juice
3 T white balsamic vinegar
2 t oil
¼ t kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 plum tomatoes
2 red peppers, quartered
2 yellow peppers, quartered
2 zucchini cut lengthwise into thick slices
1 red onion cut into thick slices
1 large eggplant cut into thick slices
Pam
4 oz. prosciutto slices
1 oz. peppered ham
2 oz. fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
Basil as a garnish
6 green olives
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the first 5 ingredients as a marinade and dressing for the veggies. Take ¼ c of the dressing and brush it over the veggies. Spray a grill rack with Pam and grill veggies 5 minutes a side or until they have a bit of char on them. Place veggies on a platter and brush with the rest of the dressing and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the rest of the items to the platter and serve immediately.

Chicken, Lunch, Salads

Chicken and Pasta Salad

May 31, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I love orzo and it is great in cold pasta salads. The goat cheese really melts in from all the lemon and it gives the whole dish a great flavor. Very satisfying !!

4 servings
275 calories per serving

¾ c orzo
¼ t grated lemon zest
3 T lemon juice
1 T oil
½ t Kosher salt
1 t minced garlic clove
¼ t pepper
1 c shredded grilled boneless skinless chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts work great here !)
½ c cubed English cucumber
½ c chopped red bell pepper
½ c sliced scallions
½ c crumbled goat cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Mix lemon zest, juice, oil, salt, garlic and pepper and mix with the orzo. Add chicken, cucumber, peppers, and onions. Garnish with goat cheese and serve.

Lunch, Salads

Turkey, Black Bean and Edamame Salad

April 26, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Edamame are just baby soybeans – they are tender, sweet, and you often see them served at Japanese restaurants. I like to buy frozen ones and keep them on hand for different recipes. Salads are a great way to serve them 🙂

4 servings
390 calories per serving

2 c cubed smoked turkey
15.5 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
14 oz. can corn
1 c shelled edamame cooked according to package instructions
1 red bell pepper, chopped
¼ c chopped cilantro
1 T minced garlic clove
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T oil
2 T cider vinegar
1 t Dijon mustard
4 c field greens

Mix the turkey, beans, corn, edamame, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk oil, vinegar and mustard and pour over the turkey mix and season with salt and pepper. Place mixture over the lettuce and serve immediately.

Chicken, Lunch

Chicken Couscous Salad

April 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This was on of the most excellent lunch salads I have had in a long time ! The curry flavor is just divine, the meal is filling, and it will be a lunch to remember !

2 servings
343 calories per serving

1 ¼ c chicken broth
1 c (6 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips
3 t curry powder
½ c whole wheat couscous
½ c diced red bell peppers
½ c chickpeas, drained and rinsed
¼ c scallions, sliced
¼ c cilantro, chopped
1 T Dijon mustard
¼ t kosher salt
1 c lettuce leaves
2 medium tomatoes, sliced

Bring broth to a boil. Cook chicken in broth 5 minutes or until cooked through and then remove to a plate and toss with 1 t curry. Bring broth back to boil and add couscous. Remove pan from heat, cover and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff couscous and place in a bowl with peppers, beans, scallions, and cilantro. Then add the mustard, remaining curry and salt. Put lettuce and tomato slices on plates and top with the chicken curry mix. Can be served cold or warm.

Chicken, Dinner, Mexican

Sofrito Chicken Stew

December 9, 2010 admin Leave a comment

A rich stew with lots of flavor – the dark meat chicken definitely gives this dish extra texture and the olives give it great authenticity. Sofrito is a tomato, pepper, onion and garlic base for many Latin dishes. The mixture of flavors is sooooooo good. Serve with Rice Pilaf for a perfect meal.

2 servings
238 calories per serving

2 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts (3 oz. each)
1 T oil
¼ t kosher salt
1/8 t pepper
¼ c diced onions
1 T garlic clove, minced
¼ c diced red bell pepper
¼ c diced yellow bell pepper
¼ c diced green olives
4 T tomato paste
1 c chicken broth
2 T cilantro, chopped

Cut chicken into thin strips. Heat 1 t oil and cook chicken over medium high heat. Season with salt and pepper and continue cooking about 5 minutes, Place on a plate and keep warm. Add rest of oil to pan and sauté onion 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 1 minute. Stir in peppers and olives and cook 1 minute then add chicken back to the pan along with tomato paste and broth. Simmer about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.