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

Spinach Au Gratin

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.

I like when you can take a healthy vegetable and disguise it enough that you can get a picky kids to eat it This one has enough cheese and crumbly topping to make it disappear !

Broccoli AuGratin

8 servings
120 calories per serving

3 c water
2 c baby carrots, cut in half
4 c broccoli florets (very small pieces)
10 whole wheat Ritz crackers, crushed
3 T grated parmesan cheese
1 T butter, melted
4 oz. light Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 oz. light cream cheese

Preheat broiler. Boil water and add carrots. Simmer for 8 minutes then add broccoli and simmer another 3 minutes. Drain and place in a bowl.

Microwave Velveeta and cream cheese on high 1 minute then stir and cook another 30 seconds or until completely melted. Pour on top of veggies. Mix crackers and parm and butter and sprinkle on top of the veggies and cheese and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes to brown the crumbs.

Pork with a great crunchy coating, plus a side salad with a surprisingly good dressing !

Pork and Greens

6 servings
342 calories per serving

1/4 c green salsa (salsa verde)
1 T yellow mustard
1/3 c low fat mayo
2 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 lb. boneless pork chops (¼ inch thick)
35 Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers, finely crushed
2 T oil, divided
7 oz. Spring Mix (or your favorite mixed leafy greens)

Mix together salsa, mustard and 1 T may0 and set aside – this is the salad dressing. Mix garlic and mayo and coat pork (put it on like you are buttering bread) then coat with the crumbs. Heat skillet and add half the oil. Cook half the chops 5 minutes per side or until done. Add the other oil and repeat with the remaining chops. Mix greens and dressing.

This is just what it’s called…a great company casserole. It is easy to prep, all the prep is done way ahead, and the result is a creamy, tasty vegetable side dish that disappears very quickly !

Company Casserole

7 servings
178 calories per serving

1 can low fat cream of celery soup
1 c low fat sour cream
1 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ c finely chopped onion
9 oz. frozen cut green beans, thawed
6 oz. frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 c frozen corn, thawed
¼ c crushed low fat Ritz crackers
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion then stir in the veggies and place in a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cover and bake 25 minutes. Then uncover, sprinkle crumbs around edges and spritz the crumbs with the ICBINB spray. Bake another 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

Stuffed zucchinis are a great side dish. You can change up what you ‘stuff’ them with and that makes it easy to pick complementary flavors. This one is great next to Italian flavors and Italian inspired dishes.

Stuffed Zucchini

4 servings
162 calories per serving

2 medium zucchini
½ c onion, diced finely
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t oil
½ c chopped green bell pepper
½ c chopped peeled eggplant
½ c chopped tomato
¼ c Egg Beaters
1 t basil flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
20 Ritz crackers, divided
2 T grated parmesan cheese
Pam
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the centers leaving just a shell. Reserve 1 c of the insides and chop it up. Heat a skillet and add oil and sauté onion and garlic 4 minutes. Add pepper, eggplant, tomato and zucchini and cook 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat and stir in basil, salt and pepper, and eggs.

Break 15 crackers and stir into the veggie mix and then spoon the mix into the zucchini shells and place on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Crush the other 5 crackers and mix with the parmesan and sprinkle over the zucchini boats. Spray the crumbs on top of each of the zucchinis with the butter spray so that they brown a bit. Bake 25 minutes or until hot.