Gruyere is so tasty – so earthy. This is a great sandwich with quite a bite to it.

Grilled Mushroom and Gruyere

4 servings
305 calories per serving

1 T butter
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
4 t Dijon mustard
8 slices whole wheat bread
5 oz. spinach leaves
¼ c shallots, sliced very thinly
1 c shredded Gruyere cheese
Pam
ICBINB Spray

Heat butter and sauté shallots 3 minutes then add mushrooms and sauté another 6 minutes. Add up to 2 T of hot water if the mix gets too dry. Spread mustard on bread and add spinach leaves, ¼ c cheese and ¼ of the mushroom and shallot mix. Top with the rest of the bread. Spray a hot skillet with Pam. Spray each side of the sandwich with ICBINB Spray and then cook 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cheese is melted.

This is one of those recipes where you just don’t miss the meat – not one bit ! Roasting the veggies first gives them a great flavor, then you add chili powder, then you add rice simmered with chipotle for the smoky flavor and then you add CHEESE ! This is a satisfying, perfect lunch.

Vegetable Burritos

4 servings
380 calories per serving

Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/3 c water
½ c brown rice
1 T minced canned chipotle in adobo sauce
4 bell peppers cut into thin strips
4 medium carrots thinly sliced
1 T oil
1 T chili powder
6 oz. fresh spinach leaves thinly sliced
4 10 inch burritos
¾ c low fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese
½ c salsa (optional)

Vegetable Burritos

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring water to a boil and add rice and 1 t salt along with the diced chipotle. Cover and cook 45 minutes then remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes. Toss pepper, carrots, oil and chili powder in a baking pan and roast about ½ hour then add spinach and toss. Warm tortillas and add rice, cheese and veggies and wrap. Serve with salsa.

Here a quick video on how to create a wrap so it does not leak

Either as a breakfast or a lunch, this egg sandwich is fabulous. It matches savory egg yolk with crisp spinach and creamy cheese and satisfies the soul

Egg and Spinach Muffin

1 serving
245 calories per serving

1 t butter
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste
1 English muffin, split and toasted
1/4 c baby spinach leaves
1 wedge light Laughing Cow cheese (original Swiss or Garlic Herb flavored)

Melt butter and cook egg 2 minutes each side or until desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread cheese on toasted muffins, add egg and spinach and make a sandwich.

I was tempted to leave off the spinach on this one so I could get more brie flavor – I LOVE cheese But I didn’t and I’m glad I kept it on – it was a nice contrast to the cheesy goodness and embellished it rather than taking away from it. This goes together in 5 minutes and is a nice change from a boring old ham and cheese sandwich.

Open Faced Ham and Brie

1 serving
364 calories per serving

2 slices 45 calorie wheat bread
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray
¼ t garlic powder
Pam
2 oz. brie
4 thin slices deli ham (Oscar Mayer makes a great pre-packaged deli ham)
½ c spinach leaves
1 T fat free balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Spray outside of each slices of bread with butter spray and sprinkle with garlic powder. Place buttered side down in a hot skillet sprayed with Pam. Top with cheese and cook a few moments to get the cheese all melty. Top with ham. Remove from heat and layer on the spinach leaves and sprinkle with dressing. Serve open faced.

Sometimes serving a sandwich hot makes it sooooo much more special. This is one of those times. The melted swiss just gives it a whole other dimension.

Hot Chicken and Swiss Sandwich

1 serving
295 calories per serving

1 small club roll
4 slices thin sliced deli chicken breast (Oscar Mayer pre-packaged meats are great)
1 slice low fat swiss cheese
1 t light mayonnaise
1 t mustard
¼ t parsley flakes
¼ t basil flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
½ c spinach leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix mayo and mustard and spread on bread. Add chicken and cheese and sprinkle with the spices. Wrap in foil and bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, add spinach leaves and enjoy !

This is great as a dinner or lunch – very filling, very tasty, and just the perfect portion.

Shrimp and Pasta Salad

4 servings
335 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet Rotini Pasta (without FiberGourmet, add 80 calories per serving)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 yellow squash, thinly sliced
1/3 c coarsely chopped kalamata olives
4 c baby spinach leaves
1 t grated lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
2 T oil
1 lb. peeled, cleaned shrimp

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and then mix with squash, olives, spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 T and 1t oil, salt and pepper. Heat 2 t oil in a skillet and quickly cook shrimp until done, about 5 minutes. Top pasta mix with shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and add a splash of extra lemon juice.

This is loaded with veggies and tastes so good ! It’s way quicker than a regular paella and if you really want some seafood in there, add some Buttery Baked Shrimp. Paella is a great healthy dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Vegetable Paella

6 servings
362 calories per serving

3 T oil
½ onion, chopped
½ green bell pepper, chopped
½ poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
12 oz. sliced mushrooms, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t paprika
1 t oregano
½ t pepper
¼ t red pepper flakes
1 ½ c brown rice (MINUTE rice)
2 ½ c vegetable stock / broth
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 ½ t salt
9 oz. baby spinach leaves, chopped roughly
1 c frozen peas and carrots, thawed
1 c frozen or canned artichoke hearts
2 T red vinegar
¼ c chopped parsley

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot on medium heat and cook onion 7 minutes. Add bell pepper, poblano pepper, mushrooms and salt and cook 5 minutes then add garlic, paprika, oregano, red pepper and black pepper and continue cooking another minute or two. Add stock and tomatoes and salt and bring to a boil. Then stir in rice. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook 7 minutes. Stir in spinach, peas, artichokes, vinegar and half the parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cover again and let sit 5 minutes for all the juices to absorb. Serve with parsley garnish.

Great served hot – and equally as good served chilled. This side salad has a great taste and is very easy to prepare!

Citrus Salad

4 servings
280 calories per serving

2 c Minute brown rice, uncooked
6 oz. baby spinach leaves
11 oz. can mandarin oranges
½ c light Catalina dressing

Cook rice according to package instructions. Place in a bowl and add spinach and oranges then toss with dressing t coat.