Hi, my name is Aileen and it’s great to see you here sharing my blog. I have been cooking since I was a teen. My Mom put a home cooked meal on the table every night and so do I (it’s a challenge when you work full time, but it is well worth it!). I love food – I love making it, I love eating it. I love how it brings people together. My most favorite thing to do is share a meal with family and friends. And we often end up talking about other food while we are eating this food.
There’s pretty much nothing I can’t make, though I really prefer cooking savory meals to baking. I have made it all from scratch at one time or another and still cook mainly this way. I have a discerning palate and a taste for spicing things just the right way. My recipes are definitely not bland and that helps when creating satisfying meals – your mouth knows it ate after it’s done with one of my meals
I am one of 5 Neon Pigs, a self named group of foodies. How did we get the name? We decided it was sooooo appropriate because everything right in the world exists in a BBQ joint with a neon pig hung in the window
I was blessed with a great metabolism and for years and years ate anything I wished without gaining an ounce. From 35 forward I gained a few pounds here and a few pounds there and then after age 40 my metabolism came to a screeching halt and I could just not get off the weight that had compounded with just plain exercise. A drastic plan was needed….so here I am, 40 something and trying to make my world right by creating recipes that satisfy yet still fall into a healthful lifestyle that I know I will have to now forever follow if I want to maintain a healthy body.
Vanilla ice cream rolled in white chocolate shavings and covered in a coffee and Kahlua Syrup – how decadent is that ? 🙂
Coffee and Ice Cream
6 servings
98 calories per serving
3 c non fat vanilla ice cream, softened
2 oz. grated white chocolate
½ c black coffee, at room temperature
1/3 c coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
Scoop ice cream to form 6 balls and place on a sheet and place in freezer until the balls are firm. Then roll them in the chocolate. Mix Kahlua and coffee and divide among 6 bowls. Place a ball in each bowl.
These are very filling and make a great snack, appetizer or even a side to a low cal fish dish. You can always dress them up with more ‘stuff’ and just each one to keep the calorie count down – they are very filling, so one should do as a side. Tye adding some cooked crumbled turkey bacon, or some extra low fat cheddar cheese…maybe even some caramelized onions !
Potato Skins
4 servings
262 calories per serving
4 large potatoes (8 oz. each)
2 t oil
¼ c parmesan cheese
½ c skim milk
3 T low fat cream cheese
¾ t salt
¼ t pepper
3 T low fat sour cream
3 T sliced scallions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash the potatoes and prick them with a fork. Microwave on high 10 minutes, then turn and microwave another 5 minutes. Let cook a bit and then slice in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flash keep the skins intact. Place the skins on a cookie sheet and brush with the oil and sprinkle with 2 t of the parmesan cheese. Bake 10 minutes or until golden. Meantime mix the rest of the parmesan with the potato, milk, cream cheese, salt and pepper. When skins are toasty, fill with the potato mix and bake another 7-9 minutes or until hot throughout. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with scallion just before serving.
I received my Barney Butter prize and I AM HOOKED ! Regular almond butter is usually gritty and pasty – this is nothing like that… it’s even creamier than Skippy creamy peanut butter. And the chunky version is just divine !
For breakfast I often have peanut butter on toast while my husband has his ‘almond paste’ on toast. Not any more ! This product is really grand.
And forget about baking with it – – I am going to make chocolate cupcakes and use the chunky version as the frosting. It will be like frosting them and then sprinkling with nuts – but all in one application. I am so glad my local Shop Rite carries this product. If your grocer does not, visit the website at www.barneybutter.com and get yours today. You won’t believe the difference.
Orzo is just one of my most favorite side dishes. It has to come in smaller portions nowadays, but it still fit into the meal plan, especially when served simply with lemon and cut up herbs.
Herbed Orzo
4 servings
170 calories per serving
1 c dry orzo
3 T chopped fresh herbs (one or a mix – parsley, basil, cilantro, etc.)
2 t lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and mix with the remaining ingredients.
The color was so vibrant and the sauce so flavorful that this did not seem light and forgettable like many fish dishes are – – instead, this was mmm mmmm good and the red pepper sauce was just perfect.
Fish in Red Pepper Sauce
4 servings
197 calories per serving
1 lb. cod fillets
¼ c flour
¼ c low fat zesty Italian dressing
½ c onions
2 oz. low fat cream cheese
¼ c roasted red peppers
¼ c chicken broth
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 T chopped cilantro
Coat fish with flour. Heat dressing in skillet on medium high and add fish and cook 5-7 on each side or until done. Place cream cheese, onions, peppers, broth and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth then spoon into a pan and bring to a boil on medium high heat then lower and simmer 5 minutes. Place fish on platter and top with sauce and sprinkle with cilantro.
Since you start with brownie mix, this one couldn’t be easier. And the results are quite elegant, quite decadent and very chocolatey Make this one the next time you have guests over and you can have a full portion of dessert for under 400 calories !
Strawberry Brownie Cake
8 servings
350 calories per serving
Brownie:
15.8 oz. package of fudge brownie mix
¼ c water
2 T oil
1 egg
Pam
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 nine inch round (you could use square as well) cake pans with foil and spray with Pam. Be sure to start at one side and press the foil down into the crease before moving around – if you try to do it all at once, the foil invariably rips. Combine brownie ingredients and mix well with a spoon and pour into the 2 pans and spread out so the whole pan is covered then bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool the pans 20 minutes and then lift out foil and then cool cakes 1 hour longer. Place one brownie top side down on plate and spread with ½ the Cool Whip and lay on ½ the strawberry slices. Place the second brownie on top, top side up and spread with the rest of the Cool Whip and the rest of the strawberries. Placing the first one down with the top toward the plate means the 2 layers where the cakes meet are both nice and flat and this way you don’t get one sliding off the other 🙂
Pre cooking the broccoli and cauliflower change this up nicely from your typical salad where the veggies are served raw. With the dressing, this tasted much like a mild giardiniera.
Broccoli Salad
4 servings
49 calories per serving
¾ c broccoli florets
¾ c cauliflower florets
½ c celery slices
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 T oil
3 T white vinegar
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
1/8 t garlic powder
1/8 t onion powder
Place broccoli and cauliflower in a dish with ¼ c water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave 4 minutes to soften a bit. Drain and add the pepper and celery. Mix the dressing and pour over the veggies and chill an hour or more to mix flavors.
Just a few additions and you have guest worthy pancakes instead of the regular old fare. Apples, raisins and cinnamon just mix so well and these pancakes were just great on a Sunday morning !
Apple Raisin Pancakes
8 servings (2 pancakes each)
268 calories per serving
2 c flour
2 T sugar
1 T baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 ¾ c skim milk
2/3 c Egg Beaters
5 T margarine, melted and divided
¾ c chopped apple
¾ c raisins
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. In another bowl mix milk, eggs and 4 T margarine and then stir into the dry ingredients just until mixed. Stir in the apples and raisins. Brush a griddle with margarine and heat to medium high. Spoon ¼ c batter per pancake and cook in batches.
Though the Morningstar Farms black bean patties are MIGHTY GOOD, these were also good and if you’re just in the mood to do it from scratch, this is a great recipe !
Black Bean Pies
4 servings
194 calories per serving
Pam
3 t oil
½ onion, chopped finely
½ green pepper, chopped finely
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 T honey
1 T cider vinegar
½ t chili powder
½ t cumin
¼ t red pepper flakes
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ c breadcrumbs
2 T flour
4 T low fat sour cream
2 T cilantro, chopped
Spray skillet with Pam. Heat 2 t oil on medium high and sauté onion, pepper and garlic 4 minutes or until golden then add honey, cider, chili, cumin and red pepper and mix well. Add beans and breadcrumbs to the pan and reduce the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and mash bean mixture with a potato masher until it is the consistency of a thick puree, and then shape mix into 4 patties (like a hamburger). Spread flour on a platter and coat patties on both sides. Spray same skillet with Pam and ad 1 t oil. Saute patties until light browned turning once. Serve each with sour cream and cilantro.
Coming to the end of Retread Week – here is another family favorite that is not off bounds just because you are on a 400 calorie meal plan !!
There’s nothing like a burger – when you want one, you want one, and nothing else will do. Instead of heading out for fast food, throw these together. Even the kids will love them !!
Shape meat into patties and place in hot skillet that has been sprayed with pam. Cook 5 min per side or until desired doneness. Or grill the burgers outside on the grill. Top with cheese right when they are done cooking. Serve on a toasted bun with all the condiments and additions.
