Category Archives: Dinner

Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

June 10, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Roast chicken is just so homey to me. And it makes as great of an everyday meal as it does a holiday or special occasion meal. It’s so easy to do and so very good. And the leftovers are great for chicken salad or chicken soup.

4 servings
374 calories per serving

2 T garlic, minced
1 t salt
3/4 t pepper
1/2 t rosemary
1 3 ½ pound roasting chicken
Pam
12 oz red potatoes, quartered
1 1/2 c cubed peeled butternut squash

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix half the garlic with half the salt and pepper then add the rosemary. Prepare the chicken for roasting and then loosen the skin and rub the garlic mix under the skin. Place chicken on a rack in a broiler pan that has been sprayed with Pam. Mix potatoes, squash and the rest of the garlic salt and pepper and arrange around the chicken. Bake 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes then discard skin and carve chicken.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sandwiches

Chicken Burger Deluxe

June 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I find chicken to be much more flavorful than turkey – especially when you’re talking burgers or sausage. Cook this great low fat, low cal burger up in no time and have a guilt free burger dinner. Try serving with Zucchini ‘Fries’. To keep this moist, I add a bit of water to the pan as it cooks and give the burger a few spritzes of ICBINB spray right at the end of the cooking process.

1 serving
305 calories per serving

1 chicken burger
1 100 calorie bun (Arnold Select Thins are great !)
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ t onion powder
1 large slice tomato
1 lettuce leaf
1 slice onion
2 large basil leaves
Pam
ICBINB Spray

Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Add burger and sprinkle with half the salt, pepper and onion powder. Cook 5-6 minutes then flip and add the rest of the spices. If the pan gets too dry, add a bit of hot water. Cook another 5-6 minutes or until fully cooked. Spritz with a bit of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray then place on a bun. Add basil, lettuce, onion and tomato.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Gruyere Cauliflower

June 5, 2011 admin 1 Comment

How completely decadent this is !!! The cheese sauce is just fantastic – I think gruyere and cauliflower were meant to go together. If you don’t like gruyere, swap out the cheese – but makes sure it is a harder cheese (less calories) and one that has a pretty distinct flavor – maybe a nice shaved romano or provolone.

6 servings
151 calories per serving

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
Pam
1/2 t kosher salt, divided
2 t buttery spread
1/3 c panko breadcrumbs
1/2 c shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
1/2 c onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T flour
2 c skim milk
3 T chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with Pam. Top cauliflower with salt and pepper and bake one half hour. Preheat broiler. Melt spread and stir in breadcrumbs then mix in ¼ c of the cheese and set aside.

Heat a pan and spray with Pam. Cook onion 5 minutes adding water if necessary to keep the onion moist. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add flour and cook 1 minute stirring constantly and then gradually add mill whisking constantly. Bring to a boil then lower heat to medium and continue cooking 3 minutes to thicken up the sauce. Remove from heat and still in the rest of the cheese, some salt and pepper, and the parsley. Pour the cheese sauce over the cauliflower and broil 3 minutes.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Corn and Broccoli

May 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The natural ‘sugariness’ of the corn and the addition of a little bit of sugar make this a very sweet dish. It was just great served next to a mild flavored broiled pork chop. If you prefer less sweet, just leave out the sugar and this will still turn out a great side dish !

6 servings
133 calories per serving

15 oz. can creamed corn
½ c Egg Beaters
2 t sugar
2 T flour
1 t salt
½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
10 oz. package frozen broccoli, thawed and drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine corn, eggs, sugar, flour and salt and then fold in cheese and broccoli and place in a baking dish and bake 1 hour.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Rice and Veggies – Very Cheesy !

May 24, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Another great dish where your veggies and your starch are all together in one place. This whips up quickly and is a great side to chicken and fish dishes.

6 servings
226 calories per serving

2 c hot cooked rice
¾ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
½ c egg beaters
¾ t garlic salt

10 oz. package frozen broccoli florets, thawed
4 oz. chopped mushrooms
½ c chopped green bell pepper
½ medium onion, chopped
1 c egg beaters
½ c skim milk
½ t onion salt
½ t pepper
½ t salt
4 oz. shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the first 4 ingredients and press into the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish sprayed with Pam. Steam the broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper and onion for 5 minutes. Mix egg, milk, onion salt and pepper and stir into the veggies and pour it all over the rice crust. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Dinner, Kid Friendly

Baked Pierogi

May 22, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Take regular old store bought pierogi and turn them into a meal fit for a king ! The cheese sauce on top of these is out of this world good when mixed with the potato and cheese pierogi filling.

4 servings
281 calories per serving

1 16 oz. package or frozen pierogies
Pam
2 lean bacon slices, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 oz. low fat cream cheese
½ c chicken broth
½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
¼ c sliced scallions
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pierogies in a bowl and cover with hot water to defrost. Drain well. Spray 9×13 pan with Pam and add pierogies. Heat a skillet and cook the bacon the remove and set aside (crumble it when it is cool enough). Add garlic to pan and sauté 30 seconds then add cream cheese and cook 1 minute. Whisk in broth and then pour over the pierogies. Add the cheese on top and bake 20 minutes or until heated. When done, sprinkle with bacon, scallions, salt and pepper.

Beef, Dinner, FiberGourmet, Pasta

Creamy Beef and Pasta

May 19, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This dish uses yogurt to make a delicious and creamy sauce. But you don’t even know it’s yogurt ! Try this for a great filling one dish meal.

4 servings
300 calories per serving

5 oz. uncooked FiberGourmet Penne or Rotini
¾ c low fat plain yogurt
1 T cornstarch
1 T oil
¾ lb. beef round steak cut into thin strips
1 onion sliced thin
2 T flour
½ c beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 green bell pepper in 1 inch squares
1 c fresh mushrooms, quartered
1 t basil flakes
½ t parsley flakes
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
½ t brown sugar

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Combine yogurt and cornstarch and mix well. In a large skillet heat oil to medium high heat and cook beef and onion until beef is brown then add all the rest of the ingredients other than the pasta and yogurt sauce. Cover and cook on medium 8 minutes or until veggies are beginning to get tender. Remove from heat and gradually add 2 c meat mix into the yogurt sauce then return it to the skillet and stir over medium heat until well heated. Add pasta and toss to combine.

Asian, Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Summer

Grilled Asian Drumsticks

May 18, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Sometimes when you marinate or cook with a glaze on, all the best flavor is worn off before you get to eat. But by slathering on the glaze at the very end, you end up with TONS of flavor. And this is a great one – vinegar, soy, honey and garlic – yummy !

4 servings
210 calories per serving

8 chicken drumsticks, skinned
Pam
3 T balsamic vinegar
3 T soy sauce
3 T honey
1 t garlic chili sauce (available in the Asian section of your market)

Preheat your grill and spray the rack with high heat Pam. Coat chicken with spray and grill 10 minutes then turn and cook another 10 or until done. Mix vinegar, soy, honey and chili sauce in a pan and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and cook until reduced to 1/3 c of glaze. Put chicken on a large baking sheet and pour the glaze over the legs.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Baked Ravioli

May 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a rich, delicious dish. The whole ‘ravioli splitting in the boiling water’ hazard is gone and this is something you can put together ahead of time and then bake just before serving. Very easy, very convenient and very good !

8 servings
355 calories per serving

28 oz. jar marinara sauce
25 oz.package frozen cheese ravioli
2 c shredded no fat mozzarella cheese
2 T grated parmesan cheese
1 c sliced mushrooms (fresh or canned)
9 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry in a colander
½ t salt
½ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
Pam

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13×9 pan with Pam. Spread ¾ c sauce in bottom and arrange ½ the ravioli in the dish. Top with the spinach and mushrooms and then sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Top with half of the remaining sauce and 1 c mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of ravioli, then the rest of the sauce. Finally add the rest of the mozzarella and then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cover and bake 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 15 minutes until hot and bubbly. Then let sit 15 minute before serving.

Dinner, Fish

Tilapia with Ginger Butter

May 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The fish was so simply done – the ginger butter was really the show stealer here. It made plain, ordinary fish into a delightful meal. I think it would be equally good on shrimp or chicken – and it makes cooking such a snap !

4 servings
202 calories per serving

1 ½ T chopped cilantro
1 ½ T butter, room temperature (you can use any butter substitute here that you wish)
1 t minced jalapeno pepper
½ t grated lime rind
¼ t grated ginger root
Salt to taste
4 6 oz. tilapia fillets
Pam

Mix cilantro, butter, pepper, lime, ginger and ¼ t salt. Chill until butter is firm.

Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Salt and pepper both side of the fillets and sauté 3 minutes per side or until done. Plate and add butter pats to the top of each fillet.