Category Archives: Dinner

Vegetable Gratin

February 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is such a hearty vegetable dish ! The potatoes, parsnips and carrots really satisfy. Serve next to just about anything for a great serving of vegetables.

4 servings
251 calories per serving

Pam
2 t oil
1 lb. onions, thinly sliced
1/3 c skim milk
1 T cornstarch
1 c fat free chicken broth
¼ t pepper
Salt to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
1 t parsley flakes
¼ t thyme
1 lb. red potatoes cut in 1 inch chunks
6 stalks celery, cut in 1 inch chunks
½ lb. parsnips, sliced
½ lb. carrots, sliced

Spray skillet with Pam, add oil and heat on medium high. Cook onions 25 minutes to caramelize and brown the onions. Add a tablespoon or more of hot water along the way if the onions start to dry out too much. Whisk milk and cornstarch and add to onion skillet along with broth, pepper and thyme. Heat on medium high heat and boil for 1 minute stirring continuously.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine potatoes, celery, parsnips and carrots. Stir in onion mix and spices/herbs and turn all into a 3 quart baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes then remove cover and bake another 15 minutes, until golden and tender.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Fettuccine Alfredo

February 20, 2011 admin Leave a comment

A dish that many order in a restaurant – but you can do it for so many fewer calories at home…and it tastes great !

5 servings
340 calories

12 oz. FiberGourmet fettuccine (I used their tomato flavored fettuccine)
2 t buttery spread
1 t oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ c finely chopped red bell pepper
¼ c sliced green onions
¼ c chopped parsley
1 T flour
12 oz. can fat free evaporated milk
½ t basil flakes
¼ t oregano flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Melt spread and oil in a skillet. Cook garlic on medium high heat for one minute then add pepper, onions, parsley and flour and cook another minute. Gradually add milk and blend and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Cook 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Remove skillet from heat, stir basil, oregano salt and pepper and then toss with pasta. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Dinner, Fish

Spicy Jamaica Tilapia

February 19, 2011 admin 1 Comment

Quite sweet and definitely tastes of the islands ! This sweet/spicy sauce would do well on any white fish, but I love tilapia !

6 servings
150 calories per serving

¼ c brown sugar
1 t ground cumin
1 t red pepper flakes
6 tilapia fillets, 4 oz. each
¼ c lite zesty Italian dressing
¼ c lime juice
½ c orange juice
¼ c chopped cilantro
2 T chopped mint leaves

Heat dressing in a skillet on medium high. Combine sugar, pepper and cumin and sprinkle 2 T over one side of the fish and put in skillet sugar side down then sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mix. Cook 5 minutes each side or until done. Remove from pan. Add juices to skillet and heat through then stir in cilantro and mint and spoon over the fish.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Snow Peas and Mushrooms

February 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This side dish is great next to just about anything ! The flavor is mild and subtle, so it will go well with just about any meal, not just Asian dishes. And for only 83 calories, it’s a smart side.

4 servings
83 calories per serving

1 T sesame seeds, toasted
1 T olive oil
1/2 lb. snow peas
4 oz. mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 T teriyaki sauce

Toast sesame seeds by place in a hot dry skillet for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Heat oil and sauté snow peas and mushrooms 4 minutes. Stir in teriyaki and sesame seeds.

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Soups, Turkey

Meatball and Mushroom Soup (Crock Pot)

February 13, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This did not photograph particularly well – but let me tell you, the meal was DELICIOUS ! You can’t eat this fast enough – you just want more of that awesome broth and the meatballs in your mouth ! You can also use predone turkey meatballs and take a whole lot of the work out of this recipe. Just make sure to do the broth like it says – you won’t be disappointed !

4 servings
200 calories per serving

½ lb. ground turkey
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
¼ t pepper
¼ c Egg Beaters
1 T oil
1 c carrots, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c sliced mushrooms
1 can fat free beef broth
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup
2 T tomato paste
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Mix together turkey and seasonings and then add egg and still until well mixed. Make small meatballs and heat in a skillet coated with the oil. Put meatballs in crock and all the rest except the cheese. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours. Garnish with Parmesan cheese once in individual bowls.

Chicken, Dinner

Brunswick Stew

February 12, 2011 admin 1 Comment

This is a tasty stew that does well stovetop or you can sauté the onions and then pile it all in a crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-6 hours.

6 servings
238 calories per serving

Pam
1 t oil
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts in bite sized pieces
10 oz. frozen baby lima beans
10 oz. frozen corn
3 c chicken broth
1 ½ c chopped tomatoes
6 oz. tomato paste
3 T lemon juice
1 T Worcestershire sauce

Spray a Dutch oven with Pam and heat on medium high. Add oil and then sauté onion 3-4 minutes. Add all the rest of the ingredients and reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mediterranean, Sides

Greek Potatoes

February 9, 2011 admin 2 Comments

These taste just like the ones I get at my favorite Greek restaurant. So good and a great side to most any dish 🙂

8 servings
214 calories per serving

4 medium russet baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 c water
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 T oregano flakes, plus more for garnish
1 t salt
½ t pepper

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Toss potatoes with water, oil, juice, oregano, salt and pepper. Turn potatoes and liquid onto a baking sheet and arrange in one layer. Bake uncovered about 50 minutes or until ford tender. Half way through, turn potatoes and add water if liquid is all absorbed. Garnish with extra oregano.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Fish, Italian, Kid Friendly

Garlic Shrimp with Spaghetti

February 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

There is an Italian dish called Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (spaghetti with garlic and olive oil) – the way it sounds and not being able to pronounce it, my daughter used to say we were having ‘Spaghetti Hallelujah’ for dinner. It still makes me giggle whenever I think about it 🙂 This recipe is for a similar dish, but with some added shrimp to make it a great complete meal. It is one of my favorite Italian dishes – so simple yet scrumptious… like some of the best homemade dishes.

This version removes a lot of the oil replacing it with chicken broth to save a ton of calories. The flavor profiles are still there, though and while not quite authentic, this is a great low cal version.

4 servings
397 calories per serving

Pam
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and cleaned
1 t basil flakes
1 t oregano flakes
½ t pepper
Salt to taste
½ t garlic powder
8 oz. FiberGourmet Spaghetti
1 c chicken broth
1 T olive oil
5 T chopped parsley
4 T grated parmesan cheese

Spray skillet with Pam and add garlic and mushrooms and cook 4 minutes. Add shrimp, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and cook another 4 minutes or until shrimp get translucent. Cook linguini according to package instructions. Drain, cover and keep warm. Add broth to skillet and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer. Stir in parsley and cook another 4 minutes to meld flavors. Mix shrimp mix and pasta together with oil and serve each portion with 1 T of parmesan cheese over the top.

Dinner, Lunch, MUFAs, Sandwiches, Turkey

Turkey Burger with Avocado

February 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The avocado topping brings back much needed moisture to an often dry turkey burger. Feel free to add tomato and onion slices – they carry a minimum of calories. If you can’t get your hands on a nice ripe avocado, substitute Wholly Guacamole (a super fresh guac available in the refrigerator section of your market).

2 servings
330 calories per serving

2 turkey burgers (Jennie-O)
2 100 calorie buns (Arnold Select Sandwich Thins – multi grain)
Pam
1/2 c worth of avocado slices (about 6 slices) – or use some Wholly Guacamole (available at most markets)
garlic powder
salt and pepper

Heat a pan on medium high. Remove from heat to spray with Pam. Heat frozen burgers according to package instructions (you can alternately grill or broil the burgers, but cook them slow so they do not dry out). When done, place on a bun and add 3 slices of avocado on the top.

This makes the job of making avocado slices a breeze – tools such as these make perfect slices all the time !

Asian, Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Lemon Ginger Tenders

February 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Quick and simple yet sooooo flavorful, I love restaurant quality meals that whip up in no time ! Serve with quick brown rice.

4 servings
150 calories per serving

1 t cornstarch
1 T soy sauce
12 oz. chicken tenders cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c chicken broth (fat free)
1 t fresh ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 T Splenda
1 t cornstarch
1 T oil
1/4 c red bell pepper in strips
1/4 c green bell pepper in strips

Mix 1 t cornstarch and 1 T soy in a bowl. Add chicken and toss to coat well. Put bowl in the frig for 10 minutes. Stir lemon juice, 1/4 c soy, broth, ginger, garlic, Splenda and 1 t cornstarch in a bowl. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Add chicken and cook 4 minutes then add sauce and sliced peppers and cook 3-4 minutes.