Category Archives: Kid Friendly

Pork and Greens

October 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

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

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.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Apricot Cake

October 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a great cake that can be left rather plain or you can dress it up with a drizzle of heated apricot jam or some whipped cream. The apricot flavor is so sweet and the brown sugar is so homey – this is a perfect way to jazz up a box cake mix !

12 servings
285 calories per serving

1 moist white cake mix (240 calories per serving prepared as directed)
2 16 oz. cans apricot halves, drained
½ c Splenda brown sugar substitute
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix with water, oil and eggs and prepare as directed. Pour into 2 8×8 squared or 8 inch round baking pans sprayed with Pam. Drop apricots on top rounded side up (they will sink). Sprinkle with Splenda and bake 35-40 minutes. Optionally, squirt with some canned whipped cream.

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly

Pepper and Onion Boboli

October 2, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Bobolis make great pizza crusts – top them with just about anything and you have a hit dinner or lunch in 20 minutes flat ! For this one, I’m using a pepper and onion topping, a favorite for my family.

4 servings
387 calories per serving

1 original Boboli crust
½ c pizza sauce
½ t garlic powder
½ t oregano flakes
Optional red pepper flakes (if you like it spicy)
1 c part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 c peppers sliced very thin
1 c onions sliced very thin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spoon sauce onto crust and spread within ½ inch of the edges. Sprinkle with garlic powder and oregano. Add cheese and toppings. Bake 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Parmesan Rolls

October 1, 2011 admin Leave a comment

A perfect side – so simple, yet so special. These will disappear as quick as you can make them !

16 servings
139 calories per serving (1 piece)

4 oz. low fat cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 c low fat parmesan cheese
2 cans low fat crescent rolls
¼ c chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese and ¾ c of parmesan cheese until well mixed. Separate crescent rolls and spread 1 1/2 T cream cheese mix onto the dough and roll as directed on the package Place on baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining parm. Bake 15 minutes

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Lemon Glazed Chicken

September 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

What a great tangy yet mild sauce – it makes the chicken tenders simply splendid !!

4 servings
210 calories per serving

1 ½ lb. chicken cutlets or tenders
½ t salt
½ t pepper
3 T lemon juice
Pam
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 garlic cloves minced
½ c fat free chicken broth
2 T chopped parsley
1 t cornstarch
¼ c water

Season chicken with salt and pepper and 2 T lemon juice then place in a heated skillet that has been sprayed with Pam and cook 5-6 minutes each site or until browned then remove from pan and keep warm. Add mushrooms and garlic to pan and cook 4 minutes then add the rest of the juice, the broth, and the parsley. Mix 1 t cornstarch with ¼ c cold water and add to the mix. Simmer and stir to thicken sauce and then return chicken to the pan. Cook 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Pork

Brined Pork Loin

September 26, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Brining makes things so very moist and flavorful – and this is no exception. Super easy method that turns out perfect results time and again !

8 servings
251 calories per serving

8 c cold water
1/2 c kosher salt
2 1 lb. pork tenderloins, trimmed
1 T olive oil
1/2 t black pepper

Combine water and salt in a 13×9 glass baking dish and add pork. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour, turning halfway through. Heat grill. Drain pork and pat it dry then brush with oil and sprinkle with pepper. Grill ½ hour or until desired doneness. Let stand 1 minutes before slicing.

Fruit, Kid Friendly, Snacks

Tea and Honey Oranges

September 24, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The addition of the tea actually makes this less sweet and you’ll find it’s a great snack or even a great side dish to a fish or chicken dinner.

4 servings
63 calories per serving

2 c mandarin orange pieces (if using canned, make sure to rinse the oranges off and drain)
1/2 c hot black tea
2 T honey
Pinch of ground cardamom

Mix all together and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides, Vegetables

Corn Cakes

September 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

What a great side dish – the sweetness of the corn really shines though and makes this a tasty treat that the whole family will love. It’s like a savory pancake with corn and herbs.

5 servings (2 cakes each)
180 calories per serving

1/2 c white whole wheat flour
1/2 c skim milk
2 large eggs
2 T oil
1/2 t baking powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 c frozen corn, thawed
¼ c chopped basil and parsley
Pam

Whish together flour, eggs, milk, 1 T oil, salt, pepper and baking powder. Add in corn and basil. Working in batches, brush skillet with a bit of oil and spray with Pam and heat to medium high. Using a ¼ c measuring cup, pour batter into cakes about 3 inches wide leaving room in between so you can flip them easily. Cook 2 minutes then flip and cook another 2 minutes.

Appetizers, Kid Friendly, Mediterranean, Snacks

Pita Chips

September 18, 2011 admin 1 Comment

Great on their own, great with dips, great next to salads – these are so versatile and you can spice them up pretty much however you wish !

48 chips
43 calories per serving (1 serving = 16 chips)

1 t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ t oregano flakes
½ t basil flakes
½ t parsley flakes
2 t paprika
4 6-inch pita breads cut in half like a sandwich
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine seasonings and set aside. Cut each pita half into 6 wedges and spray both sides with Pam and sprinkle seasoning mix on the pitas and bake 12 minutes or until golden. Turn once halfway through cooking and cool before serving.

Beef, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Crock Pot Goulash

September 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

What a great goulash ! The caraway flavor is mild, yet it really steals the show and makes this a great tasting goulash.

8 servings
181 calories per serving

2 lb. beef stew meat, trimmed and cubed
2 t caraway seeds
2 T paprika
1/4 t salt
Pepper, to taste
1 large onion, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
14 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)
14 oz. can beef broth
1 t Worcestershire sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
2 T cornstarch mixed with 3 T water
2 T chopped parsley
Pam

Place beef in the crock pot. Crush caraway seeds in an herb grinder or with the back of a heavy pot. Mix crushed seeds with paprika, salt and pepper and sprinkle on the meat pressing the spices into the meat so they stick. Add onion and pepper to a skillet sprayed with Pam and cook 5 minutes. Mix tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire and garlic and add to pan and bring to a simmer. Pour into the crock and then place the bay leaves on top of the meat. Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low. Discard the bay leaves and then add the cornstarch mix and cook on high 15 minutes to thicken the sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve with optional whole wheat egg noodles.