Not Cinnabon, but definitely a tasty and low cal substitute when you’re in the mood for something sweet and gooey. Have 2 rounds for only 120 calories – add a nice latte and it’s a decadent snack. This recipe is definitely kid friendly – very sweet, very cinnamony !
Mini Cinnamon Nut Rolls
20 servings
60 calories per serving (1 roll=1serving)
8 oz low fat crescent rolls
2 t sugar
2 t cinnamon
2 T very finely chopped walnuts
Butter flavored Pam
2/3 c powdered sugar
1 T skim milk
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unroll dough and press together perforations. Cut lengthwise and sprinkle both halves with cinnamon, sugar and nuts. Roll pressing firmly to make nice even rolls without air bubbles. Pinch the seams to keep the rolls closed. Cut each roll into 10 rounds. Coat a baking sheet with Pam and place rolls on their sides on the sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Mix the sugar and milk and drizzle over the hot rounds and serve immediately.
Very cheesy, very veggie – this is a veggie dish that will really get the kids eating up !
Veggie Bake
6 servings
211 calories per serving
1 can 26 oz. Light Cream of Chicken Soup
2/3 c low fat sour cream
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t onion powder
10 oz. frozen veggie mix (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli), thawed
6 oz. frozen green beans, thawed
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 c shredded Swiss cheese
1 c Stovetop stuffing mix
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soup, sour cream, onion powder and pepper then stir in veggies, 1/2 c cheese. Turn into a 2 quart baking dish. Cover and bake 40 minutes. Stir and then top with the rest of the cheese and the stuffing mix and bake 5 minutes uncovered.
This is a great, crisp side dish that can be paired with just about anything. I bet it can even get cabbage by your kids 🙂 Add a teaspoon of chili sauce with garlic (found in the Asian section of your market) to make this a super spicy dish.
Stir Fried Bok Choy
4 servings
87 calories per serving
2 t peanut or olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 T chopped fresh ginger
¼ c chicken broth
¼ c water
1 red bell pepper in small ¼ inch squares
2 carrots halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 c 1 inch strips of bok choy or Napa cabbage
1 t sugar
½ t salt
2 t sesame oil
Heat oil in a skillet on medium low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for one minute then add the broth and ¼ c water and cover and cook for 7 minutes. Add the bell pepper and carrots and cook 1 minute then add the cabbage and mix well. Sprinkle with sugar and salt and cook 5 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Drizzle with the sesame oil (and optional chili and garlic sauce) and serve immediately.
These are the perfect little appetizers. You don’t really taste the cream cheese, but it’s there for the onion flavor and to keep the pork moist. These would also be great dropped in hot chicken broth and boiled for 5 minutes or so. Serve a few next to a big green salad with ginger dressing for a nice light dinner.
8 oz. Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 lb. ground pork, cooked, well drained
1 t minced ginger
1 t sesame oil
32 wonton wrappers
2 t sesame seeds
2 T soy sauce
1 T rice wine or water
1 T water
Pam
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix pork, cream cheese, ginger and oil and place 1 T of mix onto each wonton wrapper. Fold into wonton shape (see the video below for easy to follow instructions). Spray a baking sheet with Pam and place wontons on sheet. Brush wontons with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown Then lower oven to 350 and bake another 5 minutes. Mix soy, rice wine and 1 T water and serve with wontons as a dipping sauce. Alternately you can serve with prepared ginger soy sauce.
So different from the ordinary soup or the ordinary meatball. And so very tasty ! I don’t know which is better – the lemony broth or the big cheese balls !
Ricotta Ball Soup
6 servings
268 calories per serving
1 lb. ground chicken
2 c part skim ricotta
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 c egg beaters
1 1/2 t kosher salt
8 cup no fat chicken broth
Zest of one lemon
6 oz. baby spinach
Mix chicken, ricotta, parmesan, Egg Beaters and salt. Refrigerate 15 minutes. In a soup pot combine broth and zest and bring to a boil. Make 18 meatballs with the chicken mix. They will barely hold together, but just keep as ‘ball-like’ as possible and drop into the broth. They will immediately sink. Simmer until they float and are completely done, about 15 minutes. Add spinach and let wilt for 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
This recipe transforms regular mac and cheese into a Mexican flavored side dish that is great next to a lean piece of chicken or fish.
Chili Cheese Macs
4 servings
290 calories per serving
7.25 oz. boxed Mac and Cheese dinner
1 c canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 c canned diced tomatoes, drained
1 t chili powder
1/2 t cumin
salt and pepper to taste
Make the mac and cheese according to the package instructions using margarine and skim milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat through.
Rustic and earthy is the way I would describe this dish. The pepitas, capers and tomatoes just make this dish what it is – very special. This would be a great meal to make for guests.
Tilapia with Pepitas
4 servings
180 calories per serving
2 T pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
4 4-ounce tilapia fillets
Salt and pepper to taste
1 T oil
2 T lemon juice
1/2 c dry white wine
1 T butter
1 1/2 T capers, drained and rinsed
1 c grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/4 c chopped basil
Pam
Toast the pepitas very briefly (do not let them brown) in a hot skillet. Remove and set aside. Preheat broiler. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper and spray a baking sheet with Pam. Broil fish 3-4 minutes.. Heat oil and butter on medium heat and saute tomatoes and capers 2 minutes. Add lemon and wine and simmer 1 minute. Add fish (browned side up) and baste with sauce. Remove fish to a plate. Add basil, pepitas, salt and pepper to pan and saute 30 seconds. Spoon over fish and serve immediately.
I just made these again recently – what a great recipe ! I had the wrong calorie count on them and a reader helped me realize that – but I have updated taking into account the calorie count of the most popular brand of eggroll wrappers.
These eggrolls will soon be on your favorites list. Add 1/4 c duck sauce to the side for just an extra 60 calories. If you’re in the mood for some seafood try adding some cooked popcorn shrimp.
These make a great side dish, stand alone lunch, appetizer – – very, very versatile !
12 square eggroll wrappers (available in all grocery stores)
2 c shredded cabbage
1 c chopped onions
1/2 c shredded carrots
1/2 chopped bean sprouts (canned are fine)
1/2 c chopped celery
1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
2 T minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all the ingredients other than the wrappers in a frying pan sprayed with Pam and cook on medium high heat, stirring often, for 15 minutes or until vegetables are softened a good amount.
Spray a cookie sheet with Pam. Work with just a couple of wrappers at a time. Place wrappers on a DRY surface and place 2 spoonfuls of filling on each. Dip your finger in water and moisten all 4 edges of the wrapper. Fold sides in toward the middle. Then roll bottom up and around rolling until you have a fully done roll.
And here’s a video I just made so you can see how it’s done – it’s so easy !!
[youtube]KDO4_u64C4w[/youtube]
Seal the outside edge with a wet finger and place roll on the baking sheet. Finish up the rest of the rolls. Once all the rolls are complete, spray the tops with Pam. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
A hot open faced sandwich brings me back – they seem to be a more old fashioned food – but I want to bring them back ! 🙂 My Mom used to serve hot open faced roast beef sandwiches a lot, sometimes even as a quick dinner. This one brings the calories down a bit using turkey and fat free turkey gravy.
Hot Turkey and Gravy Sandwiches
4 servings
220 calories per serving
2 T margarine
1 large onion, thinly sliced
¾ lb. cooked turkey breast, sliced thin
12 oz fat free turkey gravy
4 slices bread
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt margarine in a skillet and add onion. Cover and cool 6 minutes or until golden. Add turkey and gravy and cook until heated through. Place 1 slice of bread on each of 4 plates and top with the turkey mix. Season with salt and pepper.
If you’re from the NY Metro area, then right away you know what I’m talking about 😉 But if you’re not, you’re probably scratching your head. Taylor ham is a very regional item – I have never found it anywhere other than the Northeast and only part of the NE ! It is a compressed product of pork and spices / flavorings. It comes presliced or in a roll like a big roll of bologna. It has a flavor like NOTHING ELSE. It is served as a side to eggs (like bacon or sausage) or on a roll. A BIG breakfast sandwich here is Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll. (Don’t even get me started about a HARD roll – in the NE it is a type of roll, it does NOT mean a stale roll – hehehehe).
I’ve skinnied up the extras so that this sandwich comes in at only 265 calories per serving. To my fellow NJ and NY peoples, enjoy 🙂 (those of you out of state will have to wait to you visit the area – when you do, be sure to try this incredible product).
Taylor Ham and Cheese
1 serving
265 calories per serving
2 slices light wheat bread (Stop and Shop has a great one that is only 35 calories per slice)
1 slice Kraft fat free singles cheese
2 thin slices Taylor Ham (pork roll)
Brown the pork roll in a hot skillet. Make a sandwich. Enjoy 🙂
(I cut into the pork roll a couple of times before frying – this helps it to not curl up during the cooking process).
