Mocha Parfaits

October 26, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Rich, creamy and very flavorful. The family won’t even know they are eating healthy cottage cheese ! So much healthier than sugar laden puddings, ice creams, etc.

4 servings
210 calories per serving

16 oz. low fat cottage cheese
1/4 c sugar
1 T cocoa powder
1 1/2 t instant coffee powder
2 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup + 2 T Cool Whip Lite
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Blend cottage cheese, sugar, cocoa and coffee in a blender. Take 1half of the mixture out of the blender and distribute among the 4 parfait cups. Place 2 T Cool Whip in blender and quickly blend. Distribute half the berries in the parfait glasses. Then add the remainder of the mocha mix and the remainder of the berries. Top with Cool Whip and nuts.

Dinner, Fish, Kid Friendly

Garlic Shrimp

October 25, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Simple to do – sweet to eat – yummy succulent shrimp ! At only 84 calories per large serving (aren’t shrimp great?!?!), add a nice pasta or rice side dish.

4 servings
84 calories per serving

32 large shrimp peeled and cleaned
8 T plain fat free Greek yogurt
1 T minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c chopped parsley
Pam

Heat a skillet and spray with Pam. Mix yogurt and parsley. Cook shrimp 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook a minute longer or until shrimp are done. Toss shrimp with yogurt sauce.

Crock pot, Dinner, Turkey

Porcupine Meatballs (Crock Pot)

October 21, 2011 admin 2 Comments

Decadent tasting due to the creamy mushroom sauce, but low cal, low fat and a perfect weeknight dinner. This one gets filed with my ‘all time favs’ !

5 servings
142 calories per serving

¾ lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 c skim milk
½ c raw long grain rice
1 onion, chopped
1 c breadcrumbs
¼ t pepper
½ pack of dry onion soup mix
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup
½ c skim milk

Mix meat, 1 c milk, rice, onion, crumbs, soup mix, and pepper. Shape into meatballs and place in crock. Mix soup and ½ c milk and pour over the meatballs. Cover and cook on low 5 hours.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Banana Grahams

October 19, 2011 admin Leave a comment

When you start out, you think you’re making these for the kids. Then you taste one and forget that, the plate is just for you 🙂 Honestly, these are good enough to serve as dessert at an adult get together. Everyone loves the simplicity and the great banana and chocolate flavor. These disappear very quickly 😉

1 serving
94 calories per serving

1 square reduced fat graham cracker, broken into 2 rectangles
1/2 t Nutella
2 slices banana
1/2 t sweetened shredded coconut

Break each graham square into 2 rectangles and spread with Nutella. Top with the banana slice and then sprinkle with coconut – watch them disappear !

Dinner, Sides

Grilled Mushrooms with Couscous

October 18, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Savory with just a bit of sweet from the dried cranberries. An earthy dish that is a great vegetarian main dish or a perfect side to a fish or chicken dinner.

4 servings
208 calories per serving

4 whole Portobello mushrooms
4 T white balsamic vinegar
Pam
½ c chicken or vegetable broth
½ c water
¼ t turmeric
2/3 c couscous
¼ c dried cranberries
½ t lemon zest
¼ t salt
1 t oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. chopped fresh spinach
2 T water
1 T margarine
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped

Cut 4 slits in the top of each mushroom about 2 inches long and ½ inch deep. Remove stems and place top facing up in a baking dish. Sprinkle with half the vinegar and spray with Pam. Turn the mushrooms over and sprinkle with the rest of the vinegar. Spray again with Pam. Cover dish with plastic wrap and set aside. Combine broth, water and turmeric in a small pan. Bring to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Stir in the couscous, cranberries, lemon and salt. Remove from heat and cover and let stand 5 minutes or until ready to serve the dish. Heat another saucepan and add oil and then sauté garlic for one minute. Add the greens and 2 T water and cook 3 minutes. Add the margarine and stir in for 30 seconds. Remove from pan and keep warm. Cook mushrooms 3 minutes each side and place stem side up on a serving plate. Spoon the couscous mix on the top and then top with the greens. Sprinkle with bell pepper and serve immediately.

Dinner, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Jalapeno Tomatoes

October 17, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Spicy and savory side dish that is perfect next to Mexican inspired meals. The cumin really makes this a different tasting salad.

8 servings
58 calories per serving

4 c halved cherry or grape tomatoes (plus any other sliced garden tomatoes you have)
1/3 c sliced scallions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and sliced thinly
1/3 c white balsamic vinegar
1 T brown sugar
1 T oil
2 t minced ginger
1 t ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the tomatoes, scallions, garlic and jalapeno. Mix the rest of the ingredients to make a dressing then pour over the tomatoes and chill for at least 1 hour.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Zucchini Fries

October 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Though in a typical aioli the mayo is made from scratch by whipping the eggs, you can make a quick version with low fat mayo, garlic and lemon zest and you’ll be in dipping heaven. The zucchini fries are perfect with the sauce. Try serving next to a chicken or turkey burger for a saintly version of a burger and fries.

8 servings
108 calories per serving

1 lb. zucchini (about 3)
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese
1 pack Shake and Bake
1 egg
1/2 c low fat mayo
1 t lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pam

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam. Cut zucchini into ¼ inch ‘french fries’. Mix cheese with Shake and bake and place in a zip loc bag. Whisk egg and toss with zucchini then drain off any excess egg and working in batches place zucchini in zip loc and shake to coat. Spread zucchini on baking sheet and cook 12-13 minutes turning half way through.

Mix mayo, lemon and garlic and serve as a dipping sauce.

Chicken, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mexican

Soft Chicken Tacos

October 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Super good – this stacks up to any taco you find out there and the kids love to make these. These tacos really hit the spot.

10 servings
249 calories per serving

1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite sized cubes
1t red vinegar
Juice of one half a lime
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t oregano flakes
10 6 inch flour tortillas
1 tomato, diced
1/4 c shredded lettuce
1/4 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 c salsa
Pam
1 avocado, sliced

Spray a skillet with Pam and cook chicken 6-7 minutes or until done. Mix in vinegar, juice, salt, pepper, garlic and oregano and simmer 5 minutes. Heat tortillas half a minute in microwave. Put chicken mix in tacos and top with cheese, tomato, lettuce and salsa. Top with 2 slices of avocado per taco.

Chicken, Dinner

Balsamic Chicken

October 14, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I love simply sautéed chicken – it needs nothing more than garlic powder, salt and pepper to have a great flavor. But then you take some honey roasted tomatoes and add them to the top for extra flair – – and you end up with a dish that is bright and fresh.

4 servings
238 calories per serving

1 pint grape tomatoes
1 T honey
1 1/2 t oil
½ t garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
6 oz. boneless skinless chicken tenders (or very thin cutlets)
1/2 t pepper
Pam
2 t white balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 450. Mix tomatoes, honey and oil and then spread on a baking sheet and bake 12 minutes. When done, set aside. Mean while, sprinkle chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper and sauté in a heated pan spray with Pam. Cool 4-5 minutes each side or until done. Remove from pan and brush with vinegar. Place on a platter and cover with tomatoes. Serve immediately.

Drinks

Sparkly Sangria

October 12, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Festive, fruity, summery and a great drink for entertaining.

10 servings
155 calories per serving

1 c cherries, sliced off the pit or pitted and sliced
1 c blueberries
1 c raspberries
1 c strawberries, sliced
1 nectarine, chopped
2 c apricot nectar
750 ml bottle white or red wine
2 c lemon lime seltzer

Add fruit to nectar and chill an hour or more. Add wine and seltzer just before serving.