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, Fish

Garlic Shrimp with Orzo

September 23, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a quick dish that is nothing but good ! Orzo, one of my favorite pastas + super low cal shrimp + a lemony garlic sauce. Super yummy !

4 servings
383 calories per serving

1 c whole wheat orzo
2 T chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 teaspoons butter, divided
1 1/2 lb. frozen shrimp (peeled and cooked)
1 T minced garlic
2 T lemon juice
Zest of one lemon

Cook orzo according to package instructions, drain and then add parsley, 2 t butter, salt and pepper. Melt 4 t butter in skillet and add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Then add shrimp with a bit of salt and pepper. Work in batches if you pan is not large enough. Cook until shrimp is heated through. Add lemon juice at the very end of the heating. Add lemon zest to orzo. Serve shrimp over orzo.

Lunch, Mexican, MUFAs

Avocado Tacos

September 22, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Creamy goodness all wrapped up in a yummy tortilla. Get your MUFA for the day and smile while you do it 😉 This tastes much like yummy guacamole; just a bit milder, but perfect for a lunch tortilla.

6 servings
290 calories per serving

12 6 inch tortillas
3 avocados, mashed
1/4 t garlic salt
¾ c chopped cilantro
Pepper to taste
A few drops of Tabasco sauce
12 tomato slices
Lime juice

Mix avocados, garlic, pepper, Tabasco and cilantro. Spread the mixture in each tortilla and add 2 tomato slices. Squirt with lime, fold and eat.

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.

Contests

GIVEAWAY !! 2 Lucky 400 Calories or Less readers will win.

September 19, 2011 admin Leave a comment

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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.

Appetizers

Pickled Eggs

September 16, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a more old fashioned dish – but still a fan favorite and these eggs are great cut up in salad, served as a snack, or placed on an appetizer platter.

6 servings
88 calories per serving

Liquid from 1 15 oz can beets
1 c cider vinegar
1/2 c sugar
2 t Kosher salt
2 bay leaves
4 whole cloves
1 medium onion, sliced into rings
6 large eggs

Drain beets and reserve for another use. Pour liquid in a saucepan and add vinegar, sugar, salt, bay and cloves and bring to a boil Stir to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat, add onion rings and let sit 1 hour.

Place eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and let boil 2 minutes. Shut off heat, cover and let sit 11 minutes. Then rinse in cold water. (By the way – this is the recipe for a PERFECT hard boiled egg!!) Peel eggs and place in a deep jar and pour over the liquid and top with the onion rings. Refrigerate for 24 hours then remove onions (you can use these on burgers). I remove the eggs from the liquid at this point – you can keep them in the liquid if you wish. These will store well for 3 days.

Dinner, Pork

Burgundy Pork

September 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I love mixing red wine and brown gravy mix – it gives you such an awesome gravy – definitely restaurant worthy !

4 servings
400 calories per serving

2 lb. pork tenderloin
1/2 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 c red wine (I used cooking wine and it came out great!)
.75 oz. packet dry brown gravy mix
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with Pam. Sprinkle pork with spices and then top with onions and celery. Pour wine over pork. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until done. Let meat rest and then cut into thin slices. Pour gravy mix into pan with the cooking juices and stir until thick – serve over the sliced meat.