Key Lime Parfait

May 8, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This has such a burst of lime flavor ! Your tastebuds really dance when you enjoy this parfait. At only 125 calories – have 2 🙂

8 servings
125 calories per serving

12 oz. evaporated milk
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
½ c confectioner’s sugar
½ c low fat sour cream
½ t grated lime zest
½ c bottled or fresh key lime juice

Pour the milk in a bowl and place in the freezer for about an hour, or until crystals begin to form. In a glass measuring cup, sprinkle gelatin over ¼ c cold water and let stand 5minutes then place the cup in a pan of simmer water and heat 4-5 minutes or until gelatin has dissolved and then cool it to room temperature.

Beat the milk until soft peaks form and then gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the sour cream and lime zest and then the cooled gelatin mix. Place bowl in refrigerator and chill ½ hour or so then fold the juice into the milk mixture and place into parfait glasses and chill another 2 hours.

Dinner, Lunch, Sides

Couscous with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

May 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is just as great served fresh as it is chilled and served the next day. A great side salad for dinner or lunch !

6 servings
126 calories per serving

1 c uncooked couscous
2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped (I like to use the virtually seedless English cucumber)
¼ t oil
¼ t vinegar
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil 1 c of water, add couscous and stir well, then cover and remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with fork and stir in the tomatoes and cucumbers. Then stir in the oil, vinegar and spices.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Sauted Portobellos

May 6, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Portobellos have such a great earthy flavor that you don’t want to douse these with too many spices and cover up the natural flavor. Just a little garlic, salt and pepper will do with Portobellos.

4 servings
51 calories per serving

12 oz portobello mushrooms (or a mixture of your favorite mushrooms including some portobellos)
1 T oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 large basil leaves, cut in thin strips
½ c chopped parsley

Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Saute garlic for 1 minute. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper, lower heat to medium, and cook to desired doneness. I like my mushrooms cooked down quite a bit. Sprinkle herbs on during the last minute of cooking.

Chicken, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Soups

Chicken and Rice Soup

May 5, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The egg in this soup makes for a super rich and creamy broth – this is kinda high cal for soup, but it is satisfying, filling and so worth it. Sometimes I just crave a soup rich with rice and chicken (and devoid of any veggies!) and this is it. It really hits the spot 🙂

4 servings
353 calories per serving

7 cups fat free chicken broth
¾ lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
1 c long grain white rice
3 large eggs
1/3 c lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix broth and chicken in a pot and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Lower heat a bit and continue cooking until chicken is done, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove chicken to a plate and when cool, shred into bite sized pieces. Bring broth back to a good simmer and add rice and cook about 18 minutes and then put chicken back in the pot. Whisk eggs until frothy and then whisk in the lemon juice. While continuing to whisk, add 1 c hot broth to the egg mix. Then whisk the egg and lemon mix into the large pot. Add salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Lunch, Sandwiches

Open Faced Warm Mozz Sandwiches

May 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Cheesy, quick and easy – and very different with some alfalfa sprouts thrown on for good measure !

4 servings
185 calories per serving

4 slices 45 calorie whole wheat bread, toasted
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 medium tomato, sliced
5 oz. alfalfa sprouts
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread toast with cream cheese and then layer on tomato and sprouts. Top with mozz and bake 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Chicken, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Soups

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup (Crock Pot)

May 1, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I just found a new favorite chicken soup ! For years I have made ‘my chicken soup’ more often than any other recipe. But this one just takes the cake and this is my new ‘go to’ recipe. It combines home cooked goodness with just a little something extra…the evaporated milk makes the broth become such a mellow base and the roasted chicken has such a great texture – very different from your traditional soup where you cook the chicken in the broth. Give it a try !!

6 servings
373 calories per serving

1 c onions, chopped
1 c carrots, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 t oil
¼ t flour
½ t oregano flakes
¼ t onion powder
¼ t garlic powder
6 c fat free chicken broth
2 c water
4 c diced potatoes (I used canned)
1 t salt
2 c skinless roasted chicken, diced (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
2 c wide egg noodles
1 c fat free evaporated milk

Heat a skillet and add oil and brown onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Stir in flour, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder and then pour into crock and mix in broth, water, potatoes and salt. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours. Add chicken, noodles and milk and cook until noodles are tender, about ½ hour. If you don’t have a crock pot, you can easily do this stove top. Just let it simmer for an hour or 2 at very low temperature for the first step, then add the chicken, noodles and milk and let cook another 15 minutes or so.

Dessert

Chocolate Biscotti

April 30, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Biscotti is a very hard and crumbly Italian cookie that is perfect next to a cup of coffee. This one has such great chocolate and almond flavor !

24 cookies
154 calories per serving

3 c flour
½ c unsweetened cocoa
2 t baking powder
½ t salt
1 c sugar
2/3 c margarine, at room temperature
¾ c Egg Beaters
1 t almond extract
½ c whole blanched almonds, toasted and chopped
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. With an electric mixer beat sugar and margarine until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and extract and beat well then gradually add in the flour mix mixing by hand. Dough will be very dry – don’t worry ! Then stir in almonds. On a baking sheet sprayed lightly with Pam form dough into 2 logs and bake 25-30 minutes and then cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Add a few nuts to the top of the logs for extra almondy goodness. Using a serrated knife slice each log on the diagonal into 12 slices each 1 inch thick and place cut sides up back on the baking sheet and bake another 12-15 minutes per side or until crisp. Cool completely on wire rack.

Dinner, Fish

Tilapia Piccata with Spinach

April 29, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Delicious ! Tilapia is one of my most favorite dinner dishes – it’s low cal and light but tasty and so versatile. In this piccata dish, the fillets sauté up perfectly and the sauce is great.

4 servings
322 calories per serving

2 c brown minute rice
Salt and pepper to taste
4 6 oz. tilapia fillets
2 T flour
2 t oil
1/3 c dry white wine
2 T lemon juice
2 T butter
4 c baby spinach

Cook rice according to package instructions, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper then dredge in flour and cook in hot oil 2 minutes each side or until done. Add wine and lemon to pan and cook a minute longer then add butter and stir until it melts. Remove fish (and any sauce) from pan and then add spinach and saute until wilted, about 1 minute. Put rice on plates and top with spinach, fish and sauce.

Lunch, Pork, Sandwiches

Ham and Swiss with Tangy Sauce

April 28, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Rich, buttery, zesty, tangy – this one is a real treat for your mouth !

1 serving
355 calories per serving

1 small club roll
8 slices thin deli sliced lean ham (Oscar Mayer pre-packaged meats are great)
1 slice low fat swiss cheese
1 t butter
1 T sliced scallions
1/8 t pepper
1 t Dijon mustard
1 t horseradish

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, mustard, pepper, horseradish and scallions. Brush butter mix onto the insides of both sides of the roll. Add ham and cheese to roll. Wrap in foil and bake 15 minutes.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Beef and Broccoli Casserole

April 27, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Make this casserole and watch it disappear ! The is good old all American food and it feeds a crowd !

8 servings
351 calories per serving

24 oz. broccoli, cut into small florets (about 6 cups)
2 T oil
1 1/2 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
4 c skim milk
1/3 c cornstarch
2 c shredded low fat sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
4 c frozen hash browns or precooked shredded potatoes
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 t pepper
Pam
1/4 t paprika

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix broccoli florets with 1 T oil and toss to coat them lay on a baking sheet and cook 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Heat 1 T oil in a skillet and add onion and sauté 3 minutes then add beef and cook 10 minutes or until beef is browned. Be sure to break up the clumps of beef as it cooks. Add Worchestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and spoon into a 9×13 baking dish then top with the broccoli.

Whikh milk and starch and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Cook until bubbly and thick, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and add in cheese, salt and turmeric. Pour over the beef and broccoli.

Mix potatoes, egg, salt and pepper and spoon over casserole. Spray the top with a bit of Pam so it will brown nicely and bake 45 minutes or until brown. Sprinkle with paprika and serve.