Chicken Panini with Swiss

January 7, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is a fantastic hot sandwich. Apples and swiss just go together and they are here in this sandwich along with the chicken and spinach. Yummy !

1 serving
349 calories per serving

1 Arnold Sandwich Thins roll (only 100 calories each !)
4 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts work great here)
2 slices low fat swiss cheese
5 very thin slices of apple
1 t low fat mayo
6 baby spinach leaves
I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter spray

If chicken is not cooked, cook in a skillet sprayed with Pam 5 minutes per side or until done. Spread inside of roll with mayo then add 1 slice of cheese, apples, chicken, spinach and the 2nd piece of cheese. Spray the outside of the sandwich with a few spritzes of butter spray and cook 2-3 minutes per side in a hot skillet or a total of 3-4 minutes in a Panini press.

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

January 6, 2011 admin 1 Comment

This was sooooo easy to do and everyone just loved it ! You pour a whole lotta liquid over the top but by the end of the backing time, all the brown sugar makes its way to the bottom and drizzled over the top, it is pure heaven !

9 servings
140 calories per serving

9 oz. yellow cake mix
1 t apple pie spice
1/3 c skim milk
1 medium apple peeled and coarsely chopped
¾ c brown sugar
1 ½ c water heated to 120 degrees
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch cake pan with Pam. Combine cake mix, spice and milk then stir in apple and spread the mix in the prepared pan. Combine brown sugar and water and mix well and then pour over the batter. Bake ½ hour or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Spoon warm cake into dishes and serve immediately.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Simply Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Sauce

January 5, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Simple and elegant – potatoes and garlic are just meant to go together !

Simply Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Sauce

4 servings
200 calories per serving

1.5 lb. new potatoes, quartered
2 T oil
10 cloves garlic
1 t oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put potatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with 2 T oil. Toss well and roast 10 minutes. Place whole garlic cloves in a small baking dish or ramekin and drizzle with 1 t oil then cover with foil and place in the oven after the potatoes have cooked for 10 minutes. Roast the potatoes and garlic for ½ hour them remove from oven. Mash garlic with salt and pepper and then toss with the potatoes. Add extra salt and pepper to taste.

Lunch, Salads

Fried Tofu Salad

January 4, 2011 admin Leave a comment

I’m not a huge fan of tofu, but this is a really good salad. You feel so full, but there is no bloated feeling at all after you eat. This is a good skinny day lunch 🙂 Make sure you use sesame oil – it really gives the tofu a nice flavor.

4 servings
312 calories per serving

14 oz. package water packed firm tofu, drained between paper towels
2 T sesame oil
½ c low fat sesame ginger dressing
16 oz. package frozen petite peas, thawed
1 c matchstick carrots
8 oz. can water chestnuts, drained
¼ t pepper
1 medium head Bibb lettuce, torn (or other greens)
4 t roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
Salt and pepper to taste
4 t chopped lemon basil (or regular basil)

Press moisture out of tofu and cut into 1 inch cubes. Heat oil and add tofu and cook 5-6 minutes each side or until golden. Season with salt and pepper. Combine with dressing, peas, carrots, chestnuts and pepper and then place on top of lettuce. Garnish with sunflower seeds and basil.

Uncategorized

Chicken with Herbed Butter

January 3, 2011 admin Leave a comment

So simple, so few ingredients – yet this turns out a chicken dish with a fancy and refined flavor. Make sure you serve each piece of chicken with extra sauce drizzled over the top. This is ‘out of this world’ good !

4 servings
302 calories per serving

1/4 c flour
1 1/2 lb very thin chicken cutlets (8 cutlets)
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam
3/4 cup white cooking wine or chicken broth
2 T cold butter, cut into small pieces
3 T finely chopped parsley or basil

Season chicken with salt and pepper and then dredge in flour. Heat skillet on medium high heat, spray with Pam and cook chicken until browned, cooking only as many as will fit into pan without overlapping. Cook 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Transfer chicken to plate. Add more Pam to skillet as between batches.

Add wine or broth and boil until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Add chicken back to skillet and turn to coat. Remove skillet from heat and stir in the butter and parsley or basil. Season with salt and pepper.

Dinner, FiberGourmet, Italian, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Spinach and Mushroom White Lasagna

January 2, 2011 admin Leave a comment

The white sauce in this recipe is so very flavorful ! This is a perfect non traditional lasagna. Without using FiberGourmet lasagna noodles, this one comes in over the 400 calorie mark. Thanks again, FiberGourmet ! I couldn’t do it without you 🙂

6 servings
296 calories per serving

18 uncooked no boil FiberGourmet lasagna noodles
3 c skim milk
½ t oregano flakes
½ t basil flakes
1 t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ t salt
1 c chicken broth
3 T cornstarch
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1 lb. frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry in a colander
½ c sliced green onions
4 oz. shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
2 c sliced mushrooms

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pan combine milk and seasonings and bring to a boil. Combine starch and broth and slowly add to milk mix stirring constantly. Cook on medium 5 minutes or until bubbly, stirring constantly then stir in half the parmesan cheese. Spread ½ c sauce in a 13×9 pan and then layer in this way –

Noodles
Spinach
Sauce
A bit of parm
Mozzarella
Noodles
Mushrooms
Spinach
Sauce
A bit of parm
Noodles
Sauce
A dusting of parm

Cover with foil and bake 55 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with last ½ of the mozzarella and let stand 15 minutes.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Baked Zucchini Risotto

December 31, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is just one of those special recipes – this makes a beautiful risotto-like dish that bakes up with no effort. It is creamy and delicious.

12 servings
204 calories per serving

1 1/2 c brown rice
3 c chicken broth
4 c diced zucchini
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, diced finely
3/4 t salt
Pepper to taste
1 1/2 c skim milk
3 T flour
2 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
1 c frozen corn, thawed

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Pour rice into a 9×13 baking dish. Simmer broth until hot and then stir into the rice. Add zucchini, peppers, onion, salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes then remove foil and cook another 35 minutes or so, until liquid is all absorbed.

Whisk milk and flour in a saucepan and cook until bubbly and thick, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add 1 ½ c of the cheese and corn and cook until cheese is all melted. When rice is done, stir in cheese sauce and sprinkle with the last ½ c cheese and bake another 10 minutes to melt cheese. Let rest before serving.

Dinner, Pork

Ham and Barley Bake

December 29, 2010 admin Leave a comment

There is something so homey about this dish. It is savory, filling, and sooooo does not say ‘diet’ – – it makes a fantastic dish to serve guests.

8 servings
222 calories per serving

1 T buttery spread
1 c uncooked barley
1 c chopped carrots
4 scallions, sliced
2 ribs celery, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. cooked smoked ham, cubed
2 t basil flakes
1 t oregano flakes
¼ t pepper
28 oz. beef broth
½ lb. fresh green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with Pam. Melt buttery spread in a skillet on medium high and add barley, carrots, onions, celery and garlic and cook 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in ham, basil, oregano and pepper and then pour into the baking dish. Bring broth to a boil in a saucepan and then pour over ham mix. Cover tightly with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven, stir in beans, recover, and bake another 30 minutes or until barley is tender.

Fish, Lunch, Sandwiches

Tuna Nicoise Sandwich

December 27, 2010 admin Leave a comment

There are a lot of textures and flavors here and that is what makes this such an interesting sandwich. It’s a nice spin on a classic tuna nicoise plate.

1 serving
300 calories per serving

1 Arnold sandwich thin roll (only 100 calories !)
4 oz. tuna fish
1 t mustard
1 T black olives, sliced
½ c arugula
½ tomato, sliced
1 T hummus
½ hard boiled egg, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

Drain tuna. Spread hummus on bottom bun and spread mustard on top bun and build sandwich up in this order – – tuna, olives, tomato, arugula, egg, salt and pepper.

Appetizers, Dinner, Lunch

Mini Mushroom Pizza

December 26, 2010 admin Leave a comment

These are just AMAZING ! Serve as an appetizer, a lunch, even a dinner with a salad next to them. The sundried tomato flavor mixed with the flavor of the cheese and the mushrooms is just outstanding. The prep is quick and easy and these are just amazing !

4 servings
170 calories per serving

4 Arnold Sandwich Thins roll (only 100 calories each !)
4 chopped sundried tomatoes (give them ounces or tablespoons worth)
1 T oil from the sundried tomatoes
1 c fat free ricotta cheese
8 oz. mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 c baby spinach leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t garlic power
Red pepper flakes to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast rolls in toaster. Heat oil in a skillet and cook mushrooms until soft, about 7 minutes. Add salt, pepper, red pepper and garlic powder. Pulse tomatoes in a food processor or chop very finely and stir into ricotta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread the cheese mix on the rolls and add spinach leaves. Finally add mushroom mix to the top and bake 5-7 minutes.