Tag Archives: cheese

Breaded Tomatoes

September 23, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is high cal for a vegetable dish but served as a lunch alongside some tuna sprinkled with lemon, it’s a nice change. You don’t even need to wait for good summer tomatoes, because the cooking brings out the sweetness.

4 servings
285 calories per serving

Pam
1 1/2 c plain breadcrumbs
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1 T lemon zest
2 T olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
4 large tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with Pam. In a bowl combine breadcrumbs, cheese, zest and oil. Add salt and pepper. Slice tomatoes and arrange in dish. Season with salt and pepper and top with breadcrumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Breakfast

Egg in a Hole

September 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Traditional Egg in a Hole is served in a hollowed out piece of toast – – this one uses nutritious veggies and places the whole thing on top of a slice of toast. The side salad is a great flavor boost.

4 servings
189 calories per serving

2 t oil
1 green bell pepper cut into 4 rings ½ inch thick
4 large eggs
Salt and pepper
2 t parmesan cheese
4 slices whole wheat bread (45 calories each)
8 c mixed salad greens

In a large skillet heat 1 t oil and add peppers then crack eggs into each pepper hole and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes or until egg whites are mostly set. Flip gently and cook another minute then sprinkle with cheese and place each on a slice of toast. Mix greens with 1 t oil, salt and pepper and serve next to the eggs.

Kid Friendly, Lunch, Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese and Bacon

September 18, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Grilled cheese – only better… because bacon makes everything better ! And only 140 calories ! Go ahead – have 2 🙂

1 serving
140 calories per serving

2 slices 45 calorie bread
2 slices turkey bacon
2 slices Kraft fat free singles
10 sprays I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
Pam

Cook bacon according to package instructions. Spray pan with Pam and heat – make sure pan is good and hot on medium high heat. Make sandwich of the bread, bacon and cheese. Spray outsides of the sandwich with 5 sprays each of ICBINB. Place in pan and cook 1-2 minutes or so each side or until brown and cheese is melted.

Lunch, Salads, Vegetables

Chopped Salad

September 17, 2010 admin Leave a comment

The idea of a chopped salad is to get all the ingredients chopped uniformly and small – otherwise, it is just not a chopped salad ! And to me, prepping things in this fashion DOES make a difference in the flavor of the salad. There is something about getting a bunch of the ingredients in your mouth at the same time – it just makes for a flavor explosion !

6 servings
200 calories per serving

1/2 c white balsamic vinegar
3 stalks celery, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
1 large peach, diced
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
2 c coarsely chopped arugula or spring mix or any other crisp greens
1 c thinly sliced napa cabbage
3 T olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
3 oz. crumbed low fat goat cheese
½ c slivered almonds or pine nuts, toasted
1 large hard boiled egg, sliced
Smoked paprika

Mix together all the veggies with oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and then add in cheese and almonds. Top with eggs and sprinkle with paprika.

To toast the almonds, simply place in a hot skillet and sauté until toasty and starting to brown.

Dinner, Italian, Salads, Sides, Vegetables

Artichoke Salad

September 12, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Simple yet fancy. Light yet filling. This is a great side salad. If you are making it as a main salad instead of a side, add some grilled leftover chicken.

8 servings
140 calories per serving

2 c grape tomatoes
11 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and cut into chunks
10 oz. spring mix salad
1 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
½ c low fat balsamic vinaigrette

Mix salad ingredients and then combine with dressing.

Dinner, Sides, Videos

Pesto Potato Salad

September 7, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Instead of basil, this pesto is made with arugula and adds a nice tang to the salad. Sometimes instead of the yukon gold potatoes I use unpeeled new potatoes and the recipe is just as delicious !

8 servings
208 calories per serving

2 lb. Yukon gold potatoes
2 ½ c arugula leaves
1/3 c parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 c pine nuts, toasted
3 T water
2 t lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ t salt
½ t pepper
¼ c olive oil
1 c grape tomatoes, halved

Cook potatoes covered in salted water 25 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Then peel the potatoes and cube them. Here is a great video on how to easily boil and peel potatoes.
[youtube]9xTbClZ-_t0[/youtube]

In a food processor mix arugula, 1/3 c cheese, 1/3 c pine nuts, water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper then slowly add the oil and mix thoroughly. Pour mix over potatoes and stir in tomatoes. Serve at room temperature.

Appetizers, Lunch, Vegetables

Quiche with Rice Crust

September 3, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is an excellent quiche – no one would ever know you never even opened the oven ! The Swiss cheese is just perfect with the spinach and mushrooms. And the crust is so much more flavorful than a regular crust. You’ll definitely make this one again and again.

8 servings
116 calories per serving

1 ½ c cooked brown rice
1 c shredded low fat swiss cheese
¾ c Egg Beaters
¼ t curry powder
10 oz. package of frozen spinach, thawed and pressed dry in a colander
¾ c evaporated skim milk
½ c sliced mushrooms
2 T chopped shallots
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
¼ t salt
1/8 t pepper

Combine rice, ½ c cheese, ¼ c Egg Beaters and curry and press into the bottom of a 9” glass pie plate. Microwave 4 minutes or until firm. Combine spinach, milk, mushrooms, onion, spices, ½ c cheese and ½ c Egg Beaters and mix well then pour into the crust and microwave on 50% power 20 minutes (rotate it every 5 minutes or so if your microwave does not have a turntable) or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Chicken, Lunch, Salads

Chicken Salad with Artichokes

August 30, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Lunch salads don’t have to be the same boring thing day in and day out. This one has marinated grilled chicken and artichokes giving it a great Italian flavor.

2 servings
390 calories per serving

½ c lite Italian dressing
½ lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 c torn arugula
2 c torn romaine leaves or other greens
14 oz. can quartered artichoke hearts
2 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges
½ c low fat shredded cheddar cheese
4 fresh basil leaves cut into strips

Pour ¼ c dressing over chicken and refrigerate ½ hour. Heat grill and cook chicken 6-8 minutes each side or until done then cut into strips. Combine arugula and lettuce and top with artichokes, chicken, tomatoes, cheese, basil and the rest of the dressing.

Lunch, Pork, Sandwiches

Cuban Sandwich

August 20, 2010 admin 2 Comments

Add in some ham and this is a pretty authentic sandwich – it’s just on whole wheat slices rather than a roll. But for only 285 calories, I’ll give up a little authenticity – and you don’t have to give up on ANY of the flavor ! You can add some mustard if you like, but I like this one plain.

1 serving
285 calories per serving

2 oz. cooked leftover pork, sliced thin (slices from Grilled Pork Roast are great)
2 slices whole wheat lite bread (45 calories per slice)
1 slice light Swiss cheese (70 calories)
2 sandwich stacker pickles, patted dry
Pam
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray

Make a sandwich of the pork, cheese and pickles. Heat a grill pan or frying pan and spray with Pam. Spray one side of the sandwich with 5-10 spritzes of ICBINB spray and lay the sprayed side down. Grill 3 minutes pressing down on the sandwich lightly. Spray the top of the sandwich with ICBINB and flip then continue cooking 2-3 minutes.

Dessert, Kid Friendly, Summer

Raspberry Lemonade Pops

August 18, 2010 admin 2 Comments

This tastes like a lemonade stand – utterly delicious ! The original recipe I had was for a pie, but the filling is just great in a homemade ice pop. How refreshing – tart and sweet at the same time just like a great lemonade !!

16 pops
110 calories per serving

1 ½ c boiling water
.3 oz. package lemon Jello
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
8 oz. cool whip, thawed
1 c raspberries

Add boiling water to jello and stir 2 minutes to dissolve completely. Cool a bit and then add in the lemonade. Beat cream cheese until creamy and then gradually add jello mix. Stir in cool whip and berries and pour into ice pop molds then freeze at least 4 hours.