Tag Archives: cheese

Toasted Clubs

A big meaty, juicy, tasty sandwich just doesn’t seem like it can fit into a 400 calorie per meal diet – but it does ! And this one is sooooo tasty. Bacon, avocado, mayonnaise, dill, meat, cheese – you just can’t go wrong !!

Toasted Clubs
Toasted Clubs

2 servings
328 calories per serving

2 T fat free mayo
¼ t dill weed
1/2 t lemon juice
1/8 t pepper
4 slices whole wheat toast
4 slices thin deli roast beef
4 slices thin deli ham
2 slices low fat provolone or swiss cheese
2 lettuce leaves
2 tomato slices
2 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
¼ c alfalfa sprouts
¼ c avocado sliced

Combine mayo, dill, juice and pepper and spread over the toast. Add the sandwich meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sprouts and bacon and the top with the avocado slices.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato

Alone, with bacon, with tomato – – however you make it, if you make grilled cheese, I’m there ! Served next to tomato soup, it makes a great lunch.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato
Grilled Cheese and Tomato

1 serving
110 calories per serving

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

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

Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese

It’s great to have a crock pot mac and cheese recipe – it’s a side dish that can be paired with just about anything and sometimes a crock pot recipe with a long cook time is just so convenient !

Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese

7 servings
170 calories per serving

2 ½ c skim milk
¼ c Egg Beaters
1 t salt
½ t pepper
3 c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
8 oz. macaroni, cooked al dente

Combine all except macaroni and cook on high 1 hour. Add macaroni and cook on low 4 hours.

Penne Chicken Primavera

The ranch dressing adds a nice kick of flavor to the chicken and then mellows out the creamy sauce in this primavera. I have lots of recipes gathered up for primavera and this is one of my favorites 🙂

Penne Chicken Primavera
Penne Chicken Primavera

4 servings
395 calories per serving

8 oz. uncooked FiberGourmet Penne pasta (without Fiber Gourmet, you have to add 80 calories per serving)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves cut into bite sized pieces
1 oz. package dry ranch dressing mix
1 T buttery spread
1 garlic clove, minced
16 oz. frozen vegetable mix (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots)
1 c skim milk
¼ c low fat cream cheese
½ c shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Place chicken and dressing mix in a zip loc bag and shake to coat it well. Melt spread and cook garlic one minute then add chicken and cook another 4 minutes to brown it some. Add veggies, cover and cook 8 minutes stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium and stir in milk mix and cream cheese. Cook 2 minutes stirring constantly then add pasta and parmesan cheese.

Tex Mex Wraps

The filling for these wraps would be just as good as a dip served with tortilla chips.

Tex Mex Wraps
Tex Mex Wraps

4 servings
270 calories per serving

15 oz. kidney beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz. can of corn, drained
¼ c chopped red bell pepper
¼ c thick salsa
1 T chopped cilantro
4 tortillas (80 calories Smart and Delicious)
½ c shredded light cheddar cheese

Mix beans, corn, pepper, salsa and cilantro and spread ¾ c in each tortilla and wrap. Here is a video showing you a good way to do this:

[youtube]ydEdNouwsbI[/youtube]

Microwave on high 1-2 minutes or until hot.

Cottage Cheese Dip

This is a nice change up to serving cottage cheese with fruit – instead add a little cheese, dill and onion powder and you have a nice savory dip for crackers, veggies or pita chips.

Cottage Cheese Dip
Cottage Cheese Dip

½ c
75 calories per serving (1 serving = 2 T)

½ c low fat cottage cheese
2 T shredded cheddar cheese
¼ t dillweed
1/8 t salt
¼ t onion powder

Mash the cottage cheese with a fork and add cheddar and spices. Stir well and serve with veggies or crackers.

Pasta, Argula and Shrimp

The bitter arugula along with the garlic and shrimp was a perfect taste combination to place over pasta. And using FiberGourmet pasta means this dish comes in at under 400 calories !

Pasta, Argula and Shrimp
Pasta, Argula and Shrimp

4 servings
330 calories per serving

8 oz. FiberGourmet fettuccine noodles (without FiberGourmet, this recipe comes in over 400 calories)
2 T garlic clove, minced
1 ¼ t black pepper
½ t salt
5 oz. baby arugula
Water for boiling pasta
1 T oil
½ lb. shrimp, peeled, cleaned and cut in half lengthwise
2 T shallots, minced
¾ c chicken broth
2 T lemon juice
1 T butter
½ c shaved parmesan or romano cheese

Combine 2 T garlic, 1 t pepper. ¼ t salt and arugula. Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and add to the arugula mix. Heat oil and cook shrimp 1 minute with the rest of the salt and pepper. Add the rest of the garlic and the shallots to the pan and cook another minute and them remove from the pan and set aside. If a lot of juices accumulated from using frozen shrimp, you can dump them. Cook broth and juice in the same pan for 5 minutes and then return shrimp to the pan and stir and then remove from heat and stir in the butter. Place pasta on plates and place shrimp mixture over the top and then add cheese and serve immediately.

Potato Skins

These are very filling and make a great snack, appetizer or even a side to a low cal fish dish. You can always dress them up with more ‘stuff’ and just each one to keep the calorie count down – they are very filling, so one should do as a side. Tye adding some cooked crumbled turkey bacon, or some extra low fat cheddar cheese…maybe even some caramelized onions !

Potato Skins
Potato Skins

4 servings
262 calories per serving

4 large potatoes (8 oz. each)
2 t oil
¼ c parmesan cheese
½ c skim milk
3 T low fat cream cheese
¾ t salt
¼ t pepper
3 T low fat sour cream
3 T sliced scallions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash the potatoes and prick them with a fork. Microwave on high 10 minutes, then turn and microwave another 5 minutes. Let cook a bit and then slice in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flash keep the skins intact. Place the skins on a cookie sheet and brush with the oil and sprinkle with 2 t of the parmesan cheese. Bake 10 minutes or until golden. Meantime mix the rest of the parmesan with the potato, milk, cream cheese, salt and pepper. When skins are toasty, fill with the potato mix and bake another 7-9 minutes or until hot throughout. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with scallion just before serving.

Cheeseburgers

Coming to the end of Retread Week – here is another family favorite that is not off bounds just because you are on a 400 calorie meal plan !!

There’s nothing like a burger – when you want one, you want one, and nothing else will do. Instead of heading out for fast food, throw these together. Even the kids will love them !!

Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers

4 servings
357 calories per serving

1 lb 96% lean ground beef
4 Kraft FF singles
4 whole wheat buns, toasted
4 lettuce leaves
4 onion slices
4 tomato slices
Ketchup and mustard
Pam

Shape meat into patties and place in hot skillet that has been sprayed with pam. Cook 5 min per side or until desired doneness. Or grill the burgers outside on the grill. Top with cheese right when they are done cooking. Serve on a toasted bun with all the condiments and additions.

Lunch Platter

Another favorite chosen for RETREAD week – I love a platter of stuff 🙂

Sometimes I just don’t want a prepared meal – I want to pick like I am eating appetizers at a party. This dish is also a great snack if you have the calories left from eating a lighter lunch and dinner that day. Add more veggies (carrots, radishes, cucs) to make it larger without adding many more calories.

Lunch Platter
Lunch Platter

1 serving
330 calories per serving

15 slices turkey pepperoni
15 Triscuits Thin Crisps crackers
1 Babybel cheese
10 green pimento stuffed olives
Celery Sticks

Related Posts with Thumbnails