Tag Archives: 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.

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.

Chicken, Dinner, FiberGourmet, Kid Friendly, Pasta

Chicken and Pasta Bake

December 21, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great ‘all in one’ dish – a casserole that is one part mac and cheese and one part chicken and broccoli – scrumptious !

4 servings
320 calories per serving

1 ½ c small FiberGourmet pasta (rotini, elbows, etc.)
3 c broccoli florets
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
½ c fat free chicken broth
2 oz. low fat cream cheese
1 c low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
2 T grated parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Pam

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and cook in a skillet sprayed with Pam 3 -5minutes then stir in broth and simmer 5 minutes. Add cream cheese and reduce heat to low and cook 1 minute to melt cheese then stir in ½ c mozzarella. Cook pasta according to package instructions putting broccoli in the same pot during the last minute of cooking. Combine drained pasta with chicken mix and place in a medium baking dish and bake 15minutes then sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella and the parmesan and bake another 3 minutes.

Chicken, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Chicken and Dumplings (Crock Pot)

December 15, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This recipe confirmed all my earlier suspicions – – I REALLY REALLY don’t like dumplings ! heheheh But I know there are lotsa people out there who do and my husband (who is a bona fide dumpling lover) said these were quite tasty !

8 servings
400 calories per serving

Soup:
4 c cubed cooked chicken (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
6 c fat free chicken broth
1 T parsley, chopped
1 c onion, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
6 c diced potatoes
1 c green beans
1 c carrots, sliced

Dumplings:
1 c white flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 t salt
4 t baking powder
1 egg, beaten
2 T oil
2/3 c skim milk

Combine all soup ingredients in crock. Cover and cook 4-6 hours. Transfer to a large soup pot with a lid and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer. To make the dumplings, mix flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl. In another bowl mix egg, oil and milk and then add to flour mixture. Drop by large tablespoonfuls on top of the simmering broth until the surface is covered. Cover and simmer 18 minutes.

Beef, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Cola Pot Roast (Crock Pot)

December 11, 2010 admin Leave a comment

The soda really marinates and tenderizes the roast – this has a special flavor, one you’ll find yourself craving ! Pictures of pot roast never do it justice. Believe me, no matter how it looks, you want to make this one because it tastes just great.

12 servings
170 calories per serving

3 lb. beef roast
2 cans low fat cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
32 oz. diet Pepsi or diet Coke

Place meat in crock. Mix together soups and soda and pour over the roast. Cover and cook on high 6 hours.

At the end, put a nice brown on it by broiling for 5 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes, then slice.
Co

Dessert, Kid Friendly

Spicy Gingerbread

December 8, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This recipe makes a nice spicy gingerbread packed with tons of classic flavor. Serve it warm or room temperature and enjoy the homey goodness.

16 servings
184 calories per serving

2 c flour
1 c light molasses
¾ c buttermilk
½ c Splenda
½ c margarine, at room temperature
¼ c Egg Beaters
2 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
½ t ginger
¼ t ground cloves
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat flour, molasses, buttermilk, Splenda, margarine, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves on low speed until moistened then beat at medium speed 3 minutes. Spread batter into a 9 inch pan sprayed with Pam and bake one hour. Cool on wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

Asian, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Jeweled Rice

December 7, 2010 admin Leave a comment

This is a great recipe to use up leftover rice from the Chinese food take out order. Just place it in a colander and place the colander over a pot of steaming water for 5-6 minutes. That brings it back to life nicely 🙂 The veggies look like little jewels in a sea of rice. It’s a very pretty side dish !

6 servings
183 calories

1 c basmati rice (stickier than regular long grain rice)
2 c water
1/4 c roasted peanuts
1 shallot, sliced
2 T water
1 t minced fresh ginger root
3/4 c grated carrots
½ c corn
Salt to taste
¼ t cayenne pepper (double this if you like it spicy !)
3 T chopped cilantro

Add rice to water and bring to a boil on high heat then lower to a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes or until water is absorbed (or use steamed leftover rice as mentioned above). Mash peanuts finely or puree in a blender. Heat a skillet and sauté shallots in a couple of tablespoons of hot water. Saute 5 minutes. Add more water if needed to keep them moist. Then add ginger, carrots, corn and salt. Turn to low and cook 5 minutes then stir in rice, pepper, cilantro and peanuts.

Beef, Dinner, Kid Friendly

Pot Roast (Pressure Cooker)

December 5, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Pot Roast is just a special dish – it is so homey and so inviting. I love the way the meat gets so super, super tender. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can cook this stove top in Dutch Oven for 2 hours at a low simmer. But if you have a pressure cooker, then definitely try this recipe in there – the pressure cooker method adds even more flavor to an already fantastic dish.

4 servings
310 calories per serving

1 lb. beef round steak ½ inch thick (thin London broil), cut into 4 pieces
2 T oil
6 large carrots, in 2 inch pieces
6 small new potatoes, halved
1 large onion, peeled and cut into wedges
1 t rosemary flakes
1 t thyme flakes
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
¾ c fat free beef broth
2 T flour
¼ c water

Heat oil in pressure cooker and brown meat on both sides. Remove and set aside. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes. Add carrots, potatoes, herbs, salt and pepper and then add the beef back. Pour the broth over the mix. Lock lid, bring to pressure and cook ½ hour. Quick release the pressure and remove meat and veggies to a platter and keep warm. Mix flour and water and stir into broth and cook until thickened and serve over meat.

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, do this stove top in a dutch oven and for the final cooking period, cook 2 hours on a low simmer.