Gruyere cheese is the cheese often found on the top of French onion soup. It is a hard cheese with a very rich and nutty flavor. These quesadillas take perfect advantage of the distinctive flavors of both gruyere cheese and basil, combining them to make a taste treat you won’t forget.
Heat skillet and spray with Pam. Make a sandwich with the tortillas, cheese and basil. Cook a few minutes on each side to melt the cheese and then cut into wedges.
For those that like it HOT, HOT, HOT – – this is the soup. The addition of the Spicy Hot V-8 makes for a perfect spicy base. Be sure to remember the lime splash just before serving – it makes a big difference in the flavor.
Spicy Hot Tomato Soup with Shrimp
4 servings
348 calories per serving
3 c chicken broth
2 c Spicy Hot V-8 juice
1 c Minute Rice
1 T oil
1 t minced garlic
¼ c sliced shallots
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and cleaned
4 lime wedges
1 c chopped mushrooms
1 c bean sprouts (fresh or canned)
3 T chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix broth, juice and water in a soup pot and bring to a boil then stir in rice and bring back to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in bean sprouts and let stand 5 minutes. Heat oil and sauté garlic and shallots for 2 minutes. Stir in shrimp, mushrooms, salt and pepper and sauté 3 minutes or until shrimp are done. Stir shrimp and cilantro into soup. Sprinkle with lime just before serving.
1 T light Ranch dressing
1 Whole wheat wrap (80 calorie version by Smart and Delicious)
1 lettuce leaf
6 slices deli turkey breast
2 slices tomato
1 Laughing Cow light cheese wedge
2 avocado slices
Spread the cheese on the wrap then fill with the rest of the ingredients and wrap it up. Here is a video that shows you how to make a wrap that does not leak 🙂
It’s amazing how such a quick cook soup can produce such a flavorful broth ! The mushrooms really release all their mushroomy goodness in this one 🙂
Mushroom Soup
4 servings
140 calories per serving
1 t oil
½ c finely chopped onion
¼ c chopped parsley
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 lb. slices assorted mushrooms (canned and fresh)
32 oz. fat free chicken or beef broth
1 c water
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
½ c nonfat sour cream
In large saucepan heat oil and add onion, parsley and garlic and cook 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add mushrooms, broth, water, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper and bring to a boil and cook 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes then stir in sour cream and serve.
This salad uses Israeli couscous which is a bigger grain and is more like a piece of orzo in size than a piece of pastina. This makes for a heartier couscous suitable for all type of salads. This on is particularly good !
Couscous Salad
5 servings
346 calories per serving
2 T oil
1 c Israeli couscous
1 ½ c water
Kosher salt to taste
Pepper to taste
½ lb sliced mushrooms
4 scallions, sliced, greens and whites separated
1 ¼ c frozen corn, thawed
15/5 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 T lime juice
1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
1 avocado, sliced
Heat 1 T oil and add couscous. Stir until it begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Then add water and salt and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Heat 2 t oil in a skillet and cook mushrooms until brown, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper and move to a bowl. Add another teaspoon of oil to the pan and cool scallion whites with corn about 5 minutes, season with salt and pepper and add to the mushrooms. Add couscous, black beans, lime juice, jalapeno and scallion greens to the mushroom mix, season with salt and pepper and divide into bowls. Top with avocado slices.
Take something near perfect and make it even perfecter 🙂 The wrap holds in all the goodies unlike the regular old slippery BLT. This is a keeper !!
BLT Wraps
8 servings
232 calories per serving
½ c fat free mayo
½ c fat free sour cream
2 T ranch dressing mix
¼ t red pepper flakes
8 flour tortilla wraps
16 bacon strips, cooked
3 c shredded lettuce
2 c chopped tomatoes
Combine mayo, sour cream, ranch mix and red pepper. Spread on tortillas and then add bacon, lettuce and tomato and wrap up. To fold a wrap perfectly, check out my video below:
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This spicy broth is a nice contrast to the mild and creamy wontons. The ricotta mixed with the spinach for the filling makes for a very creamy textured wonton center. Wontons are definitely NOT hard to make ! Give it a shot ! Even if they don’t come out quite the right shape, as long as they stay sealed, that is really all that matters 🙂 And at only 137 calories per serving, double up the portion and you still have room for some crispy homemade flat breads as a side !
Spinach Soup with Wontons
8 servings
137 calories per serving
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
½ c part skim ricotta cheese
1 t chopped basil ( or ¼ t basil flakes)
½ t pepper
32 wonton wrappers
4 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
2 T soy sauce
2 t chili sauce (available in the Asian section of your market)
½ c scallions, thinly sliced
For this recipe, be sure to use a pot that is large enough that the wontons have room and don’t get all piled on top of one another. Mix spinach, ricotta, basil and pepper in a blender until smooth. Place 1 T filling in each wonton and fold according to package instructions being sure to seal the last fold with a bit of water. Bring broth, soy and chili sauce to a boil. Add wontons and scallions and bring back to a boil. Cover and reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes or until wontons are tender.
Here is a video to help you lean how to prepare wontons –
This is a great salad served either cold or at room temperature. The arugula was a great addition to a classic salad and the buttermilk dressing was light and flavorful.
Pasta Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
4 servings
273 calories per serving (add 80 calories per serving if you do not use FiberGourmet pasta)
8 oz. FiberGourmet rotini pasta
1 c frozen peas
1/2 c fat free buttermilk
1 T minced chives
1 t chopped thyme
½ t salt
½ t pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 c baby arugula
1 t oil
3 oz. finely chopped prosciutto or deli ham
Cook pasta according to package directions adding in the peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking then drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process. Mix buttermilk, chives, thyme, salt, and pepper and add pasta and arugula and toss well. Heat oil and cook garlic 1 minute then add ham or prosciutto and cook another 2 minutes. Drain and sprinkle on salad.
A simple and hearty soup that tastes delicious. It’s a very versatile recipe – add some veggies, small pasta or extra spices to easily change it up. But don’t skip the ham – that is what really give it the great flavor 🙂
Ham and Bean Soup
6 servings
273 calories per serving
15.5 oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
4 c fat free chicken broth
1 1/2 c diced extra lean ham (you can also use Canadian bacon)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 t chili powder
¼ t pepper
¼ t salt
½ t onion powder
Combine all and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook 15 – 20 minutes or until soup is slightly thickened.
