Tag Archives: Lunch

Warm Potato Salad with Bacon Dressing

May 9, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Did somebody say BACON???? Hehehe The bacon in this dressing gives the dish a nice rich flavor. But mostly what you taste here is the ground mustard. If you’re a mustard fan, then you will love the taste of this potato salad.

6 servings
153 calories per serving

2 lb. red potatoes cut into large chunks
2 strips bacon chopped
1 shallot chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 T cider vinegar
3 T apple juice
1 T stone ground mustard
¼ c parsley chopped
1/8 t salt
2 scallion, thinly sliced

Steam potatoes 20 minutes or until tender then cool for 10 minutes. Cook bacon 3 minutes and then add onion and garlic and cook until crisp then reduce heat to low and add vinegar, juice, mustard, parsley and salt and cook 2 minutes. Pour over the potatoes and toss well. Garnish with scallions and serve immediately.

Fish, Lunch, Pasta, Salads

Pasta Salad with Tuna

May 7, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Always a favorite at BBQ’s, this pasta salad with tuna adds a healthy bed of spinach to the dish and the flavors mixed extraordinarily well.

4 servings
260 calories per serving

2 c uncooked Fibergourmet rotini pasta (using regular pasta, you add 80 calories per serving)
2 6 oz. cans fancy white albacore tuna canned in water, drained
¼ c finely chopped green onions
2/3 c frozen peas, thawed
2/3 c low fat creamy Italian salad dressing
1/8 t pepper
4 c fresh spinach leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package instructions then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Add flaked tuna, onions, peas, dressing and pepper and mix well the chill for at least 2 hours. To serve, place spinach on plates and top with pasta salad. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Kid Friendly, Lunch

Homemade Hot Pockets

May 6, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Even your kids won’t recognize the carrots inside so why not boost their veggie intake ?!? And for us adults, it just makes the meal more nutritious without sacrificing any of the flavor. This is definitely a great lunch paired with a side salad.

4 servings
265 calories per serving

10 oz. can refrigerated pizza dough
¼ c pizza sauce
¼ c finely shredded carrot
24 turkey pepperoni slices
1 T fat free grated parmesan
1 t garlic powder
1 t oregano flakes
2 slices fat free mozzarella cheese (1.5 oz), cut in half

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll dough into a 12×12 square and then cut into 4 equal squares. Spread 1 T sauce on each square leaving about ½ inch border then top with carrot, pepperoni, garlic powder, oregano, and cheeses and fold each in half and press edges to seal them then bake 12-15 minutes on an ungreased sheet.

Breakfast, Lunch

Zucchini Frittata

May 6, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Frittatas make great breakfast, brunch and lunch fare. If you’ve never had one, they are basically crustless quiches. This one is has a great flavor and by using Egg Beaters, you end you with quite a low cal, low fat meal that still packs a very rich flavor.

6 servings
71 calories per serving

1 ½ c Egg Beaters
½ c shredded low fat swiss cheese
¼ c skim milk
½ t garlic powder
¼ t pepper
Pam
1 c shredded zucchini
1 medium tomato, chopped
4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained

Combine eggs, cheese, milk, garlic powder and pepper. Spray an oven safe skillet with Pam and on medium high heat cook the zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms until tender. Then put in egg mix and stir well. Cover and cook on low heat 15 minutes or until almost set. Remove the lid and place under a hot broiler for 2-3 minutes or until done. Cut into wedges like a pie and serve immediately.

Lunch, Sandwiches

Grilled Cheese and Tomato

May 4, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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.

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.

Lunch, Mexican, Salads, Sides

Spicy Black Bean Salad

May 2, 2010 admin Leave a comment

I’ve been making this side salad for years. It is great alongside so many dishes ! Sometimes it’s even good as a lunch served with a few low fat crackers.

10 servings
250 calories per serving

15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can mandarin oranges, rinsed
2-3 scallions, thinly sliced
1/3 c chunky salsa
¼ c lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ t ground cumin

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Lunch, Tex Mex

Tex Mex Wraps

April 28, 2010 admin Leave a comment

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

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:

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Microwave on high 1-2 minutes or until hot.

Beef, Lunch, Soups

Beef and Noodle Soup

April 27, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Spicy low cal soup really hits the spot – especially when you have beef chunks AND noodles ! This one really tides you over and it is so easy to do.

4 servings
210 calories per serving

½ lb. extra lean ground beef
3 ½ c water
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
1 c frozen mixed vegetables
1 t beef bouillon flavoring
2.8 oz. package beef flavored ramen noodles

Brown beef and drain then add water, tomatoes, veggies, bouillon flavoring and flavoring packet from the ramen noodles and bring to a boil. Break up ramen noodles and add to soup and cook 3-5 minutes then serve.

Dinner, Lunch, Mexican

Black Bean Pies

April 17, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Though the Morningstar Farms black bean patties are MIGHTY GOOD, these were also good and if you’re just in the mood to do it from scratch, this is a great recipe !

4 servings
194 calories per serving

Pam
3 t oil
½ onion, chopped finely
½ green pepper, chopped finely
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 T honey
1 T cider vinegar
½ t chili powder
½ t cumin
¼ t red pepper flakes
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ c breadcrumbs
2 T flour
4 T low fat sour cream
2 T cilantro, chopped

Spray skillet with Pam. Heat 2 t oil on medium high and sauté onion, pepper and garlic 4 minutes or until golden then add honey, cider, chili, cumin and red pepper and mix well. Add beans and breadcrumbs to the pan and reduce the heat to medium and cook 10 minutes stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and mash bean mixture with a potato masher until it is the consistency of a thick puree, and then shape mix into 4 patties (like a hamburger). Spread flour on a platter and coat patties on both sides. Spray same skillet with Pam and ad 1 t oil. Saute patties until light browned turning once. Serve each with sour cream and cilantro.

Eating Out, Lunch, Sandwiches

Blimpie Sandwiches

April 15, 2010 admin Leave a comment

On the quest for more lunch fare that does not need to be prepared, I took a look at the nutritional information for Blimpe. I was so surprised to see so many sandwiches under 400 calories.

Even more surprising was the fact that my favorite comes in at only 420 calories – a 6 inch Blimpie Best on Whole Wheat. So if I have a light breakfast, I can fit this in and not even feel guilty about the extra 20 calories 🙂

Here’s a ham with tomato, lettuce and onion – just under 400 calories !