Tag Archives: side

Dinner, Italian, Kid Friendly, Lunch, Pasta, Sides

Pasta and Brie (Baltimore International College)

February 28, 2011 admin 1 Comment

To me, there is nothing more heavenly on my tongue than a melting morsel of brie. Now add in that I am a carb hound and cannot live without pasta…follow me to Pasta and Brie courtesy of Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts. This recipe is PERFECT !! It combines 2 of my most favorite things in the world. I don’t know who at the Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts came up with this recipe, but it outranks any pasta and cheese recipe that I have ever tried. It is true heaven.

Along with the perfect brie flavor, the fresh herbs and pine nuts are just a flavor explosion. This is definitely one of those meals that will impress…and it’s not hard to put together at all.

I tweaked their version just a bit to bring this in under 400 calories. It’s a bit high on the calorie count, so serve as a side to a light piece of fish – or have it for lunch. The portion size is definitely enough for a filling lunch and you won’t forget the cheesy brie goodness.

PASTA AND BRIE (BALTIMORE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE)

Baltimore International College School of Culinary Arts has many, many recipes for you to try out (just go to the menu option ‘Programs” and then you will see a link to the recipes. And if you know someone with a passion for food looking for formal schooling, pass along the link. So make sure to visit – just click the banner below 🙂

4 servings
387 calories per serving

4 oz. brie (I removed the coating but you don’t have to)
1 T olive oil
3 T chicken broth
15 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
2 t minced garlic
1 T chopped parley
4 basil leaves, sliced thinly
1 oz. pine nuts, toasted
Salt and pepper to taste
6 oz. FiberGourmet pasta (penne, rotini or short fettuccine) – without FiberGourmet, you have to add 80 calories per ounce of pasta)

Heat oil and broth and add in the tomatoes. Add in the garlic, parsley, basil, nuts, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Stir brie into tomato mix and mix well to melt then pour it over the pasta and serve immediately.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Vegetable Gratin

February 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This is such a hearty vegetable dish ! The potatoes, parsnips and carrots really satisfy. Serve next to just about anything for a great serving of vegetables.

4 servings
251 calories per serving

Pam
2 t oil
1 lb. onions, thinly sliced
1/3 c skim milk
1 T cornstarch
1 c fat free chicken broth
¼ t pepper
Salt to taste
½ t garlic powder
½ t onion powder
1 t parsley flakes
¼ t thyme
1 lb. red potatoes cut in 1 inch chunks
6 stalks celery, cut in 1 inch chunks
½ lb. parsnips, sliced
½ lb. carrots, sliced

Spray skillet with Pam, add oil and heat on medium high. Cook onions 25 minutes to caramelize and brown the onions. Add a tablespoon or more of hot water along the way if the onions start to dry out too much. Whisk milk and cornstarch and add to onion skillet along with broth, pepper and thyme. Heat on medium high heat and boil for 1 minute stirring continuously.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine potatoes, celery, parsnips and carrots. Stir in onion mix and spices/herbs and turn all into a 3 quart baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes then remove cover and bake another 15 minutes, until golden and tender.

Asian, Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Snow Peas and Mushrooms

February 15, 2011 admin Leave a comment

This side dish is great next to just about anything ! The flavor is mild and subtle, so it will go well with just about any meal, not just Asian dishes. And for only 83 calories, it’s a smart side.

4 servings
83 calories per serving

1 T sesame seeds, toasted
1 T olive oil
1/2 lb. snow peas
4 oz. mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 T teriyaki sauce

Toast sesame seeds by place in a hot dry skillet for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Heat oil and sauté snow peas and mushrooms 4 minutes. Stir in teriyaki and sesame seeds.

Dinner, Kid Friendly, Mediterranean, Sides

Greek Potatoes

February 9, 2011 admin 2 Comments

These taste just like the ones I get at my favorite Greek restaurant. So good and a great side to most any dish 🙂

8 servings
214 calories per serving

4 medium russet baking potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 c water
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 T oregano flakes, plus more for garnish
1 t salt
½ t pepper

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Toss potatoes with water, oil, juice, oregano, salt and pepper. Turn potatoes and liquid onto a baking sheet and arrange in one layer. Bake uncovered about 50 minutes or until ford tender. Half way through, turn potatoes and add water if liquid is all absorbed. Garnish with extra oregano.

Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Sides

Cheryl’s Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes

January 21, 2011 admin Leave a comment

Wherever the recipe came from, this is now “Cheryl’s Sweet Potatoes” to me since my friend Cheryl gave me this recipe 🙂 These are a bit on the high side for calories, so serve them with a nice light serving of fish or chicken. They are so satisfyingly good – just sweet enough without being too sweet ! You could skinny these up using less butter, Splenda brown sugar blend – – but why mess with perfection !?!?!

4 servings
289 calories per serving

2 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
1/4 c packed dark brown sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/8 t salt
2 T butter, cut into pieces
1 t vanilla

Combine potatoes, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and place in the crock pot. Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours. Add butter and vanilla at the end, stir gently to blend.

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, 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.

Dinner, Sides, Vegetables

Broccoli Casserole with Cheese

December 20, 2010 admin Leave a comment

What a great way to serve broccoli ! Just a little bit of crunch from the topping, creaminess from the soup and cheese – – all over a great broccoli dish full of vitamins and fiber.

7 servings
81 calories per serving

2 10 oz. packages frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup
2 t lemon juice
½ c crushed seasoned stuffing
1 T low fat margarine, melted
¼ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese
Pam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put broccoli in an 8 inch square baking dish sprayed with Pam. Mix soup and juice and pour over the broccoli then mix stuffing crumbs and margarine and sprinkle over the casserole. Cover and bake 30 minutes then uncover, sprinkle with cheese, and bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

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.

Fruit, Kid Friendly, Product Reviews, Sides

Pom Cranberry Relish

October 28, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Fresh fruit, tons of antioxidants, low cal – this is the perfect sweet side dish. Serve with fish, chicken, next to a sandwich, as a snack….just eat it up before your kid eats the whole bowl on you !!

8 servings
70 calories per 1/2 c serving

The addition of Pom juice to an already incredibly fresh cranberry relish … I’d call it a stroke of genius. You have to try it to believe how good it is !!

1 bag cranberries
3/4 c Splenda
1 granny smith apple, cored and in quarters
1 seedless oranges (peel and all !), in quarters
8 oz. Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice

Rinse the cranberries and pick out any bad ones. Place in a food processor and process until they are in small pieces. Remove to a bowl. Place apples in processor and blend until small pieces. Remove to bowl with cranberries. Place oranges in processor and process until all skin is in small pieces. Remove to bowl with cranberries and apples. Add Splenda and juice and mix well. Refrigerate at least 4 hours so flavors blend.