What's For Dinner?

What's For Dinner? Romano Chicken

2010-10-14T17:12:00.003-05:00

Romano Chicken

** We loved this recipe. It was wonderful. We cooked everything as directed except on one we tried it with provolone cheese (it was all we had left) and we liked that better than the swiss. We'll use provolone next time. Great recipe. You actually cook this one in the microwave!

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/4 inch thickness
1/4 pound Swiss cheese, sliced
1/4 pound ham, sliced thin
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs

Directions:

Place chicken breasts on a pan. Place Swiss cheese and ham slices on top and roll up, securing with toothpicks if necessary. In a small bowl combine the Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic salt, tarragon, basil and bread crumbs. Mix together and dip rollups in mixture to coat.
Drizzle with melted butter and cook on High in microwave for 4 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Footnotes

Calories: 232 | Total Fat: 11.2g | Cholesterol: 75mg

What's For Dinner? City Chicken (It's actually pork loin)

2010-10-14T17:06:00.001-05:00

City Chicken (It's actually pork loin)

** This is a polish dish. I don't believe this is exactly like the city chicken my parents have eaten but we tried this recipe and it's one of our favorite ways to eat pork loin. It takes about an hour to cook but the pork is so tender when it's done. It's worth it!

Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds pork loin, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour for coating
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups chicken broth
1 pinch dried thyme
1 bay leaf

Directions:

Mix salt, pepper and flour in a bowl. Coat pork cubes with flour mixture. Slide pork onto skewers
In a skillet, brown pork skewers on all sides in a small amount of vegetable oil. Drain off any excess oil.
Add chicken broth, thyme and bay leaf to skillet. Scrape up any brown bits. Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour or until meat is tender and sauce has thickened.

Footnotes

Calories: 387 | Total Fat: 12.9g | Cholesterol: 67mg

What's For Dinner? Honey Barbecued Salmon

2010-10-14T17:00:00.001-05:00

Honey Barbecued Salmon

** A wonderful recipe for fish. I don't eat a lot of fish but I really like this recipe.

Recipe from The Saving Dinner cookbook by Leanne Elly

Ingredients:

6 salmon fillets (3 was good for us)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 strips turkey bacon
1 medium onion, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1/8 cup honey

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a 9x13 inch baking pan, place fillets and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
In a bowl, mix together bbq suace and honey. Pour sauce evenly over top of each fillet.
Then top with a 1/2 strip of turkey backon, a slice of onion and a slice of lemon.
Place a sheet of foil over the top of the pan and bake for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily.

Footnotes

352 calories, 6 g fat, 34 g protein, 1 g carbs, 1 fiber

What's For Dinner? Tangy BBQ Ribs

2010-10-14T16:55:00.002-05:00

This is our go to recipe for ribs. I know ribs aren't exactly the lowest fat food in the world, but it's great when you want to indulge. We use boneless rib meat.

We love this recipe in our house!

Tangy BBQ Ribs

Ingredients

8 country style pork ribs
1 cup honey
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons molasses
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce

Directions

Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Lightly oil grill grate. Grill ribs for 12 minutes, turning once during cooking. Transfer ribs to an 11x16 inch baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, stir together the honey, ketchup, molasses, and barbecue sauce.
Bake ribs, uncovered, for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, and drain fat. Coat ribs with the honey sauce. Continue baking for another 1 1/2 hours, or until ribs are tender.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 548 | Total Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 79mg

What's For Dinner? Chicken Piccata

2010-10-14T16:49:00.001-05:00

This is one of our favorites from the Healthy Cooking magazine. We make this one at least once a month. There is never any leftovers. Joe enjoys it so much he eats it all.

We love this recipe in our house!

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients

8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
1/2 cup egg substitute
2 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup dry white wine or Progresso ® Chicken Broth, divided (we use broth)
5 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. In a shallow dish, combine the egg substitute, 2 tablespoons wine or broth, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, garlic and hot pepper sauce. In another shallow dish, combine the flour, Parmesan cheese, parsley and salt. Coat chicken with flour mixture, dip in egg substitute mixture, then coat again with flour mixture.
In a large nonstick skillet, brown four chicken breast halves in 1-1/2 teaspoons oil for 3-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm. Drain drippings. Repeat with remaining chicken and oil. Remove and keep warm.
In the same pan, melt butter. Add the remaining wine or broth and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, until sauce is reduced by a fourth. Drizzle over chicken. Yield: 8 servings.

Nutritional Analysis: One chicken breast half equals 246 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 79 mg cholesterol, 398 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 32 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1/2 starch.

Chicken Piccata published in Light & Tasty August/September 2004, p52

What's For Dinner? Cooking Light magazine's Chicken Parmesan

2010-10-14T16:42:00.000-05:00

This is one of our favorites from allrecipes.com. We serve it over pasta. We used egg noodles this time because it's all we had but normally use spaghetti noodles. The kids LOVE this recipe. It's one of those we make all the time!

We love this recipe in our house!

Cooking Light magazine's Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients

4 skinned, boned chicken breast halves
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 3/4 cups spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; flatten to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Dip chicken in egg; dredge in crumbs.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned.
Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and simmer 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.

Footnotes

CALORIES 614 (19% from fat); FAT 12.8g (sat 5g, mono 4.8g, poly 1.5g); PROTEIN 49.1g; CARB 74.8g; FIBER 5.4g; CHOL 86mg; IRON 6.1mg; SODIUM 937mg; CALC 375mg

What's for Dinner? Blackbery Balsamic Chicken

2010-03-01T19:12:00.005-06:00

This is one of our favorites from the Saving Dinner cookbook from Leanne. I highly suggest you pick up her cookbook for healthy and yummy recipes! This is a 'family favorite'!

We love this recipe in our house!

Blackbery Balsamic Chicken

1 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp dried thyme
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup seedless blackberry preserves
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar.

1. Heat oil in pan until hot. Throw in onion and saute until translucent.

2. Sprinkle salt, pepper and thyme over chicken. Add to skillet and saute until done. Remove chicken and keep warm.

3. Reduce heat to low. Add preserves, vinegar, salt and pepper stirring constantly until preserves melts.

4. Spoon over chicken and serve!

What's for Dinner? Peppery Beef and Vegetables

2009-06-07T10:58:00.000-05:00

Peppery Beef and Vegetables

** We make this one all the time.

Recipe from "BH&G New Dieters Cookbook"

Ingredients:

12oz lean boneless beef
4 oz packaged dried linguini (used spaghetti noodles)
½ cup low-sod soy sauce
2 tbsp corn starch
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground red pepper
1 glove garlic, minced
1 cup fresh or frozen pea pods (we use broccoli)
½ cup chopped green or red peppers (we omit because Joe doesn't like)
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 tbsp cooking oil

Directions:

1. Cut beef into bite size strips. Set aside.
2. Cook pasta, omit oil and salt. Drain well, keep warm.
3. For sauce – Stir together soy sauce, cornstarch, peppers – black and red, and ½ cup of water. Set aside.
4. Spray wok. Preheat over med-high heat. Add garlic, cook for 30 sec. Add pea pos and red/green peppers – cook for 1 minute. Add mushrooms – cook for 1-2 minutes more or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove veg from wok.
5. Add oil to wok. Stir-fry beef in hot oil for 3 minutes or until done. Push beef aside, pour sauce into center of wok. Cook and stir until bubbled and thickened. Return vegetables and cook for 2 more minutes. Toss with pasta.

Nutritional Information: 302 cal, 8 fat, 1g fiber

What's for Dinner? Homemade Pizza!

2009-06-07T10:51:00.001-05:00

Pizza Dough I

** One of our favorite fast recipes for making pizza dough.

I modified this recipe just a bit and I'll show you what we did to make it perfect for us. We added the whole wheat flour to make it perfect. We use this as a thin crust pizza.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of regular flour
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour (we like gold medal)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

Directions:

Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. Spread out on a large pizza pan. Top as desired.
Bake at 375 degrees C (190 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

What's for Dinner? Pork Lo Mein

2009-06-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

Pork Lo Mein

Serves 4

** This one is in our favorites recipe box. We left out the red pepper because Joe does not like them! We use barilla plus pasta because it's packed with protein and fiber and tastes like regular pasta.

Recipe from Healthy Cooking

Ingredients:

1 pork tenderloin (1 pound)
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups fresh snow peas (we use broccoli)
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
3 cups cooked thin spaghetti
1/3 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons sesame oil

Directions:
Cut tenderloin in half lengthwise. Cut each half widthwise into 1/4-in. slices; set aside. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the soy sauce, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 20 minutes.
In a large nonstick skillet or wok coated with cooking spray, stir-fry pork and marinade for 4-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Add peas and red pepper; stir-fry for 1 minute. Stir in spaghetti and broth; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; stir in sesame oil.

Nutritional Information:One serving: (1-1/2 cups), Calories: 343, Fat: 7 g, Carbohydrate: 37 gm, Fiber: 3 g, Protein: 31 g

What's for Dinner? Fried Rice

2009-06-07T10:40:00.001-05:00

Fried Rice

Serves 6

** This is one of our all times favorites. It's extremely versatile. We've used pork, chicken and shrimp as the main ingredient. It would also probably be great meatless. There are a lot of steps but it's so good. We've had friends over for dinner using this recipe and they asked for copies and talked about it often as one of their favorites!

Ingredients:

6 oz shrimp (or you can use chicken, pork, etc). If use chicken or pork cut into cubes
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp sesame oil
3 cups of cooked rice
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp light soy sauce (I use low sodium)
2 tsp dark soy sauce (I use regular soy)
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sliced scallions - white and green (also known as green onions)
1/2 tsp kosher salt (this is not table salt - it comes in a box)
1 cup fresh bean sprouts (in a pinch we've used the can version rinsed)
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions:

First cook the rice! It calls for cooked rice so start that first. Then assemble all of your ingredients above on the counter. You will need to do some of the steps quickly.
Mix meat (shrimp, chicken, etc) with cornstarch and sesame oil.
Mix oyster sauce with soy sauces and sugar in another bowl. (I make a double batch of this!)
Heat a large skillet over HIGH heat. Add oil.
When oil is hot, add egg. Cook rapidly in a light scramble until set and push aside.
Add scallions and stir.
Add meat and cook until done. (Shrimp until just changed color, pork, chicken until juices run clear)
Add rice to the pan and cook, stirring over high heat and mashing with the back of the spatula.
Mix ingredients, add salt and stir.
Stir in oyster sauces mix from bowl. Stir.
Add bean sprouts. Stir.
Remove from heat and toss. Add pepper and serve.

What's for Dinner? Boilermaker Tailgate Chili

2009-06-07T10:28:00.003-05:00

Boilermaker Tailgate Chili

Serves 10

** We LOVED this chili. We did not add the celery or peppers (my husband hates them). The other things we modified is that we used about 2 1/2 lbs of beef - 1 pound of beef, 1 pound of ground turkey and 1 lb of sausage. We only had three cans of kidney beans and this worked out fine. We will definitely be making this chili again. It calls for a LOT of ingredients - but it's worth it!

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds ground beef chuck
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 green chile peppers, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon bacon bits
4 cubes beef bouillon
1/2 cup beer
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 (10.5 ounce) bag corn chips such as Fritos®
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and sausage into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.
Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, chile peppers, bacon bits, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.
To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips and shredded Cheddar cheese.

Nutritional Information

Boilermaker Tailgate Chili

Servings Per Recipe: 10
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 720, Total Fat: 36.2g, Total Carbs: 66.3g, Dietary Fiber: 13.8g, Protein: 37g

What's for Dinner? Makeover Pork Chops with Gravy

2009-06-07T10:18:00.001-05:00

Makeover Pork Chops with Gravy

Serves 4

** We make this one a lot. The gravy is so good.

Recipe from Healthy Cooking

Ingredients:

1 egg
1-1/4 cups 2% milk, divided
1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
3 teaspoons minced fresh parsley, divided
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
4 bone-in pork loin chops (7 ounces each)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided
3 tablespoons reduced-fat butter, divided
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/3 cup half-and-half cream
1/3 cup reduced-sodium beef broth

Directions:

In a shallow bowl, whisk egg and 1/2 cup milk. Combine the bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon parsley and thyme in another shallow bowl. Sprinkle pork chops with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dip chops in egg mixture, then crumb mixture.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook pork chops in 2 tablespoons butter for 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 10-15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°.
Meanwhile, in the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Stir in flour and remaining salt and pepper until smooth; gradually stir in the cream, broth and remaining milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve gravy with chops; sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Nutritional Information:

One serving: 1 pork chop with 1/3 cup gravy, Calories: 392, Fat: 19 g, Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 35 g

What's for Dinner? Busy-Day Pork Chops

2009-06-07T09:56:00.001-05:00

Busy-Day Pork Chops

Serves 8

** One of our favorite fast recipes.

Recipe from Healthy Cooking

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops (4 ounces each)
Cooking spray

Directions:

Place milk in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the cheese, bread crumbs, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Dip pork chops in milk, then coat with crumb mixture.
Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; spritz chops with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts

One serving:
1 pork chop, Calories: 178; Fat: 7 g; Carbohydrate: 3 g; Protein: 23 g

What's for Dinner? Tangy BBQ Ribs

2009-06-07T09:50:00.003-05:00

Tangy BBQ Ribs

One of our favorites. We make this often. First grill and then put in the oven. Turns out perfect every time.

Ingredients:

8 country style pork ribs
1 cup honey
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons molasses
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce

Instructions:

Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Lightly oil grill grate. Grill ribs for 12 minutes, turning once during cooking. Transfer ribs to an 11x16 inch baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, stir together the honey, ketchup, molasses, and barbecue sauce.
Bake ribs, uncovered, for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, and drain fat. Coat ribs with the honey sauce. Continue baking for another 1 1/2 hours, or until ribs are tender.

Nutritional Information:

Cal 558, fat 22 gm, carbs 69, fiber .6, protein 22gm

What's for Dinner? 1/29/09 Dad's Fav Sloppy Joes

2009-01-29T11:16:00.003-06:00

Dad's Fav Sloppy Joes

WW Points - 4 (this does not include the bun)

Serves 8

Notes: This is one of our all time favorite recipes. We LOVE this recipe. I've made it as a meal gift for people after having a baby. We make this often. If you want to lighten it up even more, split 1/2 beef and 1/2 turkey or just use all ground turkey! If you want, you can even substitute splenda brown sugar for the brown sugar! We usually double the recipe to make sure there are leftovers for later!

Recipe from Saving Dinner.Com

Ingredients:

* 1 lb extra lean ground beef

* 1/2 onion, finely chopped

* 1 cup ketchup

* 1/4 cup brown sugar

* 1 tbsp white vinegar

* 1 1/2 tbsp mustard

* Hamburger buns

Instructions:

In a large skillet brown beef; add onion and saute until tender and beef is cooked through. Drain out fat from the pan.

Add ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard.

Simmer for 10 minutes and serve.

Nutritional Information:

160 cals, 8 gm fat, 1 g fiber

What's for Dinner? 1/28/09 Stuffed Chicken Breasts

2009-01-28T11:07:00.020-06:00

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

WW Points - 4

Serves 8

Notes: First off Joe made this recipe! It was really good. The kids really enjoyed this. It will go in our recipe box!

Recipe from Healthy Cooking *This is a subscriber only recipe so if you aren't a subscriber, this specific recipe you won't be able to view (well except below).

Ingredients:

* 1 small onion, chopped

* 1 celery rib, chopped **

* 1 garlic clove, minced

* 2 tablespoons butter, divided

* 1 teaspoon reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules

* 1/4 cup boiling water

* 3 cups soft bread crumbs (Joe says 3 cups is way to much. 1 cup is sufficient.)

* 3 tablespoons fat-free milk

* 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

* 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

* 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

* 8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

In a small nonstick skillet, saute the onion, celery and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter until tender. In a large bowl, dissolve bouillon in boiling water. Stir in the bread crumbs, milk, herbs and celery mixture. Set aside.

Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread bread crumb mixture over chicken; roll up. Secure with toothpicks.

Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25 minutes. Melt remaining butter and brush over chicken. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 170°. Discard toothpicks. Yield: 8 servings.

** ** We omitted these due to family personal dislikes or the item was not available and we decided to do without!

* One serving: 1 stuffed chicken breast half, Calories: 200, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 71 mg, Sodium: 368 mg, Carbohydrate: 10 g, Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 25 g

What's for Dinner? 1/27/09 Southwestern Pasta & Cheese

2009-01-27T10:58:00.008-06:00

Southwestern Pasta & Cheese

WW Points -5

Serves 8

** First off Joe made this recipe! Joe really liked this recipe. I thought it was lacking 'something' - perhaps one of the ingredient we omitted below. I think it would be really good with added turkey.

Recipe from Healthy Cooking *This is a subscriber only recipe so if you aren't a subscriber, this specific recipe you won't be able to view (well except below).

Ingredients:

* 3-1/3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta

* 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped **

* 8 green onions, chopped

* 1 tablespoon Crisco® Extra Virgin Olive Oil

* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

* 1 teaspoon chili powder

* 1 teaspoon minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce **

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

* 2-1/4 cups fat-free milk

* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

* 4 center-cut bacon strips, cooked and crumbled **

* 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute pepper and onions in oil until tender. Stir in the flour, chili powder, chipotle pepper, salt and cumin until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese until melted.

Drain pasta; toss with sauce. Stir in bacon and cilantro. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 8 servings.

** We omitted these due to family personal dislikes or the item was not available and we decided to do without!

Nutrition Facts

* One serving: 3/4 cup; Calories: 240, Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 20 mg, Sodium: 327 mg, Carbohydrate: 32 g, Fiber: 2 g, Protein: 12 g

What's for Dinner? 1/24/09 Chicken Provolone

2009-01-24T10:46:00.000-06:00

Chicken Provolone

WW Points - 6

Serves 4

Recipe from Healthy Cooking *This is a subscriber only recipe so if you aren't a subscriber, this specific recipe you won't be able to view (well except below).

Ingredients:

* 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* Butter-flavored cooking spray

* 8 fresh basil leaves (we omitted this)

* 4 thin slices prosciutto or deli ham

* 4 slices provolone cheese

Directions:

Sprinkle chicken with pepper. In a large nonstick skillet coated with butter-flavored cooking spray, cook chicken over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear.

Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet; top with basil, prosciutto and cheese. Broil 6-8 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts: One serving: 1 chicken breast half, Calories: 236, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 89 mg, Sodium: 435 mg, Carbohydrate: 1 g, Fiber: 0 g, Protein: 33 g

What's for Dinner? 1/22/09 Stir-fried steak & veggies

2009-01-22T22:25:00.016-06:00

This was the first time that we tried this recipe and it was excellent. We'll definitely put it on our recipe card rotation.

Stir-fried steak & veggies

Serves 6

WW Points = 6 per serving

Recipe from Healthy Cooking Magazine

Ingredients:

* 1-1/2 cups uncooked instant brown rice

* 1 tablespoon cornstarch

* 1 tablespoon brown sugar

* 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1/2 cup cold water

* 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

* 1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

* 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

* 1 package (16 ounces) frozen stir-fry vegetable blend, thawed

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, brown sugar and seasonings. Stir in water and soy sauce until smooth; set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet or wok coated with cooking spray, stir-fry beef in 1 tablespoon oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. Stir-fry vegetables in remaining oil until crisp-tender.

Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add beef; heat through. Serve with rice. Yield: 6 servings.

What's for Dinner? 1/21/09 Chicken Balsamic

2009-01-21T22:20:00.002-06:00

This recipe is another favorite of ours. We make it often. This is from Leanne's Menu Mailer. Her menu mailer is awesome and worth the very small amount of money. We have found so many great recipes using it! This is one of our favs.

Chicken Balsamic

WW Points - 4

Serves 4

Recipe from Menu Mailer

Ingredients

* 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

* Salt and pepper, to taste

* 2 tablespoons flour

* 1 tablespoon olive oil

* 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar

* 2/3 cup low sodium chicken broth

* 1 teaspoon thyme

Directions

1. On a dinner plate, combine flour and salt and pepper; dredge chicken and tap off any excess flour mixture. In a skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat; add chicken and brown quickly, about 2 minutes per side. Add the vinegar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vinegar is reduced by about two-thirds. Add broth and continue to simmer until chicken is fully cooked and tender, about 10 minutes. Remove chicken and keep warm. Add the thyme to the skillet and keep the sauce boiling until it's reduced some more, about another 10 minutes. Serve chicken with sauce spooned over the top.

NUTRITION per serving: 187 Calories; 5g Fat; 28g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 68mg Cholesterol; 205mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 4 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat.

Points: 4

What's for Dinner? 1/19/09 Grilled Pork with Soy Mustard Sauce

2009-01-19T22:11:00.002-06:00

Believe it or not this is my own recipe. The unfortunate thing is I forgot to take a photo of it (I know, the best part) so you'll just have to believe it's good and try it for yourself. We make this recipe a lot!

Grilled Pork with Soy Mustard Sauce

Serves 4

Recipe from Briana

Ingredients:

4 boneless pork loin
3 tbsp dijon mustard (I like honey dijon myself)
3 tbsp water
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar (brown sugar splenda can be substituted for good results but only use half of a 1/4 cup)
2 tbsp Worchestershire Sauce

Mix all ingredients together (besides the pork) in a bowl. Use the mixture to brush on the pork while cooking. Cook until pork is no longer pink and serve.

What's for Dinner? 1/18/09 BBQ Chicken

2009-01-18T22:09:00.000-06:00

Dinner was easy tonight. BBQ chicken. If you don't know how to BBQ chicken, then we are in big trouble. Joe basted bbq on chicken and put it on the grill. Yum!

What's for Dinner? 1/17/09 Smoky Roasted Chicken and Corn Chowder

2009-01-17T20:40:00.001-06:00

This one was a little out of the box for us. We don't normally have soup as a main dinner meal. Joe thought it looked good and said, 'What the heck' and made it for dinner tonight. It's different but really good!

Smoky Roasted Chicken and Corn Chowder
Servings - 6

WW pts - 5/serving
From Healthy Cooking Magazine

Ingredients:

4 slices of bacon, chopped (we used turkey bacon which lowers the fat content even more!)
1 cup diced onions
1/2 cup each of diced celery and bell pepper ***
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 can (12oz) 2% evaporated milk (we used FF evaporated with no issues)
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, well drained *** - and see NOTE Below.
1 can (14.5oz) cream-style corn
2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast (you can buy a rotisserie chicken and remove the skin and use the breast meat)
1 tbsp hickory-flavored bbq sauce
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)

1. Cook chopped bacon in large, non-stick soup pot over medium-high heat until slightly brown (not crispy). Stir in onions, celery, red pepper and garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

2. Add thyme and flour. Mix well. Stir in broth and evaporated milk. Bring mixture to a gentle boil and stir continuously until soup thickens slightly.

3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

NOTE - To drain, empty canned tomatoes into a sieve and press down to remove as much liquid as possible. You want the tomato chunks, not their juice, which would make the soup bitter.

*** We omitted these since Joe does not like these veggies.

Nutritional Information: Per serving: 270 calories, 7.1g fat, 24 g protein, 30 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 53 mg cholesterol, 619 mg sodium

What's for Dinner? 1/16/09 Mongolian Beef

2009-01-16T20:25:00.003-06:00

Ok, this recipe does look a bit more complicated, but it's sooo yummy. Joe loves Mongolian Beef from the Chinese restaurants so I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com and Joe says it's a dead ringer for the stuff at the restaurant. We love it and make it often at home! We serve this over brown rice.

Mongolian Beef I

Serves 6

3 WW points
Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon sesame seeds (We don't add these)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound beef round steak, cut into thin strips

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon white sugar

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

2 carrots, thinly sliced (we omit carrots because Joe dislikes them)

1 bunch green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds for 1 to2 minutes, or until the seeds begin to turn golden brown; set aside. (If not using sesame seeds, omit this step)

2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and minced garlic. Stir in beef strips. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

3. In a separate small bowl, mix together water, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, sugar, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes; set aside.

4. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil for 1 minute; remove, and set aside. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in the same pan. Saute carrots and white part of green onions for 2 minutes. Stir in green parts of the green onion, and saute for 1 minute. Stir in sesame seed mixture and beef. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens.

Nutritional Information

Mongolian Beef I

Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving

Calories: 155
Total Fat: 8.9g
Cholesterol: 18mg
Sodium: 492mg
Total Carbs: 8.7g
Dietary Fiber: 1.9g
Protein: 10.6g

What's for Dinner? 1/15/09 Garlic Lime Chicken

2009-01-15T19:12:00.003-06:00

If any of you subscribe to Flylady.net, you've heard of Leanne from Saving Dinner.com. Leanne has this signature dish she swears by called Garlic Lime Chicken. It's a family favorite that we make often.

Garlic Lime Chicken

Serves 6

8 WW points
Recipe from SavingDinner.com

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon pepper

* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

* 1/4 teaspoon paprika

* 1 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

* 1/2 teaspoon thyme

* 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

* 2 tablespoons butter

* 2 tablespoons olive oil

* 1/2 cup chicken broth

* 4 tablespoons lime juice

In a bowl, mix together first 7 ingredients. Sprinkle mixture on both sides of chicken breasts.

In a skillet heat butter and olive oil together over medium high heat. Saute chicken until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side. Turn down the heat, remove the chicken (keeping warm) and add the lime juice and chicken broth to the pan, whisking up the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Keep cooking until sauce has reduced slightly. Add chicken back to the pan to thoroughly coat and serve.

Per Serving: 343 Calories; 11g Fat (31.1% calories from fat); 55g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 147mg Cholesterol; 612mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 7 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Fat.

What's for Dinner? 1/14/09 Sausage 'n' Chicken Skillet Recipe

2009-01-14T19:25:00.003-06:00

This is one of our family favorites. We use instant brown rice instead of long grain rice so it cooks faster (and we just like brown rice in our family!).

Sausage 'n' Chicken Skillet

Serves 4

6 WW points

Recipe from Healthy Cooking Magazine

Ingredients:

1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 pound smoked turkey kiebasa, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small green pepper, finely chopped **
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups water (if you substitute brown rice, you only need about 1 cup water)
1 cup uncooked long grain rice (we use instant brown rice)
1/2 teaspoon reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Directions:

Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon thyme and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.

In the same skillet, saute the kielbasa, onion, green pepper and garlic until vegetables are tender. Stir in the water, rice, bouillon, hot pepper sauce, and remaining thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes (about 10 if using instant brown rice) or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

Return chicken to the pan; heat through.

**I omit green peppers because people in our family do not like them.

Nutrition Facts

One serving:1-1/4 cups, Calories:296, Fat:5 g, Saturated Fat:1 g, Cholesterol:49 mg, Sodium:352 mg, Carbohydrate:41 g, Fiber:1 g, Protein:20 g, Diabetic Exchange:2-1/2 starch, 2 very lean meat, 1/2 fat.

What's for Dinner? 1/13/09 Chicken with Mushroom Sauce

2009-01-13T19:47:00.005-06:00

This recipe was modified from a Quick Cooking magazine recipe. I normally don't 'change' the original recipe because it's been disasterous before, but this time it turned out to be really good. Granted this is not probably a really low fat recipe, but it's not too bad either. If you want to lighten it up, use a low fat cream of chicken soup!

Chicken with Mushroom Sauce

Serves 8

My own creation

Ingredients:

* 8 bone-in chicken breast halves (8 ounces each)

* 2 tablespoons olive oil

* 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

* 2 green onions, chopped

* 1 can cream of chicken soup

* 1 tablespoons butter

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1/4 cup water

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown chicken over medium heat in oil . Cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove chicken; keep warm.

In the same skillet, saute mushrooms and onions until tender. Stir in cream of chicken soup, butter, salt, water and pepper. Stir sauce until smooth.

Let cook for a few minutes; Return chicken to skillet; heat through.

Welcome!

2009-01-12T23:38:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting to start this blog for a long time.

My name is Briana. As a means to save money, I started cooking every night.

Once a week my husband, Joe, picks out 7 days worth of recipes. We then scour the cupboards and the fridge to see if we have all the ingredients. If we don't, we add it to our weekly shopping list. Now after we go shopping I can make any of the 7 recipes and not have to run to the store and drop another $50 for things we didn't need in the first place!

Eating out is fun (even I love to go out) but it's expensive. We normally can't feed our family of four for less than $30. This is why I cook most nights and in general the recipes are fairly easy. My five year old loves to help mommy cook. I measure out the ingredients for him and then let him pour it in.

So I hope you can find some family favorites on my website!

I also would love it if you shared YOUR family favorites - especially main dinners and sides. I will test them with our family and let you know what I think!

Enjoy!