Rice Bowls

WE LOVE these rice bowls for dinner! Super easy and really healthy too! This is a light meal with lots of flavor and everyone will enjoy!



Ingredients:

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can sweet corn, rinsed
tomatoes, chopped
instant brown or white rice (make the appropriate serving size for your family)
chopped avocado
chopped olives
grated cheese
this dressing



1. Ok, this is really easy.....seriously. First, cook your rice. I always cook mine in chicken stock or throw in a couple bouillon cubes for a bit more flavor. This takes about 10 minutes to cook. Prepare all your fixings while your rice cooks!
2. You have to make the creamy cilantro dressing....this is why these bowls are sooo good!! So make that too while the rice is cooking.



3. Ok, time to make the rice bowls!! Start with rice on the bottom. Next I put the cheese (so it melts a bit) and then beans, corn, tomatoes, avocados, olives. Pour that yummy dressing on top, and dig in!

* You could add in grilled chicken or taco seasoned ground turkey, that would be good!
* Serve these bowls with warm tortillas and watermelon! Yum!

Waffles and Caramelized Brown Sugar Peaches

I came up with this one night when we were having waffles for dinner but wanted fruit as our topping. These peaches are so wonderful! Everything I thought they would be! :) And a waffle with peaches and whipped cream is all-right by me!



Ingredients:

Waffles: (or use your favorite or from a box is great too!)
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg or 2 egg whites
1 cup fat free milk
2 tablespoons canola oil

3 cans peaches in light syrup, drain, but save the juice
1 teaspoon tub butter
4-5 tablespoons brown sugar
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg

1. Stir all your dry waffle ingredients together. In a separate bowl combine the egg, milk, and oil. Pour your wet ingredients into the dry. Mix just until all combined. Don't over mix, we want nice fluffy waffles don't we?
2. Ok, cook the waffles and while they are cooking let's caramelize some peaches. It is really easy. Heat a saucepan on the stove to medium heat. Add your butter and wait until it has melted then add in all your peaches. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and nutmeg and turn your heat me medium low. Add a splash of your reserved peach juice to make a nice sauce. Now just let the peaches simmer in the brown sugary goodness until all you waffles are cooked. If it seems like the peaches are cooking out all the liquid and start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a bit more peace juice. You want a nice saucy consistency.
3. When you waffles are all cooked top with peaches and a dollop of whipped topping! yum!!

* Serve these waffles with homemade smoothies, hash browns, eggs, or bacon! Yum, we love breakfast for dinner.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

This cake is amazing!! It is low fat (if you use fat free milk it's non-fat!) and has it's very own fudge sauce to go with it! Can you really ask for more....I don't think so. I make this all the time and it is perfect pared with vanilla ice cream.



1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup applesauce
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/4 cup HOT water

1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Stir together 3/4 cup sugar, flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in the milk, applesauce and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 9x9 baking dish.
3. In another bowl, stir together the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 cup cocoa. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the batter in pan. Next, pour the hot water over top of the dry mixture. I know this sounds weird, but trust me, this is how the yummy sauce is made. DO NOT STIR, just pour it over the top and place it carefully into the oven.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set. Let stand for 15 minutes then spoon into dishes, spooning the delicious fudge sauce off the bottom and top with whipped cream and ice cream. You will be in heaven!!

BBQ Chicken Salads

Is anyone else ready for summer? We are and with that comes salad season!! YUM!! I love salads for two reasons: 1. delicious, light, and tasty, 2: I feel that it is only appropriate to have a big chocolate dessert (post soon to come on chocolate desserts to die for) because I had a salad for dinner :) Around here we have salad night every Friday, switching it up with different salads, and what a good night it is....



Ingredients: (make a big salad for everyone eating dinner)

Romain lettuce, washed and chopped (enough to make a big pile on each plate)
bbq chicken, cooked and chopped (just coat your chicken breasts in your favorite bbq sauce and cook them up on the stove. Then chop them when cooled and toss in a bit more sauce)
tomatoes, chopped
carrots, sliced
1 can corn, drained
olives, chopped
bacon or turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
avocado, chopped

1. Plate each dinner plate with lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, corn, olives, bacon and avocados. Then top each salad with chicken. Super easy and way too delicious to be so healthy. Top with your favorite dressing. Ranch is good, bbq ranch is better!

* I make bbq ranch by putting 1/4 cup low fat ranch dressing (I love hidden valley) and a tablespoon or two of bbq sauce. Mix that up and drizzle it over your salad....heaven.
* I serve salad with muffins, bread sticks, or rolls for dinner. Yum, can't wait for Friday!

CHEWY granola bars

YUM! This recipe is my mom's and it is amazing! These are the best chewy granola bars and soooo good for you. I make up a batch, cut them into bars and pop them in lunches and diaper bags. Super easy, super yummy!



Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or unbleached)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup raisins or another chopped dried fruit
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light maple syrup
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 egg whites
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Ok, this is super easy, you will have these made in no time! Ready, set, go!
Combine oats, flour, soda and salt. Add in your dried fruit and walnuts.
2. In another bowl beat together sugar, syrup, peanut butter and egg whites. After nice and smooth pour into dry ingredients. Add those chocolate chips now!
3. Spread into a foil lined and sprayed 9x13 baking dish. Pat down. Sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. I know it sounds weird but it is a must!
4. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Cool all the way and then cut into bars.

* I melt a handful of chocolate chips in a zip lock bag and snip the end off to drizzle a bit of yummy chocolate on top.
* When I cut my bars I trimmed all the edges off first (they tend to be a bit harder becuase they are on the edge of the pan) So snack on those and then after cutting all your bars wrap them individually in saran wrap to stay fresh. Put the in the freezer then take one out when every you need one.
* You can add dried cranberries, apples, apricots, blueberries, anything!

Pastitsio {greek pasta}

This pasta dish is creamy and full of flavor. This dinner comes together in no time and I love the hint of cinnamon, it really stands out to make this meal wonderful!



Ingredients:

1 package {7oz} uncooked short pasta
1 lb. ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can {8oz.} tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3 teaspoons butter
3 teaspoons flour
1-1/2 cups low-fat/fat free milk
1 egg, beaten

1. Cook pasta for 8-10 minutes. While pasta is cooking, cook the ground turkey, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is cooked through. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, oregano, pepper and cinnamon.
2.Drain the pasta. Place half the noodles into a greased 9x9 pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Next layer with meat mixture and the remaining macaroni. Set aside.
3.In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour and remaining salt until smooth. Gradually add the milk. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into the beaten egg. Pour the egg mixture into the sauce pan stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove form heat and add remaining cheese.Pour sauce over the macaroni.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

* Serve this meal with a fresh green salad or steamed broccoli or green beans. Add some toasted garlic bread and you are ready!

Creamy Black Bean Soup

There have still been some chilly days here, so I thought I could squeeze in another soup dish before summer. I am so glad because this soup was sooooo good! It has great flavor and great consistency. You have to give this a try! Super easy and low in fat too! It's another great recipe from Our Best Bites.



1 T olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
3/4 C diced carrots (about 2 med carrots)
3/4 C diced celery (about 2 ribs)
1 C diced onion (about 1 sm-med onion)
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 3.5oz can green chilies
2 cans low-sodium beef broth
1 t kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 t chili powder
1/4 t cumin
1/2 t dry oregano leaves
1 bay leaf

extras: sour cream, tortilla chips, grated cheese, chopped cilantro, etc

1.Place a large stock pot on the stove-top and set to medium-high heat. When pan is warm, add olive oil. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and saute 4-5 minutes.

2.Add in the black beans, chilies, and beef broth. Stir to combine and then add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf.

3.Simmer uncovered for about 20-25 minutes or until carrots are tender.Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf from soup.

4.Place soup in a blender. Place lid on blender, but remove the stopper in the lid to let heat escape. Place a paper towel over the hole to avoid splatters. Puree soup until completely smooth. Optionally you could pulse until a semi-chunky soup is achieved. Squeeze in the juice from one lime and pulse to combine.

5.Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings. Serve with extra lime wedges. Makes about 8 cups soup.

Serve with buttered bread or warm tortillas! YUM!!