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Kid approved Tuna Casserole

9 Apr

Tuna casserole. Just the mention of this dish sometimes conjures images of elementary school lunch ladies, or that one dish you always had to pretend to like at Grandmas house, right? It’s one of those meals that can vary so dramatically from one cook to another. Does it have a cheesy sauce or a savory sauce? Peas? Eggs? Crackers, breadcrumbs or crushed chips? Taking the first bite was a risk some of us were not-too-thrilled to take. It has a stigma. I get it.

Early on, this was one of my kids favorite meals, and it still is today. We had to tell them it was chicken the first time, but that’s irrelevant. It’s clearly not a gourmet “company’s coming” kind of meal. It’s simple, easy, quick, and kid cliched. I mean, the primary ingredient is a box of powdered Mac and cheese… But, even my pickiest kid loves it, and my husband does too.

Also, this is the very first “real” recipe I ever learned to make. My granny taught me when I was about 10. So, this recipe is sort of “where it all started.” You could sneak in peas, broccoli, or spinach if you need to sneak in veggies . Enjoy!

Ingredients:

– 1 box of original Kraft Mac & cheese
– 1/4 cup 1% milk
– 1 can of light or whit tuna, in water
– 1 can of reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
– 10 crushed saltine crackers

Directions:

1. Boil macaroni noodles, until they are donee. Drain well and mix with cheese packet and milk.

2. Drain can of Tuna, and mix tuna and soup well with macaroni.

3. Pour into a medium size baking dish (9×9 will work) sprayed with non-stick spray.

4. Top with crushed saltines, and bake at 400 for 20 min.

4 servings= 265 calories per serving
Approximately 7 weight watchers points plus

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Southwest chicken salad

6 Apr

Ingredients:

– 2 1/2 cups romaine lettuce
– 4 oz grilled chicken
– 1 tbsp diced fresh jalapeño
– 1/8 of an avocado, diced
– 3 tbsp chopped red onion
– 1/4 cup black beans
– 1 ear of corn
– 2 tbsp shredded 2% cheddar
– 5 cherry tomatoes, halved
– 3 tbs tortilla strips

For dressing:

– 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– black pepper

Directions:

1. Season chicken breast as desired and grill it until done.

2. Shuck and clean corn on the cob. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and microwave 2 min. then wrap in foil and grill over high heat about 10 min, turning regularly. Once it’s got a nice charred/roasted look to it, remove and let cool.

3. Open a can of black beans and rinse thoroughly. Measure out 1/4 cup.

4. Cut corn off cob and mix 1/4 cup with beans.

5. Slice jalapeño, onion, tomato, and avocado.

6. Mix ingredients for dressing thoroughly together, and toss dressing with lettuce.

7. Arrange lettuce on a large plate. Top with onion, jalapeño, corn and black beans, cheese, and avocado.

8. Arrange chicken and tortilla strips on top of salad.

Makes 1 salad with dressing= 585 calories
Appx 14 weight watchers points plus

1 salad, no dressing= 490 calories
Appx 12 weight watchers points plus

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Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup

22 Mar

You could easily do this in the crockpot too. 5 hrs on low.

Ingredients:

– 2 cans of chicken broth
– 2 cans italian style diced tomatoes
– 3 cups fresh spinach
– 1/4 tsp or 1-2 packets of Splenda
– salt and pepper to taste
– 1 tsp dried basil
– 1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini
– 1 block of fat free cream cheese

Directions:

1. Cut cream cheese into blocks.

2. In a large pot, Mix broth, tomatoes, cream cheese, basil, salt and pepper, and Splenda and heat, stirring until cream cheese melts.

4. Add spinach and tortellini and heat on warm, stirring regularly.

5. Heat for 10-15 min.

Makes 6 (1 1/2 cup) servings= 280 calories per serving

Apps 7 weight watchers points plus

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Tasty Turkey Burger

19 Mar

So, a while back I posted a link to my buffalo turkey burger, which was really good. But, sometimes you just want a more classic burger. So Here it is. I used a trick my best friend taught me, and added some A1 to the meat for great flavor. Also, I use a steak seasoning that is the “Kroger” grocery store brand. You could probably use McCormick montreal steak grilling seasoning.

Ingredients:

– 3/4 lbs of ground turkey
– 2 tbsp of onion, very finely chopped
– 2 tablespoons of A1 Steak sauce
– 1/4 cup italian bread crumbs
– 1 egg
– 1 tablespoon minced garlic
– 2 tsp “McCormick grill masters Montreal steak seasoning” or “kroger steak seasoning” equivalent

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients, except for steak seasoning, together until well combined.

2. Roll out about 16 inches of plastic wrap, and divide meat into 4 even balls. Space evenly across plastic wrap.

3. Place another sheet of plastic wrap on top of meat, and smush each ball into a patty, between the sheets of plastic wrap.

4. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap, and sprinkle 1 tsp of steak seasoning on top sides of the patties.

5. Recover patties, flip over, and repeat step 4 with the back sides of the patties.

6. Cook patties in a skillet, or on the grill. About 4-5 min on each side, or until center reaches 165.

Makes 4 Patties= burger alone = 180 calories

Appx 5 weight watchers points

With 2% Kraft single and 80 calorie light bun= 305 calories

Approximately 9 weight watchers points

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Rosemary chicken in cream sauce

13 Mar

This was really yummy. I served with mixed grains, and poured the sauce over the grains. Definite repeat.

Ingredients

– (3) 4 oz boneless chicken breasts
– 1/2 an onion, diced
– 1 tbsp minced garlic
– 4 tbsp flour
– 1/2 cup 1% milk
– 1/2 cup chicken broth
– 1 tsp rosemary
– salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Salt and pepper your chicken breasts, then sautéed them in a skillet, using butter flavored nonstick spray.

2. Remove chicken and place it in a baking pan (9×9 would work) sprayed with nonstick spray.

3. Spray same skillet again with spray and sautéed onions and garlic until softened. If you need to you can add 1-2 tbsp of water to keep onions from burning.

4. Stir four into onions and slowly add broth, stirring until smooth, then stir in milk slowly.

5. Bring to a simmer, and then cook on low heat about 2 minutes, stirring constantly until sauce thickens.

6. Pour sauce over chicken. Cover pan with foil and bake at 350 for 25-30 min.

Makes 3 servings= 175 calories per serving

Appx 5 weight watchers points plus

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Classic crock pot pork loin

7 Mar

This is as simple as it comes, but it’s so yummy. Make the gravy to go with it for an extra rich flavor.

Ingredients

– 2 lb pork loin
– 2/3 cup water
– 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

Directions

1. Place frozen or thawed pork loin in crockpot.

2. Add water, and sprinkle onion soup evenly over top of pork and also around the pork, into the water.

3. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

To make gravy:

After cooking pork, remove liquid to a small saucepan.

In a separate cup mix 3 tbsp water with 1 tbsp corn starch and stir until smooth.

Stir this mixture into liquid in saucepan, and heat over medium heat, stirring until gravy thickens.

5 servings without gravy= 220 calories

5 servings with gravy= 234 calories

With gravy, appx 6 weight watchers points plus

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Lemon Cake Bars

3 Mar

This is a light, lemony treat. It doesn’t have the texture of a traditional “lemon bar.” Meaning, it doesn’t have that sugary-creamy texture. Instead, it’s light and cake-y (it’s totally a word!). I love how low in calories this is, and also how totally simple it is to make. I’m thinking about making it this summer and topping with a can of light blueberry pie filling. yum. Anyway, for now, it’s simple and lemony, and delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

– 1 box of angel food cake mix
– 1 (17.5 oz) can of lemon pie filling
– 1 tbsp of lemon juice
– 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar.

Directions:

1. Mix cake mix, pie filling, and lemon juice.

2. Pour into a 9×13 pan, sprayed with nonstick spray.

3. Bake for 30 min at 350.

4. Remove from oven and allow to cool about 3-5 minutes before cutting into 15 bars. Sprinkle with Powdered sugar and refrigerate for 30 min or longer.

Enjoy.

makes 15 squares

1 square= 155 Calories

1 square= appx 4 weight watchers points plus

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Ham and cheese Stromboli

1 Mar

This one was a big hit with the husband. I’m excited to try it again with turkey pepperoni too.

Ingredients

– 1 roll of pillsbury French bread
– 1/4 lb sliced deli ham
– 1 cup shredded mozzarella
– 1/2 tbsp melted butter
– 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
– garlic powder to taste
– 1/4 cup flour

Directions

1. Sprinkle flour in a clean, flat surface.

2. Roll bread dough flat into a 12×16 rectangle. If you look carefully you can find a seam in the dough which will allow you to simply separate the layers to “unroll” inflat.

3. Sprinkle cheese evenly over dough. Top with Italian seasoning, and sprinkle with garlic powder.

4. Place a layer of ham on top of cheese.

5. Rolling longways, begin to roll the dough and ingredients into a tight roll.

6. Place roll seam side down on a baking sheet, which has ben coated with nonstick spray.

7. Brush melted butter generously over top of roll and sprinkle with garlic powder.

8. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

Makes 4 servings- 293 calories per serving

Appx 8 weight watchers points plus per serving

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Red velvet cookies

13 Feb

I made these in both Red Velvet and Strawberry for my daughters valentines day party at school. I really liked them both, but the red velvet were my favorite. These cookies turn out light and fluffy. You could do this in any flavor, and I’ve heard lemon is good.

Ingredients

– 1 box red velvet cake mix (15.25 oz)
– 2 egg whites
– 8 oz of cool whip (1 tub)
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions

1. Line baking pans with parchment paper.

2. Mix cake mix, egg whites, and cool whip together with a hand mixer. It will be very sticky. You may have to scrape beaters with a spoon.

3. Chill dough for 30 min or longer.

4. Use a small cookie scoop to form appx 1 tbsp scoops of dough.

5. Roll each scoop of dough lightly in powder sugar, forming a ball.

6. Place dough 2 in apart on baking sheets. (I used 2 sheets at a time)

7. Bake 8-10 min at 350. Mine took exactly 9 min. Take them out before they turn brown.

8. Allow to cool 1 min on pan and move cookies to a cooling rack to cool.

Makes 36 Cookies- only 62 calories each

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Chicken Noodle Soup

10 Feb

So, chicken noodle soup isn’t new to anyone, and it’s really pretty healthy no matter how you make it, assuming you don’t use a ton of butter or overload the noodles… so, here’s a recipe that I go to for comfort food on a winter day. It’s predictably delicious, as most homemade chicken noodle soup is. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

– 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
– 64 oz (2 boxes) of chicken broth or stock
– 3 carrots, diced
– 1 onion, diced
– 3 stalks of celery, diced
– 2 tablespoons of parsley
– 4 oz “no yolks” medium noodles

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients, except for noodles into a crockpot. Set on low or 6-8 hours.

2. Remove chicken breasts and shred them with 2 forks. Return them to crockpot.

3. 30 min before serving, add noodles and stir. Cover and cook for 30 min.

Enjoy. Easy breezy.

Editors note: I like to make mine in the crockpot, because I prefer shredded chicken, and this is the easiest way to get it. You could easily make this on the stove by just boiling all ingredients together and dicing the chicken up as well.

10 1 cup Servings= 115 Calories per cup

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