Low Cal Chicken and Tortellini Alfredo

I didn't get a picture of this one. I didn't actually plan on adding it to the blog, but after we ate Kevin insisted that it was so good and I had to blog about it. Who doesn't LOVE alfredo sauce?!? This is a great LOW CALORIE alfredo sauce!!! So you don't feel guilty about enjoying it!

This recipe comes from some ideas I got from Hungry Girl (http://www.hungry-girl.com/). I was kind of in a hurry so I didn't measure everything!

for those who haven't heard of it before...

Low Cal Chicken and Tortellini Alfredo (1850 calories total or 4 servings at 462.5 calories per serving)

Alfredo Sauce (370 calories total or 4 servings at 92.5 calories each)
10 tablespoons powder creamer (80 calories)
4 wedges garlic and herb laughing cow cheese (140 calories)
1 tablespoon olive oil (120 calories)
1 tablepsoon flour (30 calories)
garlic powder*
onion powder*
italian seasoning*
salt and pepper*

*sorry I didn't measure these... I always taste as I cook, and usually don't measure it out*

4 servings tortellini (760 calories)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (720 calories)

- prepare tortellini as directed on packaging
- season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and italian seasoning
- in a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil
- brown chicken breasts until done
- remove chicken from skillet and set aside
- add flour to skillet and brown slightly
- in a bowl or cup disolve powder creamer in 2 cups hot water and add to skillet
- add laughing cow cheese and stir to melt
- season to taste (onion powder, garlic powder, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper)
- let simmer until well blended then add drained tortellini and stir
- top each serving of tortellini and sauce with sliced chicken breast

I'm sure I will make this again sometimes, so when I do, I'll add a photo!

Avocado Turkey Burgers

This is for my dear friend Debi! It's an easy recipe, nothing fancy, but we like them! I didn't take a picture, though! The next time I make them I will take a picture and post it for you! I normally only make half of the recipe, but we had company so I made more. I also added a little extra ranch powder... I like a stronger flavor, so you can adjust it for your tastes.

Avocado Turkey Burgers

2 pounds ground turkey (1360 calories)
3 tablespoons ranch dressing powder (40 calories)
3 tablespoons crushed ceasar croutons (70 calories)
1 egg (70 calories)
(1540 calories total or 8 servings at 192.5 calories each)

toppings -
avocado
lettuce
tomato
red onion

- combine ground turkey, ranch dressing powder, crushed croutons and egg
- form the meat mixture into 8 patties
- grill or broil until done (we eat ours well done... not big on undercooked burgers!)
- build your burger! i like mine with mayo and topped with sliced avocado, lettuce, tomato and red onion

Pan Grilled Salmon with Honey Lemon Glaze and Mushroom Brown Rice

Such a nice meal for a hot summer day!! It fills you up but it isn't all greasy and heavy!



Pan Grilled Salmon with Honey Lemon Glaze

1 14 ounces salmon filet (600 calories)
2 tablespoons olive oil (240 calories)
1 tablepsoon rosemary
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dill
1 tablespoon basil
salt and pepper to taste
(840 calories total)

glaze -

¼ cup lemon juice (30 calories)
4 tablespoons honey (240 calories)
1 tablespoon paprika
(270 calories)

- rub salmon filet with rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dill, basil, salt, and pepper
- let rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
- heat skillet with 2 tablespoons olive oil
- sear salmon about 7 minutes on each side
- wrap salmon in foil to keep warm
- in the same skillet combine lemon juice, honey and paprika
- once the glaze is warm, return salmon to skillet to coat then serve


Mushroom Brown Rice (380 calories total or 2 servings at 190 calories each)

½ cup uncooked brown rice (320 calories)
1 chicken bullion cube (10 calories)
1 tablespoon rosemary
8 brown mushrooms diced (30 calories)
1 teaspoon butter or margarine (20 calories)
salt and pepper to taste

- follow instructions to cook rice
- when you add the rice to the boiling water, also add chicken bullion, rosemary, and mushrooms
- once rice is done stir in the butter, salt, and pepper and serve!

Lemon Pepper Pork Tenderloin and Oven Roasted Veggies

This is a very light and low calorie meal! Pretty tasty too! I used one of those injector needles to get the lemon pepper all through the tenderloin, but if you don't have one, just marinate it!




Lemon Pepper Pork Tenderloin (530 calories total or 2 servings at 265 calories per serving)

1 16 ounce lean pork tenderloin (430 calories)
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine (100 calories)
4 tablespoons lemon pepper (0)
1 tablespoon rosemary (0)

- mix melted butter, lemon pepper, and rosemary then marinate the pork tenderloin in the mixture
- grill on medium heat about an hour to an hour and a half


Oven Roasted Veggies (790 calories total or 6 servings at 132 calories per serving)

2 small zucchini (40 calories)
2 small squash (40 calories)
10 small mushrooms (40 calories)
1 medium red pepper (30 calories)
½ medium onion (20 calories)
1 head cauliflower (140 calories)
4 tablespoons olive oil (480 calories)
1 tablespoon each of rosemary, thyme, sage, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dill and basil
salt and pepper to taste

- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- clean and cut all veggies into chunks
- toss veggies in olive oil and spices
- coat a 13" x 9" baking dish with non-stick spray
- spread veggies in dish and bake for 30-45 minutes

lemon icebox pie

This is by far the EASIEST pie to make! It is a little tart, but a nice treat on a hot summer day! I also changed it up a little and made a "cherry limeade icebox pie"... it was so cool!!!! I had some problems with it taking a while to set up but if you leave it in the freezer for at least a day it will be fine! LOL!!!! I also didn't include the calories for this recipe... I added them up... and all I'm gonna say is there are a lot of calories in this pie!

Lemon Icebox Pie

1 can frozen lemonade
12 ounces cool whip
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 keebler 2 extra servings graham cracker crust (or 2 regular crusts)

- whisk lemonade, cool whip, and sweetened condensed milk together and pour into crust

- freeze overnight

Cherry Limeade Icebox Pie

1 can frozen limeade

12 ounces cool whip

the juice from a small jar of maraschino cherries

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1 keebler 2 extra serving graham cracker crust (or 2 regular crusts)

- whisk frozen limeade, cool whip, cherry juice, and sweetened consdensed milk together and pour into crust

- freeze overnight

- garnish with cherries and limes

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Everyone that knows me KNOWS how much I love Mexican food!! I could eat it 3 meals a day, 7 days a week!!!!! THIS is a wonderful Mexican cassarole that is not only VERY yummy, but also low calorie!! Isn't that awesome?!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

(2777 calories total/8 servings at 347 calories per serving)

4 chicken breasts (720 calories)

1/2 cup chunky salsa (50 calories)

1 can whole kernel corn (180 calories)

1 can pinto beans (400 calories)

1 small can green chilies (20 calories)

1/2 cup light sour cream (160 calories)

1 packet taco seasoning (90 calories)

1 red bell pepper diced (30 calories)

salt and pepper to taste

12 small corn tortillas (312 calories)

2 cups mexican blend cheese separated (660 calories)

1 large can red enchilada sauce (120 calories)

black olives (25 calories)

chopped green onions (10 calories)

- boil chicken, cool, and shred

- preheat oven to 350 degrees

- in a large bowl mix chicken, salsa, corn, beans, green chilies, sour cream, taco seasoning, red bell pepper, salt and pepper

- spray 13" x 9" baking dish with non-stick spray then pour 1/2 of the can of enchilada sauce into dish to coat the bottom

- take 6 tortillas and cut them in half then make a layer of tortillas on top of the enchilada sauce

- layer 1/2 of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas

- sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top of chicken mixture

- layer the remaining chicken mixture on top of cheese

- cut the other 6 tortillas in half and layer them on top of the chicken mixture

- pour the remaining enchilada sauce on top of the layer of tortillas

- top with 1 cup of cheese, black olives, and green onions

- bake 35-45 minutes at 350 degrees (until it's all nice and bubbly on top!)

SUPER YUM - SUPER LOW CAL! and the servings are HUGE!

blog overload

i know, i know... i'm such a slacker. i haven't been doing a good job of keeping up with my blog. SO... i have a few recipes that i am going to post all at once so that i can catch up! i hope someone out there is enjoying my recipes, i know i enjoy cooking and experimenting with our meals!!