Lazy Asparagus Omelet

I decided to make this for a simple dinner tonight and really enjoyed it. It may sound strange to combine asparagus with eggs, but we really enjoyed this.

My changes:

Added a few pieces of crumbled bacon before putting the pan under the broiler

Used shredded mozzarella

Very simple and yummy!

Here's the recipe

Corn and Black Bean Salad

CORN AND BLACK BEAN SALAD

1 (15 1/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained (or fresh corn off the cob)

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
6 green onions, chopped

1 large avocado, chopped
1/2 c. chopped red onion
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 c. fat-free Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp. lime juice
3/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce (optional)
1/2 tsp. chili powder

In a large bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. In a small bowl. combine the salad dressing, cilantro, lime juice, hot pepper sauce and chili powder.
Pour over corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve with a slotted spoon. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Focaccia Pizza Waffles

These are so much fun! I saw this on Rachael Ray and had to try it! If you don't make your own pizza dough, I recommend asking for some raw dough at your local pizza place. We got ours from Campania Pizza and More in Southlake- we love this place! Definitely not your typical pizza.

It was a great meal for two but I wouldn't recommend it for a large crowd unless you have several waffle makers ha! Fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and spinach salad were so yummy on this. But you could really use any toppings you like. Hope you'll give it a try!

Here's the recipe

Mixed Veggie Pasta Salad

So tonight I sort of threw this dinner together because I had a fresh bunch of asparagus that I need to use. I'm trying to make more meatless meals lately. I think this will become a regular one around here during the warmer months. I used the following recipe as inspiration....

http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/grilled_vegetable_pasta_salad/

Here are my changes:

Used whole grain penne instead of plain

Used yellow cherry tomatoes- I think they are sweeter than red.

Omitted the red onion and peppers

Added fresh spinach- didn't have basil

Used regular Italian dressing, some olive oil and parmesan cheese to dress it.

I grilled the asparagus on my indoor grill just with some olive oil spray and garlic salt for about 5-7 minutes. I let it cool and then cut into bite sized pieces. This was the only cooking involved besides the pasta. SO easy and fast! We will definitely have to have this again this summer when it's 100+ degrees outside!! Give this one a try and add or delete as you wish.

Turkey Spinach Meatloaf

So we just had this for dinner and it was pretty yummy... (if I do say so myself!) I used the following recipe for inspiration and made it the lazy way-- haha-- basically the same ingredients as the recipe, but I mixed it all together instead of in layers to make a pinwheel.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Turkey-Pinwheel/Detail.aspx

So here's what I did instead:

Mixed the first 10 ingredients in a large bowl with my hands. By the way, it's very important that you squeeze out all of the water from your thawed spinach before adding it! I baked this in a loaf pan lined with foil for about 45 minutes, then took it out and added ketchup to the top and baked for another 8-10 minutes.

Sliced Steak Salad w/ "Bloody Mary" Vinaigrette

I made this last night and we both really enjoyed this. It's SUPER simple but very yummy! Personally, I don't eat a ton of red meat on a regular basis. But if you choose a lean cut of beef for this, I think it can be a pretty healthy choice (once in a while!) Really loved the different flavors in this and the only time consuming part of this recipe is the cooking of the steak... so start it a little early if you can. I was using an indoor grill like Rachael used on the show.

Oh, and for the non-drinkers out there- no worries- there is no alcohol in the "bloody mary" vinaigrette! :)

My changes:

Couldn't find horseradish so I left it out- didn't miss it.

Omitted the parsley and endive (endive is a little pricy)

Added minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds to the dressing

Used green olives- had never heard of caperberries- have any of you??

Here's the recipe

Cauliflower with Carrot "Cheese" Sauce

I saw this on Rachael Ray and decided I had to give it a try. I remember watching this guy- "The Galloping Gourmet" when I was a kid and remember how funny he was-- and still is. When I saw him on this episode of RR, he said he's recently decided to make a real change in the way he cooks and make things a lot healthier. This is a great alternative to using "Cheez Whiz" on your cauliflower and/or broccoli. That stuff is loaded with all kinds of preservatives and fat. Check out the nutrition facts of this recipe at the bottom of the link- Very impressive, I thought.

Hope you'll give this a try....

My suggestion:

Do not turn your burner very high when steaming your carrots w/ the evaporated milk. It will make a horrible brown crust on the inside of your pan! Not fun to clean up!

Here's the recipe

Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas

We had these tonight with a green salad on the side. We both really enjoyed these. I do have to confess that I took a couple of shortcuts though.

My changes:

-I used store-bought enchilada sauce instead of her sauce recipe. (I couldn't find a couple of the ingredients at Target.)

-Omitted the onion and green chiles

I thought these were a great substitute for typical beef enchiladas which have a lot more fat and calories. Very filling too!

Here's the recipe

Low-Calorie Dessert Ideas

I love this site from The Biggest Loser! They have a lot of great recipes and ideas.

I just tried out one of the low-cal dessert ideas and liked it a lot. I did the sugar-free chocolate pudding with a little peanut butter mixed in. Yum! Hope this list gives you a few ideas to try!

http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/exclusives/nutrition/healthy-eating/low-cal-desserts/

Honey Rosemary Chicken

I made this quite a while ago and just haven't posted it until now. We really enjoyed this and I will make this again at some point. The fresh rosemary makes all the difference in flavor! I also liked this because it uses such common ingredients that most people have in the fridge or pantry. The sweet honey mixed with lemon juice, dijon and rosemary is just lovely! I made this with rice mixed with toasted slivered almonds and a little of the sauce on top.

Here's the recipe