Healthy Baked Spaghetti

Reading this recipe it sounded a lot like baked ziti, except faster.

Recipe from Spark People.
Yields 8 servings.
266 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
1 pkg whole wheat spaghetti
1 lb turkey, ground
1 c water
2 c tomato sauce
1 c tomato paste
3 tbsp raw onion
1 tsp garlic powder
4 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400.

Cook spaghetti to al dente & drain.

Meanwhile, place onion in a large skillet with water.
Cook over medium heat until onion is tender.
Add turkey & seasonings.
Brown turkey breaking up into crumbles.

Stir in tomato sauce & tomato paste & let simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat.

In a casserole dish pour turkey mixture into the bottom.
Add spaghetti & mix well.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 5 - 7 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Spicy Cheeseburger Pizza

This was a very fast & freakin' delicious weeknight dinner. My boyfriend wasnt a huge fan but, I really loved the cheesy gooey-ness without excess amounts of calories.

Recipe from Velveeta.
Yields 8 servings.
250 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
1/2lb ground beef, 96% lean
8 oz Velveeta, cubed
1 ready-to-bake pizza crust (I used Boboli)
1 can diced tomatoes & green chilies
1/4 c ketchup

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400.

Brown the meat in a medium skillet & drain.
Return meat to skillet & stir in Velveeta.

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet.

Mix tomatoes/chilies & ketchup.
Spread onto crust.
Top with meat mixture.

Bake for 10 minutes.



So delicious & we still have some left over!

Pasta and Broccoli

This is a simple, weeknight dinner. Im too tired to go into the details but, there really arent many.

Yields 6 servings.
290 calories per serving.
Recipe from Skinny Taste dot com.

INGREDIENTS
12 oz uncooked pasta (I used whole wheat rotini)
6.5 c broccoli florets
5 cloves garlic, smashed & chopped
1/4 c parmesan cheese, shredded
2 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS
Bring a pot of water to boil & add pasta & broccoli & cook according to instructions on box for al dente.
When pasta is almost done cooking, reserve 1 c of pasta water & set aside.
Drain pasta & broccoli.

Return the pot to the stove & set heat to high adding 1 tbsp of olive oil.
When hot, add garlic.
Cook until golden, reduce flame to low & add pasta mixture back into the pot.

Mix well & add remaining olive oil, cheese, & salt and pepper.
Add 1/2 c reserved pasta water & mix well.
Top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Chicken and Potato Stir Fry

This was a little higher in calories than I normally like to make but then I realized that I didnt really need to serve a side with it because it is a rather heavy dish. It's called a stir fry but, the potatoes turned it into more of a stew. Still delicious, though. And a little more time consuming than usual for a weeknight dinner but, worth it.

Yields 4 servings.
Recipe from BHG via Recipe dot com email.
323 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
4 medium potatoes, cut into 3/4 in pieces
4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts
3/4 c water
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp thyme, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tbsp canola oil
1 lg onion, chopped
3 tbsp parsley

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, precook potatoes & carrots, covered for 10 minutes.
Drain & set aside.

Cut chicken into bite-size strips & set aside.

For sauce, in a small bowl, stir together water, cornstarch, bouillon granules, thyme, salt, & pepper; set aside.

Pour canola oil into a large skillet.
Preheat over medium-high heat & stir fry onions for 2 minutes.
Add chicken to skillet & stir fry for 2 - 3 minutes.
Push chicken to the center of the skillet.

Stir sauce & add to the center of the skillet.
Cook & stir until thick & bubbly..
Add potatoes & carrots & stir together until all ingredients are coated.
Cover & cook for 2 more minutes.
Stir in parsley & serve.

Sticky Chinese Chicken

I have to say that this is probably the best dinner Ive cooked ever. I had a VERY hard time sticking to one serving of this, despite how low in calories & sizeable one serving is. Im usually very hesistant to make any Asian cuisine because my boyfriend is half Korean. His mother is 100% Korean &, from what Ive told, can whip up some Asian food.

Yields 6 servings.
276 calories per serving.
Recipe from Family Circle via Recipe dot com.

INGREDIENTS
1 c garlic & onion flavored croutons, finely crushed
1/4 c corn starch
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 lbs chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, & cut into 1 in pieces
1/4 c canola oil

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl whisk crouton crumbs & cornstarch.
Stir in soy sauce.
Add chicken & toss until completely coated.
Cover & refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Add chicken & cook, covered, for 20 - 25 minutes until nice & crispy.
Turn about 4 or 5 times during cooking to avoid burning.
Drain on paper towels.



I served this along side of cauliflower. So freakin' good.