Fiesta Beans

This is what I served along with the taco pie. For some reason, I was feeling Mexican food last night.

Recipe from Eating Well dot com.
Yields 6 servings.
169 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS
16oz nonfat refried beans
15oz pinto beans, rinsed
1/2 c salsa
2/3 c reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded
4 scallions, sliced

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400.

In a sauce pan combine refried beans, pinto beans, salsa, & 1/3 c cheese.
Cook over medium heat for 6 - 8 minutes, until cheese has melted.
Spoon the mixture into a baking pan & sprinkle with remaining cheese & scallions.

Cook for about 5 minutes.



I topped this with low fat sour cream & served it as a bean dip with baked tortilla chips. It was so delicious!

Oven Roasted Green Beans

I was actually sort of scared of this recipe when I was reading the ingredients because Im not the biggest fan of vinegar. I figured that it was such a small amount that it wouldnt make a HUGE difference. When I put the vinegar in one of the mixtures, I was over-fucking-powered with the smell of vinegar but still, I proceeded. This ended up being delicious & not at all vinegar soaked. I think after roasting in it, it was diluted a bit & not so over powering. Success!

Yields 4 servings.
55 calories per serving.
Unsure where this recipe came from.

INGREDIENTS
3/4 lb fresh green beans, boiled to crips-tender
2 cloves garlic, peeled & thinly sliced
1 small onion, peeled & sliced into thin rings
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt & pepper, to taste.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450.

Toss green beans with olive oil & vinegar to coat evenly.

Spread green beans in one layer across a baking pan.
Scatter the garlic & onions over the beans.
Bake for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Bacon-Wrapped Breadsticks

My boyfriend loves bacon. It's his favourite food group. So, I figured this would be a perfect side to our Sunday dinner this week. (Im not posting the main course because it didnt turn out very well! D: Well, it wasnt bad but, it was a little dry. I saved the leftovers to see if maybe it's better re-heated.)

Anyways, this is very easy & fast. In hindsight, I probably shouldve served a vegetable in addition but, oh well. Next time.

Yields 6 breaksticks.
135 calories per serving.
Recipe from BHG dot com.

INGREDIENTS
8 oz pkg refrigerated breadsticks (12 count)
2 tbsp margarine, melted
1/4 parmesan cheese & more to top with
6 slices bacon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425.

Unroll breadsticks & brush with margarine.
Sprinkle with 1/4 c parmesan.
Fold in half & wrap each breadstick with a slice of bacon.
Place breadsticks on cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes & remove from oven.
Turn over & bake for 5 more minutes.
Set on paper towels to drain grease.



Make sure that you use a pan with ridges so that the bacon grease doesnt go all over your oven!

Roasted Broccoli with Garlic

Here I go again, tending to my garlic love affair. My boyfriend loves this as a side & we ate the entire side because it's so damned good. Not to mention fast, which is always a plus if you've got a complicated or time-consuming entree. Hell, Id probably just make this as a snack.

I sprinkled a little bit of parmesan on top when I was serving this, also. I love cheese almost more than I love garlic. [It's a pretty hard choice for me. Haha.]

Yields 4 servings.
126 calories per serving.
From skinnytaste.com.

INGREDIENTS


1.5 lbs broccoli florets
6 cloves garlic, smashed
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450.

In a mixing bowl combine broccoli, olive oil, garlic, salt, & pepper.
Transfer to a baking dish & sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese.

Roast for about 20 minutes.



See? So fast!

Garlic Rolls From Scratch

Yields 16 servings.
137 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS

4 c flour
6 tsp butter
1 1/3 c water
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
garlic powder to taste

DIRECTIONS
Mix flour, 4 tsp butter, water, sugar, yeast, & salt.
Divide into 16 pieces.
Cover & let rise for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400.
Melt the remaining butter in a bowl & brush rolls.
Bake for 15 minutes.

Brush with butter again & top with garlic powder.


Again, crappy lighting. Sorry!

Cheesy Twice-Baked Potatoes

Yields 4 servings.
187.2 calories per serving.
Serving size - 1 potato half with filling.
Recipe from Laaloosh.com.

This recipe was pretty simple; a little time consuming but simple & delicious.

INGREDIENTS

2 lg potatoes
1/4 c fat-free sour cream
2 green onion stalks, chopped
salt & pepper, to taste
non-fat cooking spray, butter flavored
bacon bits

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400.
Pierce potatoes with a fork & put in the microwave using the potato setting.
Let sit until cook enough to handle.

Cut potatoes length-wise.
Scoop out with a spoon & place potato pulp in a large bowl.
Add sour cream, blue cheese, green onions, salt & pepper to bowl.
Blend until smooth.

Spritz potato shells with cooking spray & sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Spoon potato mixture into each shell & top with bacon bits.
Place on baking sheet & bake for 15 minutes.

Sliced Baked Potatoes

Yields 4 servings.
204 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS

4 medium potatoes
1 1/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, shredded
4 tbsp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tsp herbs, dried (I used garlic powder, oregano, & pepper)
1 tsp salt


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425.

Scrub & rinse potatoes.
Cut potatoes into thin slices but not all the way through.
Put the potatoes in a baking dish & slightly fan out the sides.
Drizzle potatoes with melted butter & sprinkle with herbs & salt.

Bake for 50 minutes.

Remove from the oven & sprinkle with cheeses.

Bake for 13 minutes.

Roasted Potatoes

Yields 6 servings.
143 calories per serving.
From The Low-Fat Way To Cook.

INGREDIENTS

2lbs small red potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
Pam
1 1/4 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp thyme
salt & pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375.
Scrub potatoes, cut in half, & scrub with olive oil.
Toss potatoes in rosemary, thyme, salt, & pepper.
Place potatoes in a baking dish coated in cooking spray.
Bake 55 - 60 minutes.