Skinny Orange Julius

You know, I never grew up enjoying Orange Julius'.  I always wanted to try one but just never did.  I stumbled across this recipe and had to give it a try.  I am now hooked.

Recipe from Skinny Kitchen dot com.
Yields 1 serving.
270 calories

INGREDIENTS

2/3 c orange juice

1/3 c skim milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp sugar

1.5 c ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients to a blender.

Blend on high for about 1 minute or until ice has been crushed & liquid is frothy.

This was the perfect amount of sweet and fast enough for an afternoon snack.  Yum!

Tuna and White Bean Salad

I wanted something fast and easy to make this week for lunch.  I just wasnt in the mood for something super complicated.  There isnt really much to it but, it sounded tasty.  This originally called for scallions but, I forgot to add those to my grocery list like a genius so, I substituted garlic powder instead to get a similar taste.  This is another one from the fantastic Budget Bytes.

Recipe from Budget Bytes.
Yields 6 servings.
190.5 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS

2 cans tuna

2 cans white beans

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp garlic powder

Black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients together and stir to combine.

See?  Fast and easy.

Cheeseburger Casserole

I dont know what it is with me lately but, Ive been really loving having pasta for my lunch during the week.  It's really filling and it leaves me that way all day long.  This dish also seemed ideal because who doesnt love cheeseburgers?  Seriously.  They are delicious and if one can find a way to incorporate them into their intake in a healthy manner, well, PARTY!  BONUS!

Recipe from Skinny Taste
Yields 9 servings
260 calories per serving

INGREDIENTS

2 c uncooked whole wheat pasta

2 tsp olive oil

1.5 c chopped onions

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tbsp tomato paste

28 oz diced tomatoes

2 tbsp dijon mustard

2 c shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese

1/4 dill pickles, chopped

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook the pasta al dente & drain well.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium low heat.

Add the onions and cook until soft, for about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic & cook for about 30 seconds.

Stir in the beef & cook until browned.

Season with salt & pepper.

Add the tomato paste, the tomatoes & mustard.

Stir together & let bubble until thickened.

Place the pasta & meat mixture into the baking dish and stir together.

Top with cheddar and bake for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle with pickles and serve.

Raspberry Limeade

Personally, Im not a big fan of eating raspberries straight.  Im more of a strawberry gal but, I do like the flavor.  This seemed ideal for a hot Maryland summer.  I found it to be very refreshing and just sweet enough to kill a sweets craving.

Recipe from Eating Well.
Yields 6 servings.
87 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 c lime juice

1/2 c sugar

6 oz raspberries

3 c seltzer water

Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS

Combine lime juice and sugar in a large pitcher.

Stir to combine.

Place berries in a colander and mush together until it makes a puree-type texture.

Pour puree into pitcher.

Pour seltzer over top & stir all ingredients together.

Southwestern Layered Bean Dip

I made something similar to this about a year ago.  My roommate and I were obsessed with it and I found something that looked just as good.  It sure was!  We ate this for dinner with baked tortilla chips.

Recipe from Eating Well

Yields 12 servings

146 calories per serving

INGREDIENTS

1 can nonfat refried beans

1 can black beans

4 scallions, sliced

1/2 c salsa

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 c shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 c lowfat sour cream

DIRECTIONS

Combine refried beans, black beans, sacllions, salsa, cumin, & chili powder in a microwave safe bowl.

Sprinkle with cheese.

Microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Spread sour cream over top and enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Pasta Salad

Im a total garlic junkie.  Like, I put garlic powder on popcorn.  It only seemed logical to make something pretty garlicky for lunch.  I know it's a faux pas to eat something that potent with smell at work but, I stopped caring about that long ago.

Recipe from Budget Bytes.

Yields 8 servings.

300 calories per serving.

INGREDIENTS

1 head garlic

1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 box whole wheat pasta

15 oz reduced fat ricotta cheese

Garlic pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1 pint grape tomatoes

3 c baby spinach

DIRECTIONS

Using a sharp knife, cut 1/2 inch off the top of the head of garlic.

Place bulb in a bowl & drizzle olive oil over top of exposed cloves.

Cover the bowl with a plate.

Microwave on high, in one minute increments, until garlic is soft and fragrant.  (This took me about 2 minutes.)

Remove from microwave & allow garlic to cool.

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the pasta, & cook for 10 minutes.

Reserve 1/2 c of pasta water.

Squeeze garlic cloves from the head & mince well.

Add the garlic to a medium bowl with ricotta cheese & a large amount of pepper & the salt.

Add the reserved pasta water & stir until smooth.

Turn off the burner, drain the pasta & return to the pot.

Add the spinach & pour ricotta cheese over top.

Add tomatoes & stir well.

Top with parmesan cheese & stir again.

This was so, so tasty.   I had my roommate try a noodle & she thought the same.  I have to once again rave about how much I love the website I got this recipe from.  I altered some of the ingredients so that this dish is a little healthier but, in general, the gal that runs Budget Bytes really does an excellent job!  If you want tasty & inexpensive, she's the go-to blog!

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes is one of my boyfriend's favourite dishes.  He's a potato fiend, like any other normal human being.  About a year ago we had a fat feast & made every kind of potato dish we could possibly think to make.  It made me obsessed with finding healthy potato recipes.

Recipe is from Eating Well
Yields 8 servings
213 calories per serving

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs potatoes, cut into 1/4 in thick slices

3 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp black pepper

2.5 c skim milk

1/2 c shredded parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425.

Toss potatoes in a large bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil.

Spread potatoes across 2 baking sheets & roast for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp olive in a large pan over medium heat.

Add onion & cook, stirring frequently until soft & golden brown, 5- 8 minutes.

Add flour, salt, & pepper; cook & stir for another minute.

Add milk & continue to stir until sauce bubbles & thickens, about 4 minutes.

Remove from heat & set aside.

When potatoes are done, remove from the oven & preheat broiler.

Place half of the potatoes in a broiler-safe pan & pour half of the sauce over top.

Add the remaining potatoes & the remaining sauce.

Top with the cheese & place in the broiler for 5 minutes.

Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.