Fresh Tomato and Corn Salsa

Here is another wonderful salsa that you can serve as a side dish with anything. I like it because it uses corn and I like having corn for the sweetness. The recipe uses fresh corn, but if I don't have it handy I just use canned or frozen. And as usual I skip the heat:)

I sometimes add a clove of garlic, crushed depending on what I'm serving this with. Feel free to try and see if you like it.

FRESH TOMATO AND CORN SALSA

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels (about 1 ear)
1 1/4 cups chopped tomato
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions:
Steam corn, covered, 2 minutes, and cool. Combine corn and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

Note: The salsa can be made a day in advance. Cover and chill.

Makes 2 cups
Per serving: (serving size: 1/2 cup)
Calories: 50
Fat: 1,5 g
Carbs: 9 g
Protein: 1,5 g

Ham and Egg Breakfast Burritos

Who doesn't like burritos? And how easy is it to prepare them? I think they make great compact food that you can take with you. This one is an easy and tasty recipe that you can use for breakfast if you are want low calories and still feel like you are cheating:)

If you want to, you can substitute 1/2 cup of egg substitute with fresh eggs in this recipe and the calories stay around the same. But if it's not enough eggs, and you want to use a full cup, the calories go up to 385 calories, so be careful with the amount of eggs you are using.

HAM AND EGG BREAKFAST BURRITOS

Ingredients:
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 sprays nonstick cooking spray
3 large egg whites
1 large whole eggs
2 tablespoons nonfat milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped 95% fat-free cooked ham
2 8-inch flour tortillas, heated
1/4 cup salsa

Directions:
Cook red and green bell peppers and onion over medium heat in large nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray for 3-5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

Beat together egg whites, eggs, milk, salt and black pepper in medium bowl until combined.

Pour egg mixture over vegetables in skillet. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until egg mixture begins to set on bottom and around edge. Lift and fold the partially cooked egg mixture with spatula so uncooked portion flows underneath. Continue cooking and folding mixture until eggs are cooked through, but still glossy and moist. Fold in ham; continue cooking until heated through, gently folding mixture occasionally.

Remove skillet from heat. To assemble, spoon 1/2 of egg mixture onto center of each tortilla. Fold bottom of tortilla up over eggs. Fold in one side and roll to enclose eggs.

To serve, top with salsa.

Makes 2 servings:
Per serving
Calories: 340
Fat: 9.5 g
Carbs: 36 g
Protein: 26.5 g

Fresh Tomato Lasagna

I don't think of this as a low calorie recipe from Cooking Light which had it copied from The Culinary Institute of America., it's more like a recipe that I can enjoy at any time. It is really basic and very tasty. The tomatoes does take some time to cook, but it really is not a big deal.

I like adding other herbs to the tomatoes too, such as dried oregano, thyme, and marjoram. Add about 1/2 teaspoon each. You can even add parsley if you like, although I would add fresh parsley rather than dried.

FRESH TOMATO LASAGNA

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
7 cups chopped peeled tomato (about 4 pounds)
2/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Cooking spray
8 cooked lasagna noodles
1/2 cup (2 ounces) finely shredded fresh Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions:
Heat oil in a small Dutch oven over medium heat; add onion and garlic. Cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add tomato; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour and 20 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in 2/3 cup basil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Heat ricotta in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot; stir in mozzarella, stirring until melted. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

Spread 2 cups tomato mixture in bottom of 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange half the noodles over tomato mixture; top with ricotta mixture. Arrange remaining noodles over ricotta mixture; top with remaining 2 cups tomato mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts and filling is bubbly. Remove from oven; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon basil. Let stand 5 minutes.

Makes 8 servings
Per serving:
Calories: 290
Fat: 12 g
Carbs: 29 g
Protein: 18 g
Fiber: 3 g

Greek Salad Pita Sandwiches

I love having sandwiches while dieting, it makes me feel like I'm cheating a bit:) This easy recipe is from Bon Appetit, and it's basically a favorite salad of mine in a sandwich.

Here are some numbers if you want to make changes:
1 cup broiled chicken, diced = 230 calories white meat, 280 calories dark meat
1 cup feta cheese (4.5 oz.), crumbled = 390 calories
1 cup radishes (3 -4 oz.), diced = 20 calories
1 tomato, medium (4 oz.) = 25 calories
1 cucumber, medium (7 oz.) = 25 calories
1 stalk green onion = 5 calories
1 cup red onions (6 oz.) = 70 calories

You can also use hummus as a spread in the pita. Just check the calories on the box.

GREEK SALAD PITA SANDWICHES

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 1/4 cups chopped seeded plum or cherry tomatoes
1 cup diced seeded peeled cucumber
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2/3 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped radishes
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 4 1/2 ounces)

4 8-inch-diameter whole wheat pita breads, halved

Directions:
Whisk olive oil and red wine vinegar in large bowl. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Mix tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, radishes, and parsley into dressing. Stir in feta cheese.

DO AHEAD: Salad can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Using slotted spoon, transfer salad mixture to pita bread halves. Serve sandwiches immediately.

Makes 4 servings
Per serving:
Calories: 400
Fat: 20 g
Carbs: 45 g

Broccoli Almondine

This quick, tasty and easy recipe is from Gourmet.

The nuts, together with lemon makes the broccoli so much more edible, and it's really fast.

The water that you use to cook the broccoli in can be saved and used as a vegetable broth, it is packed with vitamins.

Enjoy:)

BROCCOLI ALMONDINE

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds broccoli, stems peeled, then head cut into 2-inch-wide spears
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Cook broccoli in a steamer rack over boiling water in a large wide pot, covered, until stems are just tender when pierced with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove steamer from pot and discard cooking water. Cool broccoli 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat butter in pot over medium heat until foam subsides, then cook almonds, stirring, until butter and nuts are golden and have a nutty aroma, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add broccoli and toss.

Makes 4 to 6 (side dish) servings
Per serving:
Calories: 195
Fat: 15 g
Carbs: 12 g
Protein: 6 g