Strawberry Salad

Forgive me for yet another super-simplistic recipe. This combination is so simple, and yet so good, that I just had to share. (Besides, it looks so pretty on the plate!)

The amounts serve one person, but obviously it would be easy to double. I use Maple Farms brand dressing - it's very good.



Strawberry Salad

2 cups baby spinach leaves, torn a bit
1/2 grilled or baked chicken breast, sliced
4 large strawberries, diced
2 tbsp. raspberry viniagrette

Arrange on a plate and drizzle with dressing. Serves 1

Coconut Tilapia with Apricot Dipping Sauce

Oh, my goodness - I had a wonderful supper tonight! This quick and easy fish was absolutely fantastic. (Sorry, no picture - I was too hungry and there wasn't enough light today for a good shot anyway.) The original (from All Recipes) called for more egg substitute than was needed, so I cut back the amount quite a bit to avoid waste. I was lazy and fried it in the skillet, but you could significantly lower the fat content by baking it for 25 minutes at 350. And don't skip the sauce. It sounds weird, but is incredibly tasty.

Coconut Tilapia with Apricot Dipping Sauce

1 c. flaked coconut, finely chopped
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp Creole seasoning
4 4-oz tilapia filets
1/2 c. cornstarch
2/3 c. egg substitute
1/2 c. canola oil

Dipping Sauce
1/2 c. apricot preserves
2 tsp brown mustard
1 tsp horseradish sauce

Toss together coconut, flour and Creole seasoning in a bowl. In a separate bowl, toss the tilapia with the cornstarch. Shake off excess. Pour the egg substitute into a third bowl, and dip filets in egg. Press filets into coconut mixture, coating both sides.

Heat oil in a skillet. Fry filets 1-2 at a time on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Meanwhile, mix preserves, mustard and horseradish in a small bowl. Serve with tilapia.

Serves 4

White Punch

Perfect for a wedding, baby shower, or brunch, this punch is the easiest thing in the world to put together. Unlike other varieties, it doesn't stain clothing as easily, which makes it a good choice for events with small children running around. It's a light and refreshing punch, one that I could drink just about any day of the week. For you non-alcoholic types, it's a good choice for a "champange" toast at a wedding.

If you like, you can make an ice ring from fruit to decorate the punch bowl. Using a bundt or angel food cake pan, arrange fruit in a layer about two inches thick (choose the fruit to match your theme - anything goes). Gently pour enough water to just cover the fruit, and freeze overnight. In the morning, set the pan in hot water long enough to loosen the ice, and add it to the punch bowl.

White Punch

White grape juice
Ginger ale

Chill equal amounts of both liquids, and mix just before serving.

Iced Coffee

At the risk of insulting your intelligence, I'd like to share with you my formula for a tasty-as-Starbucks morning eye opener. Let me say this, though - please use good coffee. Folgers just doesn't count. I like to buy a whole-bean espresso roast. Great Value (Wal-Mart brand) makes one that is very good, but also affordable, and quite comparable to the Starbucks blends. Of course, if you have the moolah, splurge on the best coffee you can find.

Iced Coffee

At night, brew 4 cups of very strong coffee. Sweeten as desired (I use four packets of Splenda) and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, add 1 c. milk and 1 T. flavored coffee syrup. Add half a tray of ice cubes and stir. It fits quite nicely into a 52-oz Bubba Keg, if you don't want to share.


...A word about the coffee syrup: I use DaVinci brand, although there are several others out there. They have a ton of flavors, several in sugar-free versions. Caramel, Hazelnut, and Kahlua are some of my favorites. They also have watermelon and peanut butter, but I wouldn't recommend using those in your coffee unless you are more adventurous than I am!

Penne with Peppers and Sausage

Mmm-mmm tasty! It smells wonderful cooking, it pretty easy to throw together, and reheats well. Plus it's good for you. If you can find them, use fire-roasted diced tomatoes. They add greatly to the flavor. Adapted from Weight Watchers online, here is:

Penne with Peppers and Sausage

1 green bell pepper, julienned
1 orange bell pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 c. mushrooms, sliced
1 lb. turkey sausage, spicy-Italian flavor
1/8 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
3 c. cooked whole wheat penne

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook pepper, onion, garlic, and mushrooms until almost tender (7-8 minutes).

Remove turkey sausage from casings; add to skillet and brown until no longer pink. Break up with a spoon as it cooks. Add oregano, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes; stir in tomatoes. Simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Gently stir in pasta. If desired, sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6

Frito Corn Salad

I had this at a church potluck, and searched all over the web until I found the recipe. I modified it to make it more WW-friendly. It needs no spices - all the flavor comes from the Fritos. Don't ask me how long it will keep in the fridge - I will be surprised if it makes it through tomorrow!

2 c. frozen corn, thawed
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 c. reduced-fat Mexican blend shredded cheese
2/3 c. fat-free mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip)
Chili Cheese Fritos

In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients except Fritos. Immediately before serving, measure 1 cup of the Fritos, crush, and stir into the salad. (If you are not eating it all at once, use a little less than 1/4 cup per serving.)

Serves 4-6.

Tropical Black Beans and Rice

I adapted this from the Weight Watchers website. It is a wonderful, filling vegetarian meal. You will never miss the meat! Cook a large pot of brown rice and keep it separate in the fridge. This will keep for several days and is a good choice for those of you who like to do most of your cooking on the weekend.

Tropical Black Beans and Rice

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 c. red onion, chopped
1/2 c orange juice
1/3 c fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (or 2 tsp dried)
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 medium red pepper, diced
1/2 medium green pepper, diced
1 medium mango, diced (or papaya, or 20 oz canned pineapple, drained)
2 garlic cloves, minced
15 oz canned black beans, rinsed & drained
3 c. cooked brown rice

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add oil and heat over medium heat until sizzling. Add all ingredients except beans and rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Stir in beans. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve over rice.

Serves 4 (3/4 c. rice and 1 cup bean mixture)
6 WW points

(The picture shows Canadian bacon, which I threw in because I had it on hand and needed to use it.)