Breakfast Ham Sliders

Ham sliders
Adapted from Say Cheese
Makes 4 Servings

8 small potato/slider buns
8 servings Oscar Meyer black forest ham, sliced
4 slices Jarlsberg light Swiss cheese, cut in half
4 tbsp reduced fat chive and onion cream cheese
2 tbsp light butter with canola oil
1 tsp died onion flakes
½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Slice rolls in half, place bottoms in a baking dish. Layer ham and cheese on each roll. Spread ½ tbsp cream cheese on each roll top and complete sandwich. Melt butter and stir in Parmesan, Worcestershire and onion flakes. Brush on top of sandwiches. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Heat oven to 350, cover baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information: 412 calories, 35 carbs, 13 fat grams and 37.5 protein grams.

Review: Love these little guys! The cream cheese and swiss cheese mix so well together, making this a very tasty little sandwich. I also love how the ham, worcestershire and onion work together, adding a lot of flavor and a nice salty kick. You could serve these as appetizers, but I really liked it as a great, filling breakfast with lots of flavor and lots of protein.

Turkey, Artichoke & Swiss Panini

Turkey, Artichoke & Swiss Panini

Recipe found on Our Best Bites

Makes 1 Recipe

First, make Garlic-Herb Sandwich Spread: ¼ cup fat free mayonnaise, 2 tsp minced garlic, juiced squeezed from ½ of a lemon, ½ tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp fresh basil, ¼ tsp dried rosemary, ¼ tsp dried oregano. Put in a food processor and process until smoothed. Makes 3 servings.

Then use the following:
½ tsp olive oil
3-4 roma Tomato slices (2" diameter)
2 slices Hormel Natural Choice turkey (36 grams)
2 slices Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane (87 grams)
Artichoke hearts, quartered and marinated (25 grams; about 4)
1 slice light swiss cheese (I used Jarlsberg lite)

Spread 1/3 of the garlic-herb spread on each slice of bread, then layer cheese, turkey, tomato and artichoke hearts on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Put top on. Brush outer sides of sandwiches and grill on Panini maker (or George Foreman!) until golden brown. Put on a microwavable safe plate and cook for 40 seconds or until cheese is fully melted. Remove, cut in half and serve.

Nutritional Information: 374 calories, 51 carbs, 11 fat grams and 25 protein grams.

Review: It was SO good! The NI is up a bit on this one because I used much more bread (57 grams on last panini), but it was fab and FILLING. I had mine with a ½ cup of Amy’s Tomato Bisque (Austin had the rest of the can - 1.5 cups - and a larger Panini!).

That Good Salad

Recipe from my sister Devon

That Good Salad

Dressing:
3/4 Cup EVOO
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup lemon juice

Salad:

2 bunches Romaine Lettuce
2 cups tomatoes, diced
1 cup swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
8 strips bacon, fried & broken into pieces
1 cup caesar salad croutons

Mix ingredients together; cover & refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour dressing over salad just before serving and mix well.

Nutritional Information: TBD

Review: This salad is amazing. Really. The flavors are great, the dressing is a perfect blend and it's a crowd favorite. Devon made it for a house warming shower this past summer and it went quick! People even asked for the recipe!

Mexican Pizza

pizza before cold toppings!

close up!

Mexican Pizza

4 Servings
16 oz. Trader Joe’s Plain Pizza Dough
1 tsp canola oil
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce (use ¾ of can)
1 tsp fajita seasoning
4 oz. ground beef (sautéed with jalapeno in taco seasoning)
6 slices tomato
½ can spicy chili beans (in sauce)
60 grams Kraft natural swiss/parmesan Reduced Fat blend
4 tbsp fat-free sour cream
1 cup romaine lettuce

Preheat oven to 450. Spray pizza pan very lightly with cooking spray. Spread on pan with hands. Spread dough on pan. Sprinkle with oil and spread with brush. Combine fajita seasoning and tomato sauce in can. Stir, and add to pizza, spreading evenly with brush. Add beef, tomatoes, beans and cheese. Cook for 12 – 15 minutes, until cheese melts and crust is brown. Top with lettuce and sour cream.

Nutritional Information: 403 calories, 58 carbs, 10 fat grams and 18 protein grams.

Another shot of my serving - I love this little concoction!


Review: We LOVED it. I’m so glad I put this together today and plan to make it a regular – super filling and flavorful!

Spicy Cilantro Chicken Salad

Spicy Cilantro Chicken Salad

4 Servings

16 oz. chicken
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can rotel
8 cups arugula (1 bag), divided into 4 servings
1 avocado, deseeded without skin, quartered
40 grams corn chips
40 grams Kraft reduced fat swiss cheese
8 tbsp Trader Joe’s Cilantro Salad Dressing
24 cherry tomatoes, quartered

Cook chicken in taco seasoning and rotel until no longer pink. Shred with two forks, divide into 4 servings and spoon it onto arugula topped plates. Add 10 grams corn chips, 10 grams cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, ¼ of avocado and 2 tbsp of salad dressing to each. Eat up!

Nutritional Information: 397 calories, carbs, 17 fat grams and 36 protein grams.

Review: I loved it! Austin had it for dinner later and thought it was fabulous as well – this will be a summer staple! (to lower fat, just use less avocado). :) And you guys – that salad dressing is THE BOMB. It’s super flavorful – a little goes a very long way which makes me very happy.