Healthy Roasted Eggplant Spread

Ingredients

1 medium eggplant

1 large sweet red bell pepper

1 small sweet red onion

1 clove garlic, finely minced

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Pinch of fresh ground black pepper

Minced fresh Italian parsley leaves for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Stab eggplant all over with the tines of a fork. Place on a rack in roasting pan and bake in preheated 375 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

Prick onion and pepper all over with the fork as well and place on rack beside the eggplant. Continue roasting for 30 more minutes until vegetables are very soft. Let cool until you can handle.

Remove stem of eggplant, cut in half. Remove as many seeds as possible, then chop. Remove from skin and chop eggplant coarsely and place in a food processor. Cut pepper in half, remove skin, seeds, stem and membranes. Chop and add to the food processor. Coarsely chop onion and add to processor.

Add garlic, lemon juice, oil, black pepper and process until mixture is somewhat chunky. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes to one hour before serving. Garnish with minced parsley.

Watermelon Smoothie for a Fresh, Healthy Snack

Ingredients

3 cups watermelon chunks

1 small banana, chopped

1 cup ice

1 1/2 cups 0fat vanilla yogurt

Directions

Put watermelon chunks, chopped banana, ice and yogurt in a blender. Blend until desired smoothness.

(Serving Size 12 oz)

Save the Calories with an Apple Pie Shake

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla fat free frozen yogurt

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice (can substitute cinnamon)

1 cup skim milk

Directions

Put the mugs in freezer to chill. In blender, combine yogurt applesauce, apple pie spice. Add milk and blend just until mixed. Serve in chilled glasses.

Low Calorie Shrimp Dip Recipe

1 – 8 ounce package fat-free cream cheese (softened)

Juice of 1 fresh lemon

10 minced green onions

2 pounds Boiled Shrimp, peeled, deveined and coursely ground

1 cup low-fat mayonnaise

Worcestershire sauce to taste

Tabasco sauce to taste

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Blend softened cream cheese and the lemon juice. Stir in green onion, ground shrimp and mayonnaise. Season to taste with Worcestershire, Tabasco, salt and pepper. Chill for several hours to blend flavors. Serve with low-fat crackers.

Zesty Southwest Steaks with Salsa Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

2 4-ounce 1/2-inch-thick steaks, such as rib-eye, trimmed of fat

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 plum tomatoes, diced

2 tsp lime juice

1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Rub both sides of steak with chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Heat oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add steaks and cook, turning once cook until it reaches your desired level of doneness. Cover steaks with foil and let rest while you make the salsa.

Add tomatoes, lime juice and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to the pan and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes soften, about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in cilantro and any accumulated juices from the steaks. Serve steaks topped with the salsa.

(Makes 2 Servings)

Fresh Fruit Salad with Dressing

Ingredients

1/2 cup plain lowfat yogurt

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon grated fresh lime peel

2 cups diced peeled cantaloupe

2 cups diced peeled honeydew melon

1 cup seedless red or green grapes

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 cups diced peeled cored fresh pineapple

1 cup raspberries or blackberries

1 1/2 cups halved hulled strawberries

Directions

Whisk together yogurt, lime juice and honey in small bowl to blend; set dressing aside. Wash and clean fruits. Add fruit to a large bowl. Cover dressing and fruit separately and chill until ready to serve, up to 6 hours. Mix dressing into fruit. Let stand 15 minutes to blend flavors. Note: You can easily interchange different fruits – this dressing will also taste great with nectarines, peaches, etc.

A Simple Lime Sherbet Cooler Treat

Ingredients

1 cup skim milk

1 cup lime sherbet

1/4 cup limeade concentrate, frozen

Directions

Put the mugs in freezer to chill. Place milk, sherbet and limeade concentrate in blender. Blend mixture until smooth. Pour into frosted glasses; garnish with lime slices or umbrellas, if desired.

Whole Wheat Pancakes for Breakfast

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 tbsp honey

Directions

Whisk whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

In a small bowl, combine egg, buttermilk and honey.

Make a well in dry ingredients and stir in egg and buttermilk mixture. Allow batter to rest for a few minutes.

Set a nonstick frying pan to medium-high heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls on to griddle or pan. Cook until the edges begin to dry and bubbles appear in the pancakes. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes more.

(Makes 8 pancakes)

Vanilla Orange Shake Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup fat-free frozen vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup ice cubes

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Put the mugs in freezer to chill. Combine all ingredients and blend in blender on high until smooth. Pour into chilled mugs and serve. Note: May substitute pineapple juice for orange juice.

Make the Marinade Yourself: Spicy Island Beef Kebabs

Ingredients

Marinade

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon ground allspice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 habanero or serrano peppers, seeded

Kebabs

1 1/2 pounds boneless top sirloin, trimmed and cut into 30 cubes

1 red bell pepper, cut into 18 pieces

2 black-ripe plantains, peeled, and each cut into 9 pieces

Cooking spray

Diagonally cut green onions

Lime wedges for Garnish

Directions

Prepare grill.

Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth. Place marinade mixture, beef, and bell pepper pieces in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes.

Remove beef and bell pepper pieces from bag; discard marinade. Place beef, bell pepper pieces, and plantain pieces in a large bowl; toss well to coat.

Thread 5 beef cubes, 3 red pepper pieces, and 3 plantain pieces alternately onto each of 6 (12-inch) skewers. Lightly coat kebabs with cooking spray or use olive oil mister. Place kebabs on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Cook 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare or until desired degree of doneness. Garnish with green onion pieces and serve with lime wedges.