Quick Recipes

1
Easy Potato Salad
Cook four, 5-inch peeled and quartered russet potatoes in water until tender, about 20 minutes. Cool. Slice potatoes into a container and toss with 1/2-cup bottled Italian dressing; refrigerate one to twenty-four hours. Before serving, toss with 1/4-cup (or more to moisten) mayonnaise, 3-tablespoons sliced green onions and 1/2-teaspoon paprika.
See also: BellyBytes.com: Healthy Potato Recipes
See also: BellyBytes.com: Healthy Salad Recipes

2
Colorful Black Bean Salad
Whisk together 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 clove of garlic (minced), and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Combine one 15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained, 1 cup of white corn niblets, 1 cup of chopped red bell pepper and 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley and toss with the dressing.
Nutrition Information Per 1/2 cup serving: 87 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 3 g fiber, 149 milligrams sodium

3
Quick Refreshing Dessert
For a quick refreshing dessert, simply hollow out lemons that have been halved lengthwise and fill with a large scoop of lemon sorbet. To keep them from rolling around on the plate, remove a thin slice off the rounded bottom of each boat. Freeze for several days, if desired.

4
Make a quick pizza.
Make a quick pizza. Top a pre-baked pizza crust with plenty of diced tomatoes, sliced fresh basil and shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese and anything else you have on hand you think you'd enjoy on your pizza. Bake as directed on pckage or until the cheese melts and pizza is hot.
See also:
BellyBytes.com: Heart Healthy Pizza
BellyBytes.com: Healthy Pizza Recipes!
NEW BellyBytes.com Healthy Pizza Recipes

5
Cookie Cones
Dip a cookie cone in melted chocolate chips and immediately dip them into toasted nuts or multicolored jimmies. Place on a cookie sheet and chill until firm.

6
*Make homemade ice cream as in this easy recipe:
In a large bowl, combine two cups light or non-fat whipping cream and one cup sugar. Stir to dissolve sugar. Blend in grated peel of one lemon and 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice. Pour into a shallow pan and freeze until firm, about four hours. Serve in scooped-out lemon halves, if desired. Recipe makes about three cups. For extra flavor, stir in 1/2 cup mashed strawberries, bananas or kiwi before freezing.

7
Turkey and Swiss Cheese Wraps
On 8-inch, 98-percent fat free flour tortillas. Spread tortillas with low fat mayonnaise and grainy mustard. Layer with the leftover turkey, reduced fat Swiss cheese, sliced cucumber, lettuce, tomato and anything interesting you prefer. Roll it up tightly and cut in half. This goes well with a salad.

8
Enhance Purchased Fruit Salad
You can enhance purchased fruit salad with the addition of a few tablespoons of orange juice, fresh lime juice, orange or banana-flavored liqueur or snipped fresh mint leaves. To make a purchased fruit salad more interesting, add sliced bananas, diced mango, kiwi, and/or star fruit right before serving.

9
Portobello Fajitas
Portobello fajitas are quick and flavorful. Heat one-tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium until hot. Add one pound (about six cups) sliced Portobello mushrooms and one each medium green bell pepper and onion cut into strips. Cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened and liquid evaporates. Meanwhile, combine one package (1/25 ounce) fajita seasoning mix and two tablespoons water. Spoon mixture over six (8-inch), 98-percent fat free flour tortillas, dividing evenly. Top with salsa and reduced fat sour cream, if desired.

10
How-Now-Brown-Cow Chocolate Rice Pudding
In a 3-quart saucepan, combine 2-1/2 cups skim milk, 2 cups cooked rice, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Cook on medium 20 minutes or until pudding is thick and creamy; stir often. Remove from heat and stir in one-teaspoon vanilla extract. Spoon into serving dishes and chill ten or more minutes.

11
Elegant Summertime Sandwich
If you are cutting fat and salt from your diet, basil and other herbs are an excellent way to beef up flavor. Grab a piece of sourdough bread, slather it with non-fat miracle whip or mayonnaise, or use the light version if you prefer, add a slice of tomato, a bit of red onion and minced basil. You may also mix the basil in with the mayonnaise or miracle whip. This makes a simple, quick yet elegant summertime sandwich.

12
PLT and Avocado Salad
Toss two cups sliced cooked pork, cut into strips, with one-cup chopped small avocado, two tomatoes cut in wedges, one package (12 to 16 ounces) salad greens, corn cut from leftover ears and garlic-flavored croutons to taste. Drizzle with reduced-fat ranch dressing to taste and toss again. Serving tips: Serve with sourdough bread. For dessert, angel food cake with sliced peaches.

13
Melba Toast Rounds
Ingredients:
8 garlic or onion melba toast rounds, 3 tablespoons low-fat meatless spaghetti sauce and 1/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Directions:
Preheat broiler. Place melba toast rounds on a baking sheet. Spoon about 1 teaspoon spaghetti sauce over each round. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or just until cheese melts.
Microwave Method: Prepare recipe as directed above except arrange assembled melba toast rounds in a circle on a microwave-safe plate. Cook on 100 percent power (high) for 15 to 30 seconds. Rotate plate 1/2 turn and cook an additional 15 to 30 seconds, or just until cheese melts.
Per Serving: Calories 60, Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 63 mg

14
Deep Dish Pizza
8 Rhodes Texas rolls or 12 Rhodes rolls, thawed and risen
3/4 cup pizza sauce
2 cups low or non-fat grated mozarella cheese
Suggested toppings: diced onions, sliced green peppers, sliced
mushrooms, sliced olives, diced tomatoes
Directions:
Press dough into a ball. Roll into a 14-inch circle. Place into a 12-inch deep pizza pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Prebake crust at 400-degrees for ten minutes Spread pizza sauce over crust. Add desired toppings, top with cheese. Bake at 350-degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

15
Orzo Pasta Side Dish
Cook about 2/3 cup dried orzo according to package directions. While the pasta cooks, saute 2/3 cup chopped onion in one to two tablespoons butter until soft. Add 1/3 cup chopped and pitted kalamata olives. Drain pasta when tender and toss with onion and olives. Add a tablespoon of freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

16
Memorable Macaroni Salad
Cook four ounces of elbow macaroni according to package directions; drain and mix with 1/4-cup coarsely chopped walnuts, 1/2-cup reduced-fat mayonnaise, 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard, 1 to 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese and 1/2-cup halved seedless grapes. (You can leave out the grapes if that does not appeal to you. In addition, you can use any cheese of your choice in place of the blue cheese).
BellyBytes.com: Healthy Pasta Salad Recipes

17
Finger-Licking Good Spread
For a finger-licking good (yet surprisingly mild) spread, wrap an entire unpeeled head of garlic in aluminum foil and bake at 350-degrees for an hour. Slice off the top, squeeze the roasted garlic pulp out of the exposed cloves, drizzle with olive oil and mash with a fork. Try this on a nice, crusty bread of choice.

18
Kick-Butt Baked Beans
This is no joke - the secret to awesome baked beans is in a can of Coke! The syrup in the soda lends a sweet caramel flavor that brown sugar cannot match. Dump three or four 16-ounce cans of pinto beans (drained) into a bowl and stir in 1/2-cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard, 1 tablespoon each white vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and a can of Coke. Pour into an 8-by-8-inch greased pan and bake at 375-degrees for an hour.
*Note: Sugar free Coke will not work, but caffeine free regular will.

19
Broiled Tomatoes
Heat broiler. Halve four large tomatoes and arrange (cut side up) on foil-lined cookie sheet. Top each half with salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese and drizzle with as little olive oil. Broil 2 or 3 minutes or until cheese melts and tomatoes are hot. Corn bread from a mix is excellent (and quick) with this side dish. A refreshing, cool sorbet makes a great dessert.
See "Tomato Sauce: Delicious Cancer Defense"

20
Revolutionary Cornbread
Use your favorite recipe and spice it up with a peppering of seeded and diced jalapeno, or stir grated cheese into batter before baking.

21
Vacation Veggies
Marinate bell pepper pieces and onion wedges with your favorite vinaigrette or salad dressing; skewer and grill for a tasty side to burgers.

22
Spaghetti Express
Cook any spaghetti and toss with your favorite sauce. Add a packaged salad and some garlic bread and dinner is served!

23
Leftover Turkey? Make Turkey Reubens
Layer turkey slices, reduced-fat Swiss cheese, leftover cabbage and a dollop of reduced-fat Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. Grill in a non-stick skillet using vegetable oil - spray on the bread instead of butter.

24
Leftover Mashed Potatoes? Make Potato Cakes
Mix leftover potatoes with a beaten egg or egg substitute equivalent, form into patties, dust with flour and grill until browned. Add a little seasoning of choice when you add the egg - or even some minced garlic - let your imagination be your guide.