Shrimp & Artichoke Linguine

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces whole wheat linguine
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen fully cooked salad shrimp, thawed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup brown mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (14 ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 35 min Yield: 4

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, garlic and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until garlic is lightly browned and shrimp is hot, about 5 minutes.
3. Mix in the artichoke hearts, lemon juice and salt; cook until heated through.
4. Toss with pasta in a serving dish and top with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Approx. Calories 550 per serving

Slow-Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• One 12 oz can evaporated milk (evaporated milk keeps the egg and milk from curdling)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, cooled to room temp
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups (12 oz) shredded cheese
• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni or mini penne tubes, par cooked and drained (this means cook them for about five minutes until tender but not completely cooked)
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 3 hrs 10 min Servings:

1. Spray the inside of your slow-cooker with cooking spray or grease it with olive oil.
2. Combine milk, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and salt in slow-cooker and whisk until until smooth (or you can use an immersion blender to do the whisking for you).
3. Add the shredded cheese (not the Parmesan) and macaroni, sprinkle with black pepper (and whatever other spices you want to use). Stir gently with a spatula to coat evenly.
4. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.
5. After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to LOW and cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until custard is set in the center and the pasta is tender.
6. The macaroni and cheese may sit in the cooker on the KEEP WARM setting for 30 minutes before serving. Before dishing it up, I sautéed some bread crumbs with olive oil and sprinkled them over the top to make it a little fancier.

Approx. xx calories per serving.

Fake Lasagna Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb ground beef, uncooked
• 1/8 cup onion, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (8 ounce) package pasta shells, cooked
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese
• 12 ounces cottage cheese
• 1 eggs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoons parsley
• 15 ounces jars spaghetti sauce

Directions:

Prep Time: 20 min Total Time: 1 hr 30 min Yield: 4

1. In a skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink and onion is tender; drain. Sprinkle with salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, 3 cups of mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley and remaining pepper; stir gently. Pour into a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish or shallow 3 quart baking dish.
3. Top with beef mixture and spaghetti sauce (dish will be VERY full).
4. Option: Freeze now by covering tightly with foil. Seal additional cheese in package attached to pans. Thaw all day in refrigerator and the proceed with following baking instructions.
5. To serve immediately, cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
6. Bake, uncovered, 15 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted ad bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Approx. Calories 950 per serving

Turkey, Bacon Pasta Salad With Lemon Basil Dressing

Ingredients:
Lemon Basil Dressing

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons basil leaves, fresh, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon lemon, rind of, grated
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

 

Salad

• 7 ounces pasta shells, small
• 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp, crumbled
• 1 1/2 cups turkey, smoked cut into strips
• 1 1/2 cups lettuce, shredded
• 1 cup cheese, shredded, your favorite kind
• 1 large tomato, chopped

 

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 2 hrs 30 min Yield: 6

1. Cook pasta as directed on package; Rinse pasta in cold water; drain.
2. Mix together mayonnaise, basil, lemon peel and lemon juice in a large bowl to form dressing.
3. Add pasta, bacon, turkey, lettuce, cheese and tomato to dressing. Mix well.
4. Cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours to blend flavors.

 

Approx. Calories 415 per serving

Meat-Lovers Pizza Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 cups dry spiral pasta
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 3 slices salami (deli shaved), diced
• 3 slices summer sausage (deli shaved), diced
• 3 slices ham (deli shaved), diced
• 2 strips fried bacon, crumbled
• 2 cups pizza mix shredded cheese
• 2/3 cups tomato oregano dressing

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 min Total Time: 25 min Yield: 10 servings

1. Boil pasta until al dente.
2. Bake or fry bacon slices while pasta is boiling.
3. Meanwhile, dice the meat and tomatoes.
4. Once noodles and bacon have cooled, add to large salad bowl with diced meat and tomatoes, toss.
5. Add cheese and dressing and thuroughly mix.

Easy to make for whatever your fav pizza toppings are...BBQ chicken, chicken bacon ranch, hawaiian, deluxe, etc.

The Italian Job

Ingredients:

• 500 g pkg Italian sausage
• 2 tsps garlic, chopped
• 8 oz can stewed tomatoes
• 1 roasted red pepper (packed in oil), chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1/4 onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup spinach
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 cup tomato sauce, herb flavoured
• 2 slices bacon

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 min  Total Time: 30 min   Yield: 2

1. Coat frying pan with half the oil and place entire package of sausage in frying pan, do not chop up until browned on both sides for 2 minutes each side, then chop to bite size pieces.
2. While frying sausage, bake bacon strips for about 5 minutes, so not very crisp, set aside.
3. Add to frying pan all the veggies, garlic and remaining oil and mix in with meat, simmer on low-medium heat for about 10 minutes.
4. Add tomato sauce and bacon, cut into pieces, stir in mixing well and simmer on low for another 10 minutes.
5. Serve over pasta of your choice, sprinkle with cheese of your choice.
6. Another option, stuff into extra large shell pastas.
7. Add ground turkey to lighten up in calories.

Approx. 350 calories

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese Casserole

Ingredients:
8 ounces macaroni, cooked as directed
12 ounces cheddar cheese, thinly slice
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1/4 cup cracker crumbs or 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons margarine, melted

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 min  Total Time: 50 min  Yield: 6
Liberally butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
Alternate layering macaroni and cheese slices in the buttered casserole.
Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
Pour mixture over macaroni and cheese.
Mix cracker crumbs with melted butter.
Add to top of casserole.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted.

Approx. Calories 550 per serving

Triple 'P' Salad

Ingredients:
3 cups pasta, dry (6 cooked)
2 cups cooked chicken/turkey, cubed
1/2 cup chopped pickles
1 ½ cups light mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Catalina dressing
2 teaspoons dill weed
1 1/2 cups grated cheese

Directions:
Prep Time: 15 min  Total Time: 15 min  Yield: 6
1. Mix mayo and Catalina dressing first, then add dill.
2. Cook noodles and cube chicken.
3. Add sauce to noodles, mix thoroughly, then add the rest and mix till all is well coated.

Approx. Calories 750 per serving

Spaghetti Supreme

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 pkg frozen shrimp, thawed, tail removed, deveined
• 2 bunches green onions, chopped 
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced 
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced 
• 1 cup Italian dressing 
• 1 cup spaghetti 
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: add 1 cup broccoli florets

Directions:
Prep Time: 10 min  Total Time: 55 min  Yield: 6
1. In frying pan cook chicken/shrimp while starting to boil spaghetti

2. Once meat is mostly cooked add dressing and mushrooms (and broccoli).

3. Drain spaghetti when done and place on plates, dish out meat onto spaghetti.

4. Sprinkle tomatoes, cheese and spices on each plate.

Approx. Calories 400 per serving

Homemade Mac & Cheesy Broccoli Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups macaroni, cooked as directed
• 1 (8 ounce) can condensed broccoli cheddar cheese soup
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons low-fat margarine, melted
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli
• Optional: add leftover meat – turkey, bacon, ground beef
• Optional: sliced mushrooms

Directions:
Prep Time: 20 mins Total Time: 75 mins Yield: 6
1. Liberally butter a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

2. Alternate layering macaroni with cheese and broccoli (and meat) in the dish.

3. Beat eggs, milk, soup, salt and pepper.

4. Pour mixture over macaroni and broccoli.

5. Mix bread crumbs with melted butter and add to top of casserole.

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted.

Approx. Calories  200  per serving (with no meat)

Ham Primavera

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tablespoon onion flakes
• 2 cups alfredo sauce with parmesan cheese
• 2 cups cooked ham, cubed
• 1 (7 ounce) package spaghetti, cooked and drained
• 10 ounces peas
• salt and pepper
• parmesan cheese

Directions:
Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Yield: 4
1. Fry ham and onion flakes in oil or butter until tender.
2. Add in 3 cheese alfredo sauce and salt and pepper, stir until smooth.
3. Bring to a light boil; stir for about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
4. Stir in spaghetti, mushrooms, and peas; stir until heated through.
5. Top with Parmesan cheese.

 Approx. Calories  445  per serving

Tuna & Bacon Pasta Fina

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces angel hair pasta
• 1/2 lb bacon
• 1 (6 1/2 ounce) packet tuna in water, may use canned tuna drained
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• black pepper
• parmesan cheese

Directions:
Prep Time: 5  Total Time: 15  Yield:4-6

1. Fry the bacon in a pan. When bacon is done, drain on papertowels.
2. Keep the bacon grease in the pan. (Note: You can reduce the amount of bacon grease you use if you so choose, just keep enough so it doesn't get dry).
3. Put the tuna and garlic in the pan with the bacon grease and heat over medium heat - stirring occasionally. Do this for approximately 5 minutes.
4. Crumble the bacon strips and place back in the pan with the tuna & garlic.
5. Heat for another minute or two while boiling your angel hair pasta.
6. When pasta is done put into a large bowl and transfer your bacon & tuna mixture from the pan into the bowl of pasta.
7. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and black pepper (optional), toss all ingredients to incorporate all the flavors. Add a side of mushrooms.

Approx. Calories 535 per serving