Monday, January 26, 2015

Turkey Spinach meatballs with white sauce

This is a simple recipe that seems fancy, but is actually easy. Perfect for anyone you want to impress.

Meatballs:
·         ~2 cups frozen spinach, thawed
·         2 lbs lean turkey
·         1 cup onion, finely chopped
·         2 tsp garlic
·         1 egg
·         ½ cup skim milk
·         ¾ cup bread crumbs (homemade)
·         ½ tsp salt
·         ¼ tsp pepper
 
 
Sauce:
·         2 tbsp. butter
·         2 tbsp. flour
·         1 ½ cup whole milk or cream
·         1 cup chicken broth
·         8 oz. provolone cheese



1.            Wring out the spinach in a paper towel to remove excess water. Add all meatball ingredients including the spinach to a mixer and mix until thoroughly combined.

2.            Line a cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. Spray tin foil or paper with pam.

3.            Using your hands or a scoop, form the meat into balls and place on cookie sheet. Minimal space is required between meatballs since they do not expand.

4.            Bake at 400 ° for 20 minutes.

5.            While meatball bake prepare a rue. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, then add the flour. Cook on medium for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the rue from burning. Add the milk or cream, broth bring to high heat, but not boiling.

6.            Once the sauce is hot, add the cheese a little at a time until all is added and the cheese is completely melted and blended into the sauce. Add salt, pepper to taste. Chipotle pepper is optional and will add more heat and flavor to sauce.

7.            Serve meatballs and sauce over egg noodles with a side vegetable.

 
 


Nutrition information per serving: 2-3 meatballs (does not include noodles or vegetable)
 
Calories
Fat
Sat Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Fiber
Sugar
Protein
Meatballs & sauce
299
13
8
399
10
2
3
27
2 oz noodles
210
3
1
15
38
5
2
8
1 cup vegetables
40
0
0
40
7
4
3
3
Total
549
16
9
454
55
11
8
38

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales) - Costco
 
Per serving
Entire Recipe
Serving
$0.95
$9.51
Whole wheat egg noodles (2 oz dry)
$0.14
$1.40
Normandy vegetables (1 cup)
$0.32
$3.20
Total
$1.41
$14.11

 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Baked Tilapia

Tilapia is a mild flavored fish that comes together very quickly. To decrease the costs, buy frozen, plain and in bulk if possible. Defrost and cook fish as needed.

Time: ~20 minutes
Serves 5

  • 5 tilapia fillets
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 lemon, sliced thin

  1. Preheat oven to 375 °. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with tinfoil and spray with pam for easy clean up.
  2. Place the tilapia fillets in the bottom of the baking dish and dot with butter (~1/2 tsp each)
  3. Season with old bay seasoning and garlic salt. Top each fillet with 1-2 slices of lemon.
  4. Bake for ~20 minutes, watching the fish. Once the fish begins to flake when pulled at with a fork, it is done. Remove from oven and serve with side of vegetables and whole wheat bread.

 

Nutrition information per serving: 1 fillet of salmon w tomato and cheese
Calories
Fat
Sat Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Fiber
Sugar
Protein
174
3
2
864
1
0
0
29

 


Cost of recipe (not including sales)
 
Per serving
Entire Recipe
Serving
$2.12
$10.62
Slice of bread
$0.03
$0.15
Normandy vegetables
$0.32
$1.60
Total
$2.47
$12.37

 

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Berries and cream sandwich

This is a fun, simple lower calorie, lower fat spin on ice cream sandwiches.

Time: 5 minutes
Makes 2 square sandwiches

  • 4 tbsp. lite reddi-whip whipped topping
  • 2 medium strawberries or 3-4 raspberries, washed and diced into small pieces
  • 2 full sheets of honey gram crackers (4 squares)

  1. Measure reddi-whip into a bowl. Add diced berries and gentle fold in until combined.
  2. Measure 2 heaping tablespoons of the whipped topping in between a square. Top with a second square. Repeat.
  3. Freeze sandwiches on a plate in the freezer until firm, about 1 hour. Serve and enjoy!


Photo credit
 

Nutrition information per serving: 1 square sandwich
Calories
Fat
Sat Fat
Sodium
Carbs
Fiber
Sugar
Protein
49
2
1
45
6
0
13
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Cost of recipe (not including sales)
 
Per serving
Entire Recipe
Serving
 
 
 
 
 
Total