Carmel Apple Dessert

This was a hit at the office Halloween party. It's very good, I don't like Snickers but I like this dessert!

Ingredients:
1 large (16 oz.) container Cool Whip - NOT reduced fat
6 granny smith apples, diced
1 small package of vanilla instant pudding
6 regular size SNICKERS® candy bars, frozen

Mix together the Cool Whip, vanilla instant pudding, and apples
Smash the SNICKERS® bars and add to the salad
Best if you allow to stand for a little while before serving

Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 Tbsps lime juice
2 Tbsps chopped fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; toss well to coat

Tex-Mex Calzones

Serve with black bean salad

Ingredients:
8 oz ground turkey breast
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
3/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fat-free fire-roasted salsa verde
1 (11-oz) can refrigerated thin-crust pizza dough*
3/4 cup (3 oz) preshredded Mexican blend cheese
Cooking spray
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

Preheat oven to 425°
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat

Add ground turkey to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to crumble

Add onion and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) to pan; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring mixture occasionally

Remove turkey mixture from heat; stir in salsa
Unroll dough; divide into 4 equal portions

Roll each portion into a 6 x 4–inch rectangle

Working with one rectangle at a time, spoon about 1/2 cup turkey mixture on one side of dough

Top with 3 Tbsps cheese; fold dough over turkey mixture, and press edges together with a fork to seal

Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray

Repeat procedure with remaining dough and turkey mixture

Bake at 425° for 12 minutes or until browned

Serve with sour cream

*Make sure dough is cold enough - I made the mistake of letting the dough sit on the counter while making up the meat mixture. The dough was very sticky & difficult to work with.

Photo courtesy of: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1880021

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

This salad has a little bit of a kick to it. It's great with tortilla chips & is a filling meal that is super quick & easy to make. Courtesy of Cooking Light.

Ingredients
Dressing:
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2/3 cup light sour cream
1 Tbsp minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
4 tsps fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp salt

Salad:
4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts)*
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 3/4-oz) can no-salt-added whole-kernel corn, rinsed and drained

To prepare dressing, combine first 7 ingredients, stirring well
To prepare salad, combine lettuce and remaining ingredients in a large bowl
Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat
Serve immediately

*I used Foster Farms Southwest Chicken Breast Strips because I didn't want to buy or roast a chicken.



Photo courtesy of Cooking Light

Jack-Corn Muffins

Ingredients:
1 (8.5 oz) corn muffing mix

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers

1/2 cup corn kernels

1/3 cup 1% milk

1 large egg

Combine all ingredients

Divide batter evenly among 8 muffin cups coated with cooking spray

Bake at 400º for 16 mins or until browned

Teriyaki Tuna & Soba Noodles

I've only made fish maybe 3 times, ever. This was the 3rd time making it & it turned out pretty good - my tuna steak was a little dry but my husband's was cooked perfectly. This marinade would also be good with salmon or chicken.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce

2 Tbsps rice vinegar

1 Tbsp chopped fresh ginger

1 tsp sugar

2 garlic cloves, chopped

4 tuna steaks

6 oz soba noodles

1/2 lb sugar snap peas, strings removed

1 sweet red pepper, seeded & thinly sliced

2 carrots, chopped

2 scallions, thinly sliced

additional teriyaki sauce for noodles

In a small bowl, stir together teriyaki sauce, vinegar, ginger, sugar, & garlic

Reserve 3 Tbsps for the noodles

Marinate tuna in remaining teriyaki sauce mixture for 15 mins

Prepare soba noodles following the package directions, adding snap peas & carrots during the last 3 mins of cooking

Drain & place in a medium bowl

Toss with red pepper sliced & reserved teriyaki sauce mixture

Let stand at room temperature

Coat a grill with nonstick cooking spray & heat over medium-high heat

Grill tuna for 3 mins

Turn & grill for an additional 2 mins for medium doneness

Serve with soba noodles & garnish with scallions

Toss noodles with additional teriyaki sauce if desired

Spiced Potatoes & Green Beans

A delicious side dish, recipe found in the September 2009 Cooking Light.

Ingredients:
1 tsp chili seasoning

2 Tbsps canola oil

1/2 tsp brown mustard seeds

1 cup finely chopped onion

2 tsps minced garlic

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp minced, peeled fresh ginger

1/4 tsp ground turmeric

1 lb Yukon gold potatoes cut into 1/2" pieces

1/2 cup water

3/4 tsp salt

8 oz green beans, trimmed & cut into 1" pieces

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat

Add mustard seeds to pan; saute 30 seconds or until seeds begin to pop

Add onion; saute 2 mins or until lightly browned

Stir in chili seasoning, garlic, cumin, coriander, ginger, & turmeric; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly

Stir in potatoes; cook 2 mins

Add 1/2 cup water & salt, & bring to a boil

Reduce heat to medium-low & simmer covered 8 mins or until potatoes are tender

Add beans; cover & cook 5 mins or until beans are crisp-tender