Low Fat Orange Shrimp

Sorry, no picture.  I wasn't expecting to like it this much and didn't think to snap a shot.

4 oz. Raw Jumbo Shrimp, peeled & deveined(I used jumbo size)
2 envelopes True Orange(LINK)
2 Tbl. No Sugar Added Applesauce
1/2-1 tsp. Spicy Mustard(I used Southwestern Style)
1-2 cloves Crushed Garlic
Salt & Pepper

In a small bowl combine applesauce, mustard, and True Orange in a small bowl and set aside.  Heat small non-stick saute pan on medium heat.  Spray with non-stick spray.  Add shrimp to pan and season with salt & pepper.  "Fry" for 2 minutes, spray tops of shrimp with non-stick spray and turn them over to cook other side.  They should be pink and bright white.  Add garlic to center of pan and cook until heated through.  Turn heat off and add applesauce and orange mixture.  Stir until shrimp are well coated and serve over a salad, rice, noodles, or wrap in lettuce leaves.

Easy Refrigerator Pickles

12-15 small pickling cucumbers
2 cups cold water
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 Tbl. sugar
1 Tbl. kosher salt
1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
about 10 twists of fresh ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, sliced

Scrub and rinse cucumbers.  Put cleaned cucumbers in a large ice bath(lots of ice) and let set for at least half an hour.  In a measuring cup add remaining ingredients except garlic and stir often to dissolve sugar and salt.  Remove cucumbers from ice bath, cut ends off and quarter lengthwise.  Put pickles in large gallon size ziploc type bag.  Add garlic and cold pickling mixture to bag.  Add fresh dill, jalapeno, citrus peels, or other flavor enhancers if you like. Refrigerate for 2 days before eating.  Will keep for 1 week after pickling is done.

I'm not a pickle fan, but I saw someone make some on t.v. and thought these looked easy enough and worth a try.  I'm SO glad I did!  What I did learn is that the ice bath is crucial to keeping the pickles snap crisp.  And they are!  I picked up these organic pickling cucumbers at our local farmers market.  

Edamame Pesto Spread or Dip

Ingredients:

3 cups Edamame, shelled & blanched

1/4 cup olive oil

Basil(1/2 bunch, or 1/4 cup Gourmet Garden Basil Blend)

1/4 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

salt & pepper to taste

Sriracha sauce, a few drops

3 cloves Garlic, minced

juice of one lemon

Blend all of the above ingredients together in food processor, add water if needed, continue to scrape down sides until you get a pretty smooth consistency or leave chunky if you prefer.  

Slice Ciabatta bread into toast size pieces.  Spray with butter flavor non-stick spray and broil just until crisp.  Spread toasts with dip.

Also a tasty alternative to Mayonnaise on sandwiches.

My kids LOVE this.

Double Sauce "Girlfredo" w/Chicken (WW=7.5pts.)

Check out Hungry Girl's version HERE. I found it a little too slimy and for only a point more you can double it. This is my version, with my added faves, bacon(1 more point) and chicken(a few more points).

The first time I tried these noodles, GAG! But there are a few steps I found out you HAVE to do. The noodles are pretty firm and stable, so don't worry about breaking them or crushing them, they can take a lot of handling. And creamy textures tend to taste better on them and have a better texture appeal.

1 package Shirataki Noodles(0)
1 Tbl. 50% Less Fat Bacon Pieces(1)
2 wedges Laughing Cow Cheese(2)
2 Tbl. Fat Free Sour Cream(0)
Salt & Pepper
Grilled Chicken(4.5)
Rinse noodles under water for several minutes, use your fingers to seperate really well. Squeeze out as much water as you can and spread on paper towels to absorb as much liquid as possible. In a medium-hot small sauce pan sprayed with non-stick spray(I'm in love with the butter flavored stuff on the shelf at Walmart, Great Value) spread noodles and bacon pieces. Stir to heat through for about a minute. Add in cheese, sour cream, and salt & pepper and mix well until all cheese is melted and noodles are evenly coated. Pour onto dinner plate and top with sliced grilled chicken. For the recipe above I split an 11 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast in half for 4.5 points to a 3 point full plate of noodles!!!! For 7.5 points, I got all of the above, and I really could have stopped eating half way, but it was SO good. Try adding any meat, leftover steak, shrimp, crab lumps, yummm!

(You can also do this in the microwave, cook on high 1 minute before adding cheese and sour cream.)

Pesto

Did someone say pesto? If I could have one food to take with me to a deserted island, it would be pesto. I thought my last born must have been switched at birth because she won't touch the stuff, turns out, she just won't eat store bought pesto. Trust me, I've made her try them all. I wanted to make some homemade to go on top of salmon(my favorite way to cook fish) and so I came up with this. Less oily too.

1 bunch of basil washed, stems removed, and spun through salad spinner.
1 generous tsp. crushed garlic(from a jar is fine)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup pinenuts
a few pinches of salt & pepper
1 packet of "True Lemon"
Olive Oil
Water

In a food processor, pulse basil, garlic, parmesan cheese, pinenuts, salt & pepper, and True Lemon until finely chopped. Turn processor on continuous and drizzle olive oil down shoot until it becomes more pasty, I use approx. 1/8-1/4 cup. Add water to thin down too until desired consistency. Stores in refrigerator for several days.

I added about a Tbl. of this to Hungry Girl's Fettucine Girlfredo instead of the parmesan her recipe calls for. Oh, this is my FAVORITE Mommy Favorite and Figure Friendly lunch. Add 2 tsp. of reduced fat bacon bits, and it's pure heaven.

Margaux's Curried Chicken Sandwich(Oprah's Favorite Sandwich)

This is a very yummy and satisfying sandwich. I didn't have the bread originally featured. Vons makes a ciabatta bread that is to die for and it fits the bill perfectly. I've also tried it using a chipotle mustard that made me drool it was so good. I know you won't be disappointed. It's Oprah's favorite sandwich in America!

INGREDIENTS
20 whole black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 whole cloves
1/2 lemon
3 pounds medium chicken tenders
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
1/2 cup honey
1 1/4 teaspoons curry powder
3/4 teaspoons lemon pepper
1/8 teaspoons salt
Butter for spreading
1 loaf challah or other rich egg bread, cut into 12 thick slices
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 bag (about 5 ounces) mesclun salad greens
Red grapes and assorted berries for garnish

In a large saucepan over high heat, add peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves, lemon and 14 cups water; cover and bring to a boil. Add chicken and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, 7 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through; drain. Once cool, quarter each tender crosswise.

In a large bowl, combine mustard, honey, curry powder, lemon pepper and salt; stir in chicken. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 day.

Butter both sides of bread slices. In a heated nonstick skillet over medium-high flame, cook bread in batches 3 to 5 minutes or until browned, turning once.

Combine carrots and almonds with chicken mixture. Divide chicken curry among 6 bread slices. Top with tomatoes, mesclun and remaining bread slices. Serve with fruit.