47 favorite cooking light Recipes

light mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, grated lemon zest, capers, drained, focaccia rolls (or your favorite bread sliced), cucumbers (thin slices), baby lettuce or watercress leaf, tomatoes or 5 grape , cut lengthwise, shredded carrots, red red onion , to taste, cooked chicken breast fillet, shredded into long strips, dijon mustard, salt and pepper

baked cheddar broccoli rice cups, thanks to fountain ave. grill: http://fountainavenuekitchen.com/baked-cheddar-broccoli-rice-cups, simple to whip up with ingredients you have on hand, this side is a sure kid-pleaser that adults will enjoy as well. i employ 1 of my favorite kitchen tricks with this recipe: any time i use frozen broccoli or spinach that needs to be thawed and drained well, i put it inside a tea towel and literally wring it out. you will be surprised by how much water is released, and getting rid of it will prevent your finished product from becoming soggy., vary the cheese if you like or bake in a casserole dish or jumbo muffins tins. for my better-for-you ranch dressing, quick-cooking rice , like minute rice (can substitute about 2 cups regular, cooked rice and omit the 1 cup stock below), chicken stock, frozen, chopped broccoli, thawed and excess water squeezed out, shredded cheddar cheese, divided, homemade ranch dressing (see recipe), or store bought, eggs, lightly beaten, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, low-fat buttermilk, chobani 2% plain yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, canola or olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, minced chives, whisk all ingredients together ., dressing will keep for a week or so, covered, in the refrigerator., if you prefer a thicker dressing , use approximately 1/4 cup of buttermilk depending on your personal preference and intended use.

whole romaine leaves, washed , trimmed of the tough stalk end, and cut into 2 or 3 pieces, each, handful of large baby spinach leaves, grilled chicken breast, lightly seasoned, fresh parmesan cheese, grated, kalamata olives, pitted, cucumber sliced in 1/2 inch pieces, then each 1 halved, tomatoes, ham steak cooked and cut into 1/2 inch cubes, turkey cutlet cooked and cut into 1/2 cubes (can sub thickly sliced turkey deli meat, cubed, if desired), cojack cheese, cut into 1/2 in cubes, hard boiled eggs, quartered, italian, french or sourdough bread, cubed in 1/2 inch cubes, butter, melted, garlic, minced, favorite non specific (meaning not cajun or italian, etc) spice blend(i used alpine touch which is a combo of onion, garlic, salt and pepper in perfect proportions, roasted red pepper(jarred is fine , just rinse first), garlic, minced, lemon juice, drizzle of balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, honey, red pepper flakes (to your liking), fresh basil leaves, salad quality olive oil, kosher or sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

margarine, sliced fresh mushrooms, minced onion, all-purpose flour, no-salt-added chicken broth, undiluted (i make my own), skim milk, light cream cheese , product, parmesan cheese, divided, dry sherry (- can be left out ), salt, garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, spaghetti or 7 oz your favorite pasta, cooked, chopped cooked chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb skinned , and boned.), margarine

whole jalapeno peppers (or 1 depending on heat), corn tortillas, boiled potatoes (or mashed or any left over soft skillet potato leftovers), taco seasoning, shredded cheese (your favorite kind ), fresh cilantro, finely chopped, cooking oil (enough to lightly fry )

lean ground beef, thawed (no more than 15% fat or it ll be swimming in grease and shrink up on you...we use 10% or less and i), horseradish sauce, light mayonnaise (or full fat..but fat free has too much water in it), minced garlic (we use the garlic in a jar that comes pre-minced or minced microwave roasted garlic), favorite barbecue sauce (we used masterpiece smokey flavor), acini di pepe pasta (can substitute with couscous), acini di pepe pasta (can substitute with couscous), eggs, ground quick-cooking oatmeal or 1/2 cup crushed ritz cracker, brown sugar (i use sugar in the raw), ketchup, brown sugar

butter, melted, ground cinnamon, cooking apples , such as fuji (about 12 cups) or 4 lbs granny smith apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices (about 12 cups), unbaked double pie crust (your favorite ), brown sugar, all-purpose flour, salt, egg, lightly beaten, water, caramel ice cream topping (about 1 cup)

cooked chicken (poached, grilled , rotisserie, doesn tsp matter, just cooked), pasta (macaroni, rigatoni, use your favorite, just not spaghett), green seedless grape, washed and cut in half, red seedless grapes, washed and cut in half, seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, mayonnaise (i use hellman s light ), cashew halves, and pieces (i buy planter s salted), milk (optional, also may want to add more depending on how long the salad has been in the refrigerator)

light cooking oil (canola), onion, chopped, garlic cloves, pressed or minced, beef broth or 1/2 cup chicken broth, garlic red wine vinegar, worcestershire sauce, chili sauce (your favorite ), molasses, lemon juice, brown sugar, sweet paprika or 1/2 tsp hot hungarian paprika, salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste, chicken breasts, skinned , boned and cut into thirds or fourths, country-style pork ribs

fruitcakes get an awful lot of bad press , especially the mass produced varieties, but a rich homemade version can be incredibly delicious., fruitcake is a mixture of fruits and nuts with just enough batter to hold them together. when wrapped in cloth and foil, saturated with alcoholic liquors regularly, and kept in in tightly closed tins, a fruitcake may be kept for months or even years, have it your way ..., if there are certain fruits you don tsp like , you can always include more of another, or some of your own favorites. dried fruits cooked in juice can take the place of candied fruits, and seeds can replace nuts. to convert a favorite dark fruitcake recipe to a light fruitcake, leave out the dark spices, use light colored fruits (golden raisins, dried apricots, etc.), and replace dark corn syrup or molasses with light corn syrup

crab cakes, crab meat - fresh cooked or canned/drained, favorite mayonnaise or mayo substitute, eggs or the equivalent in egg sub., worcestershire sauce, sweet red bell pepper, diced, scallions, chopped, celery stalk, diced, fresh parsley, finely chopped, baking powder, old bay seasoning, bread crumbs to coat, mustard sauce, mayonnaise (feel free to substitute light mayo or any mayo substitute), juice of 1 lemon, brown mustard, old bay seasoning, your favorite hot pepper sauce (optional)

tuna steaks, fresh ground pepper, kosher salt, olive oil, jumbo pasta shells , cook according to package directions (but don tsp overcook, you don tsp want them to break apart), mayonnaise (you can use a little more if you want, but i prefer a light dressing), celery ribs, cut lengthwise and then chopped fine, red onion, chopped fine, roasted red peppers (jar is fine , i always keep some on hand), scallions, fine diced (white and green parts ), kalamata olive, chopped (you can substitute black olives), anchovy fillets, fine minced (don tsp shy away, you will never notice them but wow, what a great flavor), capers, drained and chopped, fresh lemon juice, fresh parsley, fine diced, pepper, tomatoes, chopped and then lightly pureed in the food processor, fresh basil, chopped fine, shallot, chopped, olive oil, red wine vinaigrette, salt, pepper, salad greens, for serving (use your favorite , i love some torn bibb or boston lettuce for a creamy texture), lemon, cut in 4 wedges (1 per plate as a garnish and squeezed on the salad)

sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced, tabasco chipotle pepper sauce, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, oil, minced fresh garlic, dark brown sugar, light spreadable cheese with garlic and herbs, point reyes blue cheese or 4 oz other favorite blue cheese, crumbled, ground chuck, ground sirloin, minced sweet onion, zinfandel, minced fresh oregano (any combination) or 3 tbsp fresh thyme (any combination) or 3 tbsp fresh basil (any combination), tabasco chipotle pepper sauce, spicy seasoning salt, vegetable oil , for brushing on the grill rack, california avocados, balsamic vinegar , for brushing on the avocado slices, spicy seasoning salt , for sprinkling on the avocado slices, cooked bacon , cooked crisp, soft kaiser rolls, split, romaine lettuce leaves, tomatoes, slices cut 1/4 inch thick

condensed cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise (regular or light ), fresh lemon juice, diced cooked chicken, onion, finely chopped, green peppers or 1/2 cup red pepper, finely chopped (or combination), shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, egg noodles or 12 oz your favorite pasta, cooked & drained, potato chips, crushed or buttered bread crumb

all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, egg (separated ), egg whites, cream (light ), melted butter, milk, butter (for cooking ) or shortening (for cooking), vanilla, rose water or 1 tsp orange flower water, grated lemons , orange or 1 tsp mandarin orange peel, your favorite liqueur (such as anisette or brandy), sliced banana, fresh preferably wild blueberries , blotted dry, lemon wedge, fresh berries, powdered sugar, softened butter, warm maple syrup, flavored syrup , infusion (see cottage garden rose-petal syrup (sweetened rose water) and lemon verbena and herbal simple syrups for lemonade etc!), lavender honey (see homemade ), fresh lavender flowers, for garnish, fresh rose petals, for garnish, fresh orange blossom fresh edible flower, for garnish

wavy lasagna noodle (barilla brand preferred, should be 1 box), spaghetti sauce (barilla brand preferred), ground beef, cooked and drained (sausage can be substituted), ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, shredded (or your favorite cheese), parmesan cheese, grated, eggs, lightly beaten

green onions or 20 lightly cooked asparagus, cream cheese, your favorite salami

torn lettuce (your favorite variety), coarsely diced cantaloupes, coarsely diced honeydews, coarsely diced watermelon, cooked medium shrimp, lightly toasted walnuts, honey dijon salad dressing