Fusilli Bucati Lunghi with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

2 Tbs. garlic-flavored olive oil
1 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, rinsed, drained, and chopped
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
1 large carrot, finely diced (1/2 cup)
8 oz. dry fusilli bucati lunghi

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add roasted peppers, onion, and carrot; sauté 5 minutes, or until onion begins to brown. Add 3/4 cup water, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water according to package directions.

3. Remove roasted pepper mixture from heat, and purée in blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

4. Drain pasta, and return to pot. Stir in red pepper sauce.

Serves: 4
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 295
Fat: 8g
Protein: 8g
Carbs: 49g

*** (out of 5-star rating)

Basic pasta dinner recipe.

Farfalle with Caramelized Onions and Broccoli

1 large onion
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for drizzling, optional
1 tsp. dried tarragon
8 oz. dry farfalle pasta (2 cups)
3 cups small broccoli florets

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut onion into 8 wedges. Cut each wedge into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

2. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 10 minutes, or until browned. Add 1 cup water and tarragon, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.

3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli 3 minutes before end of cooking time. Drain broccoli and pasta, and add to onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and drizzle with olive oil, if using.

Serves: 4
Serving size: 1-1/2 cups
Calories: 296
Fat: 8g
Protein: 10g
Carbs: 49g

*** (out of 5-star rating)

This was a simple dinner- nothing special- just good ingredients and it was a hearty meal. Husband approved.

Stanford Inn Enchilada

This recipe makes an extra 1 1/2 cups of Salsa Cruda; try it on tempeh or polenta.

Chipotle Salsa
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced (1 cup)
1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 tsp.)
1 Tbs. dried oregano, chopped
2 tsp. ground chipotle chile powder
1 1/2 tsp. Sucanat natural cane sugar
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes

Salsa Cruda
1 1/2 lb. Roma tomatoes, diced (4 cups)
1 small red onion, diced (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbs. lime juice
1 1/2 tsp. minced jalapeño chile

Enchiladas
2/3 cup quinoa
12 oz. fresh spinach leaves, rinsed
8 6-inch corn tortillas

DIRECTIONS

1. To make Chipotle Salsa: Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until translucent. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add oregano, chipotle chile powder, sugar, and pepper; sauté 2 minutes more. Stir in tomatoes and 3/4 cup water; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and purée until smooth in blender or food processor.

2. To make Salsa Cruda: Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside.

3. To make Enchiladas: Bring quinoa and 1 1/3 cups water to a boil in saucepan. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed.

4. Steam spinach in large skillet 3 to 4 minutes, or until wilted but still bright green. Drain excess liquid; keep warm.

5. Bring Chipotle Salsa to a simmer in skillet over medium-low heat. Dip tortillas, one at time, into Chipotle Salsa, turning to coat. Leave in skillet 3 minutes to soak. Cool slightly.

6. Set 1 tortilla on work surface; fill with 1/4 cup each quinoa and spinach; roll up. Repeat with remaining tortillas, quinoa, and spinach. To serve, place 2 Enchiladas on each plate; top with 1/4 cup Chipotle Salsa and 1/4 cup Salsa Cruda.

Serves: 4
Serving size: 2 enchiladas with 1/4 cup chipotle salsa and 1/4 cup salsa cruda.

**** WARNING!!!! *****

This recipe took me almost TWO HOURS to make!!! It was delicious, but very loooooooong. I would make it again but maybe starting on a Saturday afternoon instead of a weeknight!

Mini Loaded Red Potatoes

10 red potatoes (2 inches in diameter)
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
3 pieces vegetarian bacon
5 tsp. Greek yogurt
10 tsp. shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
6 chives, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Slice off small portion from one side of each potato to create flat base. Toss potatoes in bowl with oil and salt. Arrange potatoes, cut-side down, on baking sheet. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until soft.
2. Meanwhile, cook bacon according to package directions, then chop.
3. Allow potatoes to cool slightly, then slice top off each potato and scoop out 1 Tbs. flesh. Stuff each potato with 1/2 tsp. sour cream and 1 tsp. cheese, then sprinkle with bacon, chives, and paprika.

Serves: 10
Serving: 1 stuffed potato
Calories: 140
Fat: 3g
Protein: 4g
Carbs: 24g

**** (out of 5-star rating)

I made these for my lunch- I actually heated them up in the microwave and it was delicious! They tasted like the potato-skins that you would find at an Applebees. I packed 3 of them for my lunch and was satisfied. I am planning on making them again for an appetizer to bring to a party.

Tomato-Mozzarella Packets

1 16-oz. tube prepared polenta, cut into 16 slices
2 large tomatoes, each cut into 8 slices
16 green olives, halved, optional
4 tsp. garlic olive oil
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dried Italian herbs
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 4 16-inch lengths of foil on work surface. Fold foil in half from short side. Unfold. Shape corners and edges of one half into semicircular “bowl” with 1/2-inch sides. Coat insides of foil with cooking spray.
2. Place 4 polenta slices, slightly overlapping, in each foil semicircle. Arrange 4 tomato slices over polenta. Scatter 8 olive halves (if using) over tomatoes. Drizzle each serving with 1 tsp. garlic olive oil and 1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar, and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. Italian herbs; season with salt and pepper (if desired), and top with 1/4 cup mozzarella. Fold other half of foil over ingredients, and seal edges in overlapping folds until packets are sealed. Transfer to baking sheet, and bake 25 to 30 minutes.
3. Remove baking sheet from oven, and transfer packets to serving plates. Let each person open packet slowly and carefully—escaping air will be hot. Garnish with basil.

Serves: 4
Serving size: One packet
Calories: 216
Fat: 9g
Protein: 11g
Carbs: 23g

***** (out of 5-star rating)

I made these for dinner- so good! They tasted like pizza when you combined everything. I will most definitely be making these again. They went over very well with the husband as well!

Jamaican-style Black Bean and Coconut Cornbread Bake

2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing pan
2 15-oz. cans black beans,rinsed and drained
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles, juices included
1 1/2 cups frozen yellow corn, thawed
1/2 tsp. jerk seasoning, or more to taste
1/2 tsp. salt, divided
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 Tbs. sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup light coconut milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil 8-inch-square baking dish with olive oil.
2. Stir together beans, tomatoes and juices, corn, jerk seasoning, 1/4 tsp. salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Adjust seasonings with more jerk seasoning, if desired. Spread in prepared baking dish.
3. Whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in separate bowl. Add coconut milk and 2 Tbs. oil, and stir until just combined—do not overmix. Spread batter over bean mixture with spatula. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and toothpick inserted in center of topping comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Serves: 6
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 346
Fat: 9g
Protein: 13g
Carb: 57g

*** (out of 5-star rating)

I made this for dinner- I couldn't taste the coconut very much (which may be good for those who don't favor the coconut so much) but all in all this was pretty good and definitely filling!

Hawaiian-Style Sweet-and-Sour Roasted Pineapple and Bell Peppers

• 3 cups cubed fresh pineapple
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cubed (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 medium red onion, cut into thin wedges (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
• 1 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 1 Tbs. dark or light brown sugar
• 1 Tbs. sweetened coconut flakes, optional
• 1 Tbs. lime juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange pineapple cubes, red bell pepper cubes, and red onion wedges on ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with toasted sesame oil and vegetable oil, sprinkle with brown sugar, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Toss to coat.
2. Roast pineapple mixture on center oven rack 30 minutes, or until lightly browned, turning once. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sweetened coconut flakes, if using, then drizzle with lime juice. Remove to serving bowl and toss well to combine. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Serves 6

Serving size: 1-cup

Calories: 108

Protein: <1g

Fat: 5g

Carbs: 17g

**** (out of 5-star rating)

Yum! All I have to say. I made this for my lunch and threw it over warmed brown rice to make it a complete meal.