Tag: Bell pepper

Healthy Eats- Gringo’s Starr

I’m not sure if I’ve raved about the Looneyspoons cook books yet… oh wait that’s all I talk about when I blog about food. I like cooking, I find it relaxing and enjoyable. I like following a new recipe and then fixing it up a tad to suit me more. I’m also in love with Pinterest and the amazing recipes you find on there, I could pin about a 100 a day but I will never be able to make them all! so I try to pick some healthy and some splurge meals and have slowly been attempting them.

Anywho I want to share the Gringo’s Starr (Looneyspoons)

What you’ll need:

12oz uncooked cavatappi or medium shell pasta

2 tsp olive oil

1 lb ground turkey or chicken (I used shredded turkey left from turkey dinner since we were getting sick of turkey sandwiches)

1 cup chopped onion

2 tsp minced garlic

3/4 cup each diced red & green peppers, and jalapeño

2 cups low sodium tomato pasta sauce

3/4 cup salsa

1 tsp each dried oregano, cumin and chilli powder

1/4 tsp black pepper

1cup 1% cottage cheese

1/2 cup shredded light monterey jack or cheddar cheese

What you’ll do:

prepare pasta and set aside

heat olive oil in large skilled over medium-high heat. add turkey onions, garlic, peppers and jalapeños. cook until turkey is no longer pink (since mine was pre cooked it didn’t take very long at all) drain any fat. add pasta sauce, salsa, spices and bring to a boil. reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Spray 9x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. spread a bit of pasta sauce over bottom followed by 1/2 the pasta 1/2 the remaining pasta sauce. Spread cottage cheese evenly over sauce. Spread remaining pasta over cottage cheese followed by sauce and shredded cheese.

cover and bake at 350F for 30 minutes

423 Calories per serving (the recipe says serves 6, I made a bit more)

I didn’t have cottage cheese so I improvised with Boursin Gourmet Spreadable Herb and Garlic light.  I tossed the noodles in it and then put the sauce on… Ryan ate a bunch for lunch, packed it for his dinner at work, and even texted me to tell me it was good, so that means it was an A+

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looks like yum… and it was

Great eats- entertaining

Slim Dunk (spinach dip), Skinny Dipping ( Tzatziki) and Fairest Wheels (pinwheel sandwiches)

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3 things I LOVE to make when I’m entertaining guests!  They’re so YUM, and healthier versions of the real thing! of course they come from the lovely Looneyspoons collection.

Here’s just how easy they are:

Fairest Wheels

How to make it

  • In medium bowl,combine chicken, lettuce,cheddar cheese,green onions and red pepper.
  • set aside
  • In small bowl, beat together cream cheese,sour cream, and red pepper jelly on low speed of electric mixer.
  • Spread 1/3 cream cheese mixture over one side of tortilla
  • sprinkle with 1/3 chicken mixture,leaving 1/2 inch border at top just covered with cream cheese mixture (so you can seal it closed.)Roll up tightly, jelly roll style.
  • Wrap tortilla roll in plastic wrap
  • Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
  • Refrigerate for 2 hours.
  • Trim off the ends and cut each roll into 8 slices, serve cold.

Skinny Dipping

  • 1 cup low-fat greet yogurt
  • 3/4 cup peeled, seeded and finely chopped english cucumber
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh dill
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Slim Dunk

  • 2 Cups low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed squeezed dry and chopped
  • 1 pkg Knorr Cream of Leek Soup mix
  • 1/2 cup minced water chestnuts
  • 1/3 cup minced red pepper

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.  Mix Well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving (even better when chilled overnight)