How to Lighten a Recipe: Part 3–Get Creative!

Strategy 3: Get Creative With Your Cooking

Are you tired of cooking the same dishes over and over? Don’t know what to cook, let alone what low-fat goodie to cook? Well, since your pantry (see pantry, food favorites and Costco favorites) is now stocked with low-fat, high-fiber and fresh ingredients, you have the makings of some fast and wonderful dishes. But how? Well, just grab some stuff and go! Here are a few suggestions (taken from my pantry list and some staples I have on hand).

• Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken = Boneless, skinless chicken breast + soy sauce + canned pineapple + fresh ginger + chicken stock +Splenda + cornstarch: Sautee cubed chicken breast until brown, add soy sauce, pineapple, ginger and chicken stock, simmer until done, add cornstarch mixed with water to thicken.
• Warm Sweet and Savory Shrimp Salad = Shrimp + garlic + Kraft Fat Free Cesar Italian + Spinach + mushrooms + onions + Splenda: Sautee onions, add mushrooms, add shrimp and garlic, add dressing and Splenda, cook until shrimp is just done, take off the heat and toss in spinach
• Light Waldorf Salad = Cooked boneless skinless chicken breast + apples + fat free mayo + Splenda + salad greens
• Savory Salsa Omelet = Leftover meat + chopped broccoli + sliced mushrooms + sliced grape tomatoes + salsa
• Quick Soup = Canned beans + leftover meat OR boneless skinless chicken breast (cubed), + spinach + onions + carrots + canned diced tomatoes + chicken broth + sliced mushrooms + seasonings
• Stuffed Potatoes = baked sweet potato (baked in the microwave) + fat free Cream of Mushroom/Chicken/Broccoli soup + vegetables + cooked chicken or turkey + spices
• Stuffed Potatoes 2 = baked sweet potato + 1/2 cup Most Excellent Vegetarian Four Bean Chili + 1 cup steamed broccoli + 1 Tablespoon fat free sour cream
• Faux Seviche = 1/2 pound Fat free imitation crab meat + 1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes + 1/4 cup sauteed sweet onion (sauteed in non-stick cooking spray) + chopped Serrano or Jalapeno chili peppers, to taste + lime juice, to taste + salt and pepper to taste
• Faux Waldorf Salad = 1 cup cubed cooked boneless skinless chicken breast + 1/4 c fat free mayo + 1/8 c fat free sour cream + 2 apples, cored and cubed + 1/8 cup chopped walnuts + Splenda (to taste) + a bed of mixed salad greens

Getting the idea?  Just take what you have and make it into something special.