Hot Ham and Cheese

Who doesn't love a good and simple Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwich? Once in a while we crave it, so why not indulge just a little. Throw in a 1 cup of Sliced Apples (53 calories) and 10 baby carrots (35 calories) for a 448 calorie lunch or dinner! This will be sure to satisfy for your needs.

Hot Ham and Cheese

Serves 1

• 1 Great Value Hamburger bun
• 1 slice of sargento baby Swiss cheese
• 1 slice of American cheese
• 8 Slices of Premium Smoked Land O' frost Ham

Directions:

1. Heat Ham all the way through, this could either be done in the microwave or on the stove top.
2. Toast the bun (Optional)
3. Place 1 piece of cheese on the top of the bun and 1 piece of cheese on the bottom portion of the bun
4. Layer with the Ham
5. Place the sandwich on a microwave safe plate and heat in the microwave for the 30 seconds
6. Enjoy!

I will post pictures of this recipe soon!

Calories-360

Total Fat- 16.5g   (to omit some of this fat, try low fat cheese)

Carbohydrate- 25.0g

Fiber- 1g

Protein- 30 g

Sausage Lasagna

Sausage Lasagna

Serves 12

• 12 uncooked lasagna Noodles
• 1# Italian Sausage (could use turkey sausage or ground beef)
• 1 Medium Onion Chopped
• 1tbsp minced garlic
• 5 C. Chunky Pasta Sauce
• 1 egg
• 15oz Fat Free Ricotta Cheese
• 1/2C. Grated Parmesan Cheese divided
• 4 C.Fresh Chopped Spinach
• 2 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Directions: Cook Noodles according to package. Meanwhile in a large skillet cook sausage, garlic, and onion until no pink. Stir in pasta sauce bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. In a bowl Combine egg, ricotta cheese, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Set aside. Spread 1cup Sauce Mixture into a greased 13 X 9 pan. Layer with 3 Noodles, a fourth of ricotta mixture, a fourth of sauce mixture, 1 cup spinach and 1/2 C. Mozzarella cheese. Repeat 3 times. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated 350 *F oven for 45 minutes or until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbly. Let stand for 10 Minutes

Nutritional Facts: 311 Calories, 36 g Carbohydrates

Sausage and Veggie Spaghetti

Sausage and Veggie Spaghetti 

Serves 6

• 1# ground mild sausage (if using links remove casings)
• 12 oz (almost a whole box) Whole Wheat Spaghetti Noodles (2 oz of dry noodles equal 1 cup cooked)
• 1 (26 oz) can Hunts Pasta Sauce Garlic & Herb
• 1/4 c. Sliced Carrots
• 1/4 c. Sliced Mushrooms
• 1/4 c. Zucchini (diced)
• 1/4 c. Colored Bell Peppers (diced)
• 1/4 c. Cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
• 2 stalks celery (diced)
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions: Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile brown sausage, heat pasta sauce on low to medium heat and sauté  vegetables in olive oil except tomatoes.
  
Place 1 cup of pasta in bowl and top with  1/4 c. Vegetables, mix 1/2 c. Pasta Sauce with  meat. Drizzle over Pasta and vegetables top with tomatoes. Serve and Enjoy! 

Nutritional Facts : 466 Calories, 49 g Carbs

                       

Noodles & veggies only could stop here!

                                           

With Pasta Sauce, Meat and Tomatoes

Slow Cooker Beef Roast or Pork Roast

Slow Cooker Beef Roast

Serves 8

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large rib of celery, chopped
• 4 red potatoes, quartered
• 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 (1 1/2-pound) chuck roast or pork roast
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions: Arrange onion, potatoes, carrots, and celery, in bottom of slow. Season beef all over with salt and black pepper and rub flour all over beef. Place roast on top of vegetables in slow cooker. Whisk together tomato sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, mustard powder, and garlic powder. Pour mixture over beef. Cover and cook on LOW for 12 hours or on HIGH for 8 hours.

Nutritional Facts : 449 Calories, 7 g Carbs

Nutritional Facts for roast only : 252 Calories, 0 g Carbs

Nutritional Facts for  vegetables only: 197 Calories, 7 g Carbs

Grilled Sausage and Kabobs

Grilled Sausage and  Kabobs

Serves 4-5 

• 4-5 Mild or Hot sausage links 
• 4-5 Large skewer sticks
• 1 Large Colored Bell Pepper (Washed and Diced Large)
• 1 Medium zucchini (Washed and Diced Large)
• 1 Large Package of Mushrooms (Washed and stems chopped off)
• 1 Large Red Onion (Washed and Diced Large)
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes (Washed)
• 2 TBSP Olive oil
• Seasoning of choice

Directions: Preheat Grill. Start cooking sausage if you do not want them on the kabob. In a large bowl mix in oil and seasoning. Add in vegetables and coat well.  Place vegetable on skewer in this order (Mushroom, Onions, Tomatoes, Peppers, Zucchini, repeat)  When sausage is 3/4 way from being cooked place Kabobs on the grill. for about 2 - 2 1/2 per side. or until desired likeness. Serve and Enjoy!

*I usually do not cook my meat with my vegetables do to vegetables being over done or meat not being fully cooked

Nutritional Facts: 370 Calories,  11 g Carbohydrate


Nutritional Facts for Kabob Only. 100 Calories, 8 g Carbohydrate 

Fresh Spinach, Tomato and Sausage Pasta

Fresh Spinach, Tomato and Sausage Pasta

Serves 8  

• 1 # Mild or Hot Sausage ( you can use turkey sausage or make it a meatless dish and add mushrooms)
• 13.25 oz (1 box) Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
• 1 1/4 pound of fresh tomatoes (largely diced)
• 29 oz (2- 14.5 oz cans) Delmonte Tomato, Basil, Garlic and Oregano (undrained)
• 4-6 oz of fresh spinach (roughly chopped)
• 4 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp of peppers
• 1 C. Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Directions: Cook Pasta according to directions (Leave a little undercooked). Meanwhile brown sausage until no pink.  In a separate pan, heat oil and add fresh tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stirring occasional for about 5 minutes. Add in canned tomatoes, heat. In the meantime drain pasta and mix in tomato mixture and sausage simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally (you want the pasta to soak up some of the juices). Stir in the spinach until wilted. add 1/8 c. cheese on top. Serve and Enjoy! 

Nutritional Facts with out cheese: 392 Calories, 47 g Carbs

Smothered Meatloaf

Smothered Meatloaf

Serves 8

• 1 # Lean Ground Beef
• 1 # Ground Pork (mild pork sausage)
• 1 Package of McCormick Meatloaf Seasoning
• 4 c. Mashed Potatoes (see side dishes to make or use Ore Ida steam and mash -follow directions)
• 1 Jar Heinz Home Style Gravy (or homemade)
• 1 (12 oz) bag of Birds Eye steam Fresh Sweet Peas
• 1/2 c. Milk
• 2 Eggs
• 2 slice of low calorie low carbohydrate bread (diced)
• ketchup (optional)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix Beef, Pork, Eggs, Milk, Bread and seasoning packet in  large bowl. Shape into (8) 1/4 pound patties. Place in a greased baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until internal temp reaches 160 *F. Cook and mash potatoes, heat peas and gravy. Mix peas in with Gravy. Plate mashed potatoes first, place meat loaf patty on top of potatoes, then pour gravy over top. Serve and Enjoy!

Nutritional Facts: 517 Calories, 35 g Carbs

Oven BBQ Pork Chops

Day # 30

Oven BBQ Pork Chops

Serves 4

• 1 1/2-1 3/4 pounds bone-in, 3/4-inch-thick pork rib chops, trimmed of fat
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce

Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tsp vegetable oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add the pork chops and cook until beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add orange juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in barbecue sauce. Return the pork chops to the pan, turning several times to coat with the sauce.

Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the pork chops are barely pink in the middle and an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F, 6 to 10 minutes. Serve the sauce over the pork chops.

Nutritional Facts:  250 Calories, 10 g Carbs

Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Peppers

Day # 23

Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Peppers

Serves 6

6 Large Bell Peppers (any color)
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1.5 # ground beef  ( Mild sausage or turkey would work too)

1-2 tsp. seasoning of your choice (optional)
1 can Delmonte Diced Basil, Oregano, Garlic tomatoes

8oz of tomato sauce
2 cups low shredded cheese (Mozzarella or Italian blend work great)

Cooking spray

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 *F.  Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a non-stick pan, sauté onion and pepper for 3-4 minutes, until just starting to soften. Remove the onion and pepper and set aside. Season and Brown ground beef until no pink. Drain any extra grease. Stir in onion, peppers diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Simmer until mixture has thickened and liquid has cooked off, about 10 minutes, turn off heat.

While meat cools, Cut tops of bell peppers and clean out seeds.
Spray baking sheet with nonstick. Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into meat mixture, spoon the meat-cheese mixture into bell peppers.  Bake for 10-15 minutes, then remove from oven and use remaining cheese to top each one with a generous pinch of cheese. Put back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until pepper is slightly soft. Serve and Enjoy

Nutritional Facts:  415 Calories, 19 g Carbs

Picture is without cheese before baking in oven

Pulled Chicken BBQ Sandwiches

Day # 20 

Pulled Chicken BBQ Sandwiches

Serves 6

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (can also use pork)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 14 Tbsp (about 1/2 bottle) KC Masterpiece Low Calorie Classic Blend BBQ Sauce
• 6 whole wheat hamburger buns (or low calorie bread)

Directions: Place chicken breasts, along with salt and pepper to taste, in a large pot of water and boil until fully cooked through. Once the chicken is cooked, use a fork to pull the meat apart so it is thickly shredded. (Shredding too finely will cause the sandwich to become mushy once sauce is added.) Place pulled chicken in a large bowl. Add BBQ sauce. Toss until chicken is coated. Serve on bun and topping of choice. Enjoy!

Nutritional Facts:  230 Calories, 26 g Carbs 

Italian tortellini Soup

Day # 19

Italian tortellini Soup

Serves 6

• 1 # Italian sausage hot or mild (remove casing if using links, also can use turkey sausage)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 Can Delmonte Basil, Oregano and Garlic Tomatoes, (undrained) (unsalted if you watching your sodium levels)
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Pinch  of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• Shredded Parmesan cheese, (optional)

Directions:  Place onion and sausage into a stock or large pan.  Brown sausage (no pink) on medium heat. Add the broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Stir in tortellini, return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5-8 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.  Add the spinach, pepper and pepper flakes; cook 2-3 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted. Serve with cheese if desired. 

Nutritional Facts with out cheese: 353 calorie 27 g carbs

Vegetable Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli

Day #16

Vegetable Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli
Serves 6 cost: $1.25 per person 

• 1 # Ground Turkey (can use 1 # beef, or 1/2#  beef, 1/2# pork sausage)
• ½ c. Quaker oatmeal (uncooked)
• 1 c. Onion
• ½ c. Chopped Celery
• ½ c. Chopped Green Bell Pepper
• ½ c. Chopped Carrots
• ½ c. Chopped Mushrooms
• 3 Garlic Gloves
• 2 Egg whites
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 12 tbsp ketchup

Directions:  Sauté veggies and garlic in olive oil. Combine all ingredients except ketchup. Mix well and place in mixture in a greased (12 cup) cup cake pan. Top with ketchup. Cook in oven on 375 *F for 30 minutes or until meatloaf reaches 165 *F

• 2-4 potatoes
• 1/2c. milk 
• 2tbsp. butter

Directions for Mashed Potatoes: boil potatoes until a fork goes through. Mash potatoes, stir in butter and milk until smooth. 

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups of broccoli

Directions for Broccoli: In a skillet heat olive oil, place broccoli in for about 3-5 minutes or until crisp and tender.

Nutritional Facts: 295 Calories 40 g Carbohydrates 

Italian Sausage on a bun with Peppers and Onions

Day #15

Italian Sausage on a bun with Peppers and Onions

• 4-5 Italian Sausage links
• ½ c. Stripped of Green Bell Pepper
• ½ c. Stripped of Yellow Bell Pepper
• ½ c. Stripped of Red Bell Pepper
• ½ c. Stripped of Onion
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4-5 Buns

Directions: In pan cook sausage until it reaches 160*F. In the meantime in another pan place olive oil and sauté peppers and onions. Place sausages in bun and top with peppers and onions. 

Caramel Apple Pork Chops and Green Beans

Day #6

Caramel Apple Pork Chops and Green Beans

Serves 4 Cost $1.92 per person 

• 4 (3/4 inch) Thick pork chops
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 2 tbsp of brown sugar ( I use Splenda Brown Sugar)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp of unsalted butter
• 2 tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced (granny smiths)
• 3 tablespoons chopped pecans (optional)
• 1 can of Green Beans (or you can use Fresh or steam bag)

Directions: Preheat oven to 175*F. Place medium dish in the oven to warm. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot skillet. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes turning until done. Move to warm dish and place back in oven. In a small bowl combine sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet and stir in apples and brown sugar mixture. Remove apples with slotted spoon and arrange on tops of chops. Place back in the oven to keep warm. Continue cookie brown sugar mixture in uncovered skillet until sauce thickens slightly.Heat green beans. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans and plate. Enjoy! 


Nutritional Facts:

• 1 Pork Chop -                                        190 cals. 0g Carbs
• 1/2 of a Apple                                       40 Cals. 11 Carbs
• 1 1/2 tsp brown sugar-                         9 Cals 9g Carbs
• 1/16 tsp ground cinnamon                    2 Cals 1 g Carbs
• 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg                        10 Cals 1 Carbs
• 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter                        50 Cals, 0 Carbs
• 1/2 c. Green beans                               20 Cals 4 g Carbs

Total--- 321 Calories and 26  Carbs

Italian Soup

Day #1.

Italian Soup 

Serves 4-6. Cost $1.91 per person 

• 1 lb. Italian Sausage (hot or mild)
• 1/2 c. chopped green pepper
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 cans of. diced delmonte  Basil, garlic and oregano tomatoes (I use no salt added)
• (2) 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
• 2 c. water
• 1 T. instant chicken bouillon/cubes (optional)
• 3/4 c. macaroni or small pasta shells
• shredded cheese for topping(Optional)

Directions: Brown sausage, green pepper and onion. Drain. Stir in all other ingredients except macaroni. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in macaroni. Cover and simmer an additional 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Nutritional Facts:

• 4 oz Italian Sausage                            255 Cals. 1 g Carbs
• 1/8 c. green Pepper                             9 Cals. 1 Carbs
• 1/ 8c. Onion                                         15 Cals 1 g Carbs
• 4 oz Tomato Sauce                               35 Cals 7 g Carbs
• 7 oz Delomte Tomatoes                          88 Cals 20 Carbs
• 1/4 c.Macaroni Noodles                         58 Cals 12 Carbs
• 1/8 c. Cheese                                        55 Cals, 1 Carbs
• 2/3 tsp chicken Bouillon                         11 Cals, 2 Carbs

Total---526  Calories and 45 g Carbs