Papaya Sausage Boats

I love making up new recipes, and when I can come up with one that uses a fruit or a vegetable as a serving vessel, I really get excited!!  This recipe is a unique way to serve up dinner and sneak in a serving of fruit .  It will take you 5 minutes to prepare, and is pretty enough, and different enough to wow company.  The smoky/ sweet taste of the peach salsa is the perfect condiment to blend all the flavors together.  I can’t wait for you to serve this one up.

Ingredients serves 4 Cost
1 1 large papaya $3.29
2 1 package chicken apple sausage ( you will use 4 out of 5) $3.19*
3  1/2 of Trader Joe’s peach salsa $1.15*
  Total $7.63($1.90 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories 172
Carbs 20.3g
Fats 6.1g
Protein 11.6g
Sugar 14.6g
Fiber 1.7g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Cut a very ripe papaya in half lengthwise and discard the seeds. Then cut the half into two long halves giving you 4 quarters.

Step 2:  Place the papaya in a non stick pan that you sprayed with a little bit of olive oil spray, skin side down.

Step 3:  Put one chicken sausage on top of each papaya.

Step 4:  Pour half the jar of peach salsa over top so that some gets on each papaya boat.  Cover and heat till all warmed up.   ( the chicken is already cooked so you are just heating all through)

Step 5:  Enjoy!

Matzo Ball Soup In Under 5 Minutes

They say chicken soup can cure the common cold.  Now you don’t have to wait for hours to have a tasty bowl of soup whenever you need a bit of healing in a cup.  This video shows you how to save  time, by using a couple key ingredients.  The mirepoix mix from Trader Joe’s is a game changer.  It has the three key ingredients needed for Matzo Ball Soup already cut up, and ready to go, cutting down on so much prep time.  Share some love with this quick and easy version of Matzo Ball Soup.

Ingredients serves 8 Cost
1 2 boxes organic chicken stock $4.00
2 1 container mirepoix mix from Trader Joe’s $2.99
3  bunch fresh parsley $0.75*
4 head of fresh fennel $0.72*
5 matzo ball mix one package you will need oil and eggs $1.00
  Total $9.46 ($1.18 per bowl)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories 80
Carbs 14.g
Fats 0g
Protein 3.g
Sugar 1.5g
Fiber 2g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Crack two eggs into a bowl and whisk with a T of oil, mix with one package of dry matzo meal from a box.  Let sit in fridge for 15 min to get cold.

Step 2:  While matzo balls are cooling in the fridge pour the 2 boxes of soup mix into a bowl and add the fennel, parsley, and mariposa mix ( this has celery, carrots, and onions already diced up so no prep work for you.)

Step 3:  Make your matzo balls mix should make 8 or 9 so size accordingly, and put them into the boiling soup.

Step 4:  Let boil until matzo balls are fluffy and veggies are soft.

Step 5:  Enjoy!

Salmon With Mango Sauce

Ingredients serves 4 Cost
1 1 package salmon $20.00
2 8 T  anba  mango sauce Trader Joe’s $0.82*
3  2 C arugula $1.00*
4 mango slices $0.72*
5 8 T balsamic dressing fat free $1.00
  Total $23.79 ($5.89 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories 272
Carbs 23.4g
Fats 9.5g
Protein 23.1g
Sugar 19.2g
Fiber 1.8g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Spray a fry pan with a little bit of olive oil spray.  Add your salmon to fry pan and cover with a lid.  ( Set temp to m/h)

Step 2:  Pour the mango sauce on top and cover again to cook through.

Step 3:  While salmon is cooking, place some arugula on a plate, and slice up your mango.  Put a few slices of fresh mango on your arugula.

Step 4:   Place 4 ounces of salmon on each plate you can either put it next to the arugula or on top. Drizzle both with balsamic dressing.

Step 5:  Enjoy!

Easy Rigatoni Recipe

This recipe is an oldie but a goodie!!  How old? Well that I can’t tell you since it dates back to my college days at The Ohio State University.  ( O-H)  I don’t make it that often anymore, but when Giant Eagle sent me a gift basket filled with  beautiful rigatoni, I knew it was time to pull this recipe out of retirement.

It will feed 8 so make it when you have a good hungry crowd coming over for dinner, also great for a pot luck since it can be transferred well.  Just as delicious the next day.  Watching your carbs?  No problem you can substitute the rigatoni with zoodles and have a very healthy, quick and easy meal.

Ingredients serves 8 Cost
1 1 box rigatoni $1.39
2 1 lb ground beef $4.49
3  1 jar pasta sauce $3.68
4 1 green pepper $0.72
  Total $10.28($1.28 per serving)

 

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories 264
Carbs 39.9g
Fats 3.8g
Protein 18.8g
Sugar 4.4g
Fiber 3.3g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:   In a large pot of boiling water, ( I also add a T of olive oil and salt) place full box of rigatoni.  Boil till al’dente.  While your noodles are boiling chop your green pepper into large pieces.  Discard stem and center seeds.

Step 2:   When noodles are done, drain and keep in colander, so that you can brown your beef and green pepper in the same pot.  ( Less mess for you !! Yay)

Step 3:   When meat is cooked through, add all the noodles to the pot.

Step 4:  Pour  the whole jar of pasta sauce over all, and also add 1/2 to 1 c water depending on how thick sauce is.  Heat on medium heat till evertyhing is hot.

Step 5:  Enjoy!

 

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

If you loved our cauliflower gnocchi recipes, you will love this sweet potato gnocchi.  The touch of gorgonzola gives it just the right amount of savory. Chocked full of vegetables this is a perfect dish when you are craving something light and healthy. Since it only uses a 1/4 C of the soup serve it up with the remainder for a full meal.

Ingredients serves 4 Cost
1 1 package frozen Sweet Potato Gnocchi $2.99
2 1 package fresh  Asparagus Sauté(asparagus, onion, mushroom) $4.49
3  1/4c Creamy Corn & Roasted Red Pepper Soup $0.75*
4 20g Gorgonzola $0.72*
  Total $8.95($2.24 per slice)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Per Serving
Calories 244
Carbs 31.4g
Fats 11.1g
Protein 8.2g
Sugar 7.9g
Fiber 3.6g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Always have gnocchi defrosted first. ( directions will state cook from frozen but you don’t want to do this it will make your gnocchi mushy). Spray a pan with a little olive oil spray and start browning the gnocchi over m heat.  Once they brown turn to other side.

Step 2:  Add your veggies, and start sautéing. Spray more olive oil as needed. You want the mushrooms to brown, onions to get a little tender and you want the asparagus to get pretty bright green, but still retain its crunch.

Step 3:  Add your soup and warm up.

Step 4:  Crumble up some gorgonzola, you don’t need a lot, a little will give it just the right amount of savory. Add on top, and cover to let the cheese melt a bit.

Step 5:  Enjoy!

 

Shepherd’s Pie

I love taking  recipes, with tons of ingredients, that take awhile to make and paring it down to a few easy steps with  5 ingredient’s. Shepherd’s pie is now, so easy to make, that  you can enjoy it any time in under 8 minutes, all in one pan!   This is even better the next day and will slice up so beautiful for  you.  The Zhoug Sauce from Trader Joe’s gives this the perfect kick.  Not too spicy, just right.  I hope you enjoy this, and all of our quick and easy meals.

Ingredients makes 9 slices Cost
1 1 lb package of 4% lean ground beef $5.49
2 1 container diced yellow onions $1.79
3  2T Zhoug Sauce $0.30*
4 4 T  red pepper eggplant spread $1.35*
5  1 bag  frozen mashed potatoes $ 2.49
  Total $11.42($1.27 per slice)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Facts Per Slice
Calories 156
Carbs 14.9g
Fats 5.2g
Protein 12.4g
Sugar 1.8g
Fiber 2.1g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Place your ground beef in a fry pan over m/h heat and start breaking up using your handy dandy chopping tool. ( See YouTube video.)

Step 2: Once meat is all broken up add your diced onions and brown with the meat.

Step 3:  While your meat is browning ( to save time you want to do this now) put all of the frozen mashed potato disks in a microwave safe dish with 1T of water and microwave for 7 minutes covered with a microwave safe lid.

Step 4:  When meat and onions are done add 2T Zhoug Sauce, and 4T of the red pepper/eggplant spread.  Mix thoroughly  with the meat and onions.

Step 5:  Your potatoes will be done around the same time as the meat.  Remove from microwave and stir so there are no lumps.  Spread all of the potatoes over the entire meat mixture.  Cover with a lid and heat for about one minute.  Slice into 9 pie size slices.  ( can also be refrigerated and re-heated for later use.)

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancake With Omelet.

 

 

So many cultures eat eggs for dinner, and I see why.  They are a great source of protein, low calorie, and super inexpensive.  Not to mention there are so many different ways to prepare them quickly.  I love paring up  Trader Joe’s Scallion Pancakes, with a simple omelet .  Put a dollop of  their tasty Tzatziki sauce on top, and you have a quick healthy meal, that you can enjoy any time of the day.

 

Ingredients Cost
1 1 Trader Joes Scallion Pancake $0.87*
2 1 egg plus 2 egg whites $0.47*
3  1T tap water $0.00
4 2T Trader Joes Tzatziki Sauce $0.43*
  Total $1.77 each

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from TraderJoe’s

(There are 4 scallion pancakes per bag)

 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 296
Carbs 23.8g
Fats 13.9g
Protein 17.5g
Sugar 2.7g
Fiber 2g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1: Spray your fry pan with a little olive oil spray.  On M/H heat warm up a defrosted scallion pancake.

Step 2: While pancake is heating up ( flip to warm both sides) place one full egg with two egg whites in a small bowl.  Add one T of water and whisk all together.

Step 3:  When your eggs are whisked, your pancake will be heated through, remove from pan, and put on your dinner plate.  There will be some oil in your fry pan and this is ok.  Pour your eggs directly into your fry pan.  I like to use a fairly small fry pan for an individual serving.  When eggs start getting solid, gently push the cooked eggs so that the runny eggs form on the outside.  Cover with a lid to cook up the top.  If the bottom of your eggs start getting too brown, now is a good time to gently turn your eggs.  If your omelet breaks  it is ok,  they will still taste the same.  The eggs cook up pretty fast so keep a close eye.

Step 4:  Remove omelet and place on top of the scallion pancake.

Step 5:  Put 2T of Tzitziki Sauce on top.

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Asian Rice Noodles with Chicken and Veggies

 

Feeling daring, I cooked a dish for the first time without taste testing, with a promise that if it turned out good I would post. Well since you are seeing this it turned out better than expected.   I LOVE a good Chow Fun noodle, the really thick noodle that I only seem to find in NYC or Chicago.  With the advice of a instagram friend I ventured into a wonderful grocery store with about 1000 noodles.

Ingredients serves 4 Cost
1 1 lb package of chicken tenders $4.99
2 1/2 package of Asian Best Rice Sticks $1.50*
3  8T Goyza dipping sauce $0.59*
4 1 bag fresh Bok Choy $2.69
5  4 stalks scalions $ 0.14*
  Total $9.91($2.48 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories 351
Carbs 52.8g
Fats 2g
Protein 31.8g
Sugar 4.7g
Fiber 0.9g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s ( Rice Sticks from a local international market)

Directions

Step 1: Take a half a bag of your rice sticks and soak them in water for 30 minutes.  Drain and they are ready to use.  They will continue to cook and soften while they cook with the rest of your ingredients.

Step 2: Spray your pan with a little olive oil spray and brown up your chicken tenders, once you turn them add the drained noodles on top and cover your pan.

Step 3:  Since we are all about saving time, while your noodles soak and your chicken is browning, now is a good time to cut your veggies.  I used scallions and bok choy.  You can use bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms, be creative or use our recommendations.

Step 4:  Add your veggies on top of the noodles and pour the sauce on top. Cover and continue to cook on M/H heat.

Step 5: Stir to incorporate and cook until noodles are soft/firm and chicken is cooked.

Step 6: Enjoy!

 

Cauliflower Gnocchi with a Cauliflower Cream Sauce

Cauliflower has never been more popular!  Gone are the days when cauliflower was  just another boring vegetable your mom made you eat. Thanks to keto and other low carb lifestyles, cauliflower is now being used as a low calorie/carb substitute for pizza crust, mashed potatoes,  rice, you name it.  Now I bring you the ultimate in cauliflower dishes, because you really can never have too much cauliflower.   Using mashed cauliflower for the base of my cream sauce is the perfect compliment to this cauliflower gnocchi.

Ingredients serves Cost
1 2 Bags Frozen Cauliflower Gnocchi $2.99
2  1 /2 Bag Frozen Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes $1.99*
3 3T Heavy Whipping Cream $1.00*
4

5

 

3 Slices Bacon Substitute of choice

5T Grated Parmesan Cheese

 

 Total

$ 1.99

 

$7.97($1.99 per serving)

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

Nutrition Facts Per Serving 
Calories 222
Carbs 29g
Fats 8.9g
Protein 6g
Sugar 1.5g
Fiber 6.8g
Source: MyFitnessPal

 

Directions

Step 1:  Defrost the cauliflower gnocchi and mashed potatoes in the fridge

Step 2:   Spray a pan with olive oil spray and brown the gnocchi, spraying more olive oil as needed and stirring so the gnocchi doesn’t stick.

Step 3:  While browning the gnocchi put half a bag of defrosted cauliflower mashed potatoes in your ninja and pulse with 3T heavy cream.

Step 4:  Microwave 3 slices of veggie bacon on a paper towel until very crisp and crumble into gnocchi’s,  sprinkle with Parm cheese.

Step 5: Enjoy!

 

 

Won Ton Soup In Under 2 Minutes

My love affair with  Won Ton Soup started my senior year in college, when I would eat a can every  night!  I was young, and on a budget, and didn’t think about the high  sodium, or MSG, that is often found in canned soup.  I just knew it tasted great and filled me up, and before I knew it I was sooooo skinny!  Now I know why …. each serving in this soup has only 75 calories!   So remember those soup bowls in the first of our “SOUPer Bowl” series?  Well go ahead and serve these up in one of those, and then have some ice cream for dessert.

 

 

Ingredients serves 6 Cost
1 8 Chicken pot stickers defrosted $1.14*
2  1 box Organic Chicken Stock $1.99
3 5 ounces white mushroom slices $1.00*
4

 

3 scallions chopped

 Total

$ .0.30*

$4.43 ($1.10 per serving)

You can purchase bread bowls at
  Panara Bread for $1.99

* Price reflects amount used in recipe ingredients sourced from Trader Joe’s

Nutrition Facts Per Serving ( does not include bread bowl)
Calories 75
Carbs 9.1g
Fats 1.3g
Protein 5.4g
Sugar 0.5g
Fiber 1.4g
Source: MyFitnessPal

*Ingredients found at Trader Joe’s

Directions

Step 1:  Defrost 8 pot stickers in microwave. ( if you would like three per person calories will go up)

Step 2:   While pot stickers are defrosting slice 3 scallions.

Step 3:  Add the scallions and half the carton of mushroom slices to your pot .

Step 4:  Pour in the entire box of the  organic chicken stock, and add the pot stickers as well to the pot.

Step 5:  Heat on m/h until soup is boiling.

Step 6: Enjoy!