Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Sausage, Rotini Pasta, and Cheese

Dinner Tonight: Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Sausage, Rotini Pasta, and Cheese




It was a toasted Healthy Life Whole Grain English Muffin, lightly topped with I Can't Believe....) and a cup of Bigelow Decaf Green Tea for Breakfast. After Breakfast I headed outside to get a little yard work done as early as I could. It's going to be a hot one outside today, high in the mid 90's and high humidity, heat index at 100 degrees. Then went to Kroger for Mom, she needed a couple of items. Back home did a few things around the house. For Dinner tonight a Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Sausage, Rotini Pasta, and Cheese.
 




I came across a recipe in a food magazine that sounded good, but it had a ton of calories and carbs in it. So I made some adjustments to it to lower everything and came up with this recipe I'm preparing tonight, Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Sausage, Rotini Pasta, and Cheese. To make the dish I'll need; 1 cup uncooked Rozini Healthy Harvest Whole Grain Rotini Pasta (Cook Rotini  according to package directions; drain), 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tablespoons Blue Bonnet Light Butter, 1 1/2 tablespoons Flour,  1/2 cup 2% Milk, 1 cup Shake and Bake Seasoned Panko, 1 tablespoon chopped Parsley, 8 ounces Velveeta 2% Cheese (cubed), 1 link (cut into 1" slices) Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage.





To prepare the dish I got out my favorite cooking utensil, the Cast Iron Skillet, sprayed it with a light coat of Pam Cooking Spray. To start In a sauce pan I cooked the Rotini according to package directions; drain. As the Rotini was boiling I mixed the Panko, Parsley, and Olive Oil together in a bowl.









Next in the Cast Iron Skillet, melted the Butter over medium heat. Stirred in the Flour until smooth;gradually whisk in Milk. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the Cheese; cook and stir until melted. Stir in Rotini and Sausage, until well mixed and covered. Finally, spread the Panko Mixture on top and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.

What a dish, a Comfort Food for sure! Everything just blends together to make one delicious Skillet of goodness! The Rotini Pasta covered with the Cheese and mixtures and as always the Butterball Turkey Sausage is a meal within itself! And the Panko topping gives nice texture and crunch. A 'Keeper Recipe". I also had a slice of Healthy Life Whole Grain Bread, lightly buttered with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. Had a Peach Diet Snapple to drink. For dessert later a Jello Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Mousse.









Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Sausage, Rotini Pasta, and Cheese

INGREDIENTS
1 cups uncooked Rozini Healthy Harvest Whole Grain Rotini Pasta (Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain), 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tablespoons Blue Bonnet Light Butter, 1 1/2 tablespoons Flour,  1/2 cup 2% Milk, 1 cup Shake and Bake Seasoned Panko, 1 tablespoon chopped Parsley, 8 ounces Velveeta 2% Cheese (cubed), 1 link (cut into 1" slices) Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage.

Directions
1 - Cook Rotini according to package directions; drain.

2 - Mix Panko, Parsley, and Olive Oil together in a bowl.
3 - Meanwhile, in another saucepan, melt Butter over medium heat.
4 - Stir in Flour until smooth; gradually whisk in Milk.
5 - Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
6 - Add Cheese; cook and stir until melted.
7 - Stir in Rotini and Sausage.
8 - Spread Panko Mixture on top and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
9 - Enjoy

Chicken ‘n’ Noodles w/ Sliced Carrots and Whole Grain Bread

Dinner Tonight: Chicken ‘n’ Noodles w/ Sliced Carrots and Whole Grain Bread

Had plenty of rain overnight, but no big storms as they predicted. After the rains passed through it took the high humidity and high temps with it. As our day went on the temperature kept dropping to about 71 degrees, love that! Dad finally got to come home today, about time! He's doing a lot better, he'll still have to take therapy here at the house for a while. But it beats staying at those rehab centers. For dinner tonight I prepared Chicken ‘n’ Noodles w/ Sliced Carrots and Whole Grain Bread.

I used Margaret Holmes Simple Suppers Chicken n Noodles Fixins’. Another of my favorite Comfort Foods! I used to buy this at Walmart all the time but they no longer make it, lack of sales they say. So now I purchase it on-line from different sites, last of their stock. Anyway it comes in a 5 serving can and contains the Noodles and Seasoning, I added the Chicken. I cut up 2 Perdue Perfect Portions Chicken Breasts seasoning them with Sea Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Ground Smoked Cumin, and Parsley. I then fried them in a large skillet until done and added the can of Fixins’. Cooked until it the Sauce was bubbling and heated throughout. The broth that’s with Noodles is incredible! Rich and thick and seasoned just right.

I also had of side of Boiled Sliced Carrots leftover that I warmed up and a slice of Healthy Life Whole Grain Bread, that I buttered with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Then for dessert later tonight a Healthy Choice Dark Fudge Swirl Frozen Greek Yogurt.

Margaret Holmes Simple Suppers Chicken n’ Noodles

Chicken n’ Noodles will become a comfort-food favorite in any household. Add boneless, skinless chicken breast to a can of Simple Suppers Chicken n’ Noodles, which is filled with plump noodle dumplings and special seasonings.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size Serving size 2/3 cup as packaged (174g)

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 45
Calories 230

% Daily Values*
Total Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 860mg 36%
Potassium 0mg
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 0g
Protein 8g



http://www.margaretholmes.com/

27 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

What's better than  Healthy Comfort Food Recipes! Here's 27 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes and it's all from the Eating Well website.




27 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

Comfort foods are notoriously high in calories and saturated fat, but we've lightened your favorites to make them a better choice for good health. Enjoy healthier Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese, one-dish casseroles and delicious desserts all from your home kitchen.


Enjoy lightened-up versions of your favorite comfort foods.
Make your favorite comfort food recipes at home with these healthier versions of classic comfort foods. Comfort foods are notoriously high in calories and saturated fat, but don't despair—we've lightened your favorite recipes to make them a better choice for good health, while keeping the traditional flavors intact. Enjoy easy meatloaf recipes, creamy mac & cheese recipes, hearty chili recipes, healthy slow-cooker recipes and more delicious comfort food recipes.





Swedish Meatballs
These Swedish meatballs are made with a combination of lean ground turkey breast and ground pork, flavored with nutmeg and cardamom and simmered in a creamy mushroom sauce. Serve over a brown rice pilaf spiked with almonds and currants or whole-wheat egg noodles......






Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pies
These mini vegetarian shepherd’s pies feature lentils, carrot and corn, crowned with a velvety mashed potato topping. The recipe can also be made in a broiler-safe casserole dish. Serve with a spinach salad with oranges, walnuts and red-wine vinaigrette.....






* Click the link below to get all 27 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes


http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipes_slideshows/comfort_food_recipes?sssdmh=dm17.724431&utm_source=EWTWNL&esrc=nwewtw022514

Grilled Cheese with Turkey Bacon and Thousand Island Dressing w/…..

Dinner Tonight: Grilled Cheese with Turkey Bacon and Thousand Island Dressing w/ New England Clam Chowder.



Tried a new kind of Cheese for my Grilled Cheese. I used Taleggio Cheese and Kraft 2% Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The Taleggio melted beautifully! A mild and smooth Italian Cheese. Along with the two type of Cheese it was topped  with Turkey Bacon and Thousand Island Dressing . As good as this sounds it tastes even better! The recipe for this will be at the end of the post. Along with the Grilled Cheese I had a bowl of Campbell’s Chunky New England Clam Chowder with a side of Skyline Chili Oyster Crackers. For dessert/snack later while watching some football some Jolly Time 100 Calorie Mini Bag of Pop Corn.

Grilled Cheese with Turkey Bacon and Thousand Island Dressing

2 Strips of Turkey Bacon
1 Tablespoon of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
2 Slices of Healthy Life Whole Grain Bread
2 Slices of Kraft 2% Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 Slice of Taleggio Cheese
1 Tablespoon Thousand Island Dressing

* Cook the turkey Bacon in a skillet or grill pan until crisp. Remove and drain on a paper towel lined plate.
*Heat the Butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add one slice of Bread to the pan. Top with all the cheese and the Turkey Bacon. Take the remaining slice of Bread and spread on the Thousand Island Dressing and press it on top of the slice that’s in the pan, dressing side down. Cook until the Cheese is melted and Bread is golden, about 2 -3 minutes per side.

New England Clam Chowder

Here today in the Cincinnati area there's a wind chill of -2 right now along with 7 inches of snow with more on the way. What better way to warm up the day or evening than with a big bowl full of Clam Chowder! Seen several different recipes but went with the one from delish.com website. 

 New England Clam Chowder
Cream, potatoes, and salt pork or bacon give classic chowder its rich flavor. What else they add: about 370 calories and 22 grams of fat per serving. To slim the dish — by more than half the calories and cholesterol — we trimmed the bacon, swapped reduced-fat milk for cream, and stirred in flour in place of several starchy potatoes.

Ingredients
   
    * 1 1/2 cup(s) water
    * 12 large cherrystone or chowder clams, scrubbed
    * 2 slice(s) bacon, chopped
    * 1 medium onion, chopped
    * 1 medium carrot, chopped
    * 1 stalk(s) celery, chopped
    * 2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
    * 1 large (12-ounce) potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
    * 2 cup(s) reduced-fat (2%) milk
    * Pepper
    * 1 tablespoon(s) snipped fresh chives

Directions

   1. In 4-quart saucepan, heat water to boiling on high. Add clams; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until clams open, transferring clams to bowl as they open. Discard any unopened clams
   2. Into 4-cup liquid measuring cup, strain clam broth through sieve lined with paper towel. Add water to broth to equal 2 1/2 cups total.
   3. Rinse saucepan to remove any grit. In same saucepan, cook bacon on medium until browned. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. To bacon fat in pan, add onion, carrot, and celery, and cook 9 to 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
   4. Meanwhile, remove clams from shells and coarsely chop.
   5. Stir flour into vegetable mixture; cook 1 minute, stirring. Gradually stir in clam broth. Add potato; heat to boiling. Cover; simmer on low 12 minutes or until potato is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk, clams, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and bacon; heat through (do not boil). Sprinkle with chives to serve.

Nutritional Information
(per serving)

Calories    180
Total Fat    9g
Saturated Fat    4g
Cholesterol    21mg
Sodium    155mg
Total Carbohydrate    20g
Dietary Fiber    2g
Sugars    --
Protein    8g
Calcium    --

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/healthy-new-england-clam-chowder-recipe

Shrimp and Scallop Gumbo

Today’s Menu: Shrimp and Scallop Gumbo
It’s a cold and snowy day here in Ohio so what could be better than Gumbo! What a great comfort food and easy to make and fits well into diets for those watching their weight and low carb for those with diabetes like myself. I again used the Luzianne Gumbo Dinner Kit. I served it with Cornbread Ears.

Ingredients
1 Pound of Shrimp and Sea Scallops
4 Slices of Turkey Bacon
2 Russet Potatoes (Diced)
6 Cups of Water
2 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pepper, Sea Salt for seasoning
1 Box of Luzianne Gumbo Dinner Kit

*Dice the Russet Potatoes and microwave for 4 minutes to soften
*Fry Bacon and set aside when done.
*In a 4-5 Quart pot,bring water and Olive Oil to a boil
*Add Luzianne Gumbo while stirring
*Empty half of the Red Pepper Packet into the Gumbo. Put remainder aside.
*Reduce Heat , Cover and simmer for 18 minutes. Meanwhile quarter the Sea Scallops, peel the raw Shrimp, and crumble the Turkey Bacon.
*Taste, and if desired, add remaining Red Pepper from packet and Sea Salt. Add the Shrimp, Scallops, Crumbled Turkey Bacon, and Potatoes. Cover and continue to simmer for 7 more minutes.