(47) Black Bean Salad

I was looking for something light to compliment the Stuffed Pork Sandwiches and came across this recipe online. I highly recommend the Simply Recipes website - she always has great recipes and beautiful photography!

Anyway, this recipe was delicious!! It was labor intensive on the chopping front, but it was worth the knife time. I used pickled jalapenos and probably not enough (it was spicy, but not overly). I thought for sure that the basil or cilantro would be overwhelming, but they weren't! The flavors were perfectly balanced. I can't wait for the leftovers!

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Black Bean Salad

Source: Simplyrecipes.com
Yield: 6 to 8 servings (I measured 8 servings that were a hefty 1/2 cup each)

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, thoroughly rinsed, and drained (or 1 1/2 cup of freshly cooked black beans)
1 1/2 cups frozen corn, defrosted (or fresh corn, parboiled, drained and cooled)
1/2 cup chopped green onions or shallots
2 fresh jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced, or 1 whole pickled jalapeño pepper, minced (not seeded)
3 fresh plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
2 Tbsp lime juice (about the amount of juice from one lime)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sugar (to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste

Make sure to rinse and drain the beans, if you are using canned beans.

In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, onions, jalapeno chile peppers, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, basil, lime juice and olive oil. Add sugar and salt and pepper to taste. (The sugar will help balance the acidity from the tomatoes and lime juice.) Chill before serving.

Serves 6 to 8.

I ran the nutritional information on Spark Recipes and came up with 8 servings for 130 calories, 5.6g fat, 19.4g carbs, 4.5g protein, 5.5g fiber.

Original Recipe (You can print from here)

Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

I very rarely cook without a recipe. What can I say!? I'm a Virgo, I need order and direction. Anyway, this is one of the few things that I make without thinking about it. I've never really measured out the ingredients and when people ask how I make these enchiladas, I just end up with a long sordid tale that probably is confusing! So tonight I busted out the enchiladas and decided to write down the measurements as I go. Hopefully it makes sense. We LOVE these enchiladas and it's one of the things my husband requests on a regular basis. Serve with some Spanish rice and refried beans and you have a great weeknight meals!!

PS: These are not soaking in sauce, so if you love your enchiladas with a ton of sauce, add an extra can of enchilada sauce! Put a little more on the bottom and the rest on the top. This recipe is versatile - you really can't go wrong mixing it up to suit your liking!

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Amy's Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Source: An Amy original
Yield: 8 enchiladas

Cooking Spray
1 cup diced onion
1 4.5-ounce can diced green chiles, undrained
1 10-ounce can enchilada sauce, divided
3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (I use 1 rotisserie chicken, picked clean and shredded)
1 Tbsp light sour cream
hot sauce (optional)
4 cups shredded cheese (use cheddar, Monterey jack, a mix of the 2, or Mexican blend - your choice!)
Sour cream for serving

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray and add oninos. Saute until soft and slightly brown (4-5 minutes). Add the undrained chiles and saute 1-2 minutes until well combined with the onions.

3) Place the shredded chicken in a medium bowl. Add the onion/chile mix and stir to combine. Add 2 Tbsp of the enchilada sauce and 1 Tbsp light sour cream and a few shakes of hot sauce, if you like it spicy! Stir to combine.

4) Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray. Spoon about 3 Tbsp of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the pan - just enough to coat it. Spread with the back of the spoon, if necessary.

5) Fill tortillas each with approx 2 Tbsp cheese (2 hearty pinches) and 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in the baking dish. Cover enchiladas with remaining enchilada sauce. Use the back of the spoon or a spatula to smoothe the sauce over the top of the enchiladas. Make sure you get the edges so they don't get too dried out! Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the enchiladas.

6) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes - just until the cheese is nice and melty and the sauce is bubbling around the sides!

Print this recipe

(33) Creamy Cajun Shrimp Linguine

Oh my heavens, this was good!! This truly took less than 30 minutes to prepare and was so yummy! I have a salt-free creole seasoning blend that I made at some point in the last year (I don't remember when, or why, but it's good!) and I used that. Any salt-free cajun seasoning would work, though. It was adequately spicy, but not on fire. The serving size was very generous and it didn't taste light at all!! My favorite kind of recipe, really!!

My only suggestion is to save a little bit of the pasta water for emergency purposes. I left the pot on a touch too long after adding the half and half and if I had saved the water (which I did not), I could have used a little splash of that in with the cream (or more cream, which defeats the purpose of light!). In any case, it was delish and I will make this again!!

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Creamy Cajun Shrimp Linguine

Source: Cooking Light, September 2006
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Shrimp and pasta combine with a creamy sauce for a quick and delicious dish. Round out the meal with a Caesar salad.

1 cup water
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
6 ounces uncooked linguine
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
1 large red bell pepper, cut into (1/4-inch-thick) slices
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Combine 1 cup water and broth in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Break pasta in half; add to pan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 8 minutes. Add shrimp to pan. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes or until shrimp are done; drain.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and pepper to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until moisture evaporates. Add flour, seasoning, and salt to pan; sauté 30 seconds. Stir in half-and-half; cook 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add pasta mixture and parsley to pan; toss.

CALORIES 365 (27% from fat); FAT 10.9g (sat 5.9g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.8g); IRON 4.1mg; CHOLESTEROL 194mg; CALCIUM 101mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.1g; SODIUM 685mg; PROTEIN 27.4g; FIBER 2.2g

(31) Mike's Amazing Queso Dip

Whenever we gather with my husband's side of the family, my father-in-law, Mike, makes this insane dip. Everyone stands around the counter, hovered over the mini-crockpot, inhaling this dip! I made it for the first time the other day and I had to keep track of what exactly went into it so I could share it with you! WARNING: This stuff is addictive and not low-fat. Sorry :) We love this with the tortilla chip scoops, but it's also great with Frito scoops, too!

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Mike's Amazing Queso Dip

3/4 cup diced onion
3/4 cup diced green pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tube of bulk (breakfast) sausage - you can use mild or hot
1 (15 ounce) can Hormel chili - with or without beans, your choice (I like beans!)
16 oz brick of Velveeta - use Pepper Jack or Mexican
2 Tbsp diced jalapenos (or more if you like the heat!)

1) Heat oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion and pepper until lightly brown and soft. Spoon the vegetables into the bottom of the mini crock-pot or dish you will be preparing the dip in.

2) In the same skillet, cook the sausage until browned. Spoon out into the dish with the vegetables (avoid as much of the fat as possible).

3) Cut Velveeta into large cubes and add to the sausage and vegetables. Pour in chili and diced jalapenos. Cook over low heat until the cheese has melted and ingredients are well combined. Enjoy with tortilla or corn chips!

(29) Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

This was our Superbowl meal - ready to cheer on the Saints to victory!! It was pretty easy to put together, very filling and very tasty. It wasn't spicy enough for my liking, so I added more Tabasco. I will make this again for sure!

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Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 2/3 cups gumbo and 1/2 cup rice)
Source: Cooking Light, JUNE 2007

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 1 ounce)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion (1 large)
1 1/2 cups finely chopped green bell pepper (1 large)
1 cup finely chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces light smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces (such as Healthy Choice brand)
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans no-salt-added organic diced tomatoes
2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
3 cups hot cooked rice

Place flour in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; cook 20 minutes or until light brown, stirring constantly with a whisk. (If flour browns too fast, remove pan from heat; stir constantly until it cools down.) Remove flour from pan, and set aside.

Add oil to pan. Stir in onion, bell pepper, and celery; cook 10 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds. Remove onion mixture from pan; set aside.

Increase heat to medium-high; add chicken and sausage to pan. Cook 4 minutes or until chicken is done; return onion mixture to pan. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle reserved flour over chicken mixture; stir well. Return pan to medium heat. Drain 1 can tomatoes; stir in 1 can drained tomatoes and 1 can undrained tomatoes. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add broth, Worcestershire, and bay leaves; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves. Stir in salt, black pepper, and hot sauce. Serve over rice.

CALORIES 419 (20% from fat); FAT 9.2g (sat 2.1g,mono 4.2g,poly 1.1g); IRON 3.5mg; CHOLESTEROL 82mg; CALCIUM 42mg; CARBOHYDRATE 44.2g; SODIUM 888mg; PROTEIN 35.8g; FIBER 3.3g

(20) Ultimate Beef Chili

This was a very filling, hearty chili. I love beans and lots of veggie in my chili, so this was a hit!! I left a little of the ribs/seeds in 1 of the jalapenos which didn't do a thing for the heat. I needed more heat, so I added some cayenne pepper. I also added salt and 2 soup cans worth of water after I added the beans. Oh, and you know that I did not use the bay leaves!!

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Ultimate Beef Chili

Source: Eating Well Magazine January/February 1999
Yield: 12 servings, 1 cup each

Offer garnishes, such as reduced-fat sour cream and grated Cheddar cheese (about 1 tablespoon each per person), chopped scallions and chopped fresh tomatoes. Serve with warmed corn tortillas and a green salad topped with orange slices.

Active Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 3 1/4 hours

1 pound beef round, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
3 onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
12 ounces dark or light beer
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
8 sun-dried tomatoes, (not packed in oil), snipped into small pieces
2 bay leaves
3 19-ounce cans dark kidney beans, rinsed (I used 4 15-ounce cans)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice

1. Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half the beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, 2 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with another 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and remaining beef.

2. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Add onions and bell peppers; cook, stirring frequently, until onions are golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Add garlic, jalapenos, cumin, chili powder, paprika and oregano. Stir until aromatic, about 2 minutes.

3. Add beer and simmer, scraping up any browned bits, for about 3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, bay leaves and reserved beef. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beef is very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

4. Add beans; cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until chili has thickened, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cilantro and lime juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Nutrition
Per serving : 235 Calories; 5 g Fat; 1 g Sat; 2 g Mono; 24 mg Cholesterol; 31 g Carbohydrates; 17 g Protein; 11 g Fiber; 496 mg Sodium; 582 mg Potassium

Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
For a hot, smoky chili, add 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.

(19) Chile-Cheese Corn Bread

I am a devoted fan of Jiffy cornbread. I love that stuff and it's SO easy, so I rarely stray from my friend. I am, however, trying to cook outside the proverbial box, so this recipe made its way into the rotation. The crumb on this bread is beautiful, the flavor is mild (not too sweet, not to bland), and it makes a ton!! The official recipe notes state that this spicy and I didn't even detect a teeny bit of heat, just in case you're worried about that!

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Chile-Cheese Corn Bread

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 piece)
Source: Cooking Light, July 2007


Perfect for potlucks or large crowds, this tender bread balances spicy heat from chiles with sweet corn and salty cheese. Pair with a plate of hoppin' John and squash, or serve with a chicken tortilla soup.

1/3 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/3 cup nonfat buttermilk
2 large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour (about 3 1/3 ounces)
1 3/4 cups cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded reduced-fat extrasharp cheddar cheese
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (4 1/2-ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine softened butter and sugar in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg substitute, nonfat buttermilk, and eggs, beating at low speed until well combined.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, and stir with a whisk. Add flour mixture to buttermilk mixture, stirring just until combined. Fold in shredded cheese, corn, and green chiles. Pour batter into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and cool for 5 minutes in pan.

CALORIES 175 (28% from fat); FAT 5.4g (sat 3.2g,mono 1.2g,poly 0.3g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 39mg; CALCIUM 88mg; CARBOHYDRATE 25.6g; SODIUM 480mg; PROTEIN 5.5g; FIBER 1.1g

Let's Learn About: Chipotles

Marji asked a question in one of her comments - can you substitute chipotles for jalapenos. The answer is YES!!! And here's the scoop on the peppers and why you can make the substitution (in most cases!)....

Why?
Because chipotles are jalapenos that have been smoked/dried.

But what's the difference?
They are just as spicy (in my experience), but have a smokier, deep flavor.

How?!
If you're cooking with a dried chili, you can put it straight into a soup or stew to impart a smoky flavor and some heat. You can also boil up a cup or 2 of water and drop the chili in. Let it sit until it's soft then remove, cool, and chop!!

Other forms: 

Chipotles in Adobo

These come in small cans like this and the peppers in a tomato/vinegar/herb sauce. You will end up with quite a few peppers in the can, which can be annoying (because I hate wasting food!!!). I have found a pretty easy solution to this problem. On a small plate, scoop out one pepper with a little sauce into a pile. Make several separate piles on your plate and stick the plate in the freezer for a few hours. When they are frozen, pop the individual pepper balls off and put them in a ziplock baggie and store in the freezer. Then whenever your recipe calls for 1 pepper, you can grab it out of the freezer and not waste a whole can! VOILA!

Chipotle Powder

One of my favorite places in all the world is Penzeys. It's a spice store with locations all over the country and they have EVERYTHING. If Penzeys doesn't have it - you're not going to find it (not easily, at least!!). They are also super affordable! Anyway, the chipotle powder is great and very versatile. You can use it in soups, stews, bbq sauce, the possibilities are endless!

Happy Chipotle-ing! :)

(12) Chicken Green Chili with White Beans

This recipe was a total hit in my book!! I couldn't find Anaheim chiles (ack!) so I bought poblanos. Delish! This soup was not spicy at all (I cleaned the seeds/ribs out of the peppers very carefully), but it was very flavorful. It was the PERFECT consistency/texture. The soft beans and the soft chicken with a swirl of the creamy sour cream = heaven in my mouth!!! I can't wait to eat these leftovers!

PS: I used olive oil instead of peanut oil. I wanted the baby to be able to eat some of this. It was fine. So if you don't have any peanut oil, just use what's on hand!

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Chicken Green Chili with White Beans

Yield: 6 servings
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, October 2004

Our kitchen has found that Anaheim chiles run the gamut from mild to fairly hot.

6 Anaheim chiles
1 tablespoon peanut oil
3 chicken leg quarters, skinned (about 1 3/4 pounds)
1 3/4 cups chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 (15.5-ounce) can cannellini beans (such as Goya) or other white beans, rinsed and drained
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
6 lime slices

Preheat broiler.

Cut chiles in half; discard seeds and membranes. Place halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 5 minutes or until blackened. Place in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel chiles; discard skins. Chop chiles.

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan. Add onion and garlic, and sauté 6 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently. Return chicken to pan. Add broth, 1 1/2 cups water, and cumin; bring to a simmer. Cook 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken; cool slightly. Remove chicken from bones; cut meat into bite-sized pieces. Discard bones. Add chicken to pan; stir in chopped chiles and beans.

Combine 1/2 cup water and flour, stirring with a whisk. Stir into chicken mixture. Bring to a simmer; cook 15 minutes. Stir in salt. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 6 bowls; top each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons sour cream. Serve with lime slices.

CALORIES 248 (20% from fat); FAT 5.6g (sat 1.5g,mono 1.9g,poly 1.4g); IRON 3.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 45mg; CALCIUM 87mg; CARBOHYDRATE 25.1g; SODIUM 903mg; PROTEIN 19.1g; FIBER 4.8g

(4) Corn and Bell Pepper Chowder

We live in Florida. It's normally warm here, but this week, brrrrrrrrrrrrr! It was in the 20s when we left for work this morning and didn't break out of the 40s during the day. That kind of weather calls for SOUP! This recipe is a quickie, great for a weeknight dinner. A little chopping, a little stirring, 30 minutes later, you've got soup! This is a hearty bowl, too. This soup, a nice green salad, and some crescent rolls = happy family!! I can't wait to have the leftovers!

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Corn and Bell Pepper Chowder

Yield: 4 servings (about 1.5 cups each)
Source: slightly tweaked recipe from Bon Appetit

4 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels (thawed if frozen), divided
2 cups low-salt chicken broth, divided
2 Tbsp butter
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 5-6oz Yukon Gold potato, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 large shallots, chopped
2 Tbsp whipping cream
Chopped green onions

1) Blend 2 cups corn and 1 cup broth in blender until almost smooth.

2) Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add next 3 ingredients; saute 5 minutes.

3) Add 2 cups corn, 1 cup broth, and puree from blender. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Mix in cream.

4) Season chowder with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls; sprinkle with onions.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 255, Total Fat: 10.9 g, Cholesterol: 25.8 mg, Sodium: 494.2 mg, Total Carbs: 38.5 g, Dietary Fiber: 4.8 g, Protein: 6.8 g

(113) 20 Minute Chicken Creole

I got this recipe from our health & wellness website at work. I was a little leary, but figured hey, why not. I'm glad I took the chance! The veggies were a little crunchy, which was a nice surprise!! It was spicy, but not 'light you on fire' hot! I served over rice.

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This quick Southern dish contains no added fat and very little added salt in its spicy tomato sauce.

Yield: 4 servings--Serving Size: 1-1/2 cup

nonstick cooking spray
4 medium chicken breast halves, skinned, boned, and cut into 1-inch strips
1 can (14 oz) tomatoes, cut up
1 C low-sodium chili sauce
1-1/2 C green peppers, chopped (1 large)
1/2 C celery, chopped
1/4 C onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 Tbsp fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
1 Tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp salt

1. Spray a deep skillet with nonstick spray coating. Preheat pan over high heat.
2. Cook chicken in hot skillet, stirring, for 3-5 minutes, or until no longer pink. Reduce heat.
3. Add tomatoes and their juice, low-sodium chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
4. Serve over hot cooked rice or whole wheat pasta.

Each serving provides:
Calories: 255
Total fat: 3 g
Saturated fat: less than 1 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg
Sodium: 465 mg

(112) Beef Chili with Bacon and Black Beans

I made this for a chili cook-off and I am so glad to have discovered the recipe! It's not quick, but it is fairly easy to make. We really enjoyed it! The bacon makes this dish very smokey and flavorful! I will certainly make this one again!!

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Beef Chili with Bacon and Black Beans

Yield: About 3 quarts, serving 8 to 10.
Source: Cooks Illustrated, March 2003.

Good choices for condiments include diced fresh tomatoes, diced avocado, sliced scallions, chopped red onion, chopped cilantro leaves, sour cream, and shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese. If you are a fan of spicy food, consider using a little more of the red pepper flakes or cayenne--or both. The flavor of the chili improves with age; if possible, make it a day or up to five days in advance and reheat before serving. Leftovers can be frozen for up to a month.

8 ounces bacon (about 8 strips), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 medium onions , chopped fine (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
2 cans (16 ounces each) black beans , drained and rinsed
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes , with juice
1 can (28 ounces) tomato puree
table salt
2 limes cut into wedges

1. Fry bacon in large heavy-bottomed nonreactive Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring frequently, until browned, about 8 minutes. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat, leaving bacon in pot. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Remove cover and continue to simmer 1 hour longer, stirring occasionally (if chili begins to stick to bottom of pot, stir in 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer), until beef is tender and chili is dark, rich, and slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning with additional salt. Serve with lime wedges and condiments if desired.

(100) Skillet Stuffed Peppers

This is a super yummy recipe and way too easy! I added a mini-can of corn to the meat mixture and dashed some salt & pepper on top of the potatoes. I put them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes (at 350 degrees) to keep them warm while I was making salads. I recommend that, just to meld flavors a little more! The entire family gave this 2 thumbs up!!

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Image from myrecipes.com

Skillet Stuffed Peppers

Shepherd's pie meets the classic stuffed pepper. This recipe can also be made with red, yellow, or orange bell peppers.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 stuffed pepper half)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, May 2004

2 large green bell peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
Cooking spray
3/4 pound ground round
1/2 cup water
1 (1.25-ounce) package taco seasoning
1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated mashed potatoes (such as Simply Potatoes)
1/4 cup (1 ounce) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
Cracked black pepper (optional)

Place the bell pepper halves, cut sides down, on a microwave-safe dish; cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH 3 minutes and 30 seconds or until pepper halves are crisp-tender. Let stand, covered, 3 minutes (peppers will soften).

While the peppers cook, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add beef to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add water and seasoning, and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat, and cook 5 minutes or until done.

While beef cooks and peppers stand, cook the potatoes in microwave according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

Spoon 1/2 cup beef mixture into each pepper half; top each with 2/3 cup potatoes. Sprinkle each pepper half with 1 tablespoon cheese. Garnish with black pepper, if desired.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 338 (36% from fat), Fat: 13.4g (sat 5.3g,mono 5.7g,poly 0.4g), Protein: 20.1g, Carbohydrate: 29.3g, Fiber: 5.1g, Cholesterol: 59mg, Iron: 2.4mg, Sodium: 663mg, Calcium: 48mg

(86) Red Rocker Margarita Chicken

Red Rocker Margarita Chicken

These sandwiches were SO FREAKING GOOD (yes, I am yelling!). Wow. There were 2 changes/adjustments that we made. First, I used jarred roasted red peppers instead of roasting my own. When you fry these things up, oh heaven. Get a bib. You will be drooling (they're that good!). Secondly, we used bagged cole slaw mix vs. cutting our own cabbage. I highly recommend these sandwiches! They were so moist and flavorful!

Yield: 4 sandwiches
Source: Guy's Big Bite (foodtv.com)

2 jalapenos, thinly sliced rounds
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
4 tablespoons tequila (recommended: Cabo Wabo Reposado)
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 limes, juiced
2 teaspoons salt, divided
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 red bell peppers, roasted, skinned, seeded, julienne
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 cups canola oil
4 Kaiser rolls
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 green cabbage, thinly sliced
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
4 ounces provolone cheese, sliced

In a medium mixing bowl add jalapenos, cilantro, tequila, garlic, red chili flakes, cumin, oregano, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken breasts and red bell peppers to resealable gallon bag and pour in marinade. Let marinate in refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours.

Heat grill to high. Remove chicken from marinade, and add chicken to the grill.

In a small mixing bowl add flour, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the granulated garlic.

Heat the canola oil to 350 degrees F.

Remove bell peppers from marinade and dredge in flour and fry until crispy. When done drain on paper towels.

Cook chicken thoroughly on both sides, remove from heat and cover. Let sit for 5 minutes Remove chicken from the bone and thinly slice or shred.

Lightly toast rolls. Spread mayonnaise evenly among the rolls and then stack evenly with the cabbage, onion, chicken breast, fried peppers, and top with cheese.

(85) Italian Stuffed Jalapenos

Ok, let's talk about this recipe. I have a few suggestions if you try to make this!
1) PLEASE wear rubber gloves when you cut the jalapenos. We had our first ever cooking club catastrophe. Poor Dee, I don't think her fingertips will ever be the same.

2) Cook the peppers long enough. They should look kind of soft when they come out of the oven. If they're not, they'll be hotter than fire. Ours didn't cook long enough and although we LOVE hot, we couldn't eat them. Sad :(

3) The filling for this is AWESOME!!! We doubled the recipe, so it made way too much filling. We had leftovers today on a toasted bun, open face, with cheese melted on top. HEAVEN!

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Italian Stuffed Jalapenos

Source: Guy's Big Bite (foodtv.com)
Yield: 4-6 servings

15 jalapenos, preferably red, cut in 1/2, seeded and deveined
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 pounds mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 cups mascarpone or cream cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.

Place jalapenos on a sheet tray and roast for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Turn broiler on medium.

Heat the oil in a medium saute pan. Add the sausage and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onions, peppers, and garlic and cook to soften for about 5 minutes. Remove and place in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature, then add mascarpone, and Parmesan. Mix ingredients thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.

Place approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture into each jalapeno half, and top with 1/2 teaspoon of mozzarella cheese.

Place the sheet tray of stuffed peppers in oven and broil until mozzarella cheese melts.

(81) Chicken and Cashews

When I was pregnant with our daughter, I was SO sick (for almost the entire pregnancy). I ended up gaining only 9 lbs and she was 7 lbs 7 oz at birth. Anyway, one of the things I'm STILL repulsed by is the smell of Chinese food (takeout). This is really sad for my husband, who loves the stuff. So he gets really excited when I make Chinese food at home!

This dinner was as tasty as any takeout. My only complaint is that it was not very filling if you make this 4 servings. We ended up only making it 3 servings and that was fine. Served with some rice and an egg roll. Delish!

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Chicken and Cashews

Source: Cooking Light, MAY 2009
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 3/4 cup)

Top tender chicken with an inspired Asian sauce loaded with cashews, ginger, honey, and sesame oil. Pair this entrée with a simple rice pilaf.

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided
2 tablespoons dry sherry
4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 3 green onions)
1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted cashews

1. Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and chicken in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, broth, oyster sauce, and honey in a small bowl.

2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken mixture to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Remove from pan. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in pan. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Return chicken mixture to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with green onions and cashews.

Rice pilaf: Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup chopped onion and 2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, 1/2 cup long-grain rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro.

CALORIES 257 ; FAT 9g (sat 1.9g,mono 4.2g,poly 2.3g); CHOLESTEROL 63mg; CALCIUM 45mg; CARBOHYDRATE 17g; SODIUM 584mg; PROTEIN 26g; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 2mg

(77) Barbecue Sirloin and Blue Cheese Salad

YUM! This was easy and very flavorful. I didn't measure the lettuce and used half of the dressing on 1 salad. I'll just make more for the leftovers. Delish! Please serve this with crusty bread to sop up the leftover cheese bits and vinaigrette!!

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Barbecue Sirloin and Blue Cheese Salad

Lean sirloin steak sits atop a bed of fresh veggies for an easy weeknight main-dish salad. Top with crumbles of rich blue cheese to bring out the bold flavors in the homemade vinaigrette.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups salad, 3 ounces steak, and 2 tablespoons cheese)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, September 2009

2 teaspoons chili powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 pound lean sirloin steak, trimmed
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups torn Bibb lettuce
3/4 cup thinly sliced peeled cucumber
1 cup red bell pepper strips
1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese

1. Combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; rub evenly over both sides of steak.

2. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add steak to pan; cook 5 minutes. Turn steak over; cook 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Place steak on a cutting board; let stand 5 minutes. Cut across grain into thin slices.

3. Combine vinegar, mustard, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add oil, stirring with a whisk. Combine lettuce, cucumber, bell pepper, and shallots in a large bowl. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad; toss gently to coat. Top salad with steak and cheese.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 269, Fat: 12.4g (sat 4.9g,mono 5.4g,poly 0.8g), Protein: 29.5g, Carbohydrate: 9.4g, Fiber: 2.6g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Iron: 2.8mg, Sodium: 671mg, Calcium: 141mg

(69) Tomato-Poblano Soup

I roasted the peppers the night before which made the prep for this meal super easy. I crushed the tomatoes with my hands as they came out of the can. No need to dirty a knife or shears. After my light-you-on-fire enchiladas the other day, I was extra careful to get the seeds and membranes out of the peppers. In all honesty, it wasn't quite as hot as I wanted! Oh well! I will for sure make this soup again. With a grilled cheese it was a tasty, quick, weeknight meal! Two thumbs up!

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Tomato-Poblano Soup

The tomatoes and chiles contribute a day's worth of vitamin C in a serving of the soup. Use low-sodium or organic vegetable broth for a vegetarian appetizer. Chop tomatoes in the can with shears to reduce cleanup.

Yield: 6 servings
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, December 2008

4 poblano chiles
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added whole peeled plum tomatoes, undrained
4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons sour cream

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Cut chiles in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place chile halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 18 minutes or until blackened. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel and coarsely chop.

3. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Add cumin, coriander, and garlic to pan; sauté 1 minute.

4. Using kitchen shears, coarsely chop tomatoes in the can. Add tomatoes, chiles, and broth to pan, stirring to combine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.

5. Place half of tomato mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape), and secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until almost smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining tomato mixture. Stir in juice and salt. Ladle about 1 cup soup into each of 6 bowls; top each serving with 1 tablespoon cilantro and 1 teaspoon sour cream. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 102 (26% from fat), Fat: 3g (sat 0.9g,mono 1.5g,poly 0.3g), Protein: 3.7g, Carbohydrate:13.3g, Fiber: 3.3g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Iron: 1.9mg, Sodium: 362mg, Calcium: 78mg

(67) Green Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

These were not hard to make at all, but they were a little time consuming. SO worth it in my book. YUM. As I mentioned in the sauce recipe, it was spicy, but the flavors were awesome and the texture so creamy. Will make these again for sure! (oh and I don't know why I always feel compelled to say this, but I left out the bay leaf *blech yuck spit phewweee blech*)

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Green Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

New Mexicans prefer these over the beef enchiladas associated with other Southwest cuisines. Prepare the sauce and the chicken mixture up to two days ahead, and refrigerate separately until ready to assemble the enchiladas.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 2 enchiladas)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, December 2007

3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion, divided
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
3 cups Green Chile Sauce
Cooking spray
16 (6-inch) corn tortillas
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Combine broth, 1 cup onion, and next 5 ingredients (through bay leaf) in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from pan; chill 15 minutes. Reserve broth mixture for another use. Shred chicken into bite-sized pieces. Combine chicken, remaining 1/2 cup onion, and sour cream in a bowl, stirring well.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Spread 1/4 cup Green Chile Sauce in the bottom of each of 2 (11 x 7-inch) baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place 8 filled tortillas, seam-side down, in each dish; pour 1 1/4 cups of remaining Green Chile Sauce over filled tortillas in each dish. Combine cheeses in a bowl. Sprinkle half of cheese mixture evenly over filled tortillas in each dish. Bake at 350° for 18 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 308 (30% from fat), Fat: 10.1g (sat 4.3g,mono 2.6g,poly 2g), Protein: 27.2g, Carbohydrate: 29g, Fiber: 3.4g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Iron: 1.2mg, Sodium: 382mg, Calcium: 198mg

(66) Green Chile Sauce

Either I didn't take enough care removing the seeds or I just had hot chiles. This sauce was make-your-nose-run kind of spicy. But I love that kind of stuff, so it was a.ok in my book! YUM! This recipe makes just enough for the enchilada recipe!

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Green Chile Sauce

Fresh Anaheim chiles--long, slender, pale green peppers--have mild heat. The sauce pairs well with chicken or pork, or serve it as a snack with baked tortilla chips.

This recipe goes with Green Chile-Chicken Enchiladas

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 3 tablespoons sauce
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, December 2007

6 Anaheim chiles
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 cups chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

Preheat broiler.

Place chiles on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil 14 minutes or until blackened and charred, turning after 7 minutes. Place in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel and discard skins. Cut a lengthwise slit in each chile. Remove and discard seeds and tops. Chop chiles to measure 3/4 cup.

Heat canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; sauté for 1 minute. Stir in flour; cook 1 minute. Add chiles, coriander, salt, and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place half of chile mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Return pureed chile mixture to pan; stir well. Remove from heat; cool completely.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 23 (39% from fat), Fat: 1g (sat 0.1g,mono 0.2g,poly 0.6g), Protein: 0.7g, Carbohydrate: 3.3g, Fiber: 0.6g, Cholesterol: 0.0mg, Iron: 0.2mg, Sodium: 114mg, Calcium: 9mg