Easy Corn Bread

Ingredients

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup corn meal

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 cup egg substitute

Directions

Blend or mix well until smooth. Pour in a number 5 skillet that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray and preheated (be sure it’s very hot). Bake at 400

Spicy Island Beef Kebabs

Ingredients

Marinade

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon ground allspice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 habanero or serrano peppers, seeded

Kebabs

1 1/2 pounds boneless top sirloin, trimmed and cut into 30 cubes

1 red bell pepper, cut into 18 pieces

2 black-ripe plantains, peeled, and each cut into 9 pieces

Cooking spray

Diagonally cut green onions

Lime wedges for Garnish

Directions

Prepare grill.

Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth. Place marinade mixture, beef, and bell pepper pieces in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes.

Remove beef and bell pepper pieces from bag; discard marinade. Place beef, bell pepper pieces, and plantain pieces in a large bowl; toss well to coat.

Thread 5 beef cubes, 3 red pepper pieces, and 3 plantain pieces alternately onto each of 6 (12-inch) skewers. Lightly coat kebabs with cooking spray or use olive oil mister. Place kebabs on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Cook 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare or until desired degree of doneness. Garnish with green onion pieces and serve with lime wedges.

Simple Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

2 tbsp honey

Directions

Whisk whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

In a small bowl, combine egg, buttermilk and honey.

Make a well in dry ingredients and stir in egg and buttermilk mixture. Allow batter to rest for a few minutes.

Set a nonstick frying pan to medium-high heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls on to griddle or pan. Cook until the edges begin to dry and bubbles appear in the pancakes. Flip and cook for 1-2 minutes more.

(Makes 8 pancakes)

Classic Minestrone Soup Recipe

Ingredients

4 tablespoons margarine

3/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans

1/2 cup shredded cabbage

1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 1/2 cups cubed potatoes

1 quart vegetable broth

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

Directions

Melt margarine in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots; saute for a few minutes.

Add beans, cabbage, tomatoes, tomato paste, potato, stock, garlic, parsley, and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for approximately 1 hour until vegetables are barely tender.

Add pasta, and simmer for 30 minutes more. Correct seasoning, and serve hot.

Nectarine Fruit Salad

Ingredients

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or lime peel

2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice

1/3 cup ginger ale

2 nectarines, pitted and sliced

1 cup seedless green grapes

1 cup fresh raspberries or blackberries

Directions

In a large bowl, combine peel, juice, honey and ginger ale. Add fruit and toss lightly. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

Cucumber Lime Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

4 limes

3 cups cucumber, peeled, seeded, diced

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup finely chopped green onion

4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh jalapeo or serrano (including seeds)

4 teaspoons sugar, or to taste

1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Remove peel, including all white pith, from lime with a sharp paring knife. Cut segments free from membranes and finely chop segments, now combine with remaining salsa ingredients in a bowl. Serve with lime tortilla chips.

Sweet and Savory Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients

3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons sherry

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 2 inch pieces

1 – 20 ounce can pineapple chunks, drained

Directions

In a shallow glass dish, mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic powder. Stir the chicken pieces and pineapple into the marinade until well coated. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken and pineapple alternately onto skewers. Grill 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until chicken juices run clear.

Plenty of Flavor in this Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Sauce Dish

Ingredients

1 – 8 ounce carton fat-free sour cream

1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/4 cup prepared horseradish

1 teaspoon white wine Worcestershire sauce

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 – 2 pound beef tenderloin

Cooking oil spray

1/2 teaspoon salt free lemon-herb seasoning (Mrs. Dash)

Directions

Combine sour cream, parsley, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper in a bowl. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 500

Sesame Carrots, A Great Side Dish

Ingredients

2 cups baby carrots

1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Pinch of dried thyme

Pinch of kosher salt

Directions

Toss carrots with sesame seeds, thyme and kosher salt in a small bowl.

(Makes 3 Servings)

Carrot Soup Recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 large carrots, sliced

5 new potatoes, quartered

2 cups vegetable broth

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon curry powder

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook stirring often until onion is translucent. Add carrots and potatoes, and cook for just a few minutes to allow the carrots to sweat out some of their juices.

Pour the vegetable broth into the pot, and season with ginger, curry powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until carrots are tender.

Puree soup in small batches using a food processor or blender, or if you have an immersion blender, it can be done in the soup pot. Reheat soup if necessary, and serve.