Cantaloupe and Pork Salad

melonpork

What You Need:

1 (1 lb.) pork tenderloin
1 tbsp + 1 tsp dry Caribbean jerk seasoning, divided
1 tsp lime zest, grated
1/4 C lime juice
1 tbsp honey
8 C of mixed salad greens
1/2 cantaloupe, cut into wedges

How to Make It:

Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
Rub 1 tbsp of jerk seasoning over the loin and place the loin on a rack in a shallow baking pan.
Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
Transfer the loin to the cutting board and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
Let the loin stand at least 10 minutes, uncover and slice.
Whisk together the lime zest, juice and honey.
Place the greens on to a platter, add the cantaloupe wedges and carefully pour the sauce over the top.

Makes 4 servings

Jerk seasoning comes in many forms such as powder, dry paste or even as a marinade. Try making your own by mixing together allspice, hot chilies, salt and thyme then add your own special touch. These touches can be garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or even brown sugar. Pork and cantaloupe compliment each other well making this both a healthy and tasty salad main course meal.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 30 minutes
Total Time: approximately 50 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 265; Fat 6g; Saturated Fat 2g; Carbohydrates 27g; Protein 26g; Fiber 2g Cholesterol 67mg; Sodium 104mg

Hot Sauerkraut Clubs

What You Need:

4 (1 in.) thick slices of French bread
1 tbsp butter
4 slices of bologna
4 slices of salami
1 (16 oz.) can of sauerkraut
1 C of Mozzarella cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

Spread the butter over one side of each slice of bread and place them on a microwave safe plate.
Slice the bologna and salami in half.
Lay a half slice of bologna then a half slice of salami onto the bread.
Add another slice of bologna and salami.
Place a large spoonful of sauerkraut onto the meat.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the sauerkraut.
Microwave the clubs on high for 3 minutes.
Rotate the plate 1/2 turn and microwave on high an additional 4 minutes or until hot,

Makes 4 servings

Using French bread, sauerkraut and salami makes this club a favorite. Cooking it in the microwave makes it a lunchtime snap. The sauerkraut is optional and you can substitute any type of shredded cheese you like.

Broiled Eggs and Salmon Muffins

salmonsandwich

What You Need:

1 tsp white vinegar
8 large eggs
4 English muffins, split and toasted
2 C of cooked smoked salmon, broken into pieces
8 slices of smoked cheese

How to Make It:

Cover a baking sheet with foil and preheat the broiler.
Place 3 inches of water into a saucepan placed over medium high heat.
Bring the water to a gentle boil then add the vinegar.
Break the eggs into the boiling water.
Cook the eggs for 5 minutes or until they are as done as you like.
Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and drain well.
Separate the muffins and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
Lay an egg onto each muffin and top the egg with pieces of salmon.
Lay a slice of cheese over the top of each muffin.
Broil the muffins for 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Makes 4 servings

These protein packed muffins make breakfast, lunch or supper a treat. The smoked cheese takes the place of a hollandaise sauce and gives these little gems a more flavorful taste as well as cutting down your preparation time. For a softer egg allow them to simmer in the water just until the whites are cooked through.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 7 minutes
Total Time: approximately 17 minutes

Broiled Bean Quesadillas

quesadillas

What You Need:

1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp bottled minced garlic, divided
2 C plum tomatoes, chopped
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped and divided
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (8 in.) flour tortillas
3/4 C of Mexican cheese blend, shredded
1 C frozen corn
2 tbsp lime juice
1 red bell pepper, chopped

How to Make It:

Set the oven to broil and place a baking sheet into the oven to preheat.
Place a skillet over medium high heat and add the oil.
When the oil is hot but not smoking add 1 1/2 tsp of garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, 1/2 C of the cilantro and the beans.
Stirring frequently, cook the mixture for 5 minutes.
Coat the heated baking sheet with a non stick cook spray.
Place the open tortillas on the baking sheet.
Spread each tortilla with 1/2 C of the bean mixture.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the beans.
Fold the tortilla over the filling.
Spray the top of each folded tortilla with the cooking spray.
Place the pan in the oven and broil the quesadillas for 3 minutes or until browned.
In a saucepan over high heat combine the corn, lime juice and bell pepper.
Stir in the remaining cilantro and garlic and bring the mixture to a boil.
Cook for 2 minutes stirring frequently or until heated through.
Cut each quesadilla into 3 wedges and top each wedge with the salsa.

Makes 4 servings

Broiling quesadillas is time saving in more ways than one. First it allows you to cook all your quesadillas at once instead of one at time as you would in a skillet. It also helps in keeping the filling inside the tortilla. Since there is no turning there’s no chance of the filling falling out onto the pan.

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 420; Fat 14.4g; Saturated Fat 5.5g; Protein 17.8g; Carbohydrates 60g; Fiber 10.3g; Cholesterol 19mg; Sodium 590mg

Grilled Balsamic Mushroom Burgers

mushroom

What You Need:

4 large Portobello mushroom caps
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp parsley
4 slices of Provolone cheese

How to Make It:

Heat the grill to medium high heat and spray the grates with a cooking spray.
Sprinkle all the mushroom caps on both sides with the salt and pepper.
Brush both sides of the mushrooms with the balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with thyme.
Put the mushrooms on the heated grill and cook 3 minutes.
Flip and grill an additional 3 minutes or until tender.
Sprinkle the parsley over the tops of the mushrooms and add a slice of the cheese.
Place a foil tent over the mushrooms and grill for 1 minute or until the cheese melts.
Place on buns and serve with your favorite condiments.

Makes 4 servings

Grilling mushrooms gives them a caramelized taste The vinegar and thyme gives the mushroom burgers their vivacious taste. Serve these burgers with a side salad of all your favorite veggies for a great summertime lunch or dinner.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 7 minutes
Total Time: approximately 17 minutes

Fresh Mint Melon Dish

mint

What You Need:

1 C of water
3/4 C of sugar
3 tbsp lime juice
1 1/2 tsp fresh mint chopped
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 small watermelon, cubed
1 small cantaloupe, cubed
1 small honeydew melon, cubed
1 large peach, sliced
1 C of fresh blueberries

How to Make It:

Place the water into a saucepan and place the pan over medium high heat.
Add the sugar, lime juice, mint and salt and stir to blend in.
Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let stand until completely cooled.
Mix the melon cubes together in a large non metal bowl.
Gently fold in the peaches and blueberries.
Add the cooled syrup and gently stir until the fruit is well coated.
Cover the fruit and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Drain well before serving.

Makes 6 servings

Fresh melon is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. Add grapes, strawberries or any of your favorite fruits to this dish. Better yet make it into a delicious dessert by adding a little whipped topping to each serving.

Fried Apple Rings with Maple Glaze

apples

What You Need:

3/4 C of flour
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C of maple syrup
1/4 C of buttermilk
3 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into rings
Oil for frying

How to Make It:

Whisk together the flour, egg, syrup and buttermilk.
Dip the apples into the mixture, coating both sides.
Pour 2 inches of oil into the deep fryer.
Heat the oil to 375 degrees.
Fry the apples a few at a time for 2 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Drain on paper towel and continue until all the apple rings are fried.

Makes 4 servings

When deep frying in batches always be sure the oil reaches the desired temperature before adding more food to fry. These apple rings are a mighty tasty side dish addition to any meal. Turn them into a great dessert by dusting them with a little confectioner’s sugar.

Swiss Tuna Melt Sandwiches

tunamelt

What You Need:

1 1/2 C coleslaw mix, shredded
1 (9.25 oz.) can of white tuna in water, drained and broken up
2 Tbsp of salad dressing
2 Tbsp creamy cucumber dressing
2 hoagie buns, split and toasted
2 oz. Swiss cheese, sliced thin

How to Make It:

Preset the oven to broil.
Stir together the coleslaw ad tuna until well combined.
Whisk together the salad dressings and pour over the tuna mixture stirring to blend.
Spoon the mixture over the open side of each bun.
Broil 5 inches from the heat for 2 minutes.
Place slice of cheese over each sandwich and return to the broiler.
Broil 30 seconds or until the cheese has melted.

Makes 4 servings

Tuna is not only good for us but also a cheap addition to our meals. If you don’t have cucumber dressing on hand ranch dressing works just as well. Cheddar cheese can also be substituted for the Swiss and mayonnaise can be used in place of the salad dressing. Using what’s on hand makes this a great budget friendly sandwich.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 2 minutes 30 seconds
Total Time: approximately 22 minutes 30 seconds

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 406; Fat 19g; Saturated Fat 6g; Carbohydrates 38g; Fiber 2g; Protein 20g; Cholesterol 39 mg; Sodium 704 mg

Easy Homemade Taco Salad

tacosalad

What You Need:

6 (10 in) flour tortillas
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 1/2 tsp bottled garlic
1 (15 oz.) kidney beans
1 (8 oz.) jar taco sauce
3/4 C frozen corn, thawed
6 C leaf lettuce, shredded
1 C green bell pepper, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
3/4 C sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

How to Make It:

Preset the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Spray 6 heatproof bowls with a non stick cooking spray.
Spray one side of each tortilla then form one tortilla around each bowl, coated side up.
Bake for 18 minutes or until browned then remove and allow to cool slightly.
Place he meat and garlic into a skillet placed over medium heat.
Brown, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until cooked through.
Drain well and return to the skillet.
Add the beans, taco sauce and corn, stir and bring to a boil.
Cover, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 10 minutes.
Toss the lettuce, bell pepper and tomato together in a large bowl.
Fill each taco shell bowl with the lettuce mixture.
Top the lettuce with the prepared beef and garlic.
Spread the cheese evenly over each salad.

Makes 6 servings

Making your own salad shells saves money. These shells can be rather expensive not to mention that more often than not they can’t be found on the grocery store shelf. Use leftover ground beef to make them even more budget friendly.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 28 minutes
Total Time: approximately 43 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 412; Fat 18g; Saturated Fat 6g; Carbohydrates 45g; Fiber 8g; Protein 21g; Cholesterol 35 mg; Sodium 632 mg

Bow Tie Chicken and Cheese

bowties

What You Need:

2 C onion, chopped
2 C of whipping cream
8 oz. American cheese, cubed
8 oz. Swiss cheese slices, torn
1 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp pepper
4 C of cooked chicken, chopped
1 (16 oz.) box of bow tie pasta, cooked and drained

How to Make It:

Whisk together in a small mixing bowl the onions and whipping cream.
Stir in both kinds of cheese, the sage and the pepper.
Place the chicken into the crock pot.
Pour the cheese mixture over the top of the chicken coating it well.
Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours.
Stir the chicken mixture well then add in the cook pasta, stirring to coat.
Recover and cool 5 minutes or until heated through.

Makes 6 servings

It is not recommended to cook this recipe on high. High heat will cause the cheese to scorch. This is an economical meal that even the kids will love. Leftovers should not be frozen but will remain fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator of up to 3 days. T freeze do not add the pasta. Freeze the chicken mixture for up 2 months. Reheat on the stove then add the pasta and cook until heated through.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 4 hours 5 minutes
Total Time: approximately 4 hours 25 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 755; Fat 43g; Saturated Fat 25g; Carbohydrates 49g; Fiber 2g; Protein 43g; Cholesterol 186 mg; Sodium 886 mg