Zucchini Tart with Sausage and Dijon

Go easy on the toppings or it gets soggy.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 pound sweet Italian sausage links, casings removed
• 1 small zucchini (about 1 pound), sliced
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 sheet puff pastry (half a 17.3-ounce package), thawed
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• green salad, for serving

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until cooked partway through, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon; reserve the skillet.
2. Add the zucchini, 2 tablespoons water, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the drippings in the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to soften, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Unfold the pastry on a baking sheet and prick all over with a fork, leaving a ½-inch border around the dough. Spread the mustard on the pastry (avoiding the border); top with the zucchini and sausage. Bake until the pastry is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Cut the tart into 8 pieces. Serve with salad.

Adapted from Real Simple magazine

Spicy Pork and Soba Noodles

6 ounces soba noodles
1 1 1/4-pound pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
kosher salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 English cucumber, sliced
2 scallions, chopped
1 red chili pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil


Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions.

Season the pork with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In batches, brown the pork, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a large bowl. Toss the pork with the noodles, cucumber, scallions, chili pepper, vinegar, sesame oil, and ½ teaspoon salt.




--Adapted from Real Simple

Asparagus Prosciutto Bundles with Arugula

Very tasty appetizer.


2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 pound thin asparagus (about 24 spears), ends trimmed about 2 inches
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 cups loosely packed arugula leaves, washed, drained, and stems removed
Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) pecorino cheese, half shaved into thin slices and half grated
12 thin slices prosciutto (about 6 ounces)


1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

2. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil and vinegar over asparagus; toss lightly to coat. Season with sea salt and pepper.

3. Grill asparagus, uncovered, at medium-high heat, turning often, 4 minutes or until spears are tender, turn bright green, and begin to char slightly. Remove from grill, and set aside.

4. Toss arugula with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, and grated cheese. Season with sea salt and pepper.

5. Place 4 slices of prosciutto flat on a work surface, and top each with 2 asparagus spears, 4 to 5 arugula leaves, and 1 slice of pecorino; roll into a spiral, leaving spears and tips of arugula showing. Repeat procedure with remaining ingredients.




--Adapted from Cooking Light

Sausage and Chard Saute with cheese grits

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 small Italian sausage links (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
1 cup instant polenta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 bunch Swiss chard, stems discarded and leaves cut into 1-inch strips
kosher salt and black pepper


Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the sausage and cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Cook the grits according to the package directions, stirring in the Parmesan when done.

Meanwhile, wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the Swiss chard, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, tossing, until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold in the sliced sausage. Serve the sausage and chard mixture over the grits.




--Adapted from Real Simple magazine

Sausage with White Beans and Tarragon

2 tablespoons olive oil
8 small Italian sausage links (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced on the bias
1 onion, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon


Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the sausage and cook, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat.

Add the carrots, onion, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the beans and wine and simmer for 5 minutes. Fold in the sliced sausage and tarragon.





--Adapted from Real Simple

Crispy Pork Cutlets with Spicy Noodles

Spinach or bok choy would make a great addition. Stir the greens into the noodles right before serving.


4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
1/2 pound udon noodles
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced
1 red jalapeño pepper, sliced
4 thin pork cutlets (about 3⁄4 pound total)
kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 scallions, sliced


In a large pot, bring the chicken broth and ginger to a boil.

Add the noodles and cook, stirring, until the broth is nearly absorbed and the noodles are al dente, 4 to 6 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and jalapeño and simmer until the mushrooms are just tender, 1 to 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, season the pork with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Coat with the flour, then the egg, and finally the panko. Let the pork rest 2 to 3 minutes for the crust to adhere. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the pork until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Slice the pork and serve over the noodles. Sprinkle with the scallions.





--Adapted from Real Simple

Spiced Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

2 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder or butt, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
kosher salt and black pepper
5 green onions, sliced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and sliced thin
cooked couscous, sliced scallions, and chopped roasted almonds, for serving


In a large Dutch oven, toss the pork with the paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Scatter the onion over the pork. Add the chicken broth, preserves, and vinegar to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender, about 2 ½ hours.

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup water and stir into the pot along with the chickpeas and sweet potatoes. Simmer, uncovered, until the cooking liquid is slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve over couscous and sprinkle with the scallions and almonds, if desired.




--Adapted from Real Simple

Barley Sausage Skillet

1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 cup quick-cooking barley
Cooking spray
8 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
2 tablespoons Madeira wine
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper



Place broth in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Add barley to pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to crumble. Transfer to a bowl. Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes or until liquid evaporates. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Return sausage to pan. Stir in Madeira; sauté 2 minutes. Add barley; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat; stir in basil and black pepper.

Ham and Swiss Loaded Potatoes

4 baking potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup diced 33%-less-sodium ham (about 6 ounces)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese, divided
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions, divided
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper


Pierce potatoes with a fork; arrange in a circle on paper towels in microwave oven. Microwave at high 16 minutes or until done, rearranging potatoes after 8 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

Preheat broiler.

Cut each potato in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Combine potato pulp, ham, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/3 cup green onions, sour cream, and pepper.

Spoon the potato mixture into shells. Combine 1/2 cup cheese and remaining green onions, and sprinkle over potatoes. Place potatoes on a baking sheet; broil 4 minutes or until golden.





--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Five-Spice Pork Lo Mein

Works equally well with firm veggies (peppers, zucchini, etc) in place of the pork.


8 ounces uncooked Chinese-style noodles
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons five-spice powder
1 (3/4-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
2 tablespoons toasted peanut oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup chopped green onions



Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain. Place in a large bowl. Snip noodles several times with kitchen scissors.

Combine ginger, five-spice powder, and pork in a medium bowl; add 1/4 teaspoon salt, tossing to coat. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture; sauté 2 minutes or until browned. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, water, and hoisin sauce; cook 2 minutes or until pork is done. Add pork mixture and green onions to noodles; toss well to combine.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Pork Chops and Apples and Garlic

Apples need to be chopped into medium chunks in order to cook down enough.


5 cups chopped peeled Braeburn apple (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
Cooking spray
4 butterflied pork loin chops, boneless
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Chopped parsley (optional)



Preheat oven to 475°.

Combine first 5 ingredients. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss well to coat. Spread apple mixture on a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray.

Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, and arrange on top of the apple mixture. Bake at 475° for 25 minutes or until pork is done and apple is tender. Remove pork from pan; keep warm.

Partially mash apple mixture with a potato masher, and serve with pork. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Sweet-Potato Salad with Ham and Curried Almonds

2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 3 large), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons sliced almonds
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 1/2- pounds piece smoked ham, such as Black Forest, diced
3 scallions including green tops, sliced thin
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3 tablespoons cider vinegar or red- or white-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 head red leaf lettuce (about 1 pound), torn into bite-size pieces (about 3 quarts)


1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the sweet potatoes and boil until just tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain the sweet potatoes and transfer them to a large glass or stainless-steel bowl.

2. In a small frying pan, heat the 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat until it is hot but not smoking. Add the almonds and curry powder and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the nuts to the bowl with the sweet potatoes and add the ham, scallions, and cranberries.

3. In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, whisk the vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add the remaining 2/3 cup oil slowly, whisking. Toss half the dressing into the sweet-potato mixture.

4. Toss the lettuce into the remaining dressing. Put on plates and top with the potato salad.





--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Mexican Ham and Bean Soup

2 cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
8 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups cubed smoked ham steak (about 8 ounces)
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 bay leaves
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 chipotle chile (or dried ancho or pasilla chile)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Manchego cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/2 cup finely sliced green onions



Combine beans, broth, and next 8 ingredients (broth through garlic) in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Partially cover; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.

Stir in tomatoes and chile; simmer 30 minutes. Discard bay leaves and chile. Ladle soup into 8 bowls. Top with cheese; sprinkle with cilantro and green onions.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Baked Grits with Country Ham, Wild Mushrooms, and Fresh Thyme

Worthy of a special occasion.

5 cups water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking grits
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 large egg
Cooking spray

Sauce:
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1 bay leaf
1 dried chile pepper, crushed
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon whipping cream
2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Remaining ingredients:
2 ounces country ham, cut into julienne strips
2 1/2 cups (1/2-inch) sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 teaspoon water
3 thyme sprigs
Additional thyme sprigs (optional)



Preheat oven to 325°.

To prepare grits, bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; gradually stir in grits. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 1/4 cup cheese and white pepper. Stir in tempered egg mixture.

Spoon 1/2 cup grits mixture into each of 8 (4-ounce) ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray. Place ramekins in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 325° for 20 minutes. Remove ramekins from pan; cool completely on a wire rack.

To prepare sauce, bring shallots, wine, 1/4 cup broth, vinegar, bay leaf, and chile to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook until reduced to 1 tablespoon liquid (about 6 minutes). Strain mixture through a sieve over a bowl; discard solids. Return liquid to pan.

Combine 1/4 cup broth and cornstarch. Add cornstarch mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; add butter and cream, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Stir in 2 tablespoons cheese, juice, and black pepper.

Cook the ham in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat 1 minute. Add mushrooms, 1 tablespoon shallots, 1 teaspoon water, and 3 thyme sprigs; sauté 3 minutes or just until mushrooms are tender. Remove thyme springs.

Loosen edges of grits with a knife or rubber spatula. Place a plate, upside down, on top of each ramekin; invert onto plates. Spoon 1 tablespoon sauce onto each plate; sprinkle ham mixture evenly among plates. Garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Garlic-Rosemary Pork Chops

1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 (4-ounce) pork chops, trimmed
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450.

Combine first 4 ingredients; rub over pork. Spread garlic mixture evenly over chops. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; bake 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.



--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Tomato-Basil Lasagna with Proscuitto

This is an interesting recipe. Blending the cottage cheese and the cream cheese creates a ricotta-like filing, but without the grainy ricotta texture. It's not very meaty, but the prosciutto is an nice touch.


5 garlic cloves
1 (16-ounce) carton 1% low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup (4 ounces) block-style fat-free cream cheese
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 large egg
1 (26-ounce) bottle fat-free tomato-basil pasta sauce
Cooking spray
12 cooked lasagna noodles
1 cup (4 ounces) chopped prosciutto or ham
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese


Preheat oven to 375°.

Drop garlic through food chute with food processor on, and process until minced. Add cottage cheese; process 2 minutes or until smooth. Add cream cheese, 2 tablespoons Romano, basil, pepper, and egg; process until well-blended.

Spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 noodles over the pasta sauce; top with 1 cup cheese mixture, 1/3 cup prosciutto, and 3/4 cup pasta sauce. Repeat the layers two times, ending with noodles. Spread remaining pasta sauce over noodles. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Romano and mozzarella.

Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until sauce is bubbly. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let lasagna stand 5 minutes.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Grits and Sausage Casserole

1 pound turkey breakfast sausage
1 1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup quick-cooking grits
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Dash of ground red pepper
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
2 cups red bell pepper strips



Cook sausage in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Drain and set aside.

Combine milk and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in grits; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Combine grits mixture, sausage, cheese, parsley, salt, garlic, and peppers in a large bowl; set aside.


Gently stir one-fourth of grits mixture into eggs, stir vigorously to keep eggs from scrambling; add egg mixture back to remaining grits, stir to fully combine. Spoon mixture into a 1 1/2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until set and lightly browned.

Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add bell pepper, and sauté 4 minutes or until tender; serve warm with grits.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Rosemary Pork Tenderloin

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut crosswise into 12 (1-inch) slices
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon cornstarch



Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Add pork to pan; saute for 5 minutes, turning once.

Add wine and rosemary to pan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 6 minutes. Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Remove pork from pan; keep warm. Add cornstarch mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly.






--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Pork Chops with Bourbon-Peach Sauce

4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1 teaspoon minced bottled garlic
1 1/2 cups frozen sliced peaches
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 teaspoons butter




1. Sprinkle pork with salt and peppers. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove pork from pan; keep warm.

2. Add shallots and garlic to pan; sauté 30 seconds. Add peaches and broth to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add sugar and thyme to pan; cook 1 minute. Add bourbon and butter to pan; cook 4 1/2 minutes or until butter melts and sauce is slightly thickened. Discard thyme sprigs. Serve with pork.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Herb-Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Wraps

3/4 cup (3 ounces) diced fresh mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 pound thinly sliced pepper ham
16 asparagus spears, steamed and chilled (about 1/4 pound)
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas



Combine the first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Arrange 1 ounce of ham and 4 asparagus spears on each tortilla. Spoon about 1/3 cup cheese mixture over the asparagus, and roll up.




--Adapted from Cooking Light magazine