WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

RED BEANS & RICE

I love this recipe because it's low-fat, healthy, and yummy!  Plus you can adjust the spices to your taste.                                                                                                                           

1/2-3/4 c. chopped onion         

4 garlic cloves minced       

2-3 Tbsp Bummel & Brown yogurt spread         

1 can rinsed & drained kidney beans      

1 14-oz jar medium salsa      

1/8-1/4 tsp ground red pepper                  

3 cups cooked rice (I prefer brown rice)

In medium saucepan or skillet cook the onion & garlic in spread until tender but not brown.  Carefully stir in beans, salsa & pepper.  Bring to boil, reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.

To serve:  Mound rice on plate, make a well in the mound.  Spoon mixture into well.  1/2 c. rice & 1/2 c. mixture

For main dish:  1 c. rice & 1 c. mixture & add thin slices of grilled chicken.

I got this recipe from a former weight watcher buddy years ago, at that time the "points" were:   Rice 1/2 c. = 2 points; Mixture 1/2-2/3 c. = 2 points; Chicken 3 oz. = 3 point

Comments

[soccermom'77]

Here's a good light recipe for dinner; Lemon Thyme (and or rosemary) Roasted Chicken. This dish tastes quite sophisticated so you can serve it to your guests or keep it all to yourself/family and use the left over for your salads. It is quite simple to prepare and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to cook.
Ingredients:

5-6 pounds whole chicken (you could do a bigger chicken if you want to, 5-6 pound chicken feeds about 3 people)
Thyme (and or rosemary, whatever is easy/on sale)
3-4 lemons
4 bulbs of garlic
1-2 tablespoons of melted butter (olive oil can easily and deliciously be substituted)
2 cups of chicken stock
Salt ( i use coarse sea salt)
Pepper
---------------
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the giblets and wash the chicken inside and out. Pat dry. Check for leftover feathers. (these can be removed easily by burning off on the stove flame -gently without burning the chicken's skin, or yours- also, a creme brulee torch does the job easily if you happen to have one around.)

Place the chicken in an oven dish. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Take a generous amount of rosemary and or thyme and stuff the chicken, leaving some space for garlic and lemon. (reserve some herbs for the outside) Cut 1-2 garlic bulbs horizontally without peeling and place inside the chicken. Quarter 1-2 lemons and stuff them in the chicken until full. Tuck the wings and tie the legs to prevent them from burning. Brush the chicken with butter or olive oil and salt and pepper all around. Place the remaining quartered lemons, horizontally cut unpeeled bulbs of garlic and herbs around the chicken. Add about 2 cups of chicken stock. (more if the chicken is bigger) Cook the chicken at 425 F for 1 hour, to 1.5 hours (check the chicken every 15 minutes since ovens vary), or until the juices between the thigh and the breast run clear. After cooking, cover with aluminum foil and let sit for about 10 minutes. Serve, and enjoy.
p.s: goes well with most side dishes, especially sweet potatoes.

[Erin Trentel]

My Older Sis has a great turkey chili recipe on this sight and I am going to give you one more... it's the best cold-winter-weekend night chili in all of the Cincinnati area... here you go:

Russell's Chili (named for the pal I stole this from):

2 lbs. ground turkey browned (I prefer turkey breast)
1 large onion chopped (I prefer some type of sweet onion)
2 peppers any color chopped (I prefer a sweet bell pepper like yellow, orange, or red)
4 cans petite diced tomatoes with green chilies
4 cans condensed tomato soup (can try mixing in a can of low fat and or low sodium with the regular soup)
32 oz can of spicy chili beans
1 1/2 Tbsp Sugar

Brown meat > Add all veggies > Add sugar > drain grease and add all other ingredients > Simmer for 3 hours.

This recipe makes a boatload, so I typically cut this in half and it is enough for at least 4-5+ people. Also, if you want a fun adults night use this recipe and do with my friends and I do... throw a "Wine & Chili" party. Invite over all your best pals with the request that they bring a bottle of their favorite wine. Make your pot of "Russell's Chili" and enjoy sharing your wines while the chili simmers on the stove. A great cold-winter-weekend-night activity that you'll want to adopt as your own tradition!