Easy Easter dinner recipes

It's Easter season and that means ... chocolate! But don't worry, I've put together some delicious recipes to keep you satisfied and on track with the L A Weight Loss program this Easter season.

Glazed Ham

2 pound ham
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 cup apricot halves in lite syrup
3 Tbsp no sugar added apricot preserves
1/2 tsp whole ground cloves

Trim all visible fat from ham. Place ham in baking pan. Rub Dijon mustard all over ham.

Pour apricot halves and juice over ham. Dot cloves throughout ham, gently pressing into flesh.

Cook ham in oven according to package directions.

To prepare glaze, place preserves in small dish. Place in microwave 10-20 seconds, until preserves begin to melt.

During last 30 minutes of cooking, brush ham with warm glaze. Continue to brush ham every 10 minutes until cooked through.

Preserves may need to be re-heated, as needed, before basting.

Allow to rest 5 minutes, before slicing.

Makes 8 servings.

Balsalmic Roasted New Potatoes

2 pounds new potatoes, quartered.
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
dash of salt
nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Coat large cast iron skillet with nonfat cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.

Add potatoes and seasonings and heat through.

Remove skillet from heat; place in oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

Add vinegar, and toss well.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, 6 more minutes.

Serve immediately.

Makes 10 servings.

Indulge your temptations this Valentine's Day

Want to set the mood this Valentine's Day without over indulging? Try these great recipes from the L A Lite Cookbook for you and your Valentine to enjoy.

Chocolate Truffles

3 Tbsp fat-free cream cheese
2 packets sugar substitute
1 tsp rum extract
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, divided

Combine cream cheese, sugar substitute, rum extract, and 1 Tbsp cocoa powder.

Mix well until all ingredients are blended.

Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Roll mixture into small balls (approximately 6).

Roll balls in remaining 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder.

This tasty treat will count as one diary on the L A Weight Loss plan.

Indulge: pair truffles with a glass of Cabernet (129 calories/5 fl. oz)

Chocolate Covered Cherries

1 packet L A Lite Chocolate Shake Mix
1/2 cup water
9 medium cherries, pitted

Mix L A Lite Chocolate Shake Mix with 1/2 cup water.

Dip cherries into chocolate mixture and place on waxed paper.

Chill for one hour before serving.

This will count as one fruit and one L A Lite on the L A Weight Loss plan.

Indulge: pair this dessert with a glass of Chablis (120 calories/ 5 fl. oz)

If chocolate doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, try this:

Baked Custard

1 egg
1 cup skim milk
1 Tbsp sugar substitute
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp low-sodium salt
1-2 Tbsp orange or lemon zest
nutmeg for garnish, optional.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Break egg into small mixing bowl and beat slightly.

Add milk, sugar substitute, vanilla, zest, and salt; beat well.

Pour into damp custard cups and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Place cups in a shallow pan of water and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

A serving size of 1/2 cup will count as 1/2 dairy and one fat.

Indulge: pair this with a glass of Medium/Rose style wine (82 calories/4.1 fl. oz)

Delicious recipes for your Thanksgiving menu

Thanksgiving dinner is all about feasting and family, but it doesn’t have to weigh you down. Here are two recipes to add to your menu, without adding those extra unwanted pounds.

Spinach Stuffed Turkey

20oz turkey breast cutlets
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
1 bag baby spinach leaves
4oz reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350ºF

Coat skillet with nonfat cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add garlic and onions. Sauté 1-2 minutes, until tender.

Add mushrooms, tossing with other ingredients to combine. Cook until mushrooms soften.

Add spinach and broth to pan. Toss ingredients together to allow spinach to wilt and cook down. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in flour.
Rinse off turkey cutlets and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide spinach mixture evenly among turkey cutlets, forming a mound in the center or each cutlet. Sprinkle half of cheese over turkey. Gently roll turkey over spinach, securing with butcher’s string or toothpicks, as needed.

Transfer stuffed turkey breasts to an oven-safe skillet or sauté pan that has been sprayed with nonfat cooking spray.

Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and cook until all cheese is melted.


Ginger Carrots

3 cups carrot, peeled, sliced on an angle
1 Tbsp lite margarine
2 packets sugar substitute
2 Tbsp grated ginger
1 1/2 Tbsp honey

In a pot of water, bring carrots to a boil and cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until for tender. Drain.

In a sauté pan, over low heat, add margarine and sugar substitute and honey.

Stir approximately 2 minutes, or until sugar substitute begins to brown.

Add orange juice, ginger, and carrots.

Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, or until liquid slightly thickens.

Serve immediately.

Delicious holiday dinners, minus the fat

Last week I posted some handy tips to help dieters through the tempting holiday eating season. To follow up, I decided to share some recipes for holiday dinners that are mouthwateringly delicious, and completely low in fat.

I combed my cookbook, and chose two of my favorite meals. The first is filet mignon topped with a savory mushroom and wine sauce, and balsamic new roasted potatoes on the side. And the other is glazed ham with wild rice pilaf.

These recipes are sure to have you and your loved ones asking for more, without adding more to your waistlines!

Filet Mignon with Mushroom and Wine Sauce

4 filet mignon steaks (4 oz. each)
1/3 cup chopped green onion
1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
1 1/2 cups red wine, divided
1 small (10-12 fl. oz.) can low-sodium beef consommé, undiluted
Freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. dried thyme
Nonfat cooking spray

Coat a skillet with nonfat cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add onions and mushrooms. Sauté for four minutes. Add 1 cup red wine and 3/4 cup consommé; cook for five minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the mushrooms with a slotted spoon; place in a bowl. Increase heat to high; cook wine mixture until reduced to ½ cup, about five minutes. Add reduction to mushrooms; set aside.

Wipe pan with paper towel. Sprinkle steaks with pepper. Coat skillet again with nonfat cooking spray, and heat over high heat. Add steaks. Cook three minutes on each side. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue to cook another two to four minutes, or until desired level of doneness.

Combine soy sauce with corn starch. Add 1/2 cup wine and remaining consommé to skillet; scrape bottom of skillet to loosen brown bits. Bring to a boil, cook one minute. Add mushroom mixture, cornstarch mixture, and dried thyme to skillet; bring to a boil, and cook one minute, stirring. Serve sauce over steaks.

Servings: 4



Balsamic Roasted New Potatoes

2 pounds new potatoes, quartered
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Dash of lite salt
Nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat large cast iron skillet with nonfat cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and seasonings. Heat thoroughly. Remove skillet from heat; place in oven, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Add vinegar, and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, six more minutes. Serve immediately.

Servings: 10



Glazed Ham

2 pound ham
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 cup apricot halves in lite syrup
3 Tbsp. no-sugar-added apricot preserves
1/2 tsp. whole ground cloves

Trim all visible fat from ham. Place ham in baking pan. Rub Dijon mustard all over ham. Pour apricot halves and juice over ham. Dot cloves throughout ham, gently pressing into flesh. Cook ham in oven according to package directions.

To prepare glaze, place preserves in small dish. Place in microwave 10-20 seconds, until preserves begin to melt. During last 30 minutes of cooking, brush ham with warm glaze. Continue to brush ham every 10 minutes until cooked through. Preserves may need to be re-heated, as needed, before basting. Allow to rest five minutes before slicing.

Servings: 8



Wild Rice Pilaf

1 1/4 cups water
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups uncooked wild rice
1 Tbsp. lite margarine
3 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. lite salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Nonfat cooking spray

Bring water and broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add wild rice; cover, reduce heat, and simmer one hour or until tender. Drain any excess liquid. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt margarine in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onion; sauté until tender. Remove from heat; stir in parsley and next four ingredients. Combine rice and mushroom mixture in a two-quart casserole, coated with nonfat cooking spray. Cover and bake for 25 minutes.

Servings: 8

Trim your tree -- and waistline -- this holiday season

Most Americans pack on five to eight pounds every year during the holidays. Baked goods, butter-laden side dishes, breads, and fatty main courses can make it hard to control your weight during the holidays.

But don't throw away Santa's cookies just yet. It's easy to maintain your weight -- and the holiday spirit -- with a little planning. To help, I've put together my top 10 tips for staying on track this holiday season.

1. During holiday dinners, choose white meat versus dark meat chicken or turkey. White meat is lower in calories and fat. Compare 150 calories and 9 grams of fat in white meat, to 210 calories and 17 grams of fat in dark meat.

2. Maintain your normal exercise routine. Continuing to exercise during the holidays will help burn extra calories you might be consuming at holiday parties. If you can't get to the gym, fit in an after-dinner walk, or power walk around the mall while doing holiday shopping.

3. Don't skip meals. Many people think skipping a meal will afford them the ability to eat more at parties or special occasions. But skipping meals will make you hungrier, and more likely to overeat later.

4. Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. Water helps you feel full, and can combat the bloating and water weight gain caused by salty foods offered at many parties.

5. Position yourself away from the food table. Staying in another room might prevent you from mindlessly picking at appetizers and finger foods. On Christmas, visit the buffet table only once. A typical Christmas dinner packs a whopping 3,550 calories, and that's if you stick with reasonable portions.

6. Don't try to cut out high-fat holiday favorites like eggnog and candied sweet potatoes. Instead, allow yourself a small taste of your favorite holiday treats, and fill the rest of your plate with lower-fat choices, such as apples, cranberry dishes, baked squash, pumpkin, breads, and pastas.

7. Eat something before going to an event serving alcohol. The effects of alcohol are felt much more quickly on an empty stomach, and can lead to overeating and overdrinking. Try drinking one glass of water between alcoholic beverages.

8. Offer to bring a favorite low-calorie dish to holiday parties. That way, you know there will be at least one "healthy" item available.

9. Center entertainment on non-food events. These can include going ice-skating, renting a holiday movie, building a snowman, or singing carols.

10. Focus your attention on the people gathered at holiday celebrations. They're the real reason for the occasion, after all. And focus on your personal weight loss journey, too, so that come New Year's Eve, you can have extra cause for celebration.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Don't go holiday grocery shopping without these recipes

Wait! Stop the presses, and the shopping carts!!! Don't go food shopping for your holiday dinners and get-togethers until you listen to my Podcast with Jennifer Simmons, L A Weight Loss Centers' director of nutrition services.

We discuss healthy holiday recipes and snacking alternatives that can help you stick to your L A Weight Loss plan during the holiday feast-ivities! Even if you're not on the L A Weight Loss plan, Jennifer's healthy eating ideas will help you fend off the extra pounds this holiday season.