Cucumber Cracker Snackers

These are a great cheese & cracker substitute. I came up with this idea today while scrounging around for some kind of snack that was ultra light, but gave me a lot of volume! I think these would also make great munchies for a get together or shower. And it took all of five minutes to put together. The blue cheese offers big flavor, which makes this snack very satisfying.

1 Cucumber

1 Tbs Crumbled Blue Cheese

2 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges, Original Swiss Flavor

1 Tbs Light Sour Cream

Fresh Cracked Pepper

Slice cucumber in "cracker" like slices. Mix blue cheese, cheese wedges and sour cream in a small bowl, then place in a small baggie. Cut end off of baggie and squirt onto "crackers". Top crackers with 1 small crumble (or very thin slice) of blue cheese and cracked pepper.

Nutrition info:

Serves 2 (very well)

85 Calories 5g Protein 7g Carbs 4g Fat

Green Pea Salad

This is another great recipe from Nancy S. Hughes and The 1,200-Calorie-a-Day Menu Cookbook.

I love this. I've eaten this countless times. Today I added chopped up baby carrots (raw) for an extra boost of veggies. I also don't worry about slicing and making everything pretty. I just throw it in my mini chopper. I usually like to eat this as a main course, though the book designed it as a side dish. Sometimes I add bits of cheese to give it more volume if its a meal. It's super easy and fast to make, but needs an hour to chill. Trust me, you NEED that hour. It does well the next day also, but gets a little liquid in the bottom.

Green Pea Salad

1/2 cup FF Mircale Whip (I prefer Lite)

1/3 cup Finely chopped Yellow Onion

1 tsp Sugar

1/2 tsp Pepper

24 small Green Olives stuffed with Pimentos, sliced

2 10oz packages Frozen Green Peas, steam cooked (I use 1 16oz pk and its fine)

Combine everything except peas and blend thouroughly. Add steamed peas. Toss gently, but coat. Chill for 1 hour.

155 Cals, 2.8g fat

Baked Squash Parmesan

4 Med Yellow Squash
2 tsp Low-Cal Margerine
2 tbsp Finely Chopped Scallion
1/4 C Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat to 350 degrees
Cut squash in half lengthwise, place on cookie sheet.
Drizzle 1/2 tsp Melted Margerine over each squash half. Top each half with Parmesan Cheese and add Salt & Pepper to taste. Bake 25-30 minutes or until tender.

Serves 4

50 Cals
2.4g Fat

From the book The Four-Course 400-Calorie Meal Cookbook by Nancy Hughes.

Broiled Mushrooms w/ Herbed Butter

2 tbsp +1 tsp Low Cal Margerine
1/2 tsp Dried Basil
1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Dried Parsley
1/4 tsp Dried Tarragon or Dill
1 lb Fresh Mushrooms, quartered
1 tbsp Worcestershire Suace
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper

Combine butter, basil, lemon juice, parsley, tarragon or dill. Let stand 20 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Toss gently but thoroughly.
Place Mushrooms on a cookie sheet, broil 5 inches from heat, until tender (5-6 minutes). Transfer mushrooms to four small bowls, top each with 1 1/2tsp herbed butter.

Serves 4

50 Cals
3.6g Fat

From the book The Four-Course 400-Calorie Meal Cookbook by Nancy Hughes.