Rustic Pear Tart

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/healthy-appetite-with-ellie-krieger-/rustic-pear-tart-recipe/index.html

This was great. Perfect for 4 people. I just soured some milk with lemon stead of using buttermilk.

Southwest Taco Soup

http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2011/06/emilys-southwest-taco-soup.html
Southwest Taco Soup

David and I both liked this. I did not drain the corn. The soup was sweet from the corn and the sriracha sauce I used in lieu of valentina sauce. I used like 3 or 4 tablespoons of sriracha, just squirting it over the chicken.

Next time only put in one can of corn, and drain it first. The soup is just too sweet I think.

Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing

http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/2008/09/cafe-rio-cilantro-ranch-dressing.html
Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing

I ate this at a friends house and loved it. I made it recently myself with fat free mayo. I used 4 canned tomatillos. I left the seeds in the jalapeno, and put the entire half bunch of cilantro (including stems) into the blender. It turned out really good. Might be too spicy after it sits in the fridge.

Calories: 430 (entire recipe with ff mayo). Estimating 2.5 cups yield, 21.5 cal / 2 Tbsp.

Butter beans, roast beef, and green beans

12 oz can Roast Beef in beef broth (I get it from costco)
1 can green beans (or use fresh/frozen and cook in beef broth)
1 can butter beans

Heat beef and broth in a skillet. Add other ingredients. Simmer until broth is reduced.

David loves this. I like it a lot too and it is so easy. I eat it for lunch a lot.

Calories: 457 per serving / 2 servings

Mexican baked eggs and beans

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2009/10/recipe-for-mexican-baked-eggs-with.html

David really liked this. It is also very fast and easy. I used an oven safe skillet. I put a ton of parsley in it (like a cup) because that's what I had. I think cilantro would be better, which is what the recipe calls for. David still liked it a lot with parsley, even with the bitterness associated with it. I also baked the dish for like 5-7 minutes which was way too long. The eggs were cooked solid (which I don't like). I'd try again for only 2 minutes next time.

Update: I made this again according to the recipe using chili powder and fire roasted bell peppers. It was so good, I liked it much more than last time. It wasn't too hot at all. I put cilantro on top and served with a little sour cream. One thing to note, I put  5 eggs on top this time, 4 on edge and 1 in center. They did not cook evenly. So make sure all eggs are the same distance from the edge. The 5 minutes bake and 2 minutes broil time was perfect for the egg in the middle, but the eggs on the edge were a little too solid. Next time put eggs on the edge and bake for 4 minutes only, plus 2 minutes broil and see what happens.

Update: I don't know what I was talking about with the fire roasted bell pepper in the last paragraph. I made it today just as the recipe instructed. I used a 10-inch oven proof skillet with 4 eggs. After simmering I dug out 4 holes around the skillet and put the eggs in it. It needed more baking time then I suggest in the last paragraph. the 4-2 thing was too short. I probably did more like 5 minutes bake and 4 minutes broil this time. But I am using a different oven now. Anyway, the eggs were cooked solid, which I guess is just how this recipe is going to be. It is still really good. We ate it this time with corn tortillas, salsa, and sour cream.

Calories: 275 per servings. 4 servings total. (calculated using 4 eggs)

Salmon Patties

1 14.5 oz can salmon (bones and skin do not need to be removed)
1 egg
1/4 c mayo
1/4 c green onion
1/4 c celery
1/3 c breadcrumbs

Mix and make patties. Spray nonstick pan with pam and cook on both sides until golden brown.
This is good with dill sauce.

Overnight Oats

http://www.pepperlynn.com/2012/02/overnight-oats-two-ways/

I really liked this. I used to eat raw oats with canned peaches and enjoy the raw taste. I made this with 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats, 1/3 cup yogurt, and 1/2 cup milk, plus a tiny bit of honey and some strawberries. I think it would be fine with more yogurt and less milk too, to increase the protein. I let it sit in the fridge for about an hour. If it was there overnight, the extra milk would probably be absorbed.

I want to try the pumpkin/peanut butter version next.

Chicken Enchiladas

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-enchiladas-i/detail.aspx?src=VD_Summary

I left out the water and used only 12 oz of tomato sauce. Also used enchilada sauce instead of taco sauce. Was very good! Try cottage cheese next time instead of sour cream. (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cottage-cheese-chicken-enchiladas/detail.aspx)

Update:  This needs more like 10 tortillas, which would need to be in a larger pan than 9x13. There is just SOO much filling. But still good! Also 20 minutes isn't quite long enough in the oven. Maybe do 30 next time.

Raspberry Lava Cheesecake

Raspberry Lava cheesecake
http://sweetsensation-monchi.blogspot.com/2010/03/torta-od-sira-s-malinama-raspberry-lava.html

Cornflour means cornstarch. I used a 12 oz bag of raspberries and did not strain the seeds. It was really good.

Meatloaf

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-meatloaf/

Saute onions in butter. Add 1/2 chopped green pepper to saute with onions (mostly to get rid of moisture), 1 T worcestershire sauce, some chopped mushrooms (or 4 oz canned and chopped). Add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Don't double sauce for topping, but may half sugar. Bake at least 1.25 hours to 170. I usually bake 1.5 hours and it is great.

Notes: David likes it best if not all the meat is super lean. I used 91/9 the first time, and 85/15 the second time, which david liked better. I think a compromise would be better so you use 1 lb 91/9 and 1/2 lb 85/15, or visa versa.

Also can be made gluten free swapping rolled oats for breadcrumbs. It is slightly crumbly this way but still terrific, just cut carefully.
Reduce milk by 2 tbsp if adding green pepper and worcestershire sauce, to counter the additional liquid they provide.

Broccoli Salad

Similar to  http://southernfood.about.com/od/broccolisaladrecipes/r/bl30321h.htm

2 bunches broccoli, florets only (5 to 6 cups florets)
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
10 to 12 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
handful of sunflower seeds
.
Dressing:
1 cup light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar (or half scoop Trader Joes Stevia powder--full was bit too sweet, but had no aftertaste)

Separate florets from broccoli stalks. Save the remainder of the broccoli for another use or freeze for later. Combine salad ingredients; top with dressing mixture. Chill and serve. Broccoli should be raw.

butter beans with tomato & chorizo

http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2010/06/the-absolute-beginners-guide-to-the-art-of-seasoning-5-ingredients-10-minutes/

This is really good. I used Barilla Arrabbiata sauce like she recommends and it was SO good. I also used smoked keilbasa style sausage instead of chorizo.

9/2015: We made this again with
2 cups Arrabbiata sauce
2 T red wine vinegar
1 lb bulk chorizo (hyvee butcher)
3 cans drained butter beans
2 bunches green onions

It was great, yet again.

Almond flour pancakes

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/breakfast1/r/lowcarbpancakes.htm

David likes these better than normal pancakes. They are pretty good. I put in 1/8 tsp of stevia powder for the sweetner

Cabbage Salad

After reading this post http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2008/05/a-cabbage-obsession/, I made this for lunch today. I grated the cabbage right into a bowl, just enough for me.

Grated cabbage
balsalmic vinegar
ev olive oil
raisins
walnuts

it was pretty good! I like the taste of cabbage. Mild and crunchy.

Taco Salad

1 lb taco seasoned ground beef (3 T taco seasoning per lb or 1 packet. Simmer ground beef with seasoning and 1/2 cup water for 10 minutes.)

cheese

olives

tomatoes

sour cream

refried or pinto beans

salsa

Serve over lettuce.  love this quick meal.