Amylu's Mango Chicken Sausage

Costco and Trader Joe's both sell Amylu's Mango Chicken Sausage. Each link has only 90 calories with only 3 grams of fat; but the best part is that they are delicious. A couple of posts ago I gave a recipe for a balsamic vinegar dressing, tonight's dinner is pan seared sausages and a spinach salad with red onions and the balsamic vinegar dressing. Peaches round out the flavors nicely. This is another very healthy, inexpensive, fast and delicious dinner, and it's pretty on the plate!

Cherry Chocolate Crust Dessert

I love desserts; and I love chocolate. Eating healthy does require passing on dessert at times, but there are those times when chocolate is a necessity. One night we were all craving some rich goodness to please our needy taste buds so I created this goodie. I call it, "Cherry Chocolate Crusty Dessert," doesn't that make you hungry? Try only using a measuring cup and the pie plate so there is less clean up.

Measure into the pie plate:

1 cup flour (next time I am going to try a mix of white and whole wheat)

3-4 T cocoa

3/4 t baking powder

1/8 t salt

In the measuring cup combine:

1/3 cup canola oil

1 t vanilla

1/2 cup Splenda (sugar would be more delicious)

Pour this mixture into the pie plate and combine with the dry mixture, spread out the crust to cover the bottom of the pie plate.

Top with about 1/3 cup cherry pie filling.

Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes - just long enough to cook the crust.

You could omit the cherry pie filling and top off the crust with fresh strawberries - so many options!!!

Dinner Salad with Whole Wheat Pasta, Chicken and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Years ago I was watching a food show and they gave out a recipe for a spinach salad - balsamic vinegar, honey, water, olive oil, and lemon pepper. The combo for the salad was spinach, red onions, pears, candied nuts and some sort of cheese. Well, the dressing is wonderful but it made me thirsty so I have omitted the seasoning and most of the oil to make the calorie count friendlier to my hips. Now I use the dressing on lots of dishes including this one.

Salad contents:

Cook some whole wheat pasta

Grill some boneless, skinless chicken, or mahi mahi

Stir fry broccoli, sweet peppers, carrots and some onions

Dressing:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 T honey, or Splenda, or brown sugar

2 T Water

pinch of salt or 1/4 t lemon pepper

Maybe a little olive oil

Combine these and shake them up, this will store in your fridge for a few days or more and is delicious on lots of salads.