Skinny Basil Pesto

Every summer this time of year the basil plants in my garden are lush and beautiful, full of fragrant leaves I love to pick and add to whatever I'm cooking – a simple garden sauce, an heirloom tomato salad, grilled chicken bruschetta, a lovely summer fish dish, just to name a few dishes. 

Pesto is one of the things I whip up all summer long, but pesto can have a lot of oil and fat when made traditionally which can make a dish heavier than I would want, so to make it skinny I use a bit less oil and leave the pine nuts out and no one ever complains. 

Making pesto at the end of the summer and keeping it in the freezer is also a great way to use up the last of the basil from your garden so that you can enjoy it year round. 

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Cherry Custard

This simple dessert is similar to a French Clafoutis, only made lighter and served in individual ramekins for better portion control.

Happy Friday everyone!! Before the summer comes to an end, I am trying to enjoy all my favorite summer fruits, especially cherries, watermelon and peaches. This cherry custard is a must, I just love the flavor and you'll be surprised how easy it is to make.

I used raw sugar as my sweetener, but Stevia or Splenda would work fine too. By the way, if you haven't read the Skinny on Sweeteners yet, I highly recommend it – a very informative article on  a very confusing topic written by Heather K Jones, RD.

And speaking of pitted cherries, I am loving my new cherry pitter, from Amazon, it makes pitting cherries a breeze!

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Summer Vegetables with Sausage and Potatoes

Lean Italian chicken sausage with summer bell peppers and zucchini sauteed with baby red potatoes and fresh herbs for a quick one pot meal.

I love a meal that only dirties one pot because although I may love to cook, I really don't love to clean! I labeled this as kid-friendly because my older one (the pickier one) loves this and my younger one will eat the sausage and peppers, but picks out the potatoes. Since every child is different I'll let you decide! This is also gluten-free for those of you with a gluten intolerance, dairy-free and egg-free.

You can use Italian chicken sausage or turkey sausage depending on what is available to you in your area. I've tasted several brands and really came to love Al Fresco's sweet chicken sausage and Premio's chicken sausage. My local health food store and Italian deli also carry their own homemade sausage which is wonderful. If rosemary isn't your thing, use fresh thyme instead.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Skinny Pina Colada Ice Pops

Easy Piña Colada Ice Pops, made with pineapple, coconut milk and a splash of rum will whisk you away on a tropical island with every bite you take! Head on over to Dash Recipes for the full recipe where I will be contributing a skinny dessert once a month. For those of you following Weight Watcher Points Plus, only 3 points + each (2 without the rum).

Summer is great for luau themed parties, another fun dessert you can make this summer if you have an ice cream maker is this yummy Piña Colada Sorbet; serve it in hollowed out coconuts for a cool presentation.

If it's cupcakes you crave, then these ever so popular Skinny Piña Colada Cupcakes are quick, easy and always a crowd pleaser!

Stay cool and enjoy your weekend!

Crust-less Summer Zucchini Pie

A simple savory pie made with summer zucchini, shallots, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. If you're looking for a tasty way to use up your summer zucchini, this is it!

It makes a wonderful side dish to any meal or serve it at a potluck or brunch.

To make shredding the zucchini easier,  just throw it in the food processor. You'll want to put the zucchini in a cheese cloth and give it a good squeeze to take out all the moisture.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Breasts

Chicken breast stuffed with cheese, shredded carrots and minced celery, then rolled, breaded, baked and drizzled with hot sauce. Sound enticing? It should be, this is good stuff!

This recipe was so kindly shared with me from one of my subscribers. I love it when my fans share their recipe creations with me to share with all of you, especially when it's something really good! If you know how much I love stuffed chicken breast, you know I was all over this!

I served this with a crisp salad of lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and celery drizzled with homemade skinny blue cheese dressing. It was the perfect compliment and a wonderful meal.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Easy Garden Tomato Sauce

When grape tomatoes are overflowing in your garden, whip up a quick simple sauce! Grape or cherry tomatoes sauteed with olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs are perfect over pasta, grilled chicken or fish. Take advantage of summer tomatoes now while they are at their peak!

This recipe is from the archives from last summer, I've been making it quite often these past few weeks now that grape tomatoes are at their peak so I decided to bring this recipe forward. Perfect over your favorite pasta shape for meatless Mondays in less than 30 minutes.

Meat lovers can add chicken or shrimp for a spectacular summer pasta dish! And for a spectacular way to prepare fish, try this simple fish dish with summer tomato sauce.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...