Pear Ginger Raisin Muffins

from: Cooking Light, January 2006

Ingredients
Salsa:
1/2 cup chopped peeled avocado
1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Remaining ingredients:
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup shredded roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast
3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Directions
Preheat broiler.
To prepare salsa, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Toss gently, and set aside.
Combine 2 tablespoons water, lime juice, cumin, salt, ground red pepper, and black beans in a blender; process until smooth.
Place tortillas on a baking sheet, and spread about 1/4 cup black bean mixture evenly over each tortilla. Top each evenly with 1/4 cup chicken and 3 tablespoons cheese. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts and tortilla edges are just beginning to brown.
Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup salsa, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Cut each tortilla into 4 wedges.

Nutritional Info (1 tostada(
CALORIES 410(32% from fat); FAT 14.4g (sat 5.9g,mono 5.9g,poly 1.4g); PROTEIN 25.3g; CHOLESTEROL 49mg; CALCIUM 264mg; SODIUM 858mg; FIBER 7.2g; IRON 3.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 47.7g

from: Cooking Light, September 2002

Ingredients
3/4 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 teaspoon coarsely chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dash of ground nutmeg
4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray

Directions
Place first 3 ingredients in a food processor; process until finely chopped. Add yogurt and the next 8 ingredients (yogurt through nutmeg); pulse 4 times or until blended.
Make 3 diagonal cuts 1/4 inch deep across top of each chicken breast half. Combine chicken and yogurt mixture in a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.
Prepare grill or broiler.
Remove chicken breast from bag; discard marinade. Place chicken on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 6 minutes on each side or until chicken is done.

Nutritional Info (1 chicken breast half(
CALORIES 146(12% from fat); FAT 1.9g (sat 0.6g,mono 0.4g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 27.4g; CHOLESTEROL 67mg; CALCIUM 50mg; SODIUM 234mg; FIBER 0.7g; IRON 1.1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 3.4g

from: Cooking Light, July 1999

Ingredients
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup toffee bits (such as Skor) (about 4 ounces)
1 cup pineapple juice
6 Red Delicious apples, each cored and cut into 8 wedges
6 Granny Smith apples, each cored and cut into 8 wedges

Directions
Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until smooth. Add toffee bits, and mix well. Cover and chill.
Combine juice and apples in a bowl; toss well. Drain apples; serve with dip.

Nutritional Info (1 tablespoon dip and 3 apple wedges(
CALORIES 92(28% from fat); FAT 2.9g (sat 1.8g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 0.8g; CHOLESTEROL 8mg; CALCIUM 13mg; SODIUM 51mg; FIBER 1.4g; IRON 0.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.9g

from: Cooking Light, May 2004

Ingredients
Shrimp cakes:
3/4 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced green onions
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
3 tablespoons light coconut milk
2 teaspoons minced seeded serrano chile
1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
1 large egg
1 garlic clove, minced
Cooking spray

Sauce:
1 cup diced peeled papaya
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar

Remaining ingredients:
4 cups gourmet salad greens
2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted

Directions
To prepare shrimp cakes, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add curry powder; cook 30 seconds or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring constantly. Combine curry powder and next 13 ingredients (curry powder through garlic), stirring well. Cover and chill 1 hour. Divide shrimp mixture into 8 equal portions; shape each portion into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Heat pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shrimp cakes to pan, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove pan from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes.
To prepare sauce, combine papaya and next 3 ingredients (papaya through sugar) in a food processor; process until smooth.
Place 1 cup greens on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with 2 shrimp cakes; spoon about 1/4 cup sauce over each serving, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
CALORIES 256(20% from fat); FAT 5.7g (sat 1.9g,mono 1.1g,poly 1.2g); PROTEIN 22.9g; CHOLESTEROL 182mg; CALCIUM 101mg; SODIUM 402mg; FIBER 3g; IRON 3.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 28.5g

from: Cooking Light, November 2005

Ingredients
Pancakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (1-ounce) package uncooked instant farina (such as Cream of Wheat)
1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup mashed banana (about 1 large)

Syrup:
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons pomegranate juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions
To prepare pancakes, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 6 ingredients (through farina) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Combine buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth. Fold in banana.
Spoon 1/4 cup batter per pancake onto a hot nonstick griddle. Turn when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
To prepare syrup, combine 1/2 cup juice and syrup in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine 2 tablespoons juice and cornstarch in a bowl; add to pan. Cook 1 minute or until thickened; remove from heat. Serve with pancakes.

Nutritional Info (3 pancakes, 2 T syrup(
CALORIES 315(11% from fat); FAT 4g (sat 1g,mono 0.5g,poly 0.3g); PROTEIN 5.7g; CHOLESTEROL 37mg; CALCIUM 128mg; SODIUM 312mg; FIBER 1.4g; IRON 3.3mg; CARBOHYDRATE 66.6g

from: Cooking Light, March 2006

Ingredients
Chicken:
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Dressing:
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Salad:
1 (5-ounce) package gourmet salad greens
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
3/4 cup orange sections (about 2 medium oranges)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Directions
To prepare chicken, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle chili powder and salt over chicken. Add chicken to pan; cook 5 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from skillet; let stand 3 minutes. Cut chicken across grain into thin slices; set aside.
To prepare dressing, combine juice and next 5 ingredients (through crushed red pepper) in a small bowl; stir well with whisk.
To prepare salad, place greens on a serving platter; top with onion, orange, cranberries, and chicken slices. Sprinkle evenly with cheese; pour dressing over salad.

Nutritional Info (2 C salad, 4.5 oz chicken, 2 T dressing(
CALORIES 333(18% from fat); FAT 6.7g (sat 2.3g,mono 2.4g,poly 1.2g); PROTEIN 42.2g; CHOLESTEROL 105mg; CALCIUM 115mg; SODIUM 527mg; FIBER 5.4g; IRON 2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 27.1g

from:

Ingredients
8 T. unsalted butter (1 stick) plus extra for coating
10 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 T. flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup sugar, plus extra for dusting
4 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mini-marshmallows
2 T. cocoa powder, optional

Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Generously butter, flour and sugar eight or nine 6-ounce oven-proof ramekins. (You can also bake this in a 9 or 10-inch pie plate; increase baking time 22-25 minutes or if you prefer a gooey center 17-20 minutes.) Place butter and chocolate in double boiler over simmering water and melt until smooth, cool. Beat the eggs, yolk, sugar, vanilla and salt on high speed until volume doubles and the mixture becomes foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the 3 T. flour, then gradually add the melted chocolate to the egg mixture beating on low until fully incorporated. Fill the ramekins two-thirds full and bake until the cakes puff and begin to crack but the centers are still a bit runny, 13-17 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with marshmallows and return to oven for 2 to 4 minutes, until the marshmallow tops begin to brown. Remove from oven and let cool about 5 minutes. Sift the cocoa on top of marshmallows. Note: if you fill the cups too full it is hard to get the marshmallows to stay on, because these cakes puff up when they cook and sink a little when they cool.

from: Dannon.com

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger powder
1/2 cup raisins
1 medium ripe pear (such as Anjou or Bartlett), roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter (3/4 stick), at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 Tbsp. grated fresh gingerroot
1 cup Dannon All Natural Plain Yogurt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ground ginger powder in a large mixing bowl. Toss in raisins and diced pear.

In a separate bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs and gingerroot. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring until just combined. Carefully fold in yogurt. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, about 3/4 full.

Bake until lightly browned, about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool a few minutes before serving.

Nutritional Info (1 muffin(
calories 240; calories from Fat 70; total Fat 8g; Saturated Fat 4.5g; trans Fat 0; Cholesterol 60mg; Sodium 400mg; Carbohydrates 36g; Dietary Fiber 1g; Protein 5g; Calcium 8%