More About DILBERTA

My take on a recipe inspired from Kalyn's Kitchen

I had a version of this soup at a restaurant and thought I could make it at home. Here is my creation.

My version

Another of my successful creations.

I created this recipe to act as a filling for several different recipes. It tastes great, even on its own, and is really versatile. Check out my tips for how to use it.

A lovely blend of yellow squash, zucchini and cheese.

Mix homemade enchilada sauce, with hamburger and lots of roasted peppers for a scrumptious casserole.

My own invention, to fit a low-carb diet.

A healthier version of an old southern recipe

An easy to make comfort food.

This is one cheesy low-carb pizza crust and it's vegetarian unless you add meat toppings.

I just love this spicy creamy soup. It's is easy to make and tastes so good, it feels like a treat.

Time for dinner. What to make? What's in the cupboard? These things look like they would go well together. Voila! A very yummy dinner. My husband said it was one of the best southwest type dishes I have ever made.

I made over another recipe to come up with this delicious low-carb entree.

This is probably my favorite cranberry sauce. It relies on the pineapple and amaretto for most of its sweetness. The sugar is cut by more than half of a traditional recipe.

Yummy!

This is my favorite way to eat Kale. Actually, it is the only way I like kale. It takes a bit of chopping but it makes so much that you won't have to make it again for a while.

I combined two favorite recipes to makes this wonderful low-carb dish.

I created this recipe out of odds and ends in my refrigerator when I realized I didn't have celery to make the traditional version.

These pancakes are very tasty and will keep you full for hours.

If you are looking for "Real" pizza, look somewhere else, but if you want a great tasting low-calorie pizza, then you have come to the right place. The biggest benefit is that you can have 2-3 slices without breaking the calorie bank.

This is a wonderful dish that is stuffed with flavor yet easy to prepare. The sweet taste of crab is enhanced by ricotta & Parmesan cheeses. Add to that a drizzle of sweet tomato sauce and a sprinkle of basil to get a delicious mix of flavorsl.

Canned tuna is used, along with Asian-inspired sauces to make a tasty burger (or patty)

This is a luscious blend of yogurt, cucumber & garlic that is a great compliments to savory Greek dishes, like Keftethes (meatballs) and Gyro's.

Keftethes (keh-FTEH-thes) are savory Greek meatballs that are served as an appetizer or main dish. The traditional recipe calls for frying the meatballs, but I've found that this baked version is quite good and a bit healthier.

For the tastiest meatballs, prepare the ground meat mixture earlier in the day and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This allows the flavors to really meld.

Pounding the chicken before cooking renders them thin and terrifically tender. Deglazing the pan with the Marsala wine and stock after cooking the chicken creates a quick, rich sauce.

This is a very vegetable laden soup that can be served hot or cold. It can be adapted to be vegetarian or vegan.

I serve this with a little hummus and a few homemade tortilla chips on the side with a piece of fruit.

Black beans are high in both fiber and protein, which helps stabilize blood sugar and curb hunger pangs. Fiber can also help lower cholesterol.

I modified this recipe from one I found on-line.
ENJOY!

I had seen similar recipes before, but I just winged it with this recipe. It was delish. ENJOY!

I was looking through some vintage recipes trying to find some different ways to make eggplant, when I came across this one. The recipe tastes so much like bread stuffing you won't believe it's really eggplant (and neither will anyone else). It was a big hit.

ENJOY!

I made this up out of bits & pieces in my frig

This is basically a fish stew, but made with lots of yummy spices and served over couscous.

Fast, easy & fresh salad dressing and you can change the fruit to make whatever flavor would go best with you meal. Peach, orange and apple are yummy too.

I made these up out of leftovers in my fridge. It would be easy to substitute and vegetables for the broccoli, peppers & onions and any meat for the bacon. Even sweet potato would be a good substitute for the white potato. Whatever changes you make, if you use the quantities shown in this recipe, the nutritional info won't change that much (if at all). ENJOY!

I got this recipe from a friend, who modified the original recipe just a bit. This one has no lemon and I LOVE it. It also is GREAT re-heated.

Makes 8 fish cakes about 4.6 oz each (uncooked weight)

This recipe is similar to the Bisquick "Impossible Pie" recipes, except that I came up with this combination myself. ENJOY!

I have never been a real raw celery fan because to me it has a kind of bitter taste, so I almost didn't try this recipe. Boy, am I glad I decided to be adventurous and try it anyway. It has become one of our favorite salads. There is something about the dressing that takes all bitter out. Enjoy!

Crispy bread crumbs add a bit of crunch to tender slices of butternut squash seasoned with garlic and Parmesan.

Enjoy!

This is a recipe of my siser-in-laws back from our college days when we had to make 2 dimes last like a quarter. It has been a favorite comfort food ever since.

Enjoy!

The basic soup is very hearty and satisfying, but you can kick it up a notch by adding hot dog pieces and croutons for more protien and crunch.

Enjoy!

This is a slight twist on an old favorite. We love it in a pita or wrap. It is great by itself as a veggie sandwich, but it is also really good paired up with sliced turkey or chicken.

Another one of my "clean out the cupboards" creations.

This can be used as a pasta sauce, a pizza sauce or in recipes like Chicken Parmesean or Lazagna.

I have too many jars of stuff in my refrigerator and pantry, so my current project is to come up with ways to use it all up.

One of today's creations is a basic sauce for pasta, but I bet it would be good on chicken too. It is also very colorful and pretty.

This recipe is modified from the www.joyofcooking.com by Stephanie Jaworski. The comments say it is very versatile and the scones freeze well.

I went to a cooking class earlier this summer (2009) and the instructor taught us this twist on the Thai Spring Rolls.

There is a bit of prep work but it tastes great and makes a lovely presentation on the plate. Try it sometime.

Enjoy!

For my husband's birthday I wanted to do something special. He loves German food so I made sausage, perogies and this recipe for sweet & sour cabbage (which I found on RecipeZarr).

Here is what the posting author wrote:
This recipe is so old it could be considered "antique." It was my grandmother's recipe. When I prepared it, I was an adult but it definitely rang childhood memory bells. I did remember this delicious taste. My grandmother wrote out this recipe as I am reproducing it and on the recipe she noted that this dish is good with roast pork or pork chops, dumplings and applesauce. An excellent meal from Central Europe! (Bread dumplings are now available in the freezer section of the supermarket.)

Enjoy!

I wanted to find another way to use ripe leftover bananas. My husband love cookies, so I found this recipe on Simply Recipes.

The bananas make these cookes very moist, and who doesn't like nuts & chocolate?

I came up with this simple, easy recipe when my pantry was low and I fashinoned it after the macadamia encrusted version we had in Hawaii. We loved it and I hope you will too.

Enjoy!

NOTE: You can change this recipe to suit what you have on hand by substituting any type of fish or any type of nuts.

I friend of mine made this recipe for us and it was so fantastic I just had to post it. I mean this was so good we wanted to put our faces in the dish and lick up every last morsel. It's that yummy.

This dish is a little high in calories, so you will need to plan well to include it in your daily totals- but it will be worth the effort.

Enjoy!

I found (and adapted) this recipe from one I found on BettyCrocker.com

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

I found this recipe on a package of Martha White Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Mix and I just had to try them. Well, to quote Rachel Raye, "Yummo"!

Enjoy!

I modified this recipe from one I found at lhj.com and the picture shown here is from their web site, using tomatoes only. I thought that was way to boring, so I cranked up the flavor a notch.

I also divided each pastry sheet in half and made 4 tarts. I finished steps 1 & 2 and then let everyone make their own. For me this made 2 servings, but others have a bigger appetite and ate their whole tart. I also had other ingredients (like pepperoni or sausage) available for those that didn't want a veggie tart.

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

This is my different slant on standard baked spaghetti.

ENJOY!

I came across a recipe for a "light" alfredo sauce. It seemed to me that taking out so much of the tasty, but fattening, ingredients would also dilute the flavor. So I came up with this version to use strong flavors and spices to make a lower fat, but satisfying dish.

You could easily substitute shrimp or crab for the chicken. Be creative and ENJOY!

I wanted a chili lower in salt so I used homemade seasonings, home canned tomotoes and no salt kidney beans. The seasonings were more that enough to make a full bodied and flavorful chili. It is cooked low and slow to develop the flavors and like most soups and stews, it tastes even better the next day.

This recipes make 13-14 1-cup servings.

Enjoy!

This makes about eight stuffed mushrooms, 2 per serving.

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

This recipe makes 6 huge servings, and is a meal in itself. If you want to serve this as a side dish it would make 12-18 servings.

Enjoy!

Leftover Magic recipes attempt to show how to use up what you have in the refrigerator, without eating the same meal twice.

This version uses leftover chicken, rice and water chestnuts.

This recipe comes from my friend Mary Ann. I had never had these before because I thought the greeen pepper would be to over powering. I am happy to say I was wrong, because these are delicious.

The recipe is easy to put together and is always a big hit. Just add a salad and some applesauce as side dishes and you have a complete meal.

Enjoy!

modifed from "The book of Tofu"

Leftover Magic recipes attempt to show how to use up what you have in the refrigerator, without eating the same meal twice.

This particular recipe uses leftover salmon pieces and leftover spinach dip, but you could use any type of fish and any type of dip.

Leftover Magic recipes attempt to show how to use up what you have in the refrigerator, without eating the same meal twice.

I make this type of recipe a couple of times a year to clean out the refrigerator of all the leftovers and I use it for any meal. It makes a hearty breakfast or a great lunch or dinner served with a salad or vegetable and a side like cranberry sauce. The calories calculation for this recipe will vary widely based on the actual ingredients you use, but I will show what I used for this calculation. So use up all that good stuff in your frig and don't be afraid to get creative.

Leftover Magic recipes attempt to show how to use up what you have in the refrigerator, without eating the same meal twice.

This recipe uses leftover chicken. You can use whatever combination of veggies and pasta you have on hand.

Leftover Magic recipes attempt to show how to use up what you have in the refrigerator, without eating the same meal twice.

This particular recipe uses leftover teriyaki style pork. I used Smithfield Pork Sirloin, but any style will do. Other changes you might want to try are:
-- mandrin oranges & orange juice in place of the pineapple
-- subsitute any of the vegetables for another variety. Try zucchini, green beans, broccoli or eggplant.

Enjoy!

This is very filling and a good way to use up leftover veggies. Feel free to substitue your favorites.

Enjoy!

These muffins are loaded with flavor, very low in fat and very moist. I only make a few at at time because with all of these fresh ingredients they will begin to spoil within a few days. This way my husband and I can control our portions without having to throw any away.

Be sure you spray either the muffin tin or the muffin paper liner with cooking spray before adding the batter, so that they will come out clean when they cool.

Enjoy!

This recipe is a great snack and it is as quck and easy as you can get.
Enjoy!

I found this recipe in a old Women's Day Magazine. It sounded like a good way to satisfy a chocolate craving, and it does.

WARNING: If you are a chocolate addict only make this recipe if there are a lot of people to share with (lol).

Enjoy!

I found this recipe on the back of a box of Stove Top Stuffing and it has become one of our favorites. It is fast & easy to Enjoy!

Enjoy!

This recipe uses very little processed sugar, fat or salt. It relys on the natural sugars in the fruit, highlighted by the sweetness in the balsamic vinegar. I know it sounds unusual, but it tastes great.
Enjoy!

I found this recipe on a bag of sauerkraut and modified it just a bit to lower the calories and salt. It would make a wonderful vegetarian entree.
Enjoy!

This recipe is my own invention. Enjoy!

This is a wonderfully hearty soup. Serve with a salad and a slice of crusty bread for a complete meal.

Creekside Grains is a small local producer of dessert mixes. So far all of their products have been so good. www.creeksidegrains.com

I found a version of this recipe on Prevention.com, but I made a few changes to make it my own.

I use home canned, no-salt added tomatoes and red bell peppers to make this soup, and it is just bursting with flavor. I do add a little salt toward the end, but if you use canned or jarred tomatoes and peppers, the sodium will go way up.

Super fast salmon recipe that looks great on the plate and tastes just as good.

I came up with this simple recipe because my husband loves pancakes, but if he doesn't get some protien in the morning he start to feel light headed before lunch time. He also loves peanut butter, so this was an easy, no-brainer.

Pretty, healty and tasty.
Enjoy

This makes 4 very hearty servings. Sreve with bread and a salad for a very filling meal.

This makes a wonderful side dish, but it also makes a great entree. Just add one pound of cooked shrimp or chicken to the orzo, just before adding the sauce and cheese. Yummy!

I came up with this recipe becasue I had a bunch of leftovers. It transformed them into something new and yummy.

You can make it spicer by increasing the cayenne pepper, the chipolte pepper in adobo sauce or just more mild green chilis. To make it milder, just cut back on these same items.

You can also modify this by using a different meat or protien in place of the chicken. Try using leftover pot roast or steak, or tofu, or beans and maybe even fish & shrimp.

This is so yummy!

This is a wonderfully spicy chili that is low in fat, high in protien and fiber, and fairly low in carbs. In fact the only drawback is the amount of sodium (if you watch that kind of thing).

I modified this recipe from one I found on my.hearthealthyonline.com ENJOY!

Yes that's right - 40 garlic cloves, about four heads of garlic! Try to use large, plump. fresh heads. Best-ever chicken guaranteed! After two hours of slow roasting ,the chicken is fragrant and melt-in-the-mouth tender, and the roasted cloves of garlic are a sublime spread on toasted crusty bread. This aromatic provencale dish cooks the garlics to a soft puree that is sweet, nutty and socially acceptable the morning after.


I copied this recipe from one posted on RecipeZaar.com (thank you user RainbowBrush)

My Bootcamp Fitness instructor (Mindy) told me about this recipe and I came home and found it on-line. I modified it a bit more. I hope you like it.

This is a slightly different slant on the traditional cream cheese & celery.

This recipe is best made int the summer, when tomatoes are at their natural best.

Thank you to my friend Don Burns for this delicious way to eat your veggies.

This spicy-and-sweet recipe blends aromatic curry powder and cayenne pepper with fresh mango and coconut milk for a classic Indian dish.

I modified this recipe from one I found in the May 2009 issue of Reader's Digest.
Enjoy!

I modified this recipe from one I found on recipezaar.com
Enjoy!

I found this recipe on the Cooking Light/My Recipes.com web site.

This recipe was sent to me from a relative of mine and it sounded so good I just had to share.

Dip assorted raw vegetables, baked pita chips, dry bread stix or bagel chips. You can even make your own bagel chips by just shaving pieces off a soft bagel and shaking on some type seasoning before slow baking in the oven until they are crispy.

I modified this recipe from one I found on Pillsbury.com

This is my own creation. I hope you like it as much as I do.

This is a recipe from my husband's childhood. Mrs. Gannon was a neighbor of his family and she is the woman who gave his mom this recipe. Every since it has been called "Mrs. Gannon's". I have been able to reduce the calories, fat & sodium by using more modern ingredients, but it is still another one of those great, easy comfort food casseroles.

This recipe is fast, filling and super low in fat.

I found this recipe on lhj.com and thought they sounded yummy. These burgers are great for lunch or dinner.

A sophfisticated, yet simple, low calorie meal.

You'd never guess from the name that this is a veggie salad with disks of carrot- or would you?

This salad is best made a day or two ahead to allow all of the flavors to blend.

I found this recipe on Ladies Home Journal's web site and it sounded so good. I modifed it a bit and this recipe is my version. Enjoy!

I can't take credit for this recipe, my brother Greg created it, but if you love beans then this recipe is for you. It has lots of fiber and protien, and you can make like I did or make a vegetarian version. Just substitute soy crumbles and veggie beans for the ground beef and regular baked beans. You can use any kind of beans, but this recipe shows what I used, so adjust the calories as needed. (Amazing note: I checked the calories with ground turkey and it actually went up and the fiber & protien went down- go figure). Serve this stew with a salad for a complete meal. Easy and delicious.

I found this recipe on-line at www.valleyfresh.com. I lightened up the recipe a bit and here is the result. We had it for dinner tonight and my husband was the first to say that it is was a "keeper".

I served this with steamed snow peas and cranberry sauce. It was yummy.

Great low-fat, low-carb side dish OR entree

A light dessert that is quick, easy and yummy! Enjoy this fluffy pudding for only 127 calories (2 Weight Watcher points), and just a trace of fats.

Very Quick & Easy

A quick and easy way to make Salmon patties

A nice touch to spice up everyday veggies. This recipes uses broccoli and onion, but you could use any combination of veggies to make 5-6 cups (raw).

Very tasty, light meal. Serve with fruit and crusty bread or rolls.

Very zippy salad- The mint & red pepper flakes just make this dish