Kristi Rimkus's Blog (14)

Years ago, when my husband and I were young and dating, we frequented a restaurant that made a terrific stuffed potato. Of course, the restaurant's potatoes were stuffed with tender meat and creamy cheddar cheese - still, they were worth the calories.



These days, we are a few years older, and a bit wiser, so we try to keep the calories and fat in check. This recipe for stuffed potatoes is considerably leaner, but adding meaty mushrooms and salty Parmesan cheese really takes them up a… Continue

Tuna melts are usually laden with fat and calories thanks to the use of mayonnaise and butter.



My sandwich uses ingredients like onion, pickle, mustard, a really great muenster cheese, and some spicy arugula to boost flavor, without added fat and salt. Grilled, it comes out nice and crunchy on the outside, and cheesy, creamy on the inside.



Now I have a sandwich that weighs in at almost half the calories, fat and sodium.… Continue

I can't say I'm the most organized cook. I go through spurts of taking a few hours on a Sunday to plan my menus for the week, but that doesn't last long. This means that I'm depending on a stocked pantry, with lots of options in the freezer.



Last night I hit the jackpot with this salmon and asparagus recipe from Taste of Home. I had everything I needed to get this meal on the table in no time flat.



It really is a recipe worth trying.… Continue

If you eat light, then I bet you cook a lot at home. I guess it's obvious that I do, since I author a light cooking blog.



Of course this means I'm always on the hunt for something new to make. That's why I love my fellow bloggers.



These blogs offer some really terrific recipes, and I always find inspiration as I read through their stories, and get a glimpse into their lives.





I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! …



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I loved this recipe from Cooking LIght Magazine. It was given to me by my husband's coworker. The chicken is stuffed with creamy goat cheese and caramelized onions. Served with an easy pan sauce, it really was delicious, and well worth the effort to make.

You can find the recipe here on Cooking Light's… Continue

As much as I hate to admit it, I’m fast approaching the big 50, and losing a few pounds has become increasingly difficult. Partly because I’m a foodie that loves to cook and loves to eat, and partly because my body has decided to jump ship when it comes to burning those extra calories.



When it comes to losing weight my favorite mantra is “calories in - calories out.” These days the calories in seem to be sticking no matter how hard I work at the calories out.



So, I’ve… Continue

My husband loved this meal, and the whole dish was under 400 calories!



I love meals that come together in one skillet. This skillet contained creamy yukon gold potatoes, tender pork and mushrooms in an earthy herb sauce.



Be sure and use a wine you would drink when you’re making the sauce. Bad wine makes for a bad sauce!



Country Pork Skillet with… Continue

Quinoa is a dieter’s dream. High in protein and fiber, it’s filling and satisfying. Even if you’re not dieting after the holidays, but like to eat light and healthy, quinoa should be on your shopping list.



It’s such a versatile grain that’s cheap and quick to cook. I add it to soups, use it as a side dish, and make a salads out of it. I’ll often make extra and freeze it for a quick meal. Convinced yet?





If not, try this… Continue

January is that time of year where most of us make resolutions to lose weight and start exercising. I see examples of those resolutions at the gym. People get memberships as gifts, or decide they’ve indulged too much over the holidays and take advantage of gym membership specials.



More power to them, I say. I watch as new faces take up space on the treadmills and bikes, and while I have to admit it’s a bit irritating having to wait for an open treadmill, I truly hope they stick to… Continue

I find it very sad that people order tuna sandwiches at restaurants and fast food joints, thinking they're ordering something healthy. They have no idea that what they've ordered is laden with unhealthy fat and extra calories.

According to the dailyplate.com, a typical tuna sandwich can have 290 calories, 6g of fat, and 2g of fiber.



My tuna sandwich uses tuna… Continue

Creamy sweet potato and curry add another dimension of flavor to this typical Shepherd's Pie.

The recipe for Curried Shepherd's Pie came from Good Housekeeping Magazine, and was well worth the effort to make. It was easy to freeze, and reheat, and the flavor was even better as a leftover meal.



Happy, healthy… Continue

Our local restaurant makes this amazing shrimp appetizer that my husband and I just love. You might have heard of it. It’s called Bang Bang Shrimp. The shrimp is breaded, deep fried, and served with a spicy sauce. Yum!

The problem is deep fried isn’t on my list of ways to cook healthy shrimp, so I decided to simply adjust a few ingredients, then bake my shrimp instead of deep frying them.



Typically, I would use my own bread crumbs, but… Continue

Crackers and chips are my go-to, feel good, food. I can’t keep them in the house because I’ll eat the whole package by myself.

No matter how you look at it, crackers aren’t low in calories. The average serving of chips or crackers is typically 140 calories and over 7g of fat. Not only that, but they are usually loaded with preservatives and ingredients I can’t pronounce.…



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This recipe from Real Simple Magazine was a hit with the family this Christmas dinner. I don’t know if it was the pretty Christmas colors in the dish, or the combination of ingredients, but these beans provided a nice balance for heavier foods like the stuffing and mashed potatoes.

I bought tender young green beans from Costco, toasted the walnuts, and added sweet dried cranberries. Who wouldn’t like that?



Happy… Continue