Servings: 4

You’ll need:
2/3 cup brown rice
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1-1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. red-pepper flakes
4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
4 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
1 medium orange, sliced (for optional garnish)

Prepare brown rice per package directions and set aside, but kept warm.

While rice cooks, combine orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch in small bowl and whisk until smooth and set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook until chicken begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate.

Add 1 tablespoon oil and stir in celery, carrots. Cook until celery begins to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Return chicken to pan and add peas. Reduce heat to low and add juice mixture. Stir and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately with the rice.

​Karen’s Note: This Orange Sesame Chicken main dish can also be made spicier or less spicy, by adding more or less of the red pepper flakes. Serve plates garnished with (optional) orange slices and Chinese chopsticks make a nice touch too! You will be surprised of how BIG the serving size is of Orange Sesame Chicken on each plate!

Servings: 8

You’ll need:
1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tsp. lime juice
2 tsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika powder
1/8 tsp. Cayenne powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1/4 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1/2 medium onion, halved and sliced
1 pkg. of 8 fajita size flour tortillas
8 tsp. 2% low fat Mexican blend cheese, shredded
8 tsp. fat free or lite sour cream
2 cups seasoned black beans, heated
Salsa (optional)
Guacamole (optional)

Put shrimp in a mixing bowl and stir in lime juice, garlic powder, paprika, Cayenne and 1 tsp. cumin. Cover bowl, put into refrigerator and marinate for at least 2-3 hours or until ready to cook.

Heat canola oil in a large frying pan on medium/high heat. Stir in red bell pepper slices and saute, while stirring about 3-4 minutes. Next add onions and saute, while stirring, for about 3-4 minutes, until onions become transparent. Add minced garlic and stir for another minute.

Add marinated shrimp to veggie mixture, another tsp. of cumin, chili powder and cook, stirring continually, until shrimp is fully cooked, for about 5 minutes.

Serve immediately at the table with a 1/4 cup size serving of heated seasoned black beans, 1 tsp. of shredded Mexican blend cheese, 1 tsp. fat free or lite sour cream, and optional salsa and /or guacamole and of course a side of kept warm serving of Spanish Rice too!

Enjoy this delicious main dish…now a family favorite for a nice “sit-down” dinner with your family or friends tonight!

Makes 6 ooey, gooey, s’more servings!

You’ll need:
6 low fat graham crackers, split into 12 squares
6 tsp. semi-sweet chocolate mini morsels
6 Tbsp. miniature marshmallows

On 3 microwavable plates, lay flat 2 squares. Top each of the 6 squares with 1 tsp. semi-sweet chocolate mini morsels. Microwave each plate on high for about 20 seconds.  For high powered microwaves, reduce time to about 10 seconds.

PLEASE USE CAUTION to remove each plate from oven carefully as the heated microwave plates may be slightly hot!

Next top each semi-melted chocolate covered graham cracker square with 1 Tbsp. miniature marshmallows. Put each plate back into microwave oven and heat on high for only 15 seconds (regular, high-powered microwaves about 10 seconds) each, or until the marshmallows start to bubble.

Again, USE CAUTION to remove each heated plate from oven. Allow each plate to sit for about 5-10 seconds each, before covering each ooey, gooey, square with another graham cracker square, pressing down slightly.

​Karen’s Note: Enjoy this ooey, gooey, sweet treat that is sure to make everyone smile, except when laughed at, because some melted chocolate just might get on your chin! However, laughing can cause happiness, which can be contagious. So, be sure to share this recipe with all your family and friends. That way everyone young and old can enjoy it and be happy!