Pasta Salad with Fresh Spinach, Mozzarella, and Cherry Tomatoes

I love cold pasta salads during the summer but worry about too much added fat and calories in some recipes.  I experimented and came up with this healthy alternative.  This fresh spinach pasta salad is tossed with an olive oil vinaigrette and seasonings including fresh parsley and basil giving it plenty of flavor.  This recipe yields approximately 10 servings and for fewer servings may be halved. Each serving has approximately 330 calories.

Fresh mozzarella has a softer and more moist texture than regular mozzarella.  One ounce of fresh mozzarella contains about 60-70 calories,5 grams of fat, and 5 grams of protein.  I enjoy it as a special treat once in awhile. Expert guidelines recommend that as part of a healthy diet, individuals should consume between 25 to 35 percent of total daily calories from fat from sources such as fishes, nuts, and vegetable oils.  Saturated fats consumed should be less than 7% of an individuals total daily calories consumed.  Fresh mozzarella can be incorporated as part of a well balanced, healthy and nutritious diet.

Pasta Salad with Fresh Spinach, Mozzarella, and Cherry Tomatoes

10 servings at approximately 330 calories/serving.  For fewer portions, this recipe may be halved.

16 ounce package of whole wheat pasta, I used 1 box of Farfalle
10 ounces fresh baby spinach, washed and drained
3 cups cherry tomatoes, washed and sliced in half
1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, sliced in half
1/2 cup fresh italian parsley, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin Olive oil
1 Garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cook pasta according to package directions and remove from heat.

Wash cherry tomatoes and slice in half.

Slice fresh mozzarella balls in half.

Chop and mince the fresh parsley and basil.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain.  Rinse with cold water.

Toss and combine with baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and fresh Italian parsley and basil.  Stir to combine.

Combine Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, garlic clove, salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.  Place dressing ingredients in a screw top jar or cruet and shake to combine.  Adjust seasonings to taste.  Pour over pasta salad.  Toss and stir to combine.

Toss with freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Pecans and Goat Cheese

I love serving fresh fruit and vegetable salads during the spring and summer months.  This salad is not only delicious, but it is truly a colorful work of art.  I love the bright beautiful rainbow of colors in the fresh bright green spinach, red strawberries, and bright blueberries.  This salad serves 8 at approximately 150 calories per serving, not including the vinaigrette dressing.  The dressing has about 88 calories per Tablespoon.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Pecans and Goat Cheese

3 cups strawberries, washed, drained, and sliced in half
2 cups blueberries, washed and drained
16 oz. Baby Spinach, washed
1/2 cup pecans
3/4 cup Goat cheese crumbles

Rinse blueberries.

Wash and cut strawberries.

In a large bowl combine the strawberries, blueberries, spinach, pecans and Goat cheese.  Stir to combine.  Toss with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing with Honey

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup Olive oil
1 Garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
1 Tablespoon honey

Place dressing ingredients in a screw top jar or cruet and shake to combine.  Adjust seasonings to taste.

Serve salad and toss with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing to taste.

Spinach Stuffed Flounder

I just love to prepare healthy recipes with fish.  I especially enjoy the more mild fish varieties such as flounder, tilapia, and cod.  This recipe incorporates one of my favorite vegetables, spinach.  The sauteed vegetables and garlic gave this dish a lot of flavor without adding a lot of calories.  This recipe yields 4 servings at approximately 266 calories/serving. 

Spinach Stuffed Flounder

1 teaspoon light olive oil
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 pound fresh spinach, chopped
1/4 tsp. oregano leaves
1 clove garlic, minced
4 fillets flounder (or other white fish such as cod or sole)
2 tablespoons sherry
1/2 cup part skim grated mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  I coated a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Coat a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat olive oil at medium heat.  Add mushrooms and saute for about 3 minutes or until tender.

Add the fresh spinach and continue cooking over medium heat for about 1 minute until spinach is barely wilted.

Remove from heat and drain excess liquid from pan.  Add oregano and garlic to drained and sauteed vegetables and stir to mix ingredients.  Divide vegetable mixture evenly among the fillets and place in the center.

Roll each fillet around vegetables and seasoning mixture and place seam down in the baking dish.  Sprinkle with sherry and the grated mozzarella cheese.  Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily.  Recipe yields 4 servings.