PAN-SEARED SALMON W/ PLUM-CUCUMBER SALAD

Pan-Seared Salmon with Plum-Cucumber Salad

This sunset-hued dish is as delicious as it is gorgeous, so it's sure to impress whether you serve it on a weeknight or to weekend dinner guests. The seasoned rice vinegar enhances the sweet and tangy salad for a lovely counterpart to the salmon. 

Serves 4

4 small ripe plums (12 oz.), pitted and thinly sliced
1/2 cup seeded, small-diced English cucumber
1/4 cup small-diced red onion
1/4 cup small-diced orange bell pepper
Scant 1/4 cup small fresh cilantro leaves
4 tsp. canola oil
2 tsp. seasoned rice vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Four 6 oz. skin-on salmon fillets (preferably scaled, each about 1-inch thick)

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Tip: If you can't find ripe plums, pluots or apricots will work just as well.     

Stir the plums, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, cilantro, 2 tsp. of the canola oil, the vinegar, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside at room temperature.
Season both sides of the salmon with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tsp. canola oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat. Swirl to coat the pan. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the fillets skin side down and cook without moving for 30 seconds. Reduce the heat to medium high and continue to cook until the skin is well browned and the sides of the fillets are opaque about halfway up, 2 to 4 minutes. Turn the salmon and cook, without moving, until the fillets are slightly firm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve skin side up with the salad.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with golden Saffron Couscous.

nutrition information (per serving):
Calories (kcal): 360; 

Fat (g): 17; 

Fat Calories (kcal):  150; 

Saturated Fat (g):  2.5; 

Protein (g):  39; 

Monounsaturated Fat (g): 7; 

Carbohydrates (g): 10; 

Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 6; 

Sodium (mg): 300; 

Cholesterol (mg): 105; 

Fiber (g): 1;

Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad 

• 2 Servings
• Prep: 25 min. Grill: 25 min.

25 25 50

Ingredients

• 1 large ear sweet corn in husk
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta
• 6 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
• 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon Caribbean jerk seasoning
• 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped
• 
  DRESSING:
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Carefully peel back corn husk to within 1 in. of bottom; remove silk. Brush corn with oil. Rewrap corn in husk and secure with kitchen string. Grill corn, covered, over medium heat for 25-30 minutes or until tender, turning often.
• Meanwhile, cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; set aside.
• Thread asparagus spears onto two parallel metal or soaked wooden skewers. Rub shrimp with jerk seasoning; thread onto two skewers. Grill asparagus and shrimp, covered, over medium heat for 5-8 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender and shrimp turn pink, turning once.
• Cut corn from cob; place in a large bowl. Cut asparagus into 1-in. pieces; add to bowl. Add the shrimp, orzo and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Yield: 2 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 2 cups equals 

352 calories, 1 cup: 176

12 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 1 cup: 6g fat

138 mg cholesterol, 

719 mg sodium, 

38 g carbohydrate, 1 cup: 19 g Carbs

8 g fiber, 

26 g protein.  1 cup: 13 protein

Diabetic Exchanges: 

3 lean meat, 

2 starch, 

1 vegetable, 1 fat.

Garlic Buttered Baby Carrots 

Preparation time: 5 min	Servings: 4
Cooking time: 10 min

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 oz unsalted butter

1 lb baby carrots, trimmed

1 tsp lemon rind, finely grated

1-1/3 tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped

1/2 tsp sugar

Cooking Directions:

Place carrots in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover pan and steam 10 minutes, or until just tender. Do not overcook. Meanwhile, melt butter in a heavy nonstick pan over medium high heat. Add next 3 ingredients and cook 1 minute. Add carrots and stir until well coated and heated through. Sprinkle with fresh herbs to taste. Serve hot. 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 100

% Calories From Fat 56.7%

Total Fat 6.3g

Saturated Fats 3.9g

Mono-unsaturated Fats 1.6g

Poly-unsaturated Fats 0.3g

Cholesterol 16mg

Sodium 74mg

Total Carbohydrates 11g

Dietary Fiber 3.8g

Sugar 4.9g

Protein 1.1g

BASIC STIR-FRIED ASPERAGUS

Basic Stir-Fried Asparagus 

Preparation time: 5 min	Servings: 4
Cooking time: 10 min

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh asparagus

2 tbsp oil or butter

Cooking Directions:

Cut asparagus at an angle into 1 in. lengths. Stir-fry in hot oil or butter, stirring constantly for 3-7 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 85

% Calories From Fat 74.1%

Total Fat 7g

Saturated Fats 1g

Mono-unsaturated Fats 4.9g

Poly-unsaturated Fats 0.8g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 16mg

Total Carbohydrates 4.7g

Dietary Fiber 2.3g

Sugar 1.5g

Protein 2.7g

Confetti Tilapia Packets

• 4 Servings
• Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

15 15 30

Ingredients

• 1 medium green pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 3 bacon strips, chopped
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 tilapia fillets (4 ounces each)
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions

• In a large skillet, saute the green pepper, onions, bacon and celery until vegetables are tender and bacon is crisp; drain. Add the tomato, salt and pepper; heat through.
• Place each fillet on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 12 in. square). Drizzle fillets with lemon juice. Top with vegetable mixture. Fold foil around fish and seal tightly. Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 packet equals 

141 calories, 

3 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 

60 mg cholesterol, 

459 mg sodium, 

5 g carbohydrate, 

2 g fiber, 

24 g protein.  

Diabetic Exchanges: 

3 lean meat, 

1 vegetable.

Mushroom Primavera Pasta Sauce

This meatless meal has plenty of mushrooms and vegetables in a rich tomato sauce. Serve over whole wheat pasta for an added nutritional punch.  

• 8 Servings
• Prep: 50 min. Cook: 45 min.

50 45 95

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 whole garlic bulb, peeled and minced
• 15 plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium zucchini, grated
• 2 medium carrots, grated
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound fresh mushrooms, quartered
• Hot cooked multigrain pasta
• Shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, peppers, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in mushrooms; cook 10 minutes longer or just until mushrooms are tender.
• Serve over pasta. Sprinkle with cheese. Yield: 6 cups.

Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup (calculated without pasta and cheese) equals 

85 calories, 

2 g fat (trace saturated fat), 

0 cholesterol, 

321 mg sodium, 

15 g carbohydrate, 

4 g fiber, 

4 g protein. 

Diabetic Exchange: 

3 vegetable.

PORK CHOPS W/ BLACKBERRY SAUCE

Pork Chops with Blackberry Sauce

Quick, easy and oh-so-good! Try these tender chops any busy weeknight or weekend. 

• 4 Servings
• Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

10 10 20

Ingredients

• 4 bone-in pork loin chops (7 ounces each)
• 1/4 cup seedless blackberry spreadable fruit
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon A.1. steak sauce

Directions

• Broil chops 3-4 in. from the heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160°.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the spreadable fruit, ketchup, garlic and mustard. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and steak sauce until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork chops. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 2 tablespoons sauce equals 

261 calories, 

8 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 

86 mg cholesterol, 

279 mg sodium, 

14 g carbohydrate, 

trace fiber, 

30 g protein. 

Diabetic Exchanges: 

4 lean meat, 

1 starch.