Grilled Fruit with Strawberry Dip

Serves: 8
Serving Size: 1 kebab with 3 oz. dip

On the grill your favorite fresh fruit picks up new and unique flavor! Printed with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research.

INGREDIENTS
8 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
1 (16-oz.) package frozen strawberries, sweetened
2 Tbsp. plain non-fat yogurt
1/4 tsp. dried, ground ginger
8 strawberries, halved
4 peaches, halved or quartered
8 chunks pineapple
4 plums, nectarines, or papayas, halved
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. In a blender, purée cheese, strawberries, yogurt and ginger together until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before grilling fruit.
2. When ready to grill fruit, thread pieces of prepared fruit onto 8 skewers. Mix together vinegar and sugar. Grill fruit until lightly browned, turning frequently and brushing with vinegar mixture during grilling.
3. Serve grilled fruit with sauce on side.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 124
Fat: 3 g
Carbohydrates: 23 g
Protein: 4 g

Rustic Tomato Lentil Soup

From SparkPeople:

Serves: 4

Cooked lentils are high in calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron. Reprinted with permission from HOW IT ALL VEGAN! by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer, Arsenal Pulp Press.

INGREDIENTS
as much garlic as you can stand, minced
1 medium onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
6 cups vegetable stock
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, including juice or 5-8 diced fresh tomatoes + 1/4 cup water
2 cups cooked or canned lentils
pepper (to taste)
cayenne pepper (to taste)
1 cup dry pasta (any short kind)

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large soup pot, sauté garlic, onions, and carrots in oil on medium-high heat until the onions are translucent.
2. Add the celery, stock, tomatoes, lentils, pepper, and cayenne and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes or until carrots are tender.
3. Add pasta and simmer to 10 more minutes before serving.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 242
Fat: 7.8 g
Carbohydrates: 36.7 g
Protein: 8.4 g

Summer Vegetable Spaghetti

From SparkPeople:

Serves: 9
Serving Size: 1 cup spaghetti with 3/4 cup sauce with vegetables

This lively vegetarian pasta dish contains no added fat or oil, is low in cholesterol, and is good hot or cold.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups small yellow onions, cut in eighths
2 cups chopped, peeled, fresh, ripe tomatoes (about 1 lb.)
2 cups thinly sliced yellow and green squash (about 1 lb.)
1-1/2 cups cut fresh green beans (about 1/2 lb.)
2/3 cups water
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 lb. uncooked whole wheat spaghetti
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine first 10 ingredients in large saucepan; cook for 10 minutes, then stir in tomato paste. Cover and cook gently, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender.
2. Cook spaghetti in unsalted water according to package directions.
3. Spoon sauce over drained hot spaghetti and sprinkle parmesan cheese over top.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 280
Fat: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 51 g
Protein: 12 g