Tag: Family Recipes

  • Honey-Teriyaki Green Beans with Craisins and Pecans

    Honey-Teriyaki Green Beans with Craisins and Pecans

    These Honey-Teriyaki Green Beans with Craisins and Pecans turn an ordinary bag of frozen green beans into a colorful, flavorful dish. The teriyaki sauce and honey add a touch of sweetness, while the Craisins bring a little tang. Toasted pecans add a delicious crunch.

    This recipe is easy to prepare with simple ingredients and everyday measuring spoons. It starts with a 12-ounce bag of Great Value frozen green beans, so there’s no need to measure out part of a larger package.

    Serve these green beans alongside your favorite main dish, or enjoy a larger portion as a light meal. With our adjustable serving calculator, you can divide the recipe into 1 to 6 servings and see how each portion fits into your daily calorie goals.

    Visit our Calorie Crusaders Recipes page for more delicious ideas.

    Honey-Teriyaki Green Beans with Craisins and Pecans

    Total batch calories490
    Calories per serving163

    Slide from 1 to 6 servings. Ingredient amounts stay the same; nutrition per serving changes.

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz Great Value frozen green beans
    • 3 tablespoons Ocean Spray Original Craisins (dried cranberries)
    • 3 tablespoons chopped pecans
    • 3 tablespoons finely diced onion
    • 2 teaspoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons Great Value teriyaki sauce
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • 1–2 tablespoons water, only if needed

    Instructions

    1. Toast the pecans. Add pecans to a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir for 2–3 minutes until fragrant; remove and set aside.
    2. Cook the onion. Add olive oil to the skillet and sauté onion for about 3 minutes.
    3. Cook the green beans. Add frozen green beans. Cook for about 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and most moisture has evaporated. Add a little water only if needed.
    4. Add flavor. Stir in teriyaki sauce, Craisins, and honey. Cook about 2 minutes more.
    5. Finish. Fold in toasted pecans just before serving.

    Estimated Nutrition

    NutrientWhole batchPer serving
    Calories490 kcal163 kcal
    Total fat26 g8.7 g
    Carbohydrates65 g21.7 g
    Total sugars31 g10.3 g
    Protein10 g3.3 g
    Sodium1330 mg443 mg

    Nutrition values are preliminary estimates based on typical ingredients and may differ from actual product labels, especially sodium and sugars. Calculated per-serving values are rounded. Water adds no calories.

    Calorie Crusaders Tip

    A side dish doesn’t always have to stay on the side!

    Sometimes a flavorful vegetable dish is just what you’re in the mood for. These Honey-Teriyaki Green Beans with Craisins and Pecans can be enjoyed as a traditional side dish or as the main attraction.

    Our serving calculator makes it easy to decide how much you want. Slide it to 3 for a generous side dish, or all the way down to 1 if you plan to enjoy the entire batch.

    Just remember that green beans, Craisins, and pecans provide relatively little protein. If you’re making this your meal, consider adding a protein-rich food to help make it more nutritionally balanced.

    The goal isn’t to give up foods you enjoy. It’s to make them fit your day!

    Curious about the sugar in honey, dried cranberries, and sauces? Read our Added Sugar resource to learn how added sugars fit into your daily nutrition goals.

  • One Big Chocolate Chip Cookie

    One Big Chocolate Chip Cookie

    One Cookie, No Temptation

    One of the things I love about this single serve chocolate chip cookie recipe is that it makes just one cookie. I don’t have to worry about a whole batch sitting in the pantry, calling my name every time I walk through the kitchen!

    And I can still enjoy a warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie without giving up on my weight loss goals. The portion slider makes it easy to adjust the recipe to fit my calorie budget.

    There’s even a little bonus for Peaches. Since the recipe only calls for one tablespoon of whisked egg, she gets the leftover egg, cooked of course!

    Snacks and Treats

    Calorie Crusaders Tip

    Enjoy your homemade cookie, count it, and move on. No cookie jar calling your name!

  • Basic White Bread Recipe for Bread Machine

    Basic White Bread Recipe for Bread Machine

    This basic white bread recipe is one of those recipes that is good to have on hand. I make it in my bread machine, so there is very little work involved. Just add the ingredients, turn on the machine, and forget about it for about three and a half hours!

    I use this bread on its own, but it is also a basic recipe that I use as the starting point for other recipes. Instead of buying bread flour, I use regular all-purpose flour with vital wheat gluten. It costs less, and I have found that it works just as well.

    Breads and Desserts

    Basic White Bread 🍞

    Homemade white bread from the bread machine. Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or thick slices of French toast!

    81012 1416
    Total Loaf Calories
    —
    kcal
    Calories Per Slice
    —
    kcal

    Loaf size: 2 pounds
    Yield: 12 slices
    Serving size: 1 slice

    Ingredients

    • 1½ cups room-temperature water
    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1½ teaspoons salt
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup nonfat dry milk
    • 1½ teaspoons active dry yeast
    • 4 teaspoons vital wheat gluten

    Instructions

    1. Place all the ingredients into the bread-machine pan in the order listed.
    2. Place the bread pan into the bread maker.
    3. Select the Basic White program.
    4. Select the 2-pound loaf size.
    5. I prefer the medium crust setting.
    6. Start the bread maker and forget about it for about three and a half hours!
    7. When the bread is finished, carefully remove the loaf from the pan.
    8. Place it on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before slicing.

    Calorie Crusaders Tip: Slice the cooled loaf into approximately equal pieces. Adjust the slider to match the number of slices you cut. Thicker slices have more calories, while thinner slices have fewer.

    Nutrition Information

    Serving size: 1 slice
    Slices per loaf: 12

    Nutrition information is estimated from standard ingredient values. Actual values vary depending on ingredient brands, measurements, and slice thickness. The calculations assume equal-sized slices.

    Carol’s Bread-Making Tip

    Bread flour works perfectly well in this recipe, but I prefer to use all-purpose flour with vital wheat gluten. All-purpose flour is usually cheaper, and adding the vital gluten gives the dough some of the extra gluten strength you would normally get from bread flour. It works very well for me.

    Try it with: This homemade white bread is perfect for our French Onion Soup. A thick slice holds up beautifully under the broth and melted cheese.

    Calorie Crusaders Tip

    Let the loaf cool completely before slicing it. Besides making the bread easier to slice, cooling gives the inside of the loaf time to finish setting. Then you can cut fairly even slices, which also makes it easier to estimate the calories in each serving.

    Nutrition information for homemade recipes is an estimate. Exact values can vary depending on the brands of ingredients used and the number and thickness of slices.

  • Nonnie’s Beef Stew

    Nonnie’s Beef Stew

    This is Nonnie’s Beef Stew, and it is really good!

    This is a big, hearty pot of old-fashioned beef stew. It is loaded with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and plenty of garlic.

    It cooks in an 8-quart Dutch oven and makes enough for a family meal with leftovers. And it freezes very well.

    And at our house, beef stew wouldn’t be complete without a pan of Aunt Jemima cornbread to go with it.

    Calorie Crusaders Recipes

    Nonnie’s Beef Stew 🥘

    A hearty, homemade beef stew filled with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and vegetables. A family favorite from Nonnie’s kitchen.

    468 1012
    Total Pot Calories
    3108
    kcal
    Calories Per 2-Cup Bowl
    259
    kcal

    Yield: 24 cups
    Serving size: Approximately 2 cups per bowl

    Ingredients

      Directions

      1. Heat the avocado oil in an 8-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. On my stove, that’s about a 6.
      2. Add the stew meat and brown it in the avocado oil, stirring constantly.
      3. Add the first portion of water, the chopped onion, and the diced tomatoes.
      4. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
      5. Stir in the salt and pepper, minced garlic, chili powder, and beef broth.
      6. Add the vegetables in this order: baby carrots, bell pepper, and potatoes.
      7. Pour in the second portion of water. The liquid should cover the vegetables.
      8. Bring the stew to a boil.
      9. Cover, but crack the lid, and cook on medium heat for 40 minutes.
      10. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat. Let the stew rest for 20 minutes before serving.

      Smaller batches may cook differently. Check the beef and vegetables for tenderness before serving. Use a pot appropriate for the selected batch size.

      Nutrition Information

      Serving size: Approximately 2 cups
      Servings per recipe: 12

      Nutrition information is estimated using standard ingredient values. Actual values may vary depending on the cut of beef, brands, measurements, and serving sizes. Sodium depends on added salt.

      Serving Suggestion

      Serve hot with Aunt Jemima cornbread.

      Because really, what else are you going to serve with Nonnie’s beef stew? 😄

      A Calorie Crusaders Tip

      Avocado oil has a high smoke point, which makes it a good choice for cooking at higher temperatures. That works especially well in this recipe because the stew meat is browned over medium-high heat before the other ingredients are added.

    • Aunt Jemima Cornbread

      Aunt Jemima Cornbread

      I’ve been making this Aunt Jemima cornbread recipe for years and years. The recipe originally came right off the Aunt Jemima cornmeal package, and it was so good that I hung onto it. Sometimes the recipes you find on the back of a package turn out to be the ones you make for a lifetime, and this is one of those recipes at our house.

      It’s a slightly sweet cornbread made with cornmeal, flour, sugar and whole milk. We especially like it alongside a big bowl of Nonnie’s Beef Stew, but it’s good with just about any meal where a warm piece of cornbread belongs.

      Aunt Jemima Cornbread

      Total Batch Calories
      2048
      kcal
      Calories Per Piece
      256
      kcal

      Ingredients

        Yield: 8 pieces

        Directions

        1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
        2. Grease a round cake pan or use cooking spray. Do not flour the pan.
        3. Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar (if using), baking powder, and salt.
        4. Add the milk, egg, and shortening. Mix until combined.
        5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
        6. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden and baked through.
        7. Cut into the selected number of standard-size pieces and serve.

        Larger batches may require a larger pan, multiple pans, or additional baking time.

        Estimated Nutrition Information

        Serving size: 1 standard piece
        Servings per batch: 8

        Nutrition information is estimated using standard ingredient values. Actual values may vary depending on brands, measurements, and serving sizes.

        A Calorie Crusader Tip

        Cornbread is one of those foods where deciding on the serving size before you start cutting makes calorie counting much easier. I cut this recipe into eight pieces, so each wedge is one serving.

        And don’t throw away those old favorite recipes just because they came from the back of a package. This one has been in my kitchen for years and years for a reason!

        Calories Crusaders Recipes

        This is a recipe I originally found on an Aunt Jemima cornmeal package many years ago. Aunt Jemima products were later renamed Pearl Milling Company.

      • Glenn’s Chunky Tomato Bisque

        Glenn’s Chunky Tomato Bisque

        Some of the best recipes around our house are also some of the simplest. Glenn’s Chunky Tomato Bisque is one of those recipes. It starts with ordinary Campbell’s tomato soup, but fresh Roma tomatoes, diced tomatoes and plenty of basil turn it into something that tastes much more homemade.

        I especially like recipes like this when I’m counting calories. It makes a nice big bowl of soup without using cream, butter or a lot of other high-calorie ingredients. Pair it with a sandwich or salad for a meal, or just enjoy a bowl of soup when you want something warm and filling.

        Glenn’s Chunky Tomato Bisque 🍅

        A hearty, homemade tomato bisque filled with chunks of Roma tomatoes and the flavor of basil.

        1234 5678
        Total Pot Calories
        —
        kcal
        Calories Per 2-Cup Serving
        177.5
        kcal

        Yield: 8 cups
        Serving size: About 2 cups per bowl

        Ingredients

          Estimated Nutrition

          Nutrition is shown per serving. Actual values depend on ingredients and brands.

          Instructions

          1. Combine the canned tomato soup, diced tomatoes, and water in a large pot.
          2. Wash and chop the Roma tomatoes. Add them to the pot.
          3. Stir in the dried or fresh basil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
          4. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to 2 (low). Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes sink into the soup. Keep the pot uncovered to prevent it from boiling over.

          A Calorie Crusader Tip

          One thing I like about this soup is that the chunks of fresh tomato add a lot of volume without adding many calories. That means you get a good-sized bowl of soup while still keeping the calorie count reasonable.

          Calories are an estimate and can vary depending on the exact size of the soup cans, tomatoes and brand of diced tomatoes used.